Platyceroides (Platyceroides) thoracicus (Casey)

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 : 362-363

Platyceroides (Platyceroides) thoracicus (Casey)

Platycerus thoracicus Casey, 1895: 154 , original combination.

Type series. Holotype female (USNM) labeled: a) “Cal.”; b) “CASEY / bequest / 1925”; c) on orange paper, “TYPE USNM / [36207]”; d) handwritten “ thoracicus / Csy.”; e) “ Platyceroides thoracicus / ( Casey, 1895) / det. M.J. Paulsen 2013”.

Casey (1895) described the species based on a large (11.2 mm) female without detailed locality data, stating only that it was from California. The narrow genae indicate the female is from the nominal subgenus. The large size of the female, dark color, shiny elytra, and moderate-sized antennal club agrees with females of a species that is distributed predominantly near San Francisco Bay , which is the same species considered to be P. thoracicus by Benesh (1946). It is reasonable to expect that one of the earliest species collected would have come from the San Francisco area , and this species is unique in the subgenus with respect to the large size of the female specimens, frequently 11–12 mm, corresponding with the large holotype female.

Distribution ( Fig. 27 ). CALIFORNIA: ALAMEDA: Berkeley; Oakland; Strawberry Canyon. CONTRA COSTA: Oakland Hills; Orinda; Mount Diablo; Strawberry Canyon; Wildcat Canyon. NAPA: No data. SANTA CLARA: Alum Rock Park; Cupertino; Los Altos. SONOMA: Duncan Mills; Eldridge; Fairfield Osborn Preserve; Guerneville.

Remarks. In this species, which is generally dark ( Fig. 10 A), the apex of the flagellum of the male genitalia is unique in possessing a minutely bifurcate projection medially ( Fig. 10 C).

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 28. Distribution of Platyceroides species. 27, Platyceroides californicus species group: P. aeneus (orange triangles); P. umpquus (blue circles); P. californicus (orange squares); P. thoracicus (blue triangles). 28, Platyceroides opacus species group: P. marshalli (blue squares); P. potax (orange squares); P. barrae (blue circles); P. opacus (orange circles).

FIGURES 8 – 11. Platyceroides californicus species group, males: A, dorsal habitus; B, flagellum of male genitalia, lateral view; C, apex of flagellum of male genitalia, ventral view. 8, Platyceroides aeneus, arrow indicates large bifurcate process. 9, Platyceroides californicus. 10, Platyceroides thoracicus, arrow indicates small bifurcate process. 11, Platyceroides umpquus new species.