Anchastus augusti, (CanDEZe, 1863) (Candeze, 1863)

Hedlund, Tyler J. & Mathison, Blaine A., 2023, A Range Extension for Anchastus augusti (Candèze) and a New State Record for Conoderus pictus (Candèze) (Coleoptera: Elateridae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 77 (1), pp. 146-147 : 146

ANcHaSTUS aUGUSTI (CanDÈZe, 1863) Fig. 1A

Specimens Examined. USA: TX: Webb Co., 120 San Francisco Ave., 6 August 2020, coll. TJ Hedlund, 27.5017, −99.2015 (1, TJHC); same data except 1 September 2020 (1, BAMC) .

Comments. Dorsal markings are distinctive in this species ( Fig. 1A ). Both of the above specimens were found in the loading dock area of a building, located near, but facing awaY from, the Rio Grande. This area is largelY residential, with a Customs and Border Patrol compound next to the international bridge. However, there is a riparian area bordering the river directlY behind the compound, which contains a varietY of tropical and semi-tropical vegetation. This represents the furthest north and west record of this species in the United States, and the first collection since 1989 ( Heffern and Brattain 1991). Anchastus augusti is previouslY known from Cameron CountY, Texas, south to Honduras ( Champion 1895; Heffern and Brattain 1991).

There are two photographed, but not collected, records of A. augusti from Orange CountY, Florida on the public website iNaturalist (www.inaturalist. org/observations/48909756, www.inaturalist.org/ observations/117732340). Multiple specimens collected over time suggest a resident population; however, more collecting should be done to confirm its true presence in Florida. InterestinglY, Mathison (2021), in his studY on the Elateridae of the southeastern United States, did not observe anY records from Florida despite studYing manY specimens from professional and private collections.

Figures

Fig. 1. A) Anchastus augusti, dorsal view. Conoderus pictus: B) Dorsal view, C) Lateral view, D) Lateral closeup emphasizing small basal tubercle on the pronotum.