Eleodes, Eschscholtz, 1829

Johnston, M. Andrew, 2015, A Checklist and New Species ofEleodesEschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Pertaining to the SubgenusPromusLeconte, with a Key to United States Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (1), pp. 11-19 : 11-19

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ELEODES SUBGENUS PROMUS OF THE UNITED STATES

The subgenus Promus is represented in the United States by eight species. Eleodes knullorum is highly variable ( Triplehorn 1971) and thus keys to two distinct forms, which occur sympatrically in southwestern Texas ( Fig. 4 ). The definitional boundaries of E. knullorum may need revision when examined in the context of the group’ s entire geographic range, which includes northern Mexico.

1. Elytral disc strongly flattened, lateral margin distinctly carinate ( Fig. 5A–B ) ...................... ............................................. E. opacus (Say)

1′. Elytral disc laterally rounded.......................2

2. Body strongly fusiform, males without profemoral spines, anterior angles of pronotum rounded ( Fig. 5E–F ) ...................................... .................................. E. fusiformis LeConte

2′. Body not strongly fusiform, males with single profemoral spine, anterior pronotal angles often acute.................................................3

3. Elytra clothed with minute yellow setae originating from small, evenly spaced punctures ....................... E. spiculiferous Triplehorn

3′. Elytra glabrous, without setae, punctation variable.........................................................4

4. Elytra with deeply impressed, sulcate striae, intervals convex ( Fig. 1 )................................ ..................................... E. compositus Casey

4′. Elytra without sulcate striae........................5

5. Elytra with>25 conspicuous, neatly arranged, longitudinal striae comprised of small punctures, anterior pronotal angles rounded ( Fig. 5C–D ) .................................. E. striolatus LeConte

5′. Elytra without neatly arranged striae, or with few, large punctures, anterior pronotal angles acute ............................................. 6

6. Elytra with conspicuous strial punctures, often quite large ( Fig. 5G–H )........... E. goryi Solier

6′. Elytra with small, inconspicuous punctures ( Figs. 2–4 ) .................................................... 7

7. Pronotum constricted behind anterior angles, evenly arcuate in posterior half, prosternal process large, forming triangular wedge ( Fig. 2 ) ................................. E. subnitens LeConte

7′. Pronotum with lateral margins evenly arcuate anteriorly, sinuate posteriorly, prosternum variable, not forming a large triangular wedge ( Figs. 3–4 )....................................................... 8

8. Prosternum flat, horizontal, extending beyond procoxae. Male profemoral tooth blunt, dentate ( Fig. 4A–B )................................................ ............... E. knullorum Triplehorn (form 1)

8′. Prosternum declivous behind procoxae. Males with strong profemoral spines ....................... 9

9. Southwestern Texas. Abdomen not attenuate posteriorly, female gonostyle reniform, inserted on anterior dorsal surface of coxite ( Fig. 4C–D ) ................. E. knullorum Triplehorn (form 2)

9′. Arizona, southwestern New Mexico. Abdomen attenuate posteriorly, female gonostyle truncate mesally, inserted on posterior face of coxite ( Fig. 3 )............................................ ........... E. madrensis Johnston , new species

Figures

Fig. 4. Eleodes knullorum, paratype males, dorsal and lateral habitus, scale bars = 1 cm. A–B) Form 1, C–D) Form 2.

Fig. 5. Eleodes (Promus) species, dorsal and lateral habitus, scale bars = 1 cm. A–B) E. opacus, C–D) E. striolatus, E–F) E. fusiformis G–H) E. goryi.

Fig. 1. Eleodes compositus. A) Holotype male, lateral habitus, scale bar = 1 cm, B) Dorsal habitus.

Fig. 2. Eleodes subnitens sinuata. A) Neotype female, lateral habitus, scale bar = 1 cm, B) Dorsal habitus.

Fig. 3. Eleodes madrensis. A) Holotype male, dorsal habitus, scale bar = 1 cm, B) Lateral habitus, C) Paratype female, dorsal habitus, D) Paratype female, terminalia, dorsal view, scale bar = 1 mm, E) Paratype male, fore tarsus, ventral view.