Fornax appalachiensis 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 : 4-6

Fornax appalachiensis Otto , new species

Fig. 1, 5–8

Diagnosis. Dark reddish-brown dorsum distinguishes F. appalachiensis new species from most species of Nearctic Fornax except F. knulli Muona , F. floridana new species and F. melsheimeri new species. Overall larger size and wider than long pronotum further distinguishes F. appalachiensis new species from F. knulli . Parallel-sided pronotum distinguishes F. appalachiensis new species from F. melsheimeri new species. Male specimens of F. appalachiensis new species differ from F. floridana new species by having parallel-sided pronotum, weakly arcuate in the latter. Female specimens of F. appalachiensis new species differ from F. floridana new species by having elongate antennae reaching half of body length, being slightly stouter and reaching nearly half of body length in the latter.

Type material. Male holotype: “ GEORGIA: Oconee Co., 2.4 km W Bishop, 33.81969, −83.46461, 241m, 28 Jul– 11 Aug 2014, LFT, R. Willlits, BSF# 58925” / “ HOLOTYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [red printed label]. Female allotype: “Bear Wallow, Ind., July 11, 1967, Charles E. White, Blacklight trap” (‘11’ handwritten) / “ Fornax , bicolor, (Melsheimer) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2014” (folded) / “ ALLOTYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label]. Holotype is deposited in CMNH. Allotype is deposited in FSCA.

Paratypes. 6 ♂♂, 10♀♀: DELAWARE: 1♀, “ DELAWARE:Sussex Co., 8.9 km ESE of Laurel, 38.53035, −75.47468, 10 m, 29 Jun–9 Jul 2019, S. Hauss, K. Bielicki, LFT, BFS#86144” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( CMNH); GEORGIA: 1 ♂, “Atlanta Ga, 7-8-46, P.W. Fattig” (date handwritten) / “J. N. Knull, Collection” / “ Fornax , bicolor, Mel., det. J. Knull ” (‘bicolor’ and ‘Mel.’ are handwritten) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FMNH); 1 ♀, “DeKalb, Co. GA, VIII- 10-70” / “ Fornax , bicolor, (Mels.) , Muona det. 1980” (‘80’ handwritten) / “ PARATYPE: Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “USA, Georgia, Clarke Co. 200m, 33°54′N 83°16′W, 26-02 Sept., 1992, J. Pickering 173” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♀, “ GEORGIA: Fulton Co., 3.6 km NNE Union City, 33.61696, –84.5288, 293m, 2–14 Jun 2016, LFT, E. Dendy, BSF#71181” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( CMNH); 1 ♂, “ GEORGIA: Cook County, 4.9 km E Ellenton, 76m, 31.17327, -83.536, 15 May–6 June 2018, LFT, N. Skaggs, BSF#85829” / “ PARATYPE: Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( CMNH); INDIANA: 1 ♀, “Grantsburg, Ind., June 5, 1965, Dianne Eckert, Blacklight trap” / “ PARATYPE: Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♀, “IND: Brown County, Blacklight trap, at Bear Wallow, vi.12.68 CEWhite” / “N.M. Downie Colln., 1992 Acc. Z-18343, FIELD MUSEUM” / Fornax , bicolor, (Mels.) , Muona det. 1980” (‘80’ handwritten) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FMNH); NEW YORK: 1 ♀, “N.Y.” / “ Fornax , bicolor, 9168 Mels.” (folded; handwritten; double red framed white label) / “ Fornax , bicolor (Mels.) , J. Muona det. 1980” (folded; “ bicolor (Mels.) ” handwritten on label) / “ PARATYPE: Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( SEMC); PENNSYLVANIA: 1 ♀, “ PENNSYLVANIA: Mifflin, Co, 5.4 km W Lewistown, 40.59697, –77.63562, 213m, 19 Jun–18 Jul 2007 ” / “intercept trap, J. Theis, BSF# 10920” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( CMNH); SOUTH CAROLINA: 1 ♂, “Florence, 16 July, V.M. Kirk” (date handwritten) / “S.C., 1942” (“42” handwritten) / “Tanglefoot, Screen” / “J.N. Knull, Collection” / “ Fornax , bicolor, Mel., det. J. Knull ” (‘bicolor’ and ‘Mel.’ are handwritten) / “ PARATYPE: Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FMNH); TENNESSEE: 1 ♀, “ TENNESSEE: Knox Co., John Sevier, 10–13 July 2005, J.H. Lowe, E. Clebsch” / “ PARATYPE: Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( CMNH); VIRGINIA: 1 ♀, “Agriotes, mancus, Nelson Co. Va., July 14, 1919, W. Robinson” (‘Agriotes mancus’ and ‘ July 14 1919 ” handwritten) / “ Fornax , bicolor, (Mels.) , J. Muona det.” (species and author names handwritten; folded) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( USNM); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, “VA: Appomattox Co., Appomattox, 14–28 June 1999, Robert Vigneault” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (either ♂ or ♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP); UNKNOWN LOCALE: 1 ♂, [pink disc] / “F., bicolor, (Mels) ” [handwritten] / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , appalachiensis, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2018 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( MCZ). Paratypes are deposited in CMNH, FMNH, FSCA, GERP, MCZ, SEMC and USNM.

Description. Male holotype. Length 8.0 mm. Width 2.5 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. 5 ). 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, attaining nearly 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; wider than long, with poorly developed, sharp hind angles; parallel-sided in basal half, narrowing anteriorly in apical half; disc convex, with short, delicate, shallow median groove at base; base sinuous, with pair of transverse circular depressions above scutellar shield. Scutellar shield: Elongate, subtriangular, shallowly punctate, setose and distally rounded. Elytra: Distinctly striate; interstices slightly elevated; integument shiny, with dense, crowded punctures, almost rugose. 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. 6 ): Closely punctate, with elongate, recumbent yellowish 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 and wide.

Female allotype ( Fig. 7 ). 10.0 mm long; antennae filiform, reaching 1/2of body length; legs and antennae reddishbrown, similar to habitus; pronotum parallel-sided in basal 2/3, narrowing anteriorly in apical 1/3; last abdominal ventrite apically produced, shorter, narrower.

Aedeagus (paratype) ( Fig. 8 ). Basal piece longer than wide, laterally parallel-sided, dorsally open, apically rounded; remaining parts elongate, constricted laterally at base of parameres, apically lobed; median lobe elongate and narrow, apically rounded, narrowly bifid, shorter than parameres; parameres curved, elongate, with a triangular lateral tooth near base.

Variation. Six male and 10 female paratypes were examined. The female paratypes were 8.0–11.0 mm long and 2.5–3.0 mm wide. The male paratypes were 6.5–10.5 mm long and 1.5–3.0 mm wide. Nearly all paratypes are darker than the holotype, with one male dark brown and two females darker reddish-brown. One of the male and one of the female paratypes are just as dark as the holotype. Five female paratypes are much lighter-colored than the other specimens in the series, possibly teneral at the time of collection. One of the female paratypes has a deeper median basal groove on the pronotum than both the male holotype and two male paratypes. The other nine female and four male paratypes have a much shallower median groove basally. There are no other exoskeletal differences between these paratypes and the holotype.

Distribution. This species is known from the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas from New York and Pennsylvania south to Georgia and west to Tennessee and Indiana. Several specimens have been taken outside of the Appalachian Mountain range.

Biology. Four specimens were taken from a Lindgren funnel traps placed in central Pennsylvania, southern Delaware, and northeastern and southern Georgia. Three specimens were taken from a blacklight trap placed in Indiana. One specimen was taken from a tanglefood screen in South Carolina. Developmental stages remain unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from a combination of the words, ‘Appalachian’, an ancient mountain range in southeastern United States, and ‘-ensis’, a Latin adjective suffix meaning “pertaining to”.

Figures

Figures 5–8. Fornax appalachiensis Otto, sp. nov. 5) Male holotype, dorsal habitus. 6) Male holotype, ventral habitus. 7) Female allotype, dorsal habitus. 8) Male paratype, aedeagus, dorsal habitus. (Scale: 5–7 = 1.0 mm; 8 = 0.5 mm.)