Cymindis punctigera LeConte

Hunting, Wesley M., 2013, A taxonomic revision of the Cymindis (Pinacodera) limbata species group (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini), including description of a new species from Florida, U. S. A., ZooKeys 259, pp. 1-73 : 38-39

Cymindis punctigera LeConte Figs 22-29

Remarks.

This is a polytypic species that includes two subspecies ( Cymindis punctigera punctigera and Cymindis punctigera sulcipennis ). The basis for including these forms in a single species is as follows: first, similarity in body proportions; second, males exhibit similarity in details of the apical area of the phallus (Fig. 27B-C) and everted endophallus form (Fig. 27A); and third, allopatric but proximate geographical distribution.

Diagnosis.

Adults of Cymindis punctigera are distinguishable from those of other species of the limbata species group through the unique combination of: pronotum with scattered and distinct punctures (Fig. 24), one row of punctures in each each elytral interval, and dorsal color that ranges from testaceous to dark brown, some specimens approaching piceous, but if so, the elytral margins are translucently bordered; in males the apical area of the phallus is dimpled on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces, longitudinal striations are visible from mid-way of apical area and extended past constriction (Fig. 27B-C), and the endophallus is distinctly bent to the right and dorsad when everted and viewed from the dorsal aspect (Fig. 27A).

Description. OBL 7.75-11.33 mm.

Color. (Figs 22A-B, 23); Dorsum of head testaceous (Fig. 22B) to rufo-piceous (Fig. 22A), dorsum of pronotum and elytra testaceous (Fig. 22B) to rufo-piceous (Fig. 22A), rarely with lighter colored elytral margins; antennae testaceous to rufo-piceous, palpi testaceous to rufo-piceous; epipleura testaceous to rufo-piceous; Ventral thoracic sclerites and abdominal sterna testaceous to rufo-piceous.

Microsculpture. Most individuals with microlines not visible on dorsum of head capsule and pronotum at 50 × magnification; few specimens with mesh pattern isodiametric to transverse between eyes and on disc of pronotum. Elytra with mesh pattern isodiametric, microlines clearly defined throughout dorsal surface.

Macrosculpture and pilosity. Head capsule with randomly scattered setigerous punctures on dorsal surface from constriction of neck extended anteriorly toward clypeus. Pronotum dorsally with shallow and randomly spaced setigerous punctures with setae length ranging from very short to moderate; ventrally with setigerous punctures extended from margin of proepipleuron to apex of prosternal intercoxal process. Elytra with striae moderately impressed and punctulate throughout length; intervals slightly convex to markedly raised towards center of interval; single regular to moderately irregular row of ~50-65 setigerous punctures within each interval, setae length ranging from very short to moderate at 50 ×. Abdominal sterna with fine pilose punctures throughout.

Fixed setae. Pronotum with two setae along each margin. Elytra with two setae in stria 3 and one posteriad of stria 3; one seta at apex of interval 2; 15-17 lateral (umbilical) setae; two setae on each of abdominal sterna III to VI; four setae along apical margin of sternum VII (Fig. 3).

Luster. Head capsule and pronotum distinctly to slightly glossy; elytra glossy to rather dull; ventral thoracic sclerites and abdominal sterna glossy.

Pronotum. Anterior and posterior transverse impression shallow; median longitudinal impression moderately shallow; posteriolateral angles from almost right angled to slightly obtuse; posterior margin slightly lobate.

Head (Figs 22A-B, 23). Eyes, labrum, labium and palpi typical for Cymindidina .

Elytra (Figs 22A-B, 23). Humeri broadly or narrowly rounded, striae moderately impressed; lateral margin smooth, rounded and widened preapically; elytral apices truncate.

Hind wings (Figs 28A-D). Macropterous (Figs 28A, C) or brachypterous (Figs 28B, D).

Legs. Males with adhesive vestiture ventrally, two rows of squamo- setae on tarsomeres 1-4 of foreleg and 1-3 of middle leg.

Male genitalia (Figs 26A, 27A-C). Phallus anopic, cylindrical, ventral surface slightly curved. Ventral and dorsal surface of apical area (aa) somewhat to markedly dimpled in appearance, few to several vertical striations extended from mid length of apical area to apex of phallic shaft (s) (Fig. 27B-C). Endophallus with a slightly curved endophallic plate (ep) ( Lindroth 1969: 1080-1081) apically (Fig. 27A), when viewed ventrally in everted condition

Female genitalia. Gonocoxite 2 (gc2) (Fig. 26B) moderately long and narrow. Internal genitalia with long cylindrical spermatheca (sp), moderately long associated spermathecal gland (sg), and moderately long spermathecal diverticulum (sd) located at base of spermathecal gland duct (sgd).

Geographical distribution.

The range of this species extends (Fig. 29) in the southwestern United States from Lake Tahoe, California south through southern Utah and Nevada to western Texas; south in eastern Mexico to Nuevo Leon in the northern portion of the Sierra Madre Oriental; in western Mexico, on the slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental to Jalisco, and in the Sierra Transvolcanica, to Michoacan. Further west this species ranges through most of the Baja California Peninsula.

Chorological affinities.

Cymindis punctigera is sympatric in the southern portion of its range with Cymindis chevrolati and Cymindis platicollis platicollis .