Fornax floridana 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 : 14-16

Fornax floridana Otto , new species

Fig. 21–24

Diagnosis. Absence of the horizontal interantennal carina at the base of the frontoclypeal region distinguishes the new species from both F. convexicollis new species and F. parallelicollis new species. Dull luster of the pronotum distinguishes F. floridana new species from F. lucidicollis new species. Overall larger size and wider than long pronotum distinguish the new species from F. knulli . Lighter-colored dorsum distinguishes F. floridana new species from F. dixiensis . Produced last abdominal ventrite further distinguishes the new species from F. bicolor . Male specimens of F. floridana new species differ from F. appalachiensis new species by their laterally weakly arcuate pronotum, parallel-sided in the latter. Female specimens of F. floridana new species differ from F. appalachiensis new species by their slightly stouter antennae reaching nearly half the body length, elongate and reaching half the length in the latter.

Type material. Male holotype. “MIAMI, FLORIDA, 2.VIII.60, P.E. BRIGGS COLL., BLACKLIGHT TRAP” (date handwritten) / “ HOLOTYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [red printed label]. Female allotype: “FLA., Monroe County, Upper Key Largo, 23-VII-1976, Coll. M.C. Thomas” (date handwritten) / “blacklight, trap, M.C. Thomas, Collection” / “ ALLOTYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label]. Holotype and allotype are deposited in FSCA.

Paratypes. 8 ♂♂, 2♀♀: U.S.A.: FLORIDA: 1♂, “FLA., ALACHUA CO., GAINESVILLE, SAN, FELASCO HAM- MOCK, 26-V-1977 ” (date handwritten) / “G.B. Fairchild &, H.V. Weems, Jr., Insect Flight Trap” / “ PARATYPE:,

Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 2 ♂♂, “FLA., DADE COUNTY, FUCH’S HAMMOCK, NEAR HOMESTEAD, 12–13-V-1979 ” / “TERHUNE S. DICKEL, & H.V. WEEMS, JR., INSECT FLIGHT TRAP” / “ Fornax bicolor, Melsheimer, Det. P.Johnson 2014 ” (folded) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA); 1 ♂, “FL: Leon Co., Tall Timbers Research, Station , Malaise Trap #2, 8–15-VI-1993 ” (date handwritten) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA) ; 1 ♀, “FLORIDA: Alachua Co., 3.7 mi. N. La Crosse, Santa Fe River floodplain, fall-1996; G. Steck, & B. Sutton, Malaise trap ” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP) ; 1 ♀, “FLORIDA: Alachua Co., Gainesville, SE Kincaid , Rd. , ~ 1 mi. N Paynes Prairie, old field/dry oak hammock, 24–31-V-1998, B. Sutton, 6m Malaise trap” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA) ; WEST INDIES: BAHAMAS: 1 ♂, “BAHAMAS: Andros Island, Forfar Field Sta., Stafford , Creek , 2-VI-2001, coll. M.C. Thomas, black-, light trap in coastal coppice” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green framed white label) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( GERP) ; 1 ♂, “BAHAMAS: Andros Is., Forfar Field Sta., nr., Stafford Creek , 22–28- VII-, 2006 MC Thomas, TR Smith, UV trap in coastal coppice” / “ Fornax , bicolor, Melsheimer, Det. R.L. Otto 07” (black framed white label; folded) / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA) ; 2 ♂♂, “BAHAMAS: Andros Is., Forfar Field Sta., nr., Stafford Creek , 22–28-VII-, 2006 MC Thomas, TR Smith, UV trap in coastal coppice” / “ PARATYPE:, Fornax , floridana, Otto, Det. R.L. Otto, 2020 ” (♂ handwritten behind species name on label) [yellow printed label] ( FSCA). Paratypes are deposited in FSCA and GERP .

Description. Male holotype. Length 9.0 mm. Width 3.0 mm. Body subcylindrical, elongate; uniformly dark reddish-brownish; scape dark reddish-brown, pedicel and antennomeres III–XI reddish-brown; legs including tarsi reddish-brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent yellowish setae ( Fig. 21 ). Head: Subspherical; integument rugose, 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 1/2 of body length; antennomere III longer than IV; antennomere IV slightly shorter than V; antennomeres V–X subequal, longer than wide; antennomere XI slightly longer than X. Pronotum: Integument dull, densely rugose; wider than long, with well-developed, sharp hind angles; lateral sides weakly arcuate towards anterior; disc convex, without shallow median groove or circular fovea; base sinuous, with pair of circular depressions above scutellar shield. Scutellar shield: Short, subtriangular, shallowly punctate and distally rounded. Elytra: Distinctly striate, deepest in humeral region; interstices slightly elevated; integument shiny, with dense punctures. Legs: First tarsomere as long as combined lengths of remaining four on mesotarsi; tibiae rounded in cross-section; metatarsomeres I–III simple; metatarsomere IV excavated; metatarsomere V missing. Venter ( Fig. 22 ): 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 slightly, short and wide.

Female allotype ( Fig. 23 ). 10.0 mm long; antennae filiform, reaching nearly 1/2of body length; legs and antennae reddish-brown, slightly lighter than habitus; pronotum parallel-sided in basal 3/4, narrowing anteriorly in apical 1/4; last abdominal ventrite apically produced, somewhat elongate.

Aedeagus (paratype) ( Fig. 24 ). Basal piece slightly longer than wide, parallel-sided, dorsally open, basally bifid; remaining parts elongate, apically wide, strongly constricted at base of parameres, apically lobed; median lobe short and stout, apically rounded, narrowly bifid; parameres elongate, apically less sclerotized, sinuous, with a small hook-like lateral tooth near base.

Variation. Eight male and two female paratypes were examined. Male paratypes are 7.0–10.0 mm long and 2.0– 3.0 mm wide. Female paratypes are 8.0–10.0 mm long and 2.0– 2.5 mm wide. Three of the 10 paratypes are slightly longer than the holotype. Two paratypes are as long as the holotype. Five paratypes are shorter than the holotype. Three paratypes are as wide as the holotype, with the remaining seven being narrower than the holotype. One specimen is slightly darker than the remaining nine paratypes, allotype and holotype. There are no other exoskeletal differences among the paratypes, allotype and holotype.

Distribution. This species is known from Florida and a single locale on Andros Island in the Bahamas.

Biology. Four specimens were taken from a blacklight trap placed in a coastal coppice in the Bahamas. One specimen was taken from a blacklight trap in southern Florida. Several specimens were taken from an unknown type of insect flight trap placed in two locales in Florida. Several specimens were taken from Malaise traps placed in several locales in two counties in Florida. Developmental stages remain unknown.

Etymology. Specific epithet indicates the state in which the species was originally found.

Figures

Figures 21–24. Fornax floridana Otto, sp. nov. 21) Male holotype, dorsal habitus. 22) Male holotype, ventral habitus. 23) Female allotype, dorsal habitus. 24) Male paratype, aedeagus, dorsal view. (Scale: 21–24 = 1.0 mm.)