Lobopoda deyrupi, Steiner, Warren E. & Jr, 2006

Steiner, Warren E. & Jr, 2006, New species of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Zootaxa 1158, pp. 1-38 : 32-35

Lobopoda deyrupi , new species

( Figs. 10 A–G)

Description

Holotype, MALE: Body length 5.7 mm; greatest width (at basal 1/3rd of elytra) 2.9 mm; elongate­oval ( Fig. 10 A), color brown, surfaces smooth, shining, with short, fine golden setae; antennae yellow­brown, basal segments of the flagellum darkest; femora pale yellow except brownish basally; tibiae brown, with apical 1/3 of front tibia becoming yellowish; front tarsi yellow; middle, hind tarsi brownish basally, becoming yellowish apically.

Head ( Fig. 10 B) with punctures of vertex slightly smaller than those of pronotum. E yes narrowly separated dorsally by less than 1/6th the greatest width of an eye; ocular index 8. Third antennomere 3 times as long as second, shorter than fourth. Maxillary palpus yellow, with apical segment twice as wide as long; width shorter than length of third antennomere.

Prothorax parallel­sided in basal half, evenly narrowing, rounded in apical half; pronotal surface densely punctate; punctures separated by less than the diameter of a puncture, some coalesce; basal, median foveae shallowly impressed. Prosternum densely, finely punctate; proepisternum coarsely punctate in anterior half. Mesosternal depression moderately impressed, V­shaped with apex of V indistinct. Metasternite with moderately dense punctures separated by about their diameters across middle, becoming larger and sparser toward sides.

Legs finely setose; anterior tibia with ventral triangular expansion ( Fig. 10 B) at basal 2/5ths. Tarsal claws with 7–8 teeth. Hind tarsi about 3/5ths as long as hind tibiae; basal tarsomere as long as remaining 3 tarsomeres combined.

Elytra with sides nearly parallel from just behind humeri to about mid­length, then gradually narrowed to narrowly rounded apices; strial punctures moderately large, closely spaced, coalescing into furrows toward apex; intervals convex, polished, with scattered small setigerous punctures. Epipleurae finely, sparsely punctate; very slightly widened before apex, then narrowed to a point opposite fifth sternite.

Abdomen with sternites evenly punctate; punctures shallow, separated by about twice their diameters. Fifth (visible) sternite with broad shallow concavity at middle; apical margin evenly convex. Lobes of eighth sternum ( Fig. 10 F) pincer­like in ventral view, broad at base in lateral view ( Fig. 10 G); inner margins evenly curved from base to narrowly rounded apex; inner sides with a mixture of fine setae and scattered dentiform setae, latter becoming larger, more dense at apex of lobe. Lobes of ninth sternite broad in lateral view, with apices evenly rounded. Length of tegmen 1.4 mm; apical piece in dorsal view ( Fig. 10 D) evenly narrowed in basal 4/5ths, very slightly widened before rounded apex; apex in lateral view ( Fig. 10 E) slightly upturned; sides, ventral edge with scattered small dentiform setae. Ratio of length of apical piece to basal piece 1:3.5.

FEMALE. Similar to male except: Eyes widely separated dorsally by 2/3rds the greatest width of an eye; ocular index 28.5; anterior tibia evenly arcuate, gradually widening from base to apex; fifth sternite with flattened area medially.

Material examined

“ BAHAMAS, SAN SALVADOR, 20 JUNE 1999, M. & L. DEYRUP / YELLOW BOWL TRAP, COPPICE FOREST SOUTH OF BAHAMIAN FIELD STATION” (Holotype and 2 paratypes); same data except “ 18 JUNE 1999 ” (2 paratypes); “SAN SALVADOR, BAHAMAS, 15 JUNE 1993, M. DEYRUP / THICK COPPICE­FOREST, HILL TRAIL NORTH OF OSPREY POND / MALAISE TRAP ” (5 paratypes); same data except “ 16 JUNE 1993 ” (3 paratypes), “ 17 JUNE 1993 ” (2 paratypes), “ 18 JUNE 1993 ” (4 paratypes), “ 19 JUNE 1993 ” (4 paratypes); BAHAMA ISLANDS: San Salvador, French Bay Beach, 23°57’N, 74°32’W, 21 June 2003 / Under fallen leaves of Coccothrinax argentata in coastal scrub / W. E. Steiner & J. M. Swearingen collectors” (1 paratype); BAHAMA ISLANDS: San Salvador, Gerace Research Ctr., 24°07’N, 74°26’W, 21 June 2003 / At black light, scrub forest edge at open catchment / W. E. Steiner & J. M. Swearingen collectors” (1 paratype); same data except “ 22 June 2003 ” (1 paratype); same data except “ 14 February 2004 / Under fallen leaves of Coccothrinax argentata in coastal scrub” (1 paratype); same data except “ 20 February 2004 / Under coconut on sandy soil, coastal scrub edge at roadside” (1 paratype).

Va r i a t i o n

Among the 28 beetles of the type­series, body length ranges from 5.5 to 6.5 mm; females are generally larger than males. In some specimens, coloration of the legs was darker or dull yellow, probably due to some difference in preservation.

Diagnosis

Lobopoda deyrupi keys to L. bahamensis Campbell (1966) in the Flavipes Group of the subgenus Flavipoda Campbell; all known members of the group are endemic to Cuba or the Bahamas ( Campbell 1971). However, L. deyrupi is the smallest known member of this group; all others are at least 7 mm in length and usually exceed 10 mm. Lobopoda bahamensis has uniformly tan­colored legs and is 8–9.5 mm long. The small size, bicolored legs, and details of the male terminalia of L. deyrupi will separate it from other Bahamian Lobopoda species. Calculations of the ocular index ( Campbell and Marshall 1964) used in the description are also useful, but they differ more between the sexes than vary among species of the Bahamas.

Etymology

Named in honor of Mark A. Deyrup, research biologist at Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, Florida, who collected the majority of the known specimens of this distinctive beetle. The name is formed from the proper name “Deyrup” + the Latin genitive possessive masculine “­i.”

Distribution

Lobopoda deyrupi is known only from San Salvador Island and is presumably endemic. Like all members of the genus, it is a winged species, but most tend to be very precinctive in distribution, with many island endemics ( Campbell 1971). No other Lobopoda are known from San Salvador.

Habitats and collection notes

Other than the label data cited above, beetles have been taken under fallen thatch palm ( Coccothrinax argentata ) leaves in dense coastal scrub, and under leaf litter and coconut husks at the edge of a clearing in scrub, on loose sandy soil. Larvae probably live in sandy soils; a specimen of a related species was recently reared from a larva found in mixed sand and humus from a similar habitat on New Providence.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Lobopoda deyrupi, new species. A, holotype, dorsal view; body length xx mm. B, same, detail of fore­body. C, head of female paratype showing smaller, widely separated eyes; width of head mm. D­E, male genitalia, holotype, dorsal and lateral views, respectively; length of tegmen 1.4 mm. F­G, sternites 8 and 9, dorsal and lateral views, respectively; length including ring sclerite 1.9 mm.