Pennasolis merkeli (Horn)

Opitz, Weston, 2008, Classification, natural history, and evolution of Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part VII. The genera Hapsidopteris Opitz, Iontoclerus Opitz, Katamyurus Opitz, Megatrachys Opitz, Opitzia Nemésio, Pennasolis Opitz, new genus, Pericales Opitz, new genus, Pteroferus Opitz, new genus, and Turbophloeus Opitz, new genus, Zootaxa 1754, pp. 1-40 : 29-32

Pennasolis merkeli (Horn)

Figures 81–94; map 1.

Phyllobaenus merkeli Horn, 1896: 374 . Lectotype ♂. Here designated. Type locality: Ariz., Merkel. Restricted herein to Arizona: Cochise County, South West Research Station, 8 km W Portal (FMNH). (Specimen point mounted, gender label affixed to paper point; support card; locality label; collector label; FMNH acronymic label; specimen identification label; lectotype label-3525; Opitz lectotype label) Böving, 1920: 610 ( Phyllobaenus ). Champlain, 1920: 637 ( Phyllobaenus ). Wolcott, 1947: 84.

Diagnosis: The profuse distribution of white declinate 2º degree setae on the elytral disc and the faintly visible pale fascia behind the elytral middle will distinguish the members of this species from those of P. californica (Van Dyke) .

Description: Length 5.5 mm; width 1.9 mm. Form: Oblong short-rectangulate. Integument: Black, except clypeus, mouthparts, first seven antennomeres, macula on frons, anterior corners and briefly posterior margin, legs, and abdomen light brown, elytral disc with many white setae and with pale fascia behind middle. Head: Eyes not particularly large, moderately convex; vertex between eyes broad. Thorax: Side margins with slightly developed tubercles, anterior transverse depression not very prominent, disc not smoothly sculptured, with elevated and depressed regions, punctations coarse, but not easily discernable; elytral side margins parallel to posterior three-fourths, then gradually rounded to apex, side margins minutely serrate in posterior fourth, disc with several ridges, punctations small and profusely distributed. Abdomen: Aedeagus (fig. 93) with very short phallobasic apodeme; phallobasic rod absent, phallic plates broad, apex in form of oblong knob.

Variation: Length 4.8–6.1 mm; width 1.5–2.1 mm. There is variation in the number of white 2º setae on the elytral disc.

Natural history: Specimens were collected from dead wood infested with various lignicolous insects such as the cerambycid Semanotus sp. and buprestids. Some specimens were reared from branches of juniper infested with Phlaeosinus . Other plant associations involve Juniperus pachyphloea and Pinus ponderosa . Other emergence records are from November, January and February. In general, specimens were collected during April, May, June, July, August, and September, one at 1677 m. Champlain (1920: 637) reported that this species is a predator of bark beetles. Specimens were collected on Jeffery pine infested with Ips , on alligator juniper infested with Phlocosinus. Also, specimens were reared from cypress in southwestern USA.

Distribution (map 1): In addition to the holotype I have examined 66 specimens from: USA: Utah: Juab Co., Levan, 20-IV-1955; Millard Co., Oak Creek Canyon, 26-IV-1958, emerged from juniper, D. E. Johnson; Utah Co. Cedar Fort, emerged 20-23-I-1992, ex. Juniperus sp. , R. Turnbow: New Mexico: Socorro Co. Gallinas Mountains, highway 169 (52), 5 km NW Magdalena, 27-XII-1989, ex. Juniperus scopulorum , wood infested with Semanotus sp. (Cerambycidae) and buprestids, L. Beierl; Grant Co. highway 15, 26 km N Silver City, 2-VI-1990, G. H. Nelson; Texas: Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mountains, Madera Canyon, emerged 20-XII- 1982, ex. Juniperus sp. , R. Turnbow: Colorado: La Plata Co., Hesperus, 25-I-1955, R. W. Dawson; Freemont Co., 11-VIII-1997, Juniper infested Phloeosinus , emerged January 1998, D. Leatherman, Temple, Cyn: California; Baca Co. 16-VIII-2002, ex. Phloeosinus, D. Leatherman, GR 53 km GR M; Montezuma Co., 10 E Cortez, emerged 26-XII-1995, ex. Juniperus sp. R. Turnbow; Arizona: Graham Co. Pinaleno Mountains, Wet Canyon, 5-II-1977, under bark & sift leaf litter, D. S. Chandler; Santa Cruz Co. Santa Rita Mountains, Madera Canyon, 17-IX-1968, collector not noted; Pima Co, Santa Catalina Mountains, 20-IX-1913, Juniperus pachyphloea , collector not noted; Coconino Co., Coconino National Forest, Oak Creek Canyon, 8-IV-1987, R. K. J. & Gemmill; Yavapai Co., 11 km E Ash Fork, 31-V-1962, on Pinus ponderosa, G. H. Nelson ; idem, Williams, 31-V-1962, on Pinus ponderosa, G. H. Nelson ; Sabino Canyon, J. N. Knull; Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains, 5-X-1968, 1677 m, collector not noted. AMNH, CASC, FMNH, FSCA, JNRC, RHTC, CSUC and WOPC.