Fornax melsheimeri Otto, 2020

Otto, Robert L., 2020, A review of the Nearctic species of Fornax Laporte (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini) with descriptions of six new species, Insecta Mundi 2020 (818), pp. 1-26 : 21-24

Fornax melsheimeri Otto , new species

Fig. 35–38

Diagnosis. Absence of delicate interantennal carina on the base of the frontoclypeal region distinguishes F. melsheimeri new species from both F. convexicollis new species and F. parallelicollis new species. Overall shape of the pronotum further distinguishes F. melsheimeri new species from all remaining species of Fornax present in the Nearctic region.

Type material. Male holotype. “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., 3.7 mi. N. La Crosse, Santa Fe River floodplain, fall- 1996; G. Steck, & B. Sutton, Malaise trap ” / “ Fornax , luridus, Chevrolat, Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (“17” handwritten on label) / “ HOLOTYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [red printed label]. Female allotype: “ FLORIDA: Alachua County , SE Gainesville, Kincaid Rd. , @ 1 mi. N. Paynes Prairie, 7–21-, VIII-1999, 6m Malaise trap, edge old field/dry oak hamm., B.D. Sutton ” / “ ALLOTYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label]. Holotype and allotype are deposited in FSCA .

Paratypes. 16 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀: FLORIDA: 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: DADE CO., CAMP MAHACHEE, NR., MATHESON HAMMOCK, MCTHOMAS & LPARKER, BLACKLIGHT TRAP” (date missing on label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “Avon Park, Fla., May 1943, R.H. Arnett, Jr.” (“May” handwritten) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♀, “DEVIL’S MILLHOPPER, ALACHUA CO., FLA” / DALE H. HABECK, 22-IV-1972 ” (month handwritten in Roman numeral; day and year handwritten) / “REARED FROM, tree stump” (‘tree stump handwritten) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♀, “FLA., Marion County, Ocala, 20-VII-1977, Coll. M.C. Thomas” (month handwritten in Roman numeral; day and year handwritten) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: DADE CO., CAMP MAHACHEE, NR., MATHESON HAMMOCK, 27-V-1983, MCTHOMAS & LPARKER, BLACKLIGHT TRAP” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., Gainesville: Doyle, Conner Building, 5–8-VI-1987, Paul Skelley, malaise trap” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 2 ♂♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., Gainesville: Doyle, Conner Building, 8–12-VI-1987, Paul Skelley, malaise trap” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., 4 mi. N. of LaCrosse, J. & E. Ranch, 23–25 July 1989, Lloyd R. Davis, Jr.” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 2 ♂♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., SE Gainesville, Kincaid Rd., old field edge, xeric oak, hamm., 6m Malaise, 8–15-V-, 1999, B.D. Sutton” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 2 ♂♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., SE Gainesville, Kincaid Rd., old field edge, xeric oak, hamm., 6m Malaise, 13–26-, VI-1999, B.D. Sutton” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co. SE, Gainesville, Kincaid Rd., @ 1 mi. N. Paynes Prairie, 10–17-VII-1999, 6m, Malaise trap, B.D. Sutton, edge, old field/dry oak hammock” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♀, “ FLORIDA: Alachua Co., Gainesville, SE Kincaid Rd., @ 1 mi. N. Paynes Prairie, edge, old field/dry oak hamm., 6m Malaise, 4–11-VIII-1999, B.D. Sutton” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua County, SE Gainesville, Kincaid Rd., @ 1 mi. N. Paynes Prairie, 21–, 28-VIII-1999, 6m Malaise trap, edge old field/ dry oak hamm., B.D. Sutton” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: Alachua County, SE Gainesville, Kincaid Rd., @ 1 mi. N. Paynes Prairie, 28-VIII–2-IX-1999, edge old field/dry oak hamm., B.D. Sutton 6m Malaise trap” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP); 1 ♀, “FL: Polk Co., Green Swamp WMA, 19 May–3 June 2001, Morris and Nigg, Malaise Trap” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP); 1 ♂, “FL: Sumter Co., Green Swamp WMA, 3–15 June 2001, Morris and Nigg, Malaise Trap” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ Fornax , luridus, Chevrolat, Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (“17” handwritten on label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP); 1 ♀, “FL: Sumter Co., Green Swamp WMA, 3–15 June 2001, Morris and Nigg, Malaise Trap” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ PARA- TYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP); 1 ♂, “ FLORIDA: Monroe Co., Upper Key Largo, May 14–27, 2016, Lindgren funnel trap, Kyle E. Schnepp” / “ Fornax , luridus, Chevrolat, Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (“17” handwritten on label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , melsheimeri, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( KESC).

Description. Male holotype. Length 7.0 mm. Width 2.0 mm. Body subcylindrical, elongate; uniformly reddishbrown; antennae reddish-brown; legs including tarsi reddish-brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent yellowish setae ( Fig. 35 ). Head: Subspherical; integument rugose, somewhat dull; frons convex, without median carina or fovea above frontoclypeal region; apical margin of frontoclypeal region rounded, about 2 times wider than base; horizontal interantennal carina absent; mandibles stout, bidentate, densely punctate. Antenna: Filiform from antennomeres III–XI, almost 2/3 of body length; antennomere III slightly longer than IV; antennomeres IV–X subequal, longer than wide; antennomere XI slightly longer than X. Pronotum: Integument dull, densely rugose to granulate; wider than long, with moderate, sharp hind angles; sides gradually arcuate anteriorly; disc convex, with shallow, delicate median groove, without circular fovea; base sinuous, with pair of very small, circular depressions above scutellar shield. Scutellar shield: Elongate, subtriangular, setose, shallowly punctate and distally rounded. Elytra: Distinctly striate; interstices slightly elevated; integument shiny, with shallow, dense punctures. Legs: First tarsomere as long as combined lengths of remaining four on meso- and metatarsi; tibiae rounded in cross-section; metatarsomeres I–III simple; metatarsomere IV excavated, emarginated; metatarsomere V elongate with, basally toothed claws. Venter ( Fig. 36 ): Closely punctate, with elongate, recumbent whitish setae; hypomeron with basally open lateral antennal grooves; metepisterna parallel-sided; elytral epipleura shiny, grooved throughout, without punctures; metacoxal plates medially more than 6.0 times wider than laterally; last abdominal ventrite apically produced, short, wide.

Female allotype ( Fig. 37 ). 8.0 mm long; antennae filiform, attaining nearly 1/2 of body length; legs and antennae reddish-brown, slightly lighter than habitus; sides of pronotum narrowing anteriorly from above hind angles; last abdominal ventrite slightly narrower and more pointed.

Aedeagus (paratype) ( Fig. 38 ). Basal piece slightly longer than wide, parallel-sided, dorsally open, basally rounded; remaining parts elongate, strongly constricted laterally at base of parameres, apically lobed; median lobe short and spatulate, apically rounded, narrowly bifid; parameres elongate, apically unsclerotized, with a triangular lateral tooth near base.

Variation. Sixteen male and five female paratypes were examined. The male paratypes are 6.0–9.0 mm long and 2.0–3.0 mm wide. The female paratypes are 6.0–11.0 mm long and 2.0–3.0 mm wide. Five males and one female are shorter than and just as wide as the holotype. Two males and two females are just as long and wide as the holotype. Nine remaining males and two other females are longer and wider than the holotype. Three males are darker than the holotype. One male and two females are lighter than the holotype. Twelve remaining males and several females are just as dark as the holotype. Delicate, shallow median groove is present on the pronotal disc of two females and six males. The median groove is absent in the other three females and 10 males.

Distribution. This new species is known from a number of localities throughout the state of Florida, USA.

Biology. Seven specimens were taken from Malaise traps placed in several counties in Florida. Nine specimens were taken from a 6 m Malaise trap placed at the edge of an old field adjacent to a dry oak hammock. One specimen was taken from a Lindgren funnel trap placed in southern Florida. One specimen was reared from a tree stump. Two specimens were taken from a blacklight trap placed in southern Florida near Matheson Hammock. Developmental stages remain unknown.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Frederick Ernst Melsheimer, who contributed to American Entomology through his works on Coleoptera by describing many species during the 1800s, including four species of Eucnemidae .

Figures

Figures 35–38. Fornax melsheimeri Otto, sp. nov. 35) Male holotype, dorsal habitus. 36) Male holotype, ventral habitus. 37) Female allotype, dorsal habitus. 38) Male paratype, aedeagus, dorsal view. (Scale: 35–38 = 1.0 mm.)