Agathidium vaderi Miller and Wheeler, 2005

MILLER, KELLY B. & WHEELER, QUENTIN D., 2005, Slime-Mold Beetles Of The Genus Agathidium Panzer In North And Central America, Part Ii. Coleoptera: Leiodidae, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (291), pp. 1-167 : 87-89

Agathidium vaderi Miller and Wheeler ,

new species Frontispiece, figures 106, 120, 173–176, 357

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in AMNH labeled ‘‘NC/TN: Clingman’s Dome Gr. Smoky Mtn. Nat. Park 18.viii.81 sift. decaying wood Q. Wheeler #81343/ HOLO­ TYPE Agathidium vaderi Miller and Wheel­ er, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: United States, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingman’s Dome.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is distinguishable from most by the elongate form of the body combined with highly reduced eyes consisting of small, elongate triangles (frontispiece, fig. 106) and by the median lobe of the aedeagus being apically deeply emarginate (fig. 174). Agathidium vaderi is most similar to A. kimberlae from which it differs in having the apical rami of the median lobe broad, apically truncate, and with the apices straight (fig. 174), whereas in A. kimberlae the rami are narrow, apically narrowly rounded, and with the apices convergent (fig. 178). The operculum in A. kimberlae is apically more broadly expanded, shorter (ending far short of apex of median lobe), and bears fewer teeth in general (fig. 177), whereas in A. vaderi the operculum extends nearly to the apex of the median lobe and is heavily toothed (fig. 173). The metafemur is slightly narrow­ er (fig. 119), and the eyes are slightly larger (fig. 107) in A. kimberlae than in A. vaderi (figs. 106, 120).

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately large (TBL = 2.59–3.24 mm), oblong (PNW/TBL = 0.38–0.45), strongly contractile.

Head piceous to reddish­brown; pronotum piceous to reddish­brown, lighter reddish along posterior margin; elytra piceous to reddish­brown, lighter apically; venter brown to yellow­brown; antennae and palpi yellow to yellow­brown; legs yellow­brown.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.53–0.78), dorsoventrally conspicuously compressed, laterally with distinct bead, tentorium laterally protuberant; with few, sparse, fine punctures, surface between punctures shiny, smooth; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eye strongly reduced to an elongate triangle (fig. 106); gula concave; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 2.0:1.0:1.7, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:1.5. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.72–0.92), strongly convex, extending anteromedially over head, posterior margin weakly bisinuate, lateral margin broadly curved, not angulate; with few, fine, scattered punctures, surface between punctures shiny, smooth. Elytra broad, convex, apically not strongly attenuate, elongate (SEL/ELW = 0.96–1.17); with very few fine, scattered punctures, surface between punctures shiny, smooth; without sutural stria. Flight wings absent. Mesosternum broad, medially with distinct longitudinal carina. Metasternum moderately broad, not reduced (MTL/MTW = 0.17– 0.26); oblique femoral lines weakly present, meeting medially in low line.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres moderately laterally expanded, with large ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur very broad, posteroapical angle broadly triangular and strongly produced in large, flat tooth, apical margin strongly curved (fig. 120); metasternal fovea present, medial, circular and small with dense pencil of fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect moderately curved, apical portion straight and with margins approximately parallel, apex narrowly rounded (fig. 175); in ventral aspect slender, apically bifurcate, rami somewhat divergent, each ramus apically expanded and broadly truncate, medial emargination moderately broad (figs. 173, 174); operculum long, extending to or nearly to apex of median lobe, with conspicuous and strong lateral dentation along entire length, apex abruptly laterally expanded, curved toward apex of median lobe, extending nearly to apex of median lobe (fig. 173); lateral lobes slender, long, apically narrowly rounded with two long setae (fig. 176).

Female tarsi 5­4­4.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named for the fictional villain Darth Vader in the movie ‘‘Star Wars’’, who shares with A. vaderi a broad, shiny, helmetlike head.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known from mountainous areas of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia (fig. 357).

PARATYPES: UNITED STATES: Georgia: White­Union Co.: Tesnatee Gap , 20 Jul 1967, 3100̍, log litter, Berlese, S Peck, A Fiske (13, PECK) ; Tesnatee Gap, 20 Jul 1967, log litter, Berlese, S Peck, A Fiske (1, CNCI). North Carolina: Clingman’s Dome, Great Smoky Mts Natl Park, 18 Aug 1981, decaying wood, Q Wheeler (1, QDWC) ; Highlands , Jun 1888 (1, MCZC) ; Cherokee Co.: Joanna Bald , 26 Jul 1967, 4700̍, log litter, Berlese, S Peck, A Fiske (2, CNCI) ; Macon Co.: 5 mi NW Highlands , California Gap, 3000– 3500̍, leaf litter, Rhododendron, Q Wheeler (1, QDWC) ; Wayah Bald , 5 Jun 1981, hardwood litter, Q Wheeler (1, QDWC) ; Highlands , Jul, QD Wheeler (1, QDWC) ; Swain Co.: Great Smoky Mts Natl Park, Flat Creek Trail , 83°10̍21̎W, 35°33̍1̎N, 31 Jul 2001, 1500 m, leaf litter, Berlese, C Carlton (8, LSAM). Tennessee: Great Smoky Mts P.P., 19 Jun 1981, Q Wheeler (1, QDWC) ; Great Smoky Mts NP, 19 Jun 1981, leaf litter, Q Wheeler (1, QDWC) ; Blount Co.: Great Smoky Mts Natl Park, Cades Cove , 8 Jun 1960, 1700̍, wet leaf duff, J Wagner, W Suter (4, FMNH) ; Cocke Co.: Great Smoky Mts Natl Park, Albright Grove Trail , 83°16̍45̎W, 35°44̍10̎N, 29 Jun 2001, 1000 m, old growth, Berlese, C Carlton (1, LSAM) ; Sevier Co.: Great Smoky Mts Nat Park, Newfound Gap, 16 Sep 1949, J Wagner, W Suter (3, FMNH) ; Great Smoky Mts Natl Park , EElkmont, 8 Jun 1960, 2250̍, leaf duff, W Suter, J Wagner (5, FMNH) ; Appalachian Trail at beech Gap on Clingman’s Dome Rd , 83°26̍50̎W, 35°36̍36̎N, 28 Jun 2001, 1750 m, forest litter, Berlese, A Tischckhin, V Moseley (3, LSAM) ; Great Smoky Mts Natl Park , 0.5 km NE Newfound Gap, 82°24̍46̎W, 35°38̍9̎N, 26 Jun 2001, CE Carlton (7, LSAM) .

DISCUSSION: This species has been collect­ ed mainly from log and leaf litter (particularly Rhododendron litter). Altitude records are from 1700 to 4700 ft.

Agathidium kimberlae Miller and Wheeler ,