Augyles Schiödte

King, Jonas G. & Lago, Paul K., 2012, The variegated mud-loving beetles (Coleoptera: Heteroceridae) of Mississippi and Alabama, with discussion and keys to the species occurring in the southeastern United States, Insecta Mundi 2012 (275), pp. 1-53 : 28-29

Genus Augyles Schiödte

Augyles Schiödte 1866: 159 .

Littorimus Gozis 1885: 120.

Heterocerus (Littorimus) Zaitzev 1910: 4 .

Heterocerus (Taenheterocerus) Kuwert 1890: 528 .

Heterocerus Fall 1920: 212 .

Explorator Pacheco 1964: 28 . (new syn.)

Centuriatus Pacheco 1964: 30 . (new syn.)

Microaugyles Pacheco 1964: 36 . (new syn.)

Type species. Heterocerus hispidulus Kiesenwetter 1843: 211 . (by monotypy)

Discussion. Augyles forms an assemblage of larger, primarily Holarctic species that is separated from Heterocerus based on the presence of post-metathoracic coxal lines. Approximately 30 species of Augyles have been described to date, although the exact number is hard to determine because several species described as Heterocerus appear to belong to this genus. Five species are known from North America and occur almost exclusively north of 38 oN. Approximately 20 species of Augyles occur in Europe and Asia and eight species are known from northern Africa, one of which ranges into southeastern Africa ( Charpentier 1965; Skalický 2001).

New combinations proposed, but not included in the text of this paper are: Augyles canadensis ( Fall 1920, Heterocerus ), Augyles compactus ( Fall 1937, Heterocerus ), Augyles moleculus ( Fall 1920, Heterocerus ) and Augyles mundulus ( Fall 1920, Heterocerus ).

Little is known about the biology of this group. Kaufmann (1987) reported that A. auromicans is less likely to fly in response to disturbance, or in order to disperse than Heterocerus pallidus . Sperm competition is absent in Augyles auromicans , and based on similarity in genital structure seems unlikely to be present in the rest of Augyles .

Diagnosis. Augyles range in length from 2.4 to 5.5 mm and either have some form of trifasciate, or solid brown elytra. When pale elytral markings are present, they tend to be more defined and more contrasting to the dark background than they are in Heterocerus . Either 10 or 11 antennomeres are present. Males are never hypermandibulate. Some species of Augyles have a pale median stripe on the pronotum, postmesothoracic coxal and post-metathoracic coxal lines are present in all species of the genus. The male genitalia in Augyles are dorsoventrally flattened, sclerotized tube-like structures consisting of two elongate plates that usually maintain a relatively constant width throughout, and have a variety of structures apically. In most species, there are two caliper-shaped parameres; however, saw-like structures or smoothly lobed tips may adorn the apex of the dorsal plate. A dark membranous structure curled within the apical end of the genitalia is often visible.

Members of Augyles can be separated from the rest of the family by the presence of post-metathoracic coxal lines. The pale median stripe on the pronotum in Augyles will also distinguish some species from Heterocerus . This character is especially useful in North America. The gestalt of Augyles , especially the slight decrease in pubescence in certain areas and an increase in shininess, along with the increased contrast between the pale elytral marking and the elytral background, can be used by experienced workers to scan large samples for specimens of Augyles .

Molecular data collected as part of this study yielded inconclusive results concerning the monophyly of Augyles , although it was strongly supported as a relatively divergent group nested between Tropicus and Heterocerus . More thorough taxon sampling or examination of additional loci will be necessary to fully resolve relationships within this group.