Sapotes sordidus Jones and O’Brien, 2007

Gotoh, Hiroki & Lavine, Laura C., 2007, Fig. 3 in Genetic Control of Color Polymorphism in the Stag Beetle Cyclommatus metallifer Boisduval (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 24 (2), pp. 208-223 : 216-218

Sapotes sordidus Jones and O’Brien , new species

Figs. 1B, 1C , 2E , 3A, 3B , 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D , 5H

Type Series. Holotype. MEXICO: Querétaro, Municipio Cadereyta , 5 km N Higuerillas, 18-viii-2000, R. Jones, on Larrea tridentata (USNM) (male) . Paratypes. MEXICO: Querétaro, Municipio Cadereyta , 5 km N Higuerillas, 9- ix-2000 & 31-viii-2000, R. Jones, on Larrea tridentata (UAQE, CWOB, USNM, TAMU, CNIN, CMNC) (25 males, 29 females) . Hidalgo, Hwy 85, 19. mi S. Zimapan , 6,550’, 26 July 1982, C. W. O’Brien, G. Wibmer ( CWOB) (4 females) ; Hwy 85, 12. mi S. Zimapán , 6,550’, 26 July 1982, C. W. O’Brien, G. Wibmer ( CWOB) (14 females) ; 30 km S Zimapán , 6,550’, 29-x-2000, J. Luna, R. Jones ( UAQE) (4 males, 4 females) . ( UAQE)

Description. Body oblong, length males 3.4–5.5 mm (mean 4.74 ± 0.52), width 1.7–2.5 mm (mean 2.11 ± 0.28); length females 4.1–5.6 mm (mean 4.74 ± 0.52), width 1.8–2.7 mm (mean 2.17 ± 0.27). Integument covered with dense, grey to black, imbricate, irregularly shaped scales, (0.02–0.04 mm), uniformly overlapping on legs, head, and on ventral segments. Scales coalescing, and indistinguishable on prothorax and parts of elytra resulting in a grainy, or crusty appearance. Setae (0.05–0.08 mm) brown on elytra and head, paler and less dense on abdominal sterna ( Fig. 3A and 3B ). Head in lateral view with only slight depression between rostrum and frons; frons slightly bulging. Setae on frons and vertex evenly spaced, 0.05 mm, and inclined ca. 45 °. Rostrum with two narrow lateral sulci, subparallel, extending from just above rostral disc and abruptly arching at 90 ° to base of eyes, often occluded by scales. Rostral disc triangular, with circular or grainy scales, dense basally, becoming sparse apically. Setae dorsally evenly spaced (0.05 mm) and inclined; on rostrum laterally below scrobes stout (0.06–0.08 mm), curved, and translucent. Dorsal and ventral margin of scrobe well defined and passing at base of eye. Eyes large, oblong, almost twice as high as wide (ca. 0.2 X 0.4 mm). Antennae densely clothed with round scales and setae. Scape approximately 3/4 length of funiculus plus club. Funicular antennomere 1 as long as 2 and 3 combined. Club with three divisions, each ringed with small setae at junctures and clothed with fine pubescence. Prothorax transverse, slightly wider than long in dorsal view (1.2–1.8 mm wide; 1.0– 1.3 mm long), and widest at basal third. Anterior margin with postocular lobes well developed, bearing vibrissae located from base to apical margin of eye, and not as long as width of funicular antennomere 2. Punctures on disc deep and prominent (0.08–0.12 mm), often filled with grainy, white scales. Setae sparsely scattered dorsally and smaller than on head and elytra. Scutellum triangular (0.12 X 0.12 mm) and inclined posteriad, densely clothed with flat, white to grey scales.

Elytra with basal margin carinate, rounded in dorsal view, widest just anteriad of midpoint (1.7–2.4 mm), with dorsal line in lateral view almost linear for basal two thirds, there sharply rounded to an almost vertical declivity ( Fig. 1B and 1C ). Declivity more vertical in males than females and straight ( Fig. 1B ); declivity in females with apices of elytra flaring slightly ( Fig. 1C ). Intervals nearly flat with small, curved setae (length 0.07–0.09 mm) aligned in staggered single to double rows; punctures shallow and scale-filled. Scales very variable in color and in patches of white, grey and tan. Abdomen ventrally clothed in dense irregularly shaped, imbricate scales with irregularly spaced, tan setae (0.07–0.1 mm). Sternum 1 approximately twice length of 2, with punctures at anterior margin in semi-circle between coxae. Sternum 2 equal in length to combined length of 3 and 4. Sternum 5 wider than long, and broadly rounded at apex, with larger and denser setae than other abdominal segments. Legs. Procoxae contiguous; mesocoxae separated by distance similar to width of funicular antennomere 2; metacoxae separated almost twice width of one metacoxa; femur unarmed; tibia mucronate, protibia with three to four spines (0.05 mm) on apical 2/3 of inner margin, corbel on metatibia closed, and heavily clothed with flattened, white scales; tarsi anteriad with scales and setae, pubescent beneath, with tarsomere 3 bi-lobed. Male genitalia. Median lobe 1.9 by 0.25 mm, strongly sclerotized, cylindrical, black; in lateral view strongly curved in apical third, approximately 60 ° from base of apodemes to basal third with that from base of apodemes to lobe tip; in dorsal view apical portion slightly constricted and rounded ( Figs. 4A, 4B ); endophallus without apparent sclerotized circular structure at base. Spiculum gastrale asymmetrical and complex apically, 1.8 X 0.45 mm; in lateral view evenly curved along length, with weakly sclerotized, oblong base; apical portion with lateral double-pronged projections offset approximately 20 ° from perpendicular, with three setae on rounded apices ( Fig. 4C ). Phallobase 1.65 X 0.33 mm, strongly sclerotized in basal arm, becoming less so apically ( Fig. 4D ). Female

genitalia. Similar to S. caseyi (see Figs. 5C, 5D ). Ovipositor with lightly sclerotized cylindrical tube, 1.0 mm in length by 0.46 mm in width, with 15 to 25 setae in apical third. Sternum 8 simple, 0.6 by 0.3 mm, with 25 to 35 setae in apical rounded portion; total length with apodeme approximately 1.8 mm. Spermatheca C-shaped, enlarged portion with two ducts connected to tapered extension ( Fig. 5H ), length from extension to ducts 0.28 mm.

Diagnosis. This is the only species of the genus in which the majority of the scales on the elytra and prothorax are relatively indistinguishable, giving the body a distinct grainy or crusty appearance, especially on the prothorax and elytra ( Figs. 3A, 3B ). Instead of the scales overlapping, the edges around each scale are raised in a bowl-like fashion and coalesce with the raised portions of adjacent scales. Setae on the elytra are relatively short (0.05–0.08 mm), distinguishing the species from S. setosus . There are fewer than five teeth on the inner margin of the protibia of S. sordidus in contrast to S. puncticollis and S. longipillis . The male median lobe is large and the tip slightly more rounded in dorsal view than in S. longipilis , and curved sharply downward at the tip yet without a sclerotized process in the endophallus, as found in S. setosus . No distinct differences were found in the morphology of the female genitalia among the species.

Biology. Specimens were only collected at night on creosote bush, Larrea tridentata (DC.) Cov. (Zygophyllaceae) ; (Rzedowski and Calderón de Rzedowski 1994). No individuals were found during the day at sites where individuals were common at night. Individuals were found in copula in August in Querétaro, Mexico. This species has been found only in regions classified as the ‘‘relict’’ southern remnants of the Chihauhuan desert in the states of Queretaro and Hidalgo ( Morafka 1977).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the latin sordidus meaning ‘‘dirty,’’ or ‘‘shabby’’ and refers to the grainy, crusty appearance of the scales on the prothorax and elytra of this species.

Figures

Fig. 1. A) rostrum of Sapotes longipilis showing medial sulcus and arching lateral sulci. B–C, sexual dimorphism in elytral declivity of Sapotes sordidus: B) elytral declivity of male S. sordidus; C) elytral declivity of female S. sordidus.

Fig. 2. A–E. Size and arrangement of teeth on inner margin of protibia of species of Sapotes: A. S. longipilis; B. S. puncticollis; C. S. caseyi; D. S. setosus; E. S. sordidus.

Fig. 3. A–J, habitus of species of Sapotes. A. lateral view of male S. sordidus (4.46 mm); B. dorsal view of male S. sordidus; C. lateral view of male S. setosus (3.36 mm); D. dorsal view of male S. setosus; E. lateral view of female S. caseyi (4.32 mm); F. dorsal view of female S. caseyi; G. lateral view of female S. puncticollis (5.09 mm); H. dorsal view of female S. puncticollis; I. lateral view of female S. longipilis (5.04 mm); J. dorsal view of female S. longipilis.

Fig. 4. A–H, male genitalia of Sapotes. Reference lines to the left of figures equal to 0.5 mm. A. dorsal view of median lobe of S. sordidus; B. lateral view of median lobe of S. sordidus; C. dorsal view of spiculum gastrale of S. sordidus; D. phallobase of S. sordidus; E. dorsal view of median lobe of S. setosus; F. lateral view of median lobe of S. setosus; G. dorsal view of spiculum gastrale of S. setosus; H. phallobase of S. setosus.

Fig. 5. A–I, male and female genitalia of Sapotes. Reference line to the right of figures equal to 0.5 mm. A–B. apical portion of male median lobe of S. longipilis; A. dorsal and B. lateral view. C. ovipositor of S. caseyi. D. sternum 8 of S. caseyi. E–I, spermathecae of Sapotes species, with length from tip of arm to ducts: E. S. puncticollis (0.27 mm); F. S. longipilis (0.35 mm); G. S. caseyi (0.30 mm); H. S. sordidus (0.28 mm); I. S setosus (0.23 mm).