Selenophorus balli Messer and Raber, 2021

Rajab, Abubakarsidiq Makame, 2021, Indoor Radio Map localization WiFi fingerprint datasets, The Coleopterists Bulletin 75 (1), pp. 9-55 : 32-33

Selenophorus balli Messer and Raber , new species

zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D2583E94-C712-48AB-84C0-E52316F9421E ( Figs. 23–28 )

Type Material. Holotype male [deposited in TAMU] labeled: “USA: TEXAS: Cameron Co. / Laguna Atascosa NWR (site 1) / 26.22375° N, 97.35454° W / X-1-2008, UV light / J. King & E. Riley-129 / dense coastal brush // TAMU –ENTO / X0835226”; pinned with holotype label [red paper topmost] and genitalia in glycerin vial . Paratypes [yellow paper] as follows. Capture method is at light, mostly UV light, unless noted otherwise. USA: TEXAS: Cameron Co .: 11 X 1994 (1♀ CMNH) ; 20 X 1997 (1♂ TAMU) ; 19 X 2002 (9♂ 6♀ TAMU) ; Brownsville 28 IX 2004 (4♂ 7♀ CMNH) ; 3 X 2008 (1♂ PWMC, 1♀ BTRC); Cameron Co., Laguna Atascosa NWR : 2 IX 2008 (1♂ TAMU) ; 17 IX 2008 (9♂ 7♀ TAMU) ; 1 X 2008 (same data as holotype: 14♂ 12♀ TAMU) ; 16 — 29 X 2008 (1♂ TAMU) ; 4 IX 2009 (1♀ TAMU) ; 19 IX 2009 (2♂ 14♀ TAMU) ; 28 III–25 IV 2010 (1♂ PWMC, 3♂ 1♀ BTRC); 4 IV 2010 (1♀ TAMU) ; 24 or 25 IV–15 V 2010 (2♂ 4♀ PWMC, 5♂ 5♀ BTRC, 2♂ 1♀ DAHC, 4♂ 4♀ USNM) ; 14 V–4 VI 2010 (1♂ BTRC, 1♀ DAHC) ; 5 VI–16 VII 2010 (4♂ 5♀ BTRC); Cameron Co., Sabal Palm Grove : 6 — 7 V 1991 (1♂ TAMU) ; 31 X 1991 (1♀ TAMU) ; 23 IV 1994 (1♂ 1♀ TAMU) ; 2 IX 1995 (1♂ TAMU) ; 28–29 IX 2004 (1♂ 1♀ PWMC, 1♂ 1♀ BTRC); 20 IX–19 X 2008 (1♀ PWMC, 4♂ 2♀ BTRC); 15 X 2008 (1♂ TAMU) ; 18 X 2008 (2♂ 1♀ TAMU of which 1 “beating open, re-vegetated area”); 18 — 19 X 2008: “beat tall grass W. bank of resaca” (1♀ PWMC), “under algal mats N. end resaca” (1♀ BTRC), “beat dead palm fronds re-vegetated area” (1♂ BTRC) ; 31 X–13 XI 2008, “Lindgren FT palm forest” (1♂ TAMU) ; 7 III–4 IV 2009 (1♂ BTRC) ; 25 IV–29 V 2009 (3♂ 3♀ PWMC, 13♂ 12♀ BTRC, 1♂ WIRC, 2♂ 2♀ UTA) ; 20 V 2009 (1♂ TAMU) ; 29 V–27 V1 2009 (2♂ 2♀ PWMC, 8♂ 7♀ BTRC); 25 VII–29 VIII 2009 (2♂ 3♀ BTRC); 29 VIII–19 IX 2009 (2♀ BTRC) ; 4 IX 2009 (2♂ 2♀ TAMU) ; 19 IX–10 X 2009 (2♀ BTRC) ; 27 III–24 IV 2010 (1♂ 1♀ BTRC); 15 V–5 VI 2010 (2♂ 1♀ PWMC, 6♀ BTRC); 5 VI–16 VII 2010 (1♂ PWMC, 2♂ 6♀ BTRC); 16 VII–7 VIII 2010 (1♀ BTRC) ; Cameron Co., Los Indios Inspection Station : 1–28 VIII 2016 (4♂ 6♀ FSCA) ; Hidalgo Co., Bentsen RGVSP : 20 IX–3 X 2008 (4♂ 1♀ TAMU) ; 5 IV 2009 (1♂ 1♀ TAMU, 1♂ 1♀ PWMC, 1♂ BTRC); Hidalgo Co., LRGVNWR : 26 III 2009 (8♂ 3♀ TAMU) ; 15 V 2010 (3♂ 3♀ TAMU) ; 18 IX 2008 (4♂ 4♀ TAMU) ; 21 V 2009 (1♂ 3♀ TAMU) ; 12 V 2009 (1 sex? TAMU) ; 5 IX 2009 (1♂ TAMU) ; 3 VI 2010 (1♀ TAMU) ; 18 — 31 X 2008 (1 sex? TAMU) ; 2 X 2008 (2♂ 3♀ TAMU) ; 4 — 16 X 2008 “Lindgren FT primary forest” (1♂ TAMU); Hidalgo Co., Santa Ana NWR : 17 X 2008 (4♂ 1♀ BTRC); 26 IV–31 V 2009 (1♀ TAMU) ; 31 V– 27 VI 2009 (2♀ BTRC) ; 27 VI–26 VII 2009 (2♂ BTRC) ; 23 IV–17 V 2010 (1♂ 1♀ BTRC); 17 V–6 VI 2010 (1♀ BTRC) ; Hidalgo Co. , Casa Santa Ana B &B : 24–25 V 2016 (1♀ ACMT) ; Kleberg Co.: Kingsville , 20 X 1992 (1♂ CMNH) ; San Patricio Co.: Welder Wldf. Ref ., 27 IX 1976 (3♀ CMNH) ; Starr Co.: 18 XI 1998 (1♀ CMNH) ; Chapeno , 6 X 2017 (1♂ BTRC) ; Willacy Co.: Raymondville , 12 X 2009 (2♂ 5♀ CMNH) ; Zapata Co.: Falcon State Park , 15 X 1985 (1♂ CMNH) . MEXICO: [following reposited at UASM except where noted] Campeche : 13–14 IV 1966 (2♂ 1♀); Escarcega , 26 VII 1980 (1♂ TAMU) ; Chiapas: 1 IX 1965 (3♀); 2 IX 1965 (3♂ 1♀); 3 IX 1965 (52♂ 88♀); 4 IX 1965 (1♂ 1♀); 6 IX 1965 (1♀); Colima: 25 VII 1963 (1♂); 2 — 3 VIII 1966 (1♂); Guerrero: 21 XII 1965 (1♀); Jalisco: 10 IX 1969 (1♀ CMNH) ; Morelos: 29–30 VI 1966 (5♂ 2♀), 27–29 VII 1976 (2♀ TAMU) ; Nuevo León: 6 — 7 VII 1966 (2♀); Oaxaca: Tehuantepec , 11 VII 1956 (1♀ CMNH) ; El Cameron, 21–22 VII 1974 (1♀ TAMU) , Puenta El Grande, 15 VI 2010; San Luis Potos´ı: 16 VI 1963 (2♂ 1♀); 4, 13, and 3 — 4 X 1965 (9♂ 13♀); Sinaloa: Las Mochis , 22 VII 1955 (7♂ 1♀ CMNH) , 15–20 IX 1962 (27♂ 30♀); 18 IX 1962 (1♀); 28 VIII 1964 (1♀ MPM) ; 31 VIII 1964 (1♀ MPM) ; 2 IX 1964 (1♀ MPM) ; 18 VI 1967 (1♂ MPM) ; Sonora: 24 VIII 1964 (1♂ 2♀ MPM) ; 29 VIII 1966 (1♀ MPM) ; Tamaulipas: 3 IX 1964 (1♂); 3 VII 1966 (10♂ 26♀); 4 VII 1966 (1♂); 29–30 X 1965 (3♂ 5♀); 11 X 1965 (5♂ 5♀); 24–25 III 1980 (1♀ CMNH) ; 19 III 1992 (1♀ TAMU) ; 30 VII 1993 (1♂ TAMU) ; 26–27 VII 1993 (1♂ TAMU) ; Veracruz: 6 III 1966 (3♂ 1♀); 9 III 1966 (2♂ 12♀); 9 I 1966 (1♀); 8 III 1966 (11♂ 13♀). NICARAGUA: Managua : 25 X 1993

(4♂ 3♀ CMNH); 20 XI 1994 (2♀ CMNH) ; 24 XI 1994 (2♂ CMNH) ; 29 XI 1994 (7♂ 2♀ CMNH) ; 25 X 1993 (3♂ 4♀ CMNH) ; Carazo: 11–13 IX 1992 (2♂ 10♀ CMNH) ; Bioreserva Chococente, 11–13 IX 1993 (2♂ 2♀ CMNH) ; Masaya: XI 1992 (2♀ CMNH) ; Las Flores “ Jun 1993 ” (31♂ 49♀ CMNH) .

Description (Holotype). Adult male. Size: ABL 4.2 mm. Color/Luster: Dorsum shiny black, except for lateral margins of pronotum narrowly testaceous. Labrum, palpi testaceous. Mandibles testaceous basally, piceous distally. Antennomeres 1 — 2 testaceous, remainder piceous. Legs testaceous. Venter shiny piceous; epipleura of pronotum and elytra lighter. Elytra faintly iridescent. Microsculpture: Head with mesh finely isodiametric, nearly obsolete. Pronotum with mesh transverse, fine, nearly obsolete. Elytra with mesh distinct, open, moderately transverse. Ventrites with mesh irregularly isodiametric, more transverse medially. Head: HW/PW = 0.78. Width slightly greater than width across pronotal apices. Eyes large and strongly convex. Pronotum: PL/PW = 0.71. Cordate with base markedly narrower than elytra; widest well before middle. Sides strongly curved anteriorly to anterior angles, moderately produced; sides nearly straight posteriorly to distinct obtuse angles. Bilateral basal impressions deep with fine rugae and suggestion of sparse punctules. Base otherwise impunctate. Elytra: Seriate punctures in striae 2, 5, and 7 typical size for the genus. ABS1 absent. Intervals moderately convex with sparse micropunctules. Venter: Prosternal process like that of subgenus. Ventrites with sparse, short pubescence. Ventrite 6 with 2 pairs of anal setae. Legs: Basal metatarsomere ventrally with inner single row of dense setae, brush-like. Male protarsi and mesotarsi only slightly dilated, otherwise typical of genus. Median lobe: Narrow, distal two-thirds nearly straight in lateral view. Dorsoapical plate short with sides gradually narrowed toward rounded tip bearing thin transverse lip, minutely hooked. Endophallus with dark, dense macular fields of illdefined scales: a pair distally in ostium and 1 toward right side just behind middle. A bilateral pair of long dark reticular fields more or less defined in proximal half of endophallus.

Variation. ABL 3.8–5.0 mm. The endophallus in some lack distinct scaly macules. Females with protarsi and mesotarsi unmodified; with 2 pairs of anal setae as in males.

Etymology. The specific name honors George E. Ball (1926–2019), Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, who recognized this beetle (“UASM- 16”) as an undescribed member of Selenophorus / Gynandropus among a myriad of other selenophorines that he had studied. The first author fondly recalls the mentorship and generosity that George Ball provided during several years of correspondence.

Diagnosis. Selenophorus balli is distinguished externally from other Nearctic members of the hylacis species group ( Gynandropus sensu lato) by unmodified protarsi in females; ABS1 absent; pronotum cordate; base impunctate; hind angles obtuse.

Type Habitat. Selenophorus balli was the most common Selenophorus collected during the twoyear LRGV beetle survey project (2008–2010) that is referred to in the introduction ( Table 5). The holotype was collected at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region of south Texas. The refuge encompasses 98,000 acres bordering the Lower Laguna Madre. Habitat consists of freshwater wetlands, coastal prairies, salt marsh, mudflats, and dense Tamaulipan thorn scrub forests rising from unique wind-blown silty-clay dunes called “lomas”. The refuge is uniquely located at the convergence of temperate, subtropical, coastal, and Chihuahuan desert habitats. Specimens were obtained from an ultraviolet light trap suspended from a tree at the loma-freshwater wetland margin ( Fig. 74 ). Additional associated Selenophorus species collected, including three new species, were S. elytrostictus , S. fatuus , S. maritimus , S. palliatus , S. rileyi , S. striatopunctatus , and S. undatus . Paratype data labels variously cite dense coastal brush, palm forest, palm forest margin, resaca bank, re-vegetated site, primary forest, in bromeliads, ebony-guayacan association, motel (at light).

Remarks. The elytra of S. balli exhibit moderately transverse microsculpture ( Fig. 28 ), but the mesh is not sufficiently striate (dense parallel spacing) to produce the strong iridescence seen in the S. striatopunctatus species group ( Fig. 68 ) or the S. opalinus species group.

Surprisingly, this widespread species from southern Texas to Nicaragua has remained undescribed until now. We encountered only one specimen ( Mexico, Sinaloa, Guamuchili, MPM collection) with the previous determination Gynandropus sp. UASM-11 (det. GE Ball, 1987). It differs from similar S. balli by its somewhat smaller size (ABL 4.2 mm), the pronotum with sides rounder; elytral microsculpture mesh coarser and irregularly isodiametric. However, Danny Shpeley (personal communication, 2020) observed that numerous UASM specimens labeled “UASM-11” (also widespread in Mexico) are conspecific with “UASM-16” (= S. balli ) based on his study of external structures and male genitalia. Therefore, our one example is likely not representative of UASM-11.

Figures

Figs. 19–28. Habitus images, genitalia illustrations, and SEMs of Selenophorus species. 19) S. hylacis, dorsal aspect; 20) S. intermedius, dorsal aspect; 21) S. mexicanus, dorsal aspect; 22) S. subquadratus, dorsal aspect; 23–28) S. balli, new species, dorsal and ventral aspects, male median lobe left lateral and dorsal views, and SEM images of pronotum and elytral striae showing setigerous puncture.

Figs. 72–75. Habitus images of Selenophorus and related genera, dorsal aspect: 72) S. maritimus; 73) Athrostictus punctatulus; 74) Discoderus discoderoides. 75) Sabal Palm Sanctuary, old-growth “core”.

Figs. 59–71. Habitus images, SEMs, habitat, and genitalia illustrations of Selenophorus species. 59–63) S. striatopunctatus dorsal and ventral aspects, SEM images of pronotum, elytra, and elytral striae showing setigerous puncture; 64–68) S. elytrostictus, new species, dorsal and ventral aspects, SEM images of pronotum, elytra, and elytral striae showing setigerous puncture; 69) Laguna Atascosa NWR, loma-freshwater margin; 70–71) S. elytrostictus, new species, male median lobe left lateral and dorsal views.