Platyceroides (Platyceroides) infernus Paulsen

Paulsen, M. J., 2017, Correction of existing generic and species concepts in Platyceroidini (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae) and the description of four new species of Platyceroides Benesh, Zootaxa 4269 (3), pp. 346-378 : 357-360

Platyceroides (Platyceroides) infernus Paulsen , new species

Type series. Holotype male of P. infernus (EMEC) labeled: a) “CALIF. Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 800- 1040’ / 11 May 1973 / J. Powell ”; b) Univ. Calif. / Insect Survey / Specimen # / 185877”. Allotype female of P. infernus ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 800- 1040’ / 10 May 1974 / D. Green ”. Four male paratypes (2 EMEC, 2 MJPC) labeled: a) as holotype; b) as holotype with #s 185874-185876, 185878. Three male paratypes (2 EMEC, 1 MJPC) labeled: a) as holotype, except collector “ R. Kimball ”; b) as holotype, except #s 152330, 152332, 152333. Four male paratypes (2 EMEC, 2 MJPC) labeled: a) as holotype, except collector “ J. Cate ”; b) as holotype, except #s 153520–153523. Six male paratypes (3 EMEC, 1 NHM, 2 UNSM) labeled: a) as holotype, except collector “ M. Chinn ”; b) as holotype, except #154218-154223. Two male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except collector “ C. Pickel ”; b) as holotype, except #s 158117–158118. Three male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except collector “ E. Schlinger ”; b) as holotype, except #s 158117–158118. Three male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 14 May 1972 ”, collector “S.C . Kuba ”; b) as holotype, except #s 133225, 133240–133241. One female paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 12 May 1972 ”, collector “S.C . Kuba ”; b) as holotype, except #133000. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 14 May 1972 ”, collector “ C.E. Griswold ”; b) as holotype, except #132962. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 12 May 1972 ”, collector “ P.D. Frist ”; b) as holotype, except #126467. One female paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 12 May 1972 ”, collector “ V.R. Landwehr ”; b) as holotype, except # 121536. Two male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 14 May 1972 ”, collector “ R.W. Warner ”; b) as holotype, except #s 124798–124799. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 14 May 1972 ”, collector “ E.J. Rogers ”; b) as holotype, except #114523. Three male paratypes (2 EMEC; 1 MJPC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 13 May 1973 ”, collector “ D. Murphy ”; b) as holotype, except #s 163488–163490. Four male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 12 May 1972 ”, collector “ E.I. Schlinger ”; b) as holotype, except #s 129434–129437. Four male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 14 May 1972 ”, collector “ E.I. Schlinger ”; b) as holotype, except #s 129595–129596, 129601, 129667. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) as holotype, except date “ 11 May 1975 ”, collector “ L. Vincent ”; b) as holotype, except #206932. Six male paratypes (3 EMEC, 1 MJPC, 1 UNSM, 1 OSAC) labeled: a) as holotype, except collector “ M. Dechant ”, date “ 10 May 1974 ”; b) as holotype, except #s 189152–189154, 189209–189210. Two male paratypes (1 EMEC, 1 FSCA) labeled a) as holotype, except date “ 12 May 1972 ”, collector “ R.C. Gregory ”.; b) as holotype, except # 125587”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “CA: Marin County / Inverness Ridge / 100m , V-21/24 -1995 / J.A. Powell, lights (sic)”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ Alpine Lake / Marin Co. / Calif. [V-17-1958]”; b) “ John M. Burns / Collector ”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ Calif : Marin Co. / Alpine Lk., 1 / mi. N . VI-3-64 ”; b) “ R.L. Langston / Collector ”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ 38°2.9’N 122°45.9’W / USA: California: Marin Co. / E slope Balinas Ridge , 60 m. / Sir Frances Drake Blvd. / 1.5 mi E of Olema , 27.v.1999 / K. Will, D.H. Kavanaugh [10139]”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) handwritten, “Muir Woods / Calif. / 6-11-39 ”; b) “Kenneth Frick / [1-2]”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “CA: Marin County / Muir Woods Natl. / Mon . 10- V-1991 / coll. W.D. Shepard”; b) “C.B. Barr / Collection”. One female paratype (EMEC) labeled: a) “CAL. Marin Co. / Lk. Alpine / 5-19-79 ”; b) “Collected by / C. Parisek ”. One female paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “CA: Marin Co. / Laurel Cyn. 1.0 mi. / W. Nicasio Resvr. / 8 July 1979 ” / J. K. Liebherr ”. Five male paratypes (4 EMEC, 1 MJPC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 700- 1100’ / 15 May 1970; Pine / Forest, M.M. Bentzien”; b) as holotype, except #s 3059–3063. Four male paratypes (3 EMEC, 1 MJPC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 700- 1100’ / 16 May 1970; Pine / Forest, F. Shon”; b) as holotype, except #s 4879, 4883–4884, 4888. Two male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 700- 1100’ / 15-16 May 1970; Pine / Forest, G.R. Olson”; b) as holotype, except #s 4034–4035. Two male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 700- 1100’ / 15-16 May 1970; Pine / Forest, R.E. Dietz”; b) as holotype, except #s 2356–2357. Three male paratypes ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. 2 mi. / SE Inverness, Inver- / ness Ridge 700- 1100’ / 15 May 1970, E.I. Sch- / linger”; b) as holotype, except #s 6269–6271. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . Marin Co. / 2 mi. SE Inverness / Inverness Ridge, / May 15, 1970 / J.A. Powell ”; b) as holotype, except # 110973. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “Calif . Marin Co. / Inverness, 1 mi / SE, V-16-1964 ”; b) “ Collr. S.B. / Benson ”. One male paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “ Lagunitas / [5-16-43] Cal ”. One female paratype ( EMEC) labeled: a) “Cal.”; b) handwritten, “ Lagunitas ”; c) “551”; d) handwritten, “ Platycerus / agassizii / 14047 LeC.”. Three male paratypes ( CASC, MJPC, UNSM) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [19.VI.50]”; b) “[W.H.]/ [R.E.]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [18.VI.50]”; b) “[H.B]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [28.VI.50]”; b) “[H.B]” “ Leech / Collector ”; c) [in / flight]. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [28.V.1952]”; b) “[R.E.]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [24.V.1953]”; b) “[R.E.]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [24.VI.1952]”; b) “[R.E.]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [2.VI.1957]”; b) “[R.E.]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [IX.11.49]”; b) “[R.E.]” “ Leech / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [III-27-49]”; b) “ E.H. Ross / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mt. Tamalpais / Cal.”; b) handwritten, “ VI-50 ”; c) “ E.H. Ross / Collector ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [15.V.1949]”; b) “[H.B Leech / Collector]”. Four male paratypes ( CASC, MJPC) labeled: a) “ U.S.A. : California / Marin County, / Fairfax Canyon, / 15.V.1955 / Derham Giuliani / Cal. Acad. Sci. Coll. ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ U.S.A. : California / Marin County / Mill Valley; chaparral / 13 May 1986 / E.S. Ross collector / Cal. Acad. Sci. Coll. ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “[ Lake Lagunitas / under an oak branch] / Marin. Co. / Calif. [V-14-65] / Coll. [J. Lee]”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley , / Marin Co. Cal. / [VI.1911]”. Two male paratypes ( CASC) labeled: a) “[ Muir Woods ] / Marin Co. / [V-17 |28-08] Cal.”; b) “ F.E. Blaisdell / Collection ”; c) “ Blaisdell / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Muir Woods / Marin Co. Cal. / [V-21-1916]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. Two male paratypes ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Muir Woods / Marin Co. Cal. / [V-24-08]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Lagunitas / Marin Co. Cal. / [VI-14-08]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”; c) “[ Platycerus / agassizi / LeC.”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Lagunitas / Marin Co. Cal. / [IV-24-1910]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “[ Marin Co. / Lagunitas / V-18-54 ”; b) “ Platyceroides / agassizi LeC. / Det. B. Gavin [1978]”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “[ Bear Valley ] / Marin Co. Cal. / [VI-12-21]”; b) “ Coll. by / C.L. Fox ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ CALIF . : Bear Val- / ley, Marin Co. / 16-V-1965 / E. S. Ross ”; b) “ In thimble- / berry flower”. Three male paratypes ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Marin / Co. Cal. / [V-12-05]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Marin / Co. Cal. / [6-6-01]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Marin / Co. Cal.”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “[ Cal. Marin Co. / L. Lagunitas / V-29-59 / D. Rentz]”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Fairfax / Marin Co. / CAL . / 5-28-55 ”; b) “ D. Giuliani / Collector ”. One male paratype ( AMNH) labeled: a) “Cal.: Marin Co. / S . Taylor St. Pk. / May 25, 1975 / D.G. Denning ”. One male paratype ( CMNC) labeled: a) “Muirwood, / Calif. / 6.9.48 ”; b) [“ Platyceroides / agassizi (LeC.)/ ab. parvicollis (Csy.) ], obverse [“ Det. B. Benesh / 15-V-55 ”. One male paratype ( UCDC) labeled: a) “ Mt. Tamalpais / Marin Co. CA / V-16 1976 ”; b) “ M.L. Siri / R.B. Kimsey / Colls ”. One male paratype ( UCDC) labeled: a) “Tomales Cal. / Marin Co. / VI-11 1960 ”; b) “ S.M. Fidel / Colls ”. One male paratype ( ANSP) labeled: a) “ Lagunitas / Marin Co. Cal. / [VI-4-11]”; b) “[ agassizi ] / Coll. John W. Angel (sic)”. One male paratype ( ANSP) labeled: a) handwritten, “ Muir Woods / Mt. Tamalpais ”; b) handwritten, “ Marin Co. / Cal . 5.7.08 ”; c) handwritten, “ Van Dyke / Collection ”; d) “[ agassizi ] / Coll. John W. Angel (sic)”. One female paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “Lagunitas / Marin Co. / Cal. [VIII-9-15]”; b) “ Pres. By / J.C. Huguenin ”. One female paratype ( MJPC) labeled: a) “ Lagunitas / Marin Co. / Cal. [VII-18-15]”; b) “ Pres. By / J.C. Huguenin ”. One female paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Mill Valley / Marin Co. Cal. / [VI-26-10]”; b) “ Pres. By / J.C. Huguenin ”. One female paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Marin / Co. Cal. / [VIII-5-15]”; b) “ Pres. By / J.C. Huguenin ”. One female paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “[Redwood Cñ.] / Marin / Co. Cal. / [V-17-08]”; b) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”. One female paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “[Redwood Cañ.] / Marin Co. / [5-14] Cal. ”; b) “ Blaisdell / Collection ”; c) F.E. Blaisdell / Collector ”. Two male, one female paratypes ( CASC) labeled: a) “ U.S.A., California, Marin / County, east slope Bolinas / Ridge, 1.5 E of / Olema on Sir Francis / Drake Blvd., 60m,”; b) “ 38°2.9’ N 122°45.9’ W, / 27 May 1999, Stop #99-5 / D.H. Kavanaugh & / K.W. Will collectors”; c) on orange paper “ D.H. Kavanaugh / Collection ”. One male paratype ( CASC) labeled: a) “ USA CA Marin Co / Mill Valley / Blithedale Park / May 3, 1996 ”; b) 37° 55’ N / 122°33.5’ W / coll: J. Schweikert / swept from foliage”. One male paratype ( MSUC) labeled: a) “ California Marin Co. / Bon Tempe Lake area / W. of San Rafael / 15 May 2002 / F.W. Stehr ”. All paratypes with label: on yellow paper, “ Platyceroides / infernus Paulsen / PARATYPE ”.

Description, holotype. Length: 10.5 mm. Width: 4.0 mm. Color: Shiny dark piceous (pronotal margin lighter), with indistinct bronze reflection ( Fig. 7 A). Head: Form narrow anteriorly, with gena not produced laterally as far as eye. Antennal club large (as long as length of scape), size of distal antennomere of club larger than dorsal surface of eye, antennomeres of club entirely tomentose. Labrum moderate, semicircular, as long as width of distal maxillary palp. Mandibles falcate, externally rounded. Pronotum: Surface weakly shiny, microsculptured (shagreened) with moderately sized, deep punctures; punctures dense, generally separated by about 1 puncture diameter, distance between punctures becoming greater on center of disc and in explanate lateral margins; median line impunctate in basal 2/3. Form broad, lateral margins broadly rounded, posterior angle subacute, <90°. Elytra: Form elongate, nearly parallel sided. Surface weakly shiny, microsculptured (shagreened) with scarce transverse rugae, striate on disc; striae 1–5 impressed, with moderately deep punctures; intervals with moderate, irregular punctures. Wings: Wings fully developed. Legs: Mesotibiae and metatibiae distinctly slender (more slender than in P. parvicollis and P. aeneus ). Abdomen: Male genitalia with permanently everted internal sac sclerotized, elongate, with triangularly expanded apex; apex in distal view with leaf-like, strongly sclerotized plate; plate oval with broadly triangular apex ( Fig.7 B).

Description, allotype female. Length: 11.0mm. Width: 4.6 mm. Differs from male holotype in the following characters. Head: Antennal club moderate (large for Platyceroides females), as long as length of funicle, antennomeres of club entirely tomentose. Labrum longer than width of distal maxillary palp. Mandibles falcate with basal tooth weakly indicated. Pronotum: Form broader. Elytra: Form less elongate, suboval. Surface with distinct transverse rugae, not distinctly striate on disc except sutural stria; intervals with finer, irregular punctures. Wings: Wings atrophied. Legs: All tibiae distinctly broader, more robust than in male.

Variation in paratypes. Males (n = 120): Length: 8.5–11.2 mm. Width: 3.5–4.5 mm. Females (n = 12): Length: 9.5–12.5 mm. Width: 3.7–5.3 mm. The majority of female paratypes have the striae more deeply impressed than the allotype.

Distribution ( Fig. 26 ). CALIFORNIA: HUMBOLDT: Blocksburg/Fort Seward; Bolling Grove/Humboldt Redwoods State Park. LAKE: Highway 175; Middletown. MARIN: Alpine Lake; Bon Temps Lake; Fairfax; Inverness Ridge; Lagunitas; Laurel Canyon/Nicasio Reservoir; Mill Valley; Mount Tamalpais; Muir Woods; Point Reyes/Bear Valley. MENDOCINO: Angelo Coast Range Preserve; Branscomb; Comptche; Fort Bragg; Hendy Woods State Park; Mendocino; W. Willets. NAPA: Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. SAN MATEO: La Honda/ Portola Redwoods. SANTA CLARA: 2 mi. W Saratoga. SANTA CRUZ: Aptos; Ben Lomond; Big Basin; Boulder Creek; Soquel. SAN FRANCISCO: No locality. SONOMA: Cazadero; Guerneville; 2 mi. E Healdsburg; Plantation; Salt Point State Park; Stewarts Point.

Temporal distribution. March (1), April (1), May (108), June (18), July (2), August (2), September (1).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin infernus = lower, beneath, and is used as an adjective in the nominal singular case. The species is found ‘below’ P. pampinatus in both elevation and latitude.

Remarks. This is the most commonly collected species that has been historically misidentified as P. agassii . Male P. infernus specimens have significantly larger antennal clubs than P. pampinatus , which interestingly is geographically opposite the pattern seen in P. agassii and P. pacificus . In addition the elytral punctation is more strongly impressed and the punctures larger in size in the southern species. However, the antennal club size is not entirely consistent, with a few southern individuals within large series showing a smaller club. Thus it was tempting to recognize P. infernus as at most a subspecies of P. pampinatus . However, there is a slight genitalic difference in the shape of the leaf-like sclerite, and relatively consistent external characters (usually larger antennal clubs, less elongate body, and more deeply impressed elytral punctures). In combination with the allopatry, it is more informative to treat the taxon as distinct. Because the species exists in large numbers in many collections, and due to the likelihood of regional differences due to the reduced dispersal due to female flightlessness, type material was restricted to Marin County, California.

This species can be distinguished from those in other species groups by the form of the male genitalia (triangularly expanded apex with a leaf-like sclerite) and from P. pampinatus by the presence of a larger antennal club (length approximately equal to interocular distance instead of one-half interocular distance), or for aberrant P. infernus individuals with smaller clubs by the elytra having larger punctures and more strongly impressed elytral striae. The leaf-like sclerite is generally more elongate with a triangular apex ( Fig. 7 B), compared to a rounded sclerite with an acute apex in P. pampinatus ( Fig. 6 B).

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 7. Platyceroides pampinatus species group, males. Platyceroides pampinatus new species: 6 A, dorsal habitus; 6 B, shape of sclerotized tip of flagellum; 6 C, male genitalia, location of flagellum apex indicated with arrow. Platyceroides infernus new species: 7 A, dorsal habitus; 7 B, shape of sclerotized tip of flagellum of male genitalia.

FIGURES 25 – 26. Distribution of Platyceroides species. 25, Platyceroides agassii species group: P. agassii (blue squares); P. pacificus (orange circles). 26, P. pampinatus group: P. infernus (blue squares); P. pampinatus (orange circles).