Xerolinus swearingenae Hart and Ivie, 2016

Hart, Charles J. & Ivie, Michael A., 2016, Two New Species ofXerolinusIvie and Hart (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) from Jamaica and the Virgin Islands, The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (4), pp. 885-891 : 885-891

Xerolinus swearingenae Hart and Ivie , new species

( Figs. 6–9 )

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: ♂. JAMAICA: St. Andrew ; The Palisadoes ; Port Royal; near Fort Rocky; 17° 56’ N, 76° 49’W; 21 May 2002 / On sand under edge; of leaf litter; layer, shrub zone; behind beach; colls. W.E. Steiner; & J. M. Swearingen / WIBF 036197 ( NMNH) . PARATYPES (45 specimens): 13 ♂♂ and 8 ♀ ♂ sharing the same label data as the holotype ( WIBF 036198 – 036218 , NMNH, WIBF) . 11 ♂♂ and 13 ♀♀: Port Royal ; 21. ii. 1908 / sandy roots/ Brit. Mus.; 1936-555/ M. Cameron; Journal; W.I. 147 ( WIBF 036219 –036242 , BMNH, WIBF) .

Other Material Examined. The following material is thought to be conspecific, but the specimens are from offshore islands other than the Island of Jamaica or intercepted in other countries. The type material is limited to specimens collected on the Island of Jamaica. JAMAICA; 21-IX-64/ J.C. Buff; on cacti plants/ Miami; 31158/ 64-; 25293 (3 NMNH) . Jamaica ; Pedro Cays; S.W. Cay; 13-IV-1940 / C B Lewis; coll’ r (2 NMNH) . Jamaica ; Pedro Cays; N.E. Cay; 14-IV-1940 / C B Lewis; coll’ r (1 NMNH) . Jamaica ; Pedro Cays; Mid. Cay; 15-IV-1940 / C B Lewis; coll’ r (3 NMNH) . Jamaica; Morant Cays; N.E. Cay; 18&19-IV-‘40/ C B Lewis; coll’ r (3 NMNH) . Jamaica ; Morant Cays; Mid. Cay; 20-IV-1940 / C B Lewis; coll’ r (1 NMNH) . Jamaica ; Morant Cays; Rocky Cay; 21-IV-1940 / C B Lewis; coll’ r (2 NMNH) . Jamaica ; Morant Cays; S.W. Cay; 23-IV-1940 / C B Lewis; coll’ r (3 NMNH) .

Diagnosis. Xerolinus swearingenae can be distinguished from other species of blapstinoids on Jamaica by the combination of the fused elytra,

long metaventrite, pronotum widest at middle and evenly rounded, and the rugulose hypomeron and abdominal ventrites (see Ivie and Hart 2016 for a key to the West Indian blapstinoid genera). This species is most similar to Xerolinus dentipes Marcuzzi from Grand Cayman, but differs from that species by the narrower protibia and the more distinct pronotal punctation ( Fig. 6 ). Additionally, the male genitalia ( Figs. 8–9 ) are diagnostic.

Description. Male. Length 5.3–7.2 mm, width 2.5–3.0 mm. Body: Black ( Fig. 6 ), except last 3 or 4 antennomeres brown, tarsi brown; dorsal and ventral surfaces matte; ovate-oblong; widest at humerus; weakly convex in lateral view; almost entirely lacking setae dorsally, except basal margin of head. Head: Epistoma broadly convex; punctures equal to diameter of an ommatidium ( Fig. 6 ), covering dorsal surface, separated by less than 1 puncture diameter basally, separated by 1–2X puncture diameters medially, less than 1 diameter separation apically; setae 2X length of punctures. Antennae weakly clavate. Dorsal and ventral portions of eye roughly equal in size and shape. Pronotum: Widest at middle ( Fig. 6 ); apical margin evenly, broadly emarginate; apical angles rounded; lateral margin evenly arcuate; basal width slightly narrower than humeri; basal margin bisinuate; dorsal surface broadly, evenly convex; all margins narrowly beaded, except obsolete at middle of anterior margin; minutely punctate, puncture diameter on disc half that of punctures on head, subequal to punctures on head laterally. Hypomeron rugulose, punctate. Prosternal process tongue-like, sparsely punctate, with few yellowish semi-erect setae 2X length of puncture diameter. Scutellum: Subtriangular, 2X wider than long, finely punctate ( Fig. 6 ). Elytra: Nearly parallel from base to point opposite abdominal ventrite 3, then evenly arcuate to apices ( Fig. 6 ); striae weakly impressed; strial punctures shallow; intervals flat, finely punctate. Seventh stria joining 8 th stria before humeral angle, occasionally striation may fade anteriorly, obscuring juncture of 7 th and 8 th striae on one elytron or both. Metaventrite: Short, punctate; sparse, yellow setae present. Legs: Surfaces sparsely setose and finely punctate. Protibia narrow, expanding gradually in distal 3/4; posteroventral surface with stout spines in apical 3/4; apex obliquely truncate, ringed by stout spines. Protarsus with tarsomeres 1–3 expanded, ventrally with golden, densely setose pads, tarsomere 2 widest, more than 3X width of tarsomere 4. Mesotarsus with tarsomeres 1– 3 weakly expanded, ventrally with densely setose pads. Metatarsus narrow, about 3/4 as long as metatibia, without setose pads; 1 st tarsomere more than 2X length of 2 nd. Abdominal ventrites: Finely punctate, scattered with setae; intercoxal process broadly rounded ( Fig. 7 ); ventrites I–III

9) Aedeagus, lateral view.

slightly concave medially; ventrite V flattened medially, posterior margin evenly rounded. Aedeagus: Basal piece and parameres strongly arched, parameres with sinuate lateral margin, undulate with slightly upturned tips in lateral view ( Fig. 9 ); in dorsal view, parameres parallel for basal third, then widened broadly pre-apically, then narrowing to evenly rounded apices ( Fig. 8 ); about 1/3 of elytral length.

Female. Length 6.1–7.7 mm, width 2.9–3.6 mm. Similar to male except body typically larger, more robust than male. Protarsi and mesotarsi not expanded. Abdominal ventrites I–III slightly convex or flattened medially.

Biology. Adults have been collected under the edge of leaf litter layers on sandy substrates in the shrub zone behind the beach.

Distribution. Several islands in the nation of Jamaica, namely Jamaica Island, Morant Cays, and Pedro Cays.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of one of the collectors, Jill M. Swearingen.

Figures

Figs. 6–9. Xerolinus swearingenae. 6) Dorsal habitus; 7) Abdominal ventrites; 8) Aedeagus, dorsal view;