Brachygluta (Brachygluta) belfragei ( LeConte, 1880 )

Chandler, Donald S., Sabella, Giorgio & Bückle, Christoph, 2015, A revision of the Nearctic species of Brachygluta Thomson, 1859 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Zootaxa 3928 (1), pp. 1-91 : 23-24

6. Brachygluta (Brachygluta) belfragei ( LeConte, 1880)

( Figs 7 , 37 A)

Bryaxis belfragei LeConte, 1880: 181 . Type locality: Texas. Type depository: MCZC, Lectotype male designated below. Casey 1894: 478.

Bryaxis (Bryaxis) belfragei: Brendel & Wickham 1890: 268 (key), 284 (redescription), plate IX, fig. 57. Brachygluta belfragei: Raffray 1904: 225 ; 1908: 231; 1911: 94. Leng 1920: 130. Bowman 1934: 83 (Group I, key), 85. Poole & Gentili 1996: 380. Chandler 1997: 55.

Material examined, 121 specimens. USA: Arkansas: Benton Co.: VII-18-1942, M.W. Sanderson ( FMNH, 1). Rogers, VII-3-1942, M.W. Sanderson, at light ( FMNH, 4). Clark Co.: 4 mi E Arkadelphia on Hwy. 7, VII-24-1985, D. Bowles, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Crawford Co.: Cove Creek, V-24-1986, D.E. Bowles, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Mountainburg, VIII-20-1948, F. Werner & W. Nutting, rich creek bottom ( UAIC, 1). Garland Co.: FS Camp Clearfork, VI-22-2006, B. Baldwin, UV light trap (BBC, 1); VI-12-2005, B. Baldwin, lights ( DSCC, 1). Johnson Co.: Wold Pen on Mulberry River, VII-9-1986, D. Bowles, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Madison Co.: 5 mi S Kings River Bridge, Hwy. 74, VI-2-1985, D. Bowles, UV light ( LSAM, 2). Newton Co.: Ozark NF, Buck Branch, FSR 1209, 4 mi N Hwy. 123, V-14-1986, J.M. Campbell ( CNCI, 1). Polk Co.: S of Board Camp, R29WT35 SE sec. 22, VIII-17/ 20 -1985, C.B. & J.E. Barr, MV & BL ( LSAM, 4; UCBC, 1). Pulaski Co.: Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Base Trail, V-11-1986, J.M. Campbell, ex flood debris on bank ( CNCI, 1). Searcy Co.: 6 mi NW Marshall, VIII-10- 1987, E.A. Lisowski, (UV light, LSAM, 2; blacklight, INHS, 4). 1 mi S Leslie, VIII-10-1987, E. Lisowski, blacklight ( INHS, 1). Ozark NF FSR 1205, Richland Creek, V-15-1986, J.M. Campbell, splashing stones at edge of creek ( CNCI, 2). Stone Co.: 3.3 mi N Allison at bridge, VIII-9-1987, E.A. Lisowski, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Washington Co.: IV-10-1940, M.W.. Sanderson ( FMNH, 1). VIII-7-1940, along river ( INHS, 1). 15 mi S Prairie Grove at Cove Creek, VIII-6-1986, D. Bowles, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Fayetteville, VI-30-1942 ( FMNH, 1), VIII-8- 1942 ( FMNH, 1), VII-24-1942 ( INHS, 1), VI-20-1942 ( INHS, 2), M.W. Sanderson, at light. Yell Co.: Dardanelle, V-27-1977, W.H. Cross, UV trap, at edge of wheat field, ( MUIC, 1). District of Columbia: D.C. ( CMNH, 1; MCZC, 3). Illinois: Coles Co.: Lake Charleston Dam, VII-8-1988, M.A. Goodrich, blacklight trap ( FSCA, 1). Grundy Co.: 4 mi W Coal City at 113 bridge, E. Lisowski, blacklight ( INHS, 1). LaSalle Co.: Biley Creek, 2 mi S Oglesby, V-24-1986, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Pike Co.: Beebe Creek, 3.4 mi WNW Barry, VII-17-1985, J. Gardner, UV light ( LSAM, 1). Union Co.: Hutchens Creek, 3 mi E Wolf Lake, VIII-24-1987, E.A. Lisowski, (UV light, LSAM, 2; blacklight, INHS, 1). 3.3 mi E Wolf Lake, VIII-24-1987, E. Lisowski, blacklight ( INHS, 1). Vermilion Co.: Middle Fork of Vermilion River @ unnamed ford, 1.9 mi NNE Collison, VII-8-1987, E.A. Lisowski, UV light trap ( LSAM, 6). Wabash Co.: Basil Woods N. Park, VI-22/23 -1995, M.A. Goodrich, UV light trap ( EIUC, 2). Indiana: Warren Co.: VI-24-1902, W.S. Blatchley ( PERC, 2). Kansas: Douglas Co.: Breidenthal Res., 2 mi N Baldwin, IX-2-1983, J. Pakaluk, UV light ( SEMC, 1). Kentucky: Cumberland Co.: Crocus Creek, VIII-7-1966, T.E. Brooks, on gravel bar ( SEMC, 7). Crocus Creek, V-7-1966, T.E. Brooks, on gravel bar ( SEMC, 3). Missouri: Barry Co.: Roaring River State Park, VI-10-1977, Riley & Thewke, black light ( TAMU, 1). Boone Co.: Columbia, VIII-18-1977, E.G. Riley ( DSCC, 1; TAMU, 4). McDonald Co.: Big Sugar Creek, 10 mi E Anderson, VII-12/13 - 1960, E. L. Todd ( USNM, 1). Oregon Co.: 2.1 mi N Thayer, VIII.8.1987, E. Lisowski, blacklight ( INHS, 1). Randolph Co.: 1 mi E Moberly, VII-22-1972, E.G. Riley ( TAMU, 1). Ohio: Hamilton Co.: Cincinnati, V-26 ( MCZC, 1). Pickaway Co.: Circleville, Scioto River at Bridge Crossing Rt. 22, 39o 36.30, VIII-24-2008, K.D. Karns, flooding gravel along river bank ( KDKC, 1). Oklahoma: Cleveland Co.: Norman, IX-17-1976, W.D. Shepard, light traps ( UCBC, 1). Delaware Co.: 5 mi E Kansas, Flint Creek, VI-2-1984, W.D. Shepard ( DSCC, 2; UCBC, 1). Latimer Co.: IV-1989, VIII-1986, VIII-1984, K. Stephan ( DSCC, 3); VII-1996, K. Stephan, in blacklight ( DSCC, 1); IX-1990, K. Stephan ( LSAM, 1); I-1988, K. Stephan, in blacklight trap ( TAMU, 1); V-1993, IV-1994, IX-1987, III-1989, V-1987, V-1989, VIII-1985, K. Stephan ( TAMU, 7). Le Flore Co.: Muse, VI-24-1939, M.W. Sanderson, at light ( FMNH, 1). Mayes Co.: Spavinaw, VI-18-1937, Standish & Kaiser ( FMNH, 2). McCurtin Co.: Glover River downstream from St. Rtes. 3 & 7, bridge 1.9 mi NNW Glover, VIII-13-1987, E.A. Lisowski, UV light trap ( LSAM, 3). Texas: Gillespie Co.: Lange's Mill, VI-5-1969, Board & Hafernik ( TAMU, 1). Real Co.: 6 mi SE Leakey, VII-1-1971, G.H. Nelson, ultraviolet light ( DSCC, 1). Uvalde Co.: Nueces River, 18 mi NW Uvalde, 1,100', A. Brigham, blacklight trap ( FMNH, 1). Victoria Co.: Victoria, IX ( USNM, 4). Williamson Co.: Taylor, I- 30-1968, J.E. Hafernik ( TAMU, 1). Only state on label: “Tx.” ( MCZC, 3, Lectotype and two Paralectotypes); Collection Belfrage ( USNM, 2). West Virginia: Greenbrier Co.: White Sulphur, VIII ( CASC, 2).

Description. BODY: Length 1.84–2.04 mm; brown, elytra orange-brown; in comparison to other species the body is slightly more flattened; setae on head and pronotum short, curved and suberect, decumbent over rest of body. Head: surface smooth, shiny, punctures minute. Antennae differing slightly between sexes (see below). Setose area of median vertexal fovea subequal in size to those of lateral foveae. Pronotum: surface smooth, shiny, punctures indistinct. Setose area of median antebasal fovea about two-thirds width of those in lateral antebasal foveae. Elytra: surface lightly microreticulate, punctures faint; discal stria extending to about four-fifths of elytral length. Abdomen: surface smooth, shining, punctures indistinct; basal striae of tergite 1 extending to about half paratergite length, bases separated by about half width of tergite, tergite base with distinct setose brush between striae.

MALE: Antennomeres III–VII longer than wide, VIII–X as long as wide, VIII smallest, IX–X progressively larger, VIII about three-fourths width of IX, IX slightly longer than wide, X about as long as wide, twice as wide as IX ( Fig. 7 D). Trochanters unmodified, smooth. Metaventrite with scattered setae between bases of metacoxae, lacking setose patch. Tergite 1 modified only at apex, apex with deep U-shaped notch at middle, with a narrow hyaline lamina at middle of notch, lateral angles of notch protruding, apices rounded ( Figs 7 A–B); tergite 2 short, about one-third length of tergite 1, with deep, broadly bilobed impression at base, impression with elongate narrow tubercle at middle ventral to tergite 1, fitting into base of tergite 1 notch, apex of tergite 2 angularly projecting into impression at middle, projection with anterior margin smoothly swollen, with V-shaped sulcus immediately posterior to swollen rim, with small granulate mound posterior to this sulcus at tergite apex ( Figs 7 A–C); in lateral view tergites 1–2 curving confluently. Abdominal ventrites 2–6 broadly convex. Metatibiae narrow basally, slightly widening through length to near apex, with dense comb of setae on mesal margin in apical fourth where slightly curved medially ( Fig. 7 E). Aedeagus 0.30 mm long, dorsal plate triangular, rounded at apex; parameres with broad preapical constriction, with three thick setae at point of constriction on outer margin, flattened preapical hyaline seta elongate and pointed at apex, inserted at inner margin of constricted area; internal sac with one large evenly curved spine ( Fig. 7 F).

FEMALE: Antennomeres III–VI longer than wide, VII-VIII as long as wide, VIII smaller, IX–X transverse, VIII two-thirds width of IX. Metaventrite with setae appearing longer and denser toward middle than in male. Tergite 2 with faint semicircular impression arising from base with vague longitudinal median area dividing impression, impression extending to slightly more than half tergite width, all other tergites evenly convex; ventrites broadly convex; metatibiae similar in form to those of male.

Collecting data. On gravel bars in streams and in flood debris; at UV light ( Chandler 1997). Most specimens with collecting data were taken at ultraviolet light, but a few specimens were taken beneath stones on gravel bars in streams, or from under flood debris. Collected from March to September, with one record from January in Texas.

Distribution ( Fig. 37 A). This species is found in the lower Ohio River drainage area starting in West Virginia, and is most common in the lower Mississippi River drainage area starting in Missouri and Illinois. A few specimens were taken from the District of Columbia, which is the only locality from outside the Ohio/Mississippi drainage area.

Comments. Brendel & Wickham (1890: 268) listed B. infinita Casey as a synonym of B. belfragei , with B. infinita being treated as the female of B. belfragei . This is incorrect, and the “female” specimen labeled as B. belfragei in the Brendel material at the MCZC is a male of B. infinita , which lacks modifications of the male tergites. Males of B. belfragei are readily recognized by having the disc of tergite 1 simple with a distinct median emargination at the apex, and tergite 2 has a deep transverse basal sulcus. Females have tergite 2 slightly transversely impressed in the middle portion, and the body is more flattened than for the other species of the Midwestern states. Females of all other species have tergite 2 broadly convex, except that females of B. corniventris often have a middle of tergite 2 slightly flattened but is more densely punctate than is found for B. belfragei .

LeConte (1880) described B. belfragei from Texas via a brief description in a key, and did not indicate the number of specimens before him. Specimens in the LeConte Collection have the simple locality label “Tex.,” and those specimens in the LeConte and Horn Collections (MCZC) with this label are treated as syntypes. The male Lectotype is here chosen from the series in the LeConte Collection and bears the labels: // Tex./ ♂/ [red label] Type 6135/ B. Belfragei Lec./ Aug.–Dec. 2004 MCZ Image Database/ LECTOTYPE Bryaxis belfragei LeConte 2013 des. DSChandler//. The male and female syntypes in the LeConte Collection and a male from the Horn Collection (all in MCZC) are labeled as Paralectotypes. Brendel & Wickham (1890: 285) listed this species from Louisiana, but the only specimen that we have seen from Louisiana is a single female of B. corniventris (MCZC), and the Brendel & Wickham record may well be based on the misidentification of this old specimen.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Brachygluta belfragei (LeConte). A: Abdomen, dorsal view (Missouri, Boone Co.). B: Abdomen, dorsocaudal view (Missouri, Boone Co.). C: Abdomen, caudal view (Missouri, Boone Co.). D: Right antenna (Missouri, Boone Co.). E: Left metatibia, anterior view (Missouri, Boone Co.). F: Aedeagus (Oklahoma, Delaware Co.).

FIGURE 37. Distribution map of Brachygluta abdominalis species-group. A: Brachygluta belfragei (LeConte). B: Brachygluta shawnee Chandler.