Vaniosus Kulzer, 1956

Flores, Gustavo E. & Aballay, Fernando H., 2015, Two Evaniosomini Species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Associated with Decaying Carcasses in Argentina, with Remarks on the Tribal Assignment of Achanius Erichson, The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 14) 69, pp. 167-179 : 172

Genus Vaniosus Kulzer, 1956

( Figs. 2–4 , 6, 8 , 10 , 12, 21)

Vaniosus Kulzer 1956: 896 .

Type species: Vaniosus paradoxus Kulzer, 1956 , by monotypy.

Description. In addition to the characters stated above: Mandibles finer, acute, base 1.5X wider than the apex, both mandibles with a dorsal cusp on basal half longer on the right than on the left mandible ( Fig. 6 ), both mandibles with a ventral fossa ( Fig. 8 ); labrum exposed, partially sclerotized; clypeus short, not covering the labrum, anterior margin triangular nearly at same level with antennal insertions, armed with a row of teeth directed downwards, in the apex with a large tooth prolonged anterad ( Fig. 6 ); prementum entirely membranous, nearly concealed beneath mentum; anterior margin of mentum straight or slightly concave ( Fig. 8 ); eyes small, protruding out, upper margin lacking carina; length of epicanthus 2.5x the length of eye ( Fig. 6 ); antennae surpassing posterior margin of pronotum, antennomere 1 sticks out distal half of antennal insertion ( Fig. 8 ), antennomeres 9 and 10 cylindrical, not expanded outwards, longer than wide, antennomere 11 equal in length to 10 ( Fig. 10 ). Pronotum with anterior angles obtuse, slopeing towards venter ( Figs. 2–4 ). Metasternum twice the length of mesosternum. Metacoxae separated by less than half metacoxal width; metacoxal width 3X metacoxal length; distance between meso– and metacoxae twice the metacoxal length ( Fig. 12 ).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 21 ). Spiculum without arms. Paraprocts long (2.0 <P/C ≤ 3.0), basal lobe of coxite not extended over paraproct. Vagina saccate. Spermathecal accesory gland longer than vagina, with annulate duct. Spermatheca single, compact, locular, at the end of vagina, near the duct of spermathecal accessory gland.

Species included. Vaniosus paradoxus Kulzer and Vaniosus profana (Kulzer) .

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF VANIOSUS KULZER

1. Head widest at epicanthus; antennomere 1 longer than 3, antennomere 2 longer than 3; posterior angles of pronotum very protruding, pointed outwards ( Fig. 4 ); humeri not elevated; hind wings absent; first tarsomere of hind legs longer than 2–4 combined ( Fig. 3 ) ......................... Vaniosus paradoxus Kulzer

1′. Head widest at eyes; antennomere 1 as long as 3, antennomere 2 shorter than 3 ( Fig. 8 ); posterior angles of pronotum obtuse, not protruding; humeri elevated; hind wings present, reduced, as long as elytra, not folded; first tarsomere of hind legs as long as 2–3 combined ( Fig. 2 )....... Vaniosus profana (Kulzer)

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Dorsal habitus. 1) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes; 2) Vaniosus profana, holotype, (Image courtesy of Eva Sprecher, NHMB); 3) Vaniosus paradoxus, holotype (Image courtesy of Isabelle Züercher, NHMB); 4) V. paradoxus, holotype, pronotum and head (Image courtesy of Isabelle Züercher, NHMB). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs. 5–8. Head. 5) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes, frontal view; 6) Vaniosus profana, frontal view; 7) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes, mouthparts, ventral view; 8) Vaniosus profana, mouthparts, ventral view, white arrow indicates ventral fossa on mandible.

Figs. 9–10. Antennomeres 9–11.9) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes; 10) Vaniosus profana.

Figs. 11–12. Meso– and metasterna. 11) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes; 12) Vaniosus profana.

Figs. 21–22. Ovipositor in ventral view, spiculum and internal female reproductive tract. 21) Vaniosus profana; 22) Achanius (Ambigatus) rufonitens. Abbreviations: c = coxite; o = oviduct; p = paraproct; s = spermatheca; sag = spermathecal accessory gland; sp = spiculum; v = vagina. Scale bar = 1 mm.