Fornax bahamiensis Otto, 2018

Otto, Robert L., 2018, Descriptions of two new species of false click beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) from the Bahamas, Insecta Mundi 623, pp. 1-8 : 4-5

Fornax bahamiensis Otto , sp. nov.

Fig. 4–7

Diagnosis. The new eucnemid species is similar to Dromaeolus ishiodontoides Chevrolat , Fornax ebeninus Fleutiaux and Fornax poeyi Fisher , all from Cuba. Absence of interantennal carina above the frontoclypeal region will distinguish F. bahamiensis from F. ebeninus and D. ishiodontoides , present in both Cuban eucnemid species. Well-developed lateral antennal grooves on the hypomera will further distinguish the new species from F. poeyi , which is medially undefined in the latter species.

Type material. Male holotype: “ BAHAMAS: Great Inagua, vic. Middle Point ; blacklight, trap in mangrove forest, 15-VII-2007; Thomas, Turnbow & Smith” / “ HOLOTYPE:, Fornax , bahamiensis, Otto , det. R. L. Otto, 2017” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [red printed label]. Holotype is deposited in FSCA.

Paratypes. 10 ♂♂: BAHAMAS: 1 ♂, “BAHAMAS: Andros Is., Maidenhair Coppice, 11-VI-2004, M.C. Thomas, BLT” / “ EUCNEMIDAE :, MACRAULACINAE :, Fornax , poeyi Fisher, Det. R.L. Otto, 2007 ” (“07” handwritten; folded) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , bahamiensis, Otto , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “BAHAMAS: Andros Is., Forfar Field Sta., nr., Stafford Creeks 22–28-VII-, 2006 MCThomas, TRSmith, UV trap in coastal coppice” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ Fornax , poeyi Fisher, Det. R.L. Otto, 2008 ” (“08” handwritten; folded) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , bahamiensis, Otto , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP); 1 ♂, [same as holotype] / “ EUCNEMIDAE :, MACRAULACINAE :, Fornax , poeyi Fisher, Det. R.L. Otto, 2008 ” (handwritten; folded) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , bahamiensis, Otto , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 4 ♂♂, [same as holotype] / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , bahamiensis, Otto , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 3 ♂♂, [same as holotype] / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , bahamiensis, Otto , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP). Paratypes are deposited in FSCA and GERP.

Description. Male holotype: Length, 5.0 mm. Width, 1.5 mm. Body subcylindrical, elongate; uniformly reddish-brown; scape slightly darker, pedicel and antennomeres III–XI medium reddish-brown; legs including tarsi reddish-brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent yellowish setae ( Fig. 4 ). Head: Surface densely and deeply punctate to rugose, somewhat shiny, subspherical; frons convex, without median carina or fovea above frontoclypeal region; apical margin of frontoclypeal region rounded, about 2 times wider than base; interantennal carina absent; mandibles stout, bidentate, densely punctate. Antenna: Filiform from antennomeres III–XI, attaining more than 1/2 the length of the body; antennomere III slightly longer than IV; antennomeres IV–X each sub-equal, longer than wide; antennomere XI slightly longer than X. Pronotum: Surface somewhat shiny, densely punctate to rugose; slightly longer than wide, with moderate, sharp hind angles; lateral sides parallel-sided at basal 3/4, arcuate anteriorly at apical 1/4; disc convex without shallow median groove or circular fovea; base sinuous, with pair of circular depressions above scutellum. Scutellum: Elongate, sub-triangular, setose, shallowly punctate and distally rounded. Elytra: Distinctly, shallowly striate; interstices slightly elevated; surfaces shiny with dense, crowded punctures. Legs: First tarsomere as long as the combined lengths of the remaining four on meso- and metatarsi; tibiae rounded in cross section; metatarsomeres I–III simple; metatarsomere IV excavated, slightly emarginated; metatarsomere V elongate with simple claws. Venter ( Fig. 5 ): Closely punctate, with elongate, recumbent yellowish setae; hypomeron with basally open, wide, lateral antennal grooves; metepisterna parallel-sided; elytral epipleura grooved throughout, basally shiny, apically punctate; metacoxal plates medially more than 6.0 times wider than laterally. Aedeagus (paratype) ( Fig. 6–7 ): Elongate, dorsally flattened, sinuate; median lobe free, api- cally rounded; lateral lobes apically elongate, rounded, longer than median lobe; lateral lobe each with lateral tooth arising at apical 1/3; secondary lateral lobe absent; flagellum elongate, inflated, apically bilobed; basal piece elongate, apically truncated.

Variation. Ten male paratypes were examined. Male paratypes measured 3.5–5.0 mm long and 1.0– 1.5 mm wide. Three of the ten paratypes are shorter and narrower than the holotype. Seven paratypes are as long as and as wide as the holotype. Several paratypes are redder than the remaining seven paratypes, which are reddish-brown in color. Lateral constriction of the pronotum near the middle is present in three of the 10 paratypes. One paratype has a slightly arcuate lateral side of the pronotum. Lateral sides of the pronotum in the other six are similar to that of the holotype. Grooved elytral epipleura lacks punctures in one paratype. One other specimen has a more punctate grooved epipleura compared with the remaining paratypes in the series and the holotype.

Distribution. The eucnemid species is known from eleven specimens taken from Andros Island and Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas.

Biology. All specimens were taken from a blacklight trap. Nine of the specimens were taken from a mangrove forest on Great Inagua Island. One of the specimens was taken from a coastal coppice on Andros Island. Developmental stages remain unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from a combination of two words, ‘Bahamas’ and ‘-ensis’, a Latin adjectival suffix meaning “pertaining to”; from which the new species has been taken.

Note. Identity of these eucnemid specimens as a new species were concluded based on the comparison of these specimens against translated, interpreted information of D. ishiodontoides provided in Bonvouloir (1871), F. ebeninus described by Fleutiaux (1897) as well as F. poeyi described by Fisher (1945).

A second Fornax species previously identified as Fornax bicolor (Melsheimer) is also present in the Bahamas. Identity of these specimens were re-evaluated during another study and determined that this small series of eucnemids belong to another undescribed species. That undescribed species is also present in Florida, U.S.A. A description of the new species will be a part of a study being conducted to review the genus Fornax present in the Nearctic region.

Figures

Figures 4–7. Fornax bahamiensis sp. nov. 4) Male holotype (FSCA), dorsal habitus. 5) Male holotype (FSCA), ventral habitus. 6) Male aedeagus (FSCA), dorsal view. 7) Male aedeagus (FSCA), lateral view. (Scale = 1.0 mm).