Pocadius helvolus Erichson, 1843

Cline, Andrew R., 2008, Revision of the sap beetle genus Pocadius Erichson, 1843 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae, Zootaxa 1799 (1), pp. 1-120 : 73-75

Pocadius helvolus Erichson, 1843

(Figs. 24, 65, 108, 151, 193, 231)

Specimens examined. LECTOTYPE ♂ (Humboldt, Berlin): 8642 / LECTOYPUS; Pocadius ; helvolus; Erichson 1843; Jelínek det. 1971. / helvolus; Er.; Am. Sept. Auf. Kn. [The bottom (i.e. 3 rd) label is hand-written and only partially legible]. The translation of the last line “Am. Sept. Mus. Kn.” likely is “America Septrionalis Museum Knoch’schen” as revealed in part by Erichson’s (1843: 320) original description and the typed label data of the paralectotype below. PARALECTOTYPE ♀ (Humboldt, Berlin): Hist. Coll. ( Coleoptera ); Nr. 8642; Pocadius helvolus Erichs. ; Americ. Sept. Mus. Knoch; Zool. Mus. Berlin / PARALECTOTYPUS; Pocadius ; helvolus; Erichson 1843; Jelínek det. 1971. Additionally,>1500 specimens from throughout North America and Mexico (ACM, AMNH, ASUT, CAS, CMNC, CMNH, CNC, CSCA, CUIC, EDNC, EMEC,

FMNH, FSCA, GSNP, LSAM, MCZ, MEMU, NMPI, OSUC, RMC, RTC, SEMC, TAMU, UCMC, UDCC, UGCA, UMRM, UMSP, UNSM, USNM).

Diagnosis. Although somewhat variable in color pattern and overall body pubescence, the following characters define this from all other species: almost complete alutaceous to granular surface sculpturing on pronotum and elytra; distinct antennal depressed region on ventral surface of terminal antennomere; terminal antennomere broadly evenly rounded apically; eyes comparatively small (width = 0.10 width of head); posterior face of prosternal process in lateral view with slight concavity; tegmen with 1 inner row of setae meeting near apex; median lobe with simple deeply incised apical opening; ejaculatory rods straight with basal piece having two separate distinct curved parts adjacent to the baso-lateral margin; ovipositor with single baso-lateral prominence on gonocoxite and three elongate apical setae.

Redescription. Length 3.9 mm, Width 2.1mm, Depth 1.5mm. Body moderately convex, surface slightly shining, reddish-brown to dark reddish brown sometimes with elytral apices and lateral area much darker. Pronotal and elytral margins with moderately elongate fimbriae. Dorsal and ventral pubescence quite long, golden.

Head surface moderately, irregularly punctate, punctures larger on vertex, becoming smaller towards orbits and fronotclypeal region. Large punctures 4X diameter of eye facet, small punctures 2X diameter; interspaces smooth to finely alutaceous, 0.5–0.75 diameters apart, shining and becoming granular near occiput. Pronotal surface with large punctures equal to large ones on head, interspersed with smaller punctures, 0.5– 0.75 size of large ones; interspaces alutaceous to granular, 0.5–1 diameter apart. Scutellar surface with shallowly impressed punctures equal to small punctures on pronotum, interspaces granular. Elytral surface with serial rows of smaller punctures equal to small ones on pronotum, serial large punctures 2X diameter of small ones. Smaller punctures giving rise to erect long setae, large punctures giving rise to semi-erect long setae; interspaces narrow between punctures of a row and between different rows. Within a row, small punctures separated by 1–1.5 diameter, and large punctures by 0.5–0.75 diameter. Large puncture rows separated by 1.50–2 large puncture diameters; interspaces slightly shining and mostly granular. Pygidium densely punctate, punctures equal to large ones on pronotum, interspaces narrow, 0.25–0.5 diameter, granular.

Venter with similar long golden pubescence as dorsum. Mentum with few small shallow punctures, equal to small ones on head, interspaces smooth to alutaceous. Prosternum and epimeron with moderately deep irregular punctation, punctures equal to large ones on head, interspaces granular, prosternal punctures separated by 0.25–0.5 diameter, those on epimeron by 0.5–1 diameter. Mesoventrite with shallow punctures, similar to those on prosternum, interspaces alutaceous to granular, separated by 0.5–1 diameter, aggregated along posterior border. Metaventrite irregularly punctate with moderately impressed punctures on disc similar to those on mesoventrite, interspaces alutaceous to granular on disc becoming completely granular laterally, punctures separated by 1 diameter. Abdominal sternite 1 with large faint, almost obsolete punctures, punctures equal to those on metaventrite, interspaces granular, separated by 0.5 diameter. Hypopygidium with deep punctures similar to those on sternites 2–4, interspaces granular, separated by 0.25–0.5 diameter.

Head slightly wider than long (W:L = 1.34:1). Antennal club compact, oval, symmetrical with last antennomere subequal to previous two combined. Antennomeres 4–5 cuboid, 6 moderately flattened with 7–8 disclike. Antennal scape moderately asymmetrical, slightly hemispherical, 2X as long as pedicel. Pedicel subcylindrical. Antennal segment 3 subequal to pedicel. Antennal club large, 0.75 length of segments 1–8 combined. Mentum with anterior angles broadly rounded, anterior margin broadly hemispherical with somewhat defined apex, lateral sides short and somewhat convergent, overall pentagonal, in lateral view flattened.

Pronotum widest near posterior angles (L:W = 1:2), anterior margin broadly trapezoidal, lateral margins evenly arcuate to anterior angles. Scutellum large, obtusely triangular, apex rounded. Prosternal process in lateral view with anterior and posterior ends prominent and convex medially; posterior apical wall prominent and slightly concave. Mesoventrite extending to midway between mesocoxae, evenly broadly concave for reception of metaventrite. Metaventrite wider than long (W:L = 3:1). Metepisternum with slight medial con- striction, oblique line dividing anterior 0.2. First abdominal sternite with acuminate process between metacoxae. First sternite 2X longer than sternite 2. Sternites 2–3 subequal, 4 slightly larger than 2 or 3. Hypopygidium subequal to sternite 1.

Protibia with apical tooth prominent, slightly longer than tarsomeres 1 and part of 2 combined. Outer apical notch with 100° angle, notch depth moderate, subequal to tarsomere 1. Inner apical spine subequal to tarsomeres 1 and part of 2 combined. Mesotibia more heavily armed than protibia with dense stiff setae and row of slender spines along lateral edge. Outer apical process elongate robust, larger than protibial process, bifid apically. Inner apical spine equal to tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Metatibia with armature similar to mesotibia, but outer apical process slightly longer.

Male genitalia well-sclerotized. Anal sclerite with apex fimbriate and acuminate (Fig. 24). Spiculum gastrale with wide lateral flanges, medial margins slightly concave proximally, sparse long setae originating from apex (Fig. 65). Tegmen evenly rounded apically (Fig. 108), somewhat longer than wide (w:l = 1:1.6), lateral row of setae visible from median fossa to around apex, small shallow concavity in apical 0.33, basal margin angulate, inner row of setae complete and meeting near apex. Median lobe large, robust, 0.50 length of tegmen, apex broadly rounded, apex with well-developed medial opening (Fig. 151). Ejaculatory rods not fused to basal piece, and nearly straight. Basal piece with deep medial concavity extending almost 0.66 length, proximally with broad basal convexity and two separate lateral pieces inwardly curved (Fig. 193).

Female genitalia moderately sclerotized. Paraprocts large with sclerotization along median line. Gonocoxite with one basal lateral prominence. Gonocoxal apices with recurved “tooth” present. Three elongate setae originate from small depressions on apico-lateral regions (Fig. 231).

Variation. Specimens from Colorado, Manitoba, and Northwest Territory have ejaculatory rods more slender and slightly inwardly curved, however, other genitalic features are similar.

Seasonality/Habitat. Collected nearly year-round depending on locality; specimens from southern U.S. and Mexico have been collected in all months except January and February, with most collected from April– October.

Distribution. Range extends from Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec south through central Florida in the east and central Mexico in the west ( McNamara 1991). This includes all states on or east of the 100 th parallel in the USA, as well as Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona. Mexico records were indicated by Parsons (1943) as Puente de Ixtla, Durango and Guanajuata. New records from Mexico include: (CAS): Cocula; Jalisco, Mex.; VII-2-60; in puffball; L.R. Gillogly collr. (CAS): Cocula; Jalisco, Mex.; VII-22-60; in puffball; L.R. Gillogly collr. (CAS): Guadalajara; Jalisco, Mex.; 9 July 1960; in puffball; Gilloglys collrs. (CAS): Delgollado, Jalisco; Mexico, VII-2-1963; in puffball; L.R. Gillogly collr. (CAS): LaVenotsa, Oaxaca; Mexico, VII-19-1963; ex. shaggy-mane; L.R. Gillogly collr. (CAS): Tapalpa; Jalisco; Mexico; VII-4-1960; ex. fungi; L.R. Gillogly collr. (UGZM): MEXICO: Jalisco, Zapopan; Nextipac, Las Agujas, CUCBA; 1600m, 14-VII-1994; ex. Lycoperdon, D. Pérez col. (MAIC): MEX.: Jalisco, 20mi.; SW Encarnacion de Diaz; 09 JUL 1982, 2000m; M.A. Ivie colr.

Notes. Adults collected from Lycoperdaceae as well as “gilled fungi” and fungus covered logs.