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12-1989
The Pselaphidae (Coleoptera) of Latimer County, Oklahoma, with Revisions of Four Genera from Eastern North America. Part 1. Faroninae and Euplectinae
Donald S. Chandler University of New Hampshire, [email protected]
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Recommended Citation Chandler, Donald S. The Pselaphidae (Coleoptera) of Latimer County, Oklahoma, with Revisions of Four Genera from Eastern North America. Part 1. Faroninae and Euplectinae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society (1890-) Vol. 115, No. 4 (Dec., 1989) , pp. 503-529 Published by: American Entomological Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25078506
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Publications by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Pselaphidae (Coleoptera) of Latimer County, Oklahoma, with Revisions of Four Genera from Eastern North America. Part 1. Faroninae and Euplectinae Author(s): Donald S. Chandler Source: Transactions of the American Entomological Society (1890-), Vol. 115, No. 4 (Dec., 1989), pp. 503-529 Published by: American Entomological Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25078506 Accessed: 11-05-2015 19:07 UTC
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This content downloaded from 132.177.228.65 on Mon, 11 May 2015 19:07:56 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Transactions of the American Entomological Society 115(4): 503-529, 1989
The Pselaphidae (Cole?ptera) of Latimer County, Oklahoma, with Revisions of Four Genera from Eastern North America.
Part 1. Faroninae and Euplectinae1
Donald S. Chandler Department of Entomology University of New Hampshire Durham, NH 03824
Abstract
The species of Pselaphidae found in Latimer County, Oklahoma, in the subfamilies Faron inae (1 genus, 1 species) and Euplectinae (14 genera, 31 species) are listed, and their seasonality and biology discussed. Four genera are revised (Rhexius LeConte, Thesiastes Casey, Biblo plectus Reitter, Melba Casey), and two others {Trimioplectus Brendel, Pygmactium Schuster & Grigarick) have keys provided for the first time. Species collected in Latimer County are: Mayetia domestica Schuster, Marsh & Park, Conoplectus canaliculatus (LeConte), C. susae Carlton, Rhexius stephani n. sp., R. ferrugineus Casey, R. insculptus Casey, R. schmitti Bren del, R. ouachitan. sp., Thesium cavifrons (LeConte), Thesiastes fossulatus (Brendel), T. atra tus Casey, T. pumilis (LeConte), Euplectus acomanus Casey, E. confluens (LeConte), Pyc noplectus interruptus (LeConte), P. linearis (LeConte), P. spinifer Casey, Saxet decora (Casey), Trimioplectus australis n. sp., Bibloplectus ruficeps (LeConte), B. choctaw n. sp., B. creek n. sp., B. cherokee n. sp., B. osage n. sp., B. chickasaw n. sp., Dalmosella tenais Casey, Melba thoracica (Brendel), M. p?rvula (LeConte), M. sulcatula Casey, Trimiomelba dubia (LeConte), Pygmactium quercavum n. sp., Sebaga ocampi Park. Species covered or figured that were not collected in Latimer County are: Rhexius substriatus Casey, Thesiastes debilis (LeConte), Tri mioplectus obsoletus Brendel, T. auerbachi Park, Bibloplectus leviceps Casey, B. integer (LeConte), B. sobrinus Casey, Melba maja (Brendel), Pygmactium steevesi Schuster & Gri garick, P. mollyae (Park). = A number of new synonymies were discovered: Rhexius substriatus LeConte ( R. virginicus = Casey), R. ferrugineus Casey ( R. transversus Casey, =R. ruber Casey), R. schmitti Brendel = ( R. hirsutus Casey), Thesium cavifrons (LeConte) (= Thesium laticolle Casey), Thesiastes = = fossulatus (Brendel) ( E. rotundicollis Brendel), T. debilis (LeConte) ( E. planipennis Bren = del), Trimium brevicorne (Reichenbach) ( T. discolor LeConte, apparent mislabeled Euro = = = pean specimen), Melba p?rvula (LeConte) ( T. durum Brendel, T. gr?cil is Brendel, T. = = laticolle Brendel, Melba texana Casey, =M. uniformis Casey), M. sulcatula Casey ( M. = fossiger Casey, M. dentipes Raff ray) NEW SYNONYMIES. Trimium americanum LeConte is transferred to Trimiomelba (NEW COMBINATION), and Rhexius simplex Motschulsky, Bibloplectus exilis Bowman, and Melba simplex (LeConte) are placed as Incertae sedis (NEW STATUS). Sebaga ocampi Park is the first member of the Neotropical tribe Jubini recorded from North America.
Work on the North American Pselaphidae has usually dealt with generic or higher level treatments of selected groups, or consisted of descriptions of a variety of species from wide geographic areas. Only a few papers have dealt with species richness of Pselaphidae at local sites for prairie (Park et al 1949, 5 spp.), tree holes (Park et al 1950, 12 spp.), and sphagnum bogs
'Scientific Contribution Number 1613 from the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station
(503)
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(Reichle 1969, 13 spp.) in Illinois, and in old-growth forests in New Hamp shire (Chandler 1987, 12 spp.). Still fewer papers have been faunal treat ments based on thorough collecting efforts in small political units such as counties (Butte Co., California, Chandler 1983, 29 spp.), or larger units such as states (Iowa, Wickham 1911, 70 spp.). Species richness has not really been documented for the broader mix of habitats found in a restricted por tion of a biome beyond the local site. This is particularly difficult to doc - ument for pselaphids due to their small size (0.6 3.1 mm), and the need to use extraction devices to obtain most taxa from sods, leaf litter, and rotten wood. The pselaphid fauna of Oklahoma has been particularly poorly known, with no state records listed in Leng (1920), and only four species with Okla homa records recorded since then. Intensive collecting by Karl H. Stephan in Latimer Co., Oklahoma, indicates that at least the eastern portion of the state has a rich fauna similar to that of the adjacent eastern states. Currently 75 species have been collected in the county, comparing favorably with the 70 (66 when corrected for subsequent synonymies) listed by Wickham (1911) for Iowa, where similarly intensive collections were made in a limited num ber of localities in southeastern Iowa. This closeness in number of species is intriguing, and may perhaps be explained by the similar array of habitats present since both sites are in the transition zone between eastern forest and long-grass prairie. The propor tion of prairie to forest between the two sites is quite different, with the amount of prairie in Latimer County quite small compared to that of south eastern Iowa, and the amount of upland pine forest much larger. Despite the closeness of species richness numbers, only 34 species are shared between the two areas and these are generally widely distributed through eastern North America. The remaining 32 Iowa species are found in the northern states and Canada, while those remaining from Oklahoma appear to be found through the Southeast region. As the Latimer County list increased over the thirteen years I have been receiving material, the keys for several genera that have not been revised since 1900 proved to be hopelessly inadequate. The type material for many of the species had to be examined to accurately identify the Oklahoma taxa, and I was able to place all previously described species but three: Rhexius simplex Motschulsky, Bibloplectus exilis Bowman, and Melba simplex LeConte, whose types are missing or are not available for loan. Since I have no immediate plans to commit further work to the genera covered here, I have provided keys and information in the form of brief revisions. I did not attempt to cover any of the undescribed species that have not yet been collected in Oklahoma. This information will permit accurate identification of a number of species widely distributed through eastern North America that were essentially impossible to place using previous works. This study is divided into two parts, since there are three genera in other subfamilies requiring further work and the final resolution of their problems
This content downloaded from 132.177.228.65 on Mon, 11 May 2015 19:07:56 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions D. S. CHANDLER 505 will require significant additional time. Two subfamilies are covered here: Faroninae (1 genus, 1 species), and Euplectinae (14 genera, 31 species) to talling nearly half of the species known from the county. Specimens may be identified to genus using Chandler (1989).
Latimer County Latimer County is in southeastern Oklahoma near the Arkansas border (Fig 47). It contains 1.9xl05 hectares, and the county seat (Wilburton) re ceives an average of 117 centimeters of precipitation annually, evenly spread through the year (Brinlee and Wilson 1981). The county is at the western margin of the Ouachita Mountains, and has several east-west oriented ranges and valleys that extend in elevation from 155 to 662 m. The lowland valleys of the major drainages contain prairie remnants, and a belt of deciduous trees in the floodplains along the streams. The upland forests are primarily pine-oak and oak-hickory. Blair and Hubbell (1938) placed the county in their Ouachita Biotic District, noted many of the dominant plants, and listed the important Orthoptera and mammals characteristic of this district. They found the mammals and Orthoptera of the Ouachita region characteristic of the eastern states, and have reached the western limit of their distribution in this area. The pselaphid species covered here also reflect this widespread eastern or a southeastern pattern of distribution, with five species known at this time only from the Ouachita/Ozark Mountain region.
Procedure Measurements are in millimeters. All specimens were collected by K.H. Stephan unless otherwise indicated. Precise collection localities for many specimens were not indicated on the label beyond "Latimer Co.," and are so cited under each species in addition to those records with precise local ities. Seasonality and collecting information are summarized for each spe cies, and additional state and provincial distribution records based on spec imens that I have seen are listed using U.S. Postal Service abbreviations. The types of all species except for a few treated in recent revisions were examined. The holotypes of species described here are to be deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History, and approximately a third or more of the specimens sent by Karl Stephan will be or have been returned to him for eventual deposition in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville. The rest of his material is in the collection of the author. Spec imens deposited in other collections are indicated by codons listed with the correspondents in the acknowledgments.
Faroninae, Mayetiini Mayetia domestica Schuster, Marsh, and Park
Specimens examined, 66: 5 mi W Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; grass clumps in sandy soil, grass roots, sandy soil beneath thick pine litter and moss. This
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species is present from February through May, with a few specimens col lected in October. The largest number were collected in March and April. Domestica and many other Mayetia species are found in grass sods. The male holotype from Dexter, Missouri, has very weakly developed spines on the meso- and metatrochanters, and were not mentioned in the original description. The Oklahoma specimens have large spines on the meso and metatrochanters, while the male genitalia are identical with that of the type (figured in Schuster et al 1959). Although this degree of variation is unknown among the other species of this poorly collected group, it appears that the trochanteral spines are variable in development in domestica.
Euplectinae, Trogastrini
Conoplectus canaliculatus (LeConte)
Specimens examined, 125: 5 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, 4 mi W Red Oak, Robbers Cave State Park-Lost Lake, "Latimer Co."; sift rotten pine, sift rotten wood, in maple stump, brush pile, oak treehole, forest litter, lowland forest, upland forest, in flight trap. Collected in every month, with this species most common from December through April. Canaliculatus is found in a variety of forest leaf and log litters. Conoplectus was recently revised by Carlton (1983), and this and the following species may be separated using his key.
Conoplectus susae Carlton
Specimens examined, 116: 5 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, Go wen Mountain, Robbers Cave State Park-Lost Lake, Blue Mtn.-lOOO'; with ants, in grass clumps, in hollow stump oak lowland, sift rotten pine, woodrat nests near swamp, river debris, upland forest, lowland forest, forest litter, pine-oak forest, in flight trap. Susae is found in a variety of forest leaf and log litters, and was collected with members of two different ant genera in the For micinae. Collected in all months but June and July, and most common from January through April.
Rhexius LeConte
Rhexius was last revised by Casey (1908) when he added five species to the three previously described. The descriptions were done in the format of a key, and have been generally useless in providing information for iden tification. This is due in some part to the difficulty of discriminating species without resorting to the male genitalia, and also due to three of Casey's species being here placed in synonymy. The following key covers the pre viously described species and those described here from Oklahoma. The description of Rhexius simplex Motschulsky (1856:7) from Alabama has only recently been recognized as valid, with this name here placed as Incertae sedis since the type has been unavailable for loan.
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Key to Rhexius
1. Males lacking laterobasal depression of abdominal sternite III, vertical shelf at base - absent; eyes of females with 10 20 facets.2 Males with laterobasal area of sternite III impressed, vertical shelf at base apparent and extending ventrally to apex of sternite II (Figs 3, 6); eyes of females with number of facets variable.3 - 2. (1) Male eyes moderate in size, 25 40 facets, metatibiae slightly swollen medially; female sternite VI flattened medially.stephani n. sp. Male eyes large, about 48 facets, metatibiae swollen medially, anterior face of swollen area impressed; female sternite VI with vague circular impression through length .substriatus Casey 3. (1) Males with vertical shelf at base of laterobasal impression narrow but distinct (Fig 3); eyes of females about 47 facets, sternite VI vaguely impressed along base, convex at middle.ferrugineus Casey Males with vertical shelf at base of laterobasal impression obvious, wide (Fig 6); number of facets in eyes of females and form of sternite VI variable.4 4. (3) Aedeagus with ventral lobe strongly angulate to right at apex, penis apex curved to left - (Fig 5); eyes of female with 36 50 facets, sternite VI with circular impression in basal two-thirds.insculptus Brendel Aedeagus with ventral lobe and penis formed differently (Figs 7,8); eyes of female with less than 20 facets (female of schmitti not known).5 5. (4) Penis apex bifurcate, forks similar in form, hairy lobe to right at phallobase apex (Fig 7); female unknown.schmitti LeConte Penis with strong preapical dorsal tooth, apical portion truncate, hairy lobe to left on phallobase (Fig 8); eyes of females with 10-20 facets.ouachita n. sp.
Rhexius substriatus LeConte Figure 1
Rhexius substriatus LeConte 1878a:383. Type loc: Tampa, Florida. Holotype female, MCZC type 6176. Rhexius virginicus Casey 1908:280. Type loc: Norfolk, Virginia. Holotype male, USNM Type #38587. NEW SYNONYMY.
- - Length 1.26 1.35. Male eyes with 47 50 facets, mesotrochanters car inate on ventral margin, metatibiae swollen medially, impressed on anterior face of swollen area, sternite III lacking basolateral impression and vertical shelf, VI with vague longitudinal impression through length. Female eyes with 13-15 facets, lacking modifications of legs, sternite VI with vague circular impression through length. I have seen specimens from: VA, FL, and MS.
Rhexius stephani n. sp. Figure 2
Length 1.02-1.14. Male eyes with 25-40 facets, mesotrochanters and me tatibiae not modified, sternite III lacking basolateral impressions and ver tical shelf, VI with short transverse impression in apical half. Female eyes with 12-17 facets, lacking modifications of legs and sternite III, VI gently convex to slightly flattened at middle.
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Specimens examined, 122: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., IV-1982, K. Stephan (FMNH, on slide). PARATYPES: 60 males, 48 females, same data except different dates; 3 males, 3 females, 5 mi W Red Oak, IV-1979, K. Stephan; 1male, same data except XII-18-1977; 1male, Red Oak, XI-1-1976, K. Stephan; 2 females, same data except IV-20-1983; 1male, 2 females, Gowen, IV-15-1983, K. Stephan. The name is in honor of the collector of the entire series, Karl Stephan. Specimens were collected in lowland and upland forest litter, in grass roots, sifting flood debris, brush pile, in flight trap, and in blacklight trap. The majority are from a single collection in flood debris in April, and oth erwise occurs most commonly in forest litter. This species has been collected in all months but August, and is most common in late spring.
Rhexius ferrugineus Casey Figures 3-4
Rhexius ferrugineus Casey 1908:280. Type loc: St. Vincent, Pennsylvania. Holotype male, USNM Type #38586. Rhexius transversas Casey 1908:281. Type loc. : Indiana? Holotype male, USNM Type #38588. NEW SYNONYMY. Rhexius ruber Casey 1908:279. Type loe: D.C. Holotype female, USNM Type #38585. NEW SYNONYMY.
Length 1.20-1.29. Male eyes with 54-58 facets, mesotrochanters with ven tral margin car?nate, metatibiae slim, sternite III with laterobasal area im pressed, with associated narrow vertical shelf extending ventrally to apex of II, VI with transverse impression in apical half, anteromedial area flattened. Female eyes with 50-57 facets, lacking modifications of legs and sternite III, VI vaguely impressed along base. Specimens examined, 10: "Latimer Co.," XI-1982 (8), IV-1983 (1), XI 1984 (1). The majority of the specimens were found in flood debris, with a few in grass roots. Most of the individuals were collected in November. I have seen additional specimens from: OH, PA, DC, VA, FL, AL, MS, and LA.
Rhexius insculptus LeConte Figure 5
Rhexius insculptus LeConte 1849:103. Type loc: New Orleans, Louisiana. Holotype female, MCZC Type 6175. LeConte believed this specimen to be a male.
Length 1.02-1.20. Male eyes with 56-63 facets, mesotrochanters with ven tral margin car?nate, metatibiae slim, sternite III with laterobasal area im pressed, with wide vertical shelf extending from this area ventrally to apex of II, VI with transverse impression in apical half, anteromedial area flattened.
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Female eyes with 36-49 facets, lacking modifications of legs and sternites, VI with median circular impression in basal two-thirds of length. Specimens examined, 55: 5 mi W Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; X-1980 (1), V-1984 (1), VI-1984 (1), VII-1984 (1), 11-1985 (1), IV-1986 (1), 1-1987 (1), VIII-1987 (8), XII-1987 (1), VI-1988 (2), VII-1988 (16), VIII-1988 (21). Col lected sifting forest litter, in flood debris, and at ultraviolet light. The largest series were collected in July and August, and single females have been col
Figures 1-2, 4-5, 7-8, dorsal and left lateral view aedeagus; 3, 6, posterolateral view male = abdomen. Scale 0.05 mm. 1. Rhexius substriatus LeConte. 2. R. stephani n. sp. 3-4. R. ferrugineus Casey. 5. R. insculptus LeConte. 6-7. R. schmitti Brendel. 8. R. ouachita n. sp.
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lected in several other months. I have seen additional specimens from: OH, MO, MS, and LA.
Rhexius schmitti Brendel Figures 6-7
Rhexius schmitti Brendel 1893:281. Type loc: Pennsylvania. Lectotype male, ANSP Type #8280. Lectotype desig. by Moxey (1962). Rhexius hirsutus Casey 1908:279. Type loc: St. Louis, Missouri. Holotype male, USNM Type #38584. NEW SYNONYMY.
Length 0.99-1.26. Male eyes with 47-61 facets, mesotrochanters smoothly angulate, carinate ventrally, metatibiae thin, sternite III with laterobasal area impressed, with wide vertical shelf extending from this area to apex of II, VI transversely impressed in apical half, occasionally protruding ante riorly to form triangular impression. Females unknown. Specimen-examined, 2 males: Latimer Co., V-1987, VI-1988, ultraviolet light. Collected in rotten wood or leaf litter in other states. I have seen additional specimens from: OH, WV, PA, MD, DC, VA, KY, NC, GA, FL, AL, MS, MO, and AR.
Rhexius ouachita n. sp. Figure 8
- - Length 1.11 1.20. Male eyes with 42 50 facets, mesotrochanters car inate on ventral margin, metatibiae slightly inflated at middle, sternite III with basolateral impressions, large shelf projecting ventrally to fill gap be tween II-III, VI with transverse impression in apical half. Female eyes with 14-20 facets, legs and abdomen not modified, VI lightly impressed at middle. Specimens examined, 19: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., IV-1983, K. Stephan, upland forest (FMNH). PARATYPES: 8 males, 9 females, same data except V-1982 (1), X-1982 (1), XII-1982 (1), IV-1983 (2), X-1983 (1), IV-1984 (1), V-1984 (1), IV-1986 (1), III-1987 (8); 1 female, Gaines Creek, 2 mi S Damon, VIII-4-1985, D. Chandler & K. Stephan, sift river drift. The name is taken from the Ouachita Mountains. The largest series (8) was collected inMarch, and this species appears to be most com mon in the Spring. Collected from upland and lowland forest litters, and in flood debris. Specimens from two other localities are tentatively associated with this species. A male from Ohio (Adams Co., 3mi E Blue Creek) has the aedeagus reversed and small differences in the penis apex; and a male from Mississippi (Harrison Co., Newman Lumber Co.) has the ventral lobe apparently re versed, while the penis is of the typical form. The aedeagi of the specimens from Oklahoma are quite consistent in form.
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Euplectinae, Euplectini
Thesium cavifrons (LeConte) Euplectus cavifrons LeConte 1863:28. Type loc: New Orleans, Louisiana. Syntypes female, MCZC Type 27740. Thesium laticolle Casey 1884: 118. Type loc: Columbus, Texas. Syntypes male and female, USNM Type #38635. NEW SYNONYMY.
Specimens examined, 102: 5mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, 3mi SW Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; sifting lowland forest litter, flood debris, oak treehole, rot ten maple stump, debris near streams, old hay, in blacklight trap, and in flight trap. All specimens are from the lower elevations of the county. Cav ifrons is frequently collected in treeholes or in rotten wood in other states, and less commonly in leaf litter. Collected in every month, with July pro ducing the largest numbers. I have seen additional specimens from: ME, ON, PA, OH, IA, GA, FL, AL, MS, and TX. Casey separated laticolle from cavifrons by the shorter median discal sul cus of the pronotum of the former. This has been a rather deceiving char acter, with differing light intensities and viewing angles producing different apparent lengths of this sulcus. I have dissected males from throughout the species distribution, and encompassing the extremes in pronotal sulcus length, and have seen only one species. Grigarick and Schuster (1980) pro vide figures of this species.
Thesiastes Casey
Species of Thesiastes have been difficult to identify since the last key (Casey 1894) used differences in color and size, and did not include all the members of the genus described by Brendel in Euplectus Leach. Members of this genus lack easily seen male characters, and while color and size are useful the male genitalia should be examined until familiar with the species.
1. Length 0.90 or longer.2 Length less than 0.90.3 2. (1) Orange-brown, aedeagus with broadly curved right paramere (Fig 9).fossulatus (Brendel) Brown to dark brown, aedeagus with right paramere straight (Fig 10).debilis (LeConte) - 3. (2) Larger, 0.78 0.84, pronotum sparsely granulate, surface smooth, moderate to dark brown; aedeagus as figured (Fig 11).atratus Casey - Smaller, 0.63 0.72, pronotum lightly and densely granulate, orange-brown; aedeagus as figured (Fig 12).pumilis (LeConte)
Thesiastes fossulatus (Brendel) Figure 9
Euplectus fossulatus Brendel 1891:59. Type loc: Peoria, Illinois. Holotype female, ANSP Type #8277. Euplectus rotundicollis Brendel 1891:61. Type loc: Linn Co., Iowa. Lectotype male, ANSP Type #8293. Lectotype desig. by Moxey (1962). NEW SYNONYMY.
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- Length 0.90 1.05. Body orange-brown, occasionally brown, head and pronotum lightly and densely granulate, aedeagus with right paramere broadly curved, with long lateral spine at midpoint. Specimens examined, 109: 5 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; in sycamore stump, hollow oak stump, willow treehole, oak treehole, flood debris, lowland forest, upland forest, sifting forest litter, under old hay, in flight trap, and in blacklight trap. Collected in all months but July, with most specimens obtained from March through May. I have seen additional specimens from: IL, IA, NC, FL, AL, and TX.
Thesiastes debilis (LeConte) Figure 10
Euplectus debilis LeConte 1878a:386. Type loc: Tampa, Florida. Holotype female, MCZC Type 6197. Euplectus tenuis LeConte 1878a:386. Type loc: Capron, Florida. Holotype female, MCZC Type 6198. Synonymized by Casey (1884:99). Euplectusplanipennis Brendel 1891:60. Type loc: Linn Co., Iowa. Lectotype female, ANSP Type #8292. Lectotype desig. by Moxey (1962). NEW SYNONYMY.
Length 0.96-1.12. Body brown to dark brown, head and pronotum lightly and densely granulate, aedeagus with right paramere short, acute. I have seen specimens from: IA, IL, OH, KY, LA, and FL.
Thesiastes atratus Casey Figure 11
Thesiastes atratus Casey 1894:457. Type loc: Rhode Island. Holotype male, USNM Type #38626.
- Length 0.78 0.84. Body brown to dark brown, rarely lighter in color, head and pronotum sparsely granulate, surface smooth, aedeagus with unique ribbed development of penis. Specimens examined, 348: 5 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; in flood debris, meadow grass roots, grass clumps, oak & pine forest litter, lowland forest, oak treehole, hollow stump oak lowland, willow treehole, sycamore stump, in blacklight trap, and in flight trap. Collected through out the year, but most common from September through November and March through May. I have seen additional specimens from: RI, and NJ.
Thesiastes pumilis (LeConte) Figure 12
Euplectus pumilis LeConte 1849:106. Type loc: Charleston, South Carolina. Holotype male, MCZC Type 6193.
- Length 0.63 0.72. Body orange-brown, head and pronotum densely granulate, aedeagus with left paramere short and lobate.
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Figures 9-12, dorsal and left lateral view aedeagus; 13, 15, 17, ventral view male abdomen; = 14, 16, dorsal view aedeagus. Scale 0.05 mm. 9. Thesiastes fossulatus (Brendel). 10. T. debilis (LeConte). 11. T. atratus Casey. 12. T. pumilis (LeConte). 13. Trimioplectus obsoletus (Brendel). 14-15. T. australis n. sp. 16-17. T. auerbachi Park
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Specimens examined, 20: Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; sifting forest litter, and oak treehole. The majority of records are from June to July, with in dividual collections from January, May, and September. I have seen ad ditional specimens from: SC.
Euplectus acomanus Casey
Specimens examined, 31: Latimer Co., oak treehole, old sawdust, under pine bark, at base of standing dead pine. Collected in December (12), Jan uary (15), March (2), July (1), and September (1). Almost all the specimens were collected in association with dead pine trees. Members of Euplectus Leach and the following genus, Pycnoplectus Casey, may be readily iden tified using the revision of Wagner (1975).
Euplectus confluens (LeConte)
Specimens examined, 111: 5mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, 3mi SW Red Oak, Robbers Cave State Park-Lost Lake, "Latimer Co."; maple stump, syca more stump, oak treehole, hollow oak stump, Neotoma nest in oak treehole, debris around barns, old sawdust, flood debris, sift leaf litter on lake mar gin, and in blacklight trap. Collected in all months but August, and most common from January through March, and in July. Confluens ismost com monly found in treeholes and rotten wood. The specimens from barn debris and sawdust were carefully checked to make sure they were not E. karsteni (Reichenbach).
Pycnoplectus linearis (LeConte)
Specimens examined, 15: Latimer Co., forest litter, old sawdust. Col lected from October through February. Associated with rotten wood (Wag ner 1975).
Pycnoplectus interruptus (LeConte)
Two males examined: Latimer Co., 11-1986, X-1988, forest litter. Asso ciated with rotten wood (Wagner 1975).
Pycnoplectus spinifer Casey
Specimens examined, 161: 5 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; grass clumps, hollow stump oak lowland, sycamore stump, lowland woods, oak treehole, old sawdust, sawdust pile, forest litter, oak treehole with Neo toma nest, in blacklight trap. Collected in all months but July, with most specimens obtained from January through March, and in August. Asso ciated with various rotten woods.
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Saxet decora (Casey)
Specimen examined: Latimer Co., March, upland forest. This species was described by Casey (1884) based on a single female from Columbus, Texas. This is the first record of this species outside of Texas. Decora is figured by Grigarick and Schuster (1980).
Trimioplectus Brendel
Trimioplectus currently holds two species, obsoletus Brendel and auer bachi Park. Park (1949) discussed the differences between the two species without preparing a key, and noted that both appeared to be most commonly collected in treeholes. The new species described here is also most abundant in treeholes, and this appears to be a generic proclivity. Both previously described species are more northern in distribution, with obsoletus now known from the Midwest to the Appalachian Mountains (records from IL, OH, PA, ON, NH, MA, NC, VA), and auerbachi from the Midwest (records from MI, IL, OH). The new species described here ranges from Oklahoma to Florida.
Key to Males
1. Apex of sternite III with small erect tubercle near lateral margin (Fig 13).obsoletus Brendel Modifications of sternites more complex, with setate flange on sternite III near lateral margins, glabrous depression lateral to flange and continued onto sternite IV (Figs 15, 17).2 2. (1) Glabrous impression lateral to flange on sternite III extending only half distance to lateral margin (Fig 15).australis n. sp. Glabrous impression lateral to flange extending to lateral margins of sternite III (Fig 17).auerbachi Park
Trimioplectus australis n. sp. Figures 14-15
Length 0.87-0.96. Males with profemora swollen, mesotrochanters with ventral spine, sternite III with flange near lateral margin, flange with row of long setae near posterior margin directed laterally over longitudinal gla brous impression, impression extending to half distance from lateral mar gins of sternite, IV with shallow glabrous impression posterior and medial to flange and impression of III, I with smaller glabrous impression near lateral margins; aedeagus slightly different from that of auerbachi (Fig 16). Females with swollen profemora, lacking modifications of trochanters and abdominal sternites. Specimens examined, 108: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., VI-1984, K. Stephan, oak treehole (FMNH). PARATYPES: eutopo typical (7 males, 12 females), V-1984 (1 male, 1 female, in flight trap), VII 1985 (1 male, 1 female, oak treehole), VI-1986 (2 males), XII-1987 (2 males,
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7 females, oak treehole); 9 males, 12 females, Red Oak, XI-1983, K. Ste phan, ex: treehole with Neo toma nest; 27 males, 20 females, 3 mi SW Red Oak, VII-2-1987, D. Chandler & K. Stephan, sift oak treehole. ARKAN SAS: Newton Co., 1male, 1 female, Lost Valley St. Pk., X-23/24-1974, A. Newton, hardwood berleseate (UADE); 1male, Buffalo Nat. Riv., Kyles Landing, 111-10-1985, C.E. Carlton, berl. (UADE). FLORIDA: Liberty Co., 1male, 1 female, Torreya St. Pk., VII-17-1987, P. Skelley, berl. base of magnolia (PSC). The name was suggested by its southernmost range for the genus. Almost all the specimens from Oklahoma were collected in oak tree holes. Most specimens were collected in early summer, but since there are series from November and December, this species is probably present from late Fall into Summer.
Bibloplectus Reitter
The last key to this genus was provided by Bowman (1934), and has proven to be quite difficult due to the subtle differences in the characters used and the fair number of undescribed species. While the males have a few good characters on the legs, the small size of the members of the genus (0.6 to 0.9) necessitates that each male be dissected until familiar with the species. Since the genitalia are correspondingly quite small (0.10-0.15), this is a trying group to identify. I have associated females with males solely on the basis of similar label information, subtle differences in form of the head and pronotum, color, and size. Five new species are here described, and I have seen others from the Southeast and Northeast United States. The types of all taxa except B. exilis Bowman were examined. B. exilis is apparently miss ing from the Carnegie Museum, and based on the description of Bowman, it is probably not a Bibloplectus. Bibloplectus exilis Bowman is here placed as Incertae sedis. Jeannel (1949) created the subgenus Bibloplectodes for the North Amer ican species of Bibloplectus, and selected ruficeps as the type species. The aedeagus figured for ruficeps is that of B. choctaw n. sp., and the features Jeannel listed as defining the subgenus only really apply to this species and not to the other North American species as he believed. While the true ruf iceps is quite distinctive in the North American fauna, whether or not it or the other North American species deserve to be placed in a separate subgenus is questioned but not resolved here.
Key to Males
1. Mesotrochanters with ventral quadrate flange (Fig 19), metatibiae markedly swollen and setate at middle (Fig 20).ruficeps (LeConte) Mesotrochanters lacking modifications, metatibiae evenly swollen in apical half (Figs 22, 24).2 2. (1) Mesotibiae with small apical or subapical tooth on posterior margin, often difficult to see in pubescence (Figs 22, 24).3 Mesotibiae with large tooth at posterior apex, easily seen (Figs 28, 36).5
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3. (2) Mesotibiae not swollen, tooth apical (Fig 22); aedeagus with diaphragm at base (Fig 21).choctaw n. sp. Mesotibiae swollen medially, tooth subapical (Fig 24); aedeagus with diaphragm near middle (Fig 23).4 4. (3) Meso- and metatibiae densely setate at apex; aedeagus evenly narrowed to apical point (Fig 23).creek n. sp. Meso- and metatibiae lightly setate at apex; aedeagus broad apically with several proc esses (Fig 25).cherokee n. sp. 5. (2) Metatibiae with row of thick setae or teeth on apical flange (Fig. 28).6 Metatibiae lacking apical flange, thick setae at apex in oblique row or absent (Figs 34, 36).8 6. (5) Ventral lobe only reaching to apical fourth of aedeagus (Fig 27); southeastern United States.leviceps Casey . Ventral lobe extending past apex of penis (Figs 29, 31); northeastern United States 7 7. (6) Strongly recurved tooth at penis apex, lacking long forked penile extension (Fig 29); Nova Scotia to Manitoba.integer (LeConte) Penis with tooth not recurved at apex, with long forked penile extension (Fig 31); Con necticut to Rhode Island.sobrinus Casey 8. (5) Ventral lobe of aedeagus with accessory sickle-shaped paramere (Fig 33) .osage n. sp. Ventral lobe of aedeagus with broadly lobed accessory structure bearing a subapical long acute tubercle (Fig 35).chickasaw n. sp.
Bibloplectus ruficeps (LeConte) Figures 18-20
Euplectus ruficeps LeConte 1863:28. Type loc: New Orleans, Louisiana. Holotype female, MCZC Type 32256.
Length 0.61-0.66. Body orange-brown to brown, elytra usually a little darker, particularly near apex; male mesotrochanter with quadrate tubercle, mesotibiae swollen medially, with large broad flattened preapical tubercle on mesal margin, metatibiae swollen, densely setate on hind margin, meso and metatibiae with apical setal comb; aedeagus with large ventral lobe ab ruptly narrowed and elongate beyond middle in dorsal view, enlarged and flattened toward apex in lateral view. Specimens examined, 80: 5 mi W Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; flood debris, lowland forest, clumps of grass near lake, under old hay. Collected from October to May, and most abundant from January to March. Found com monly in other states in leaf litter, sawdust, and moss. I have seen additional specimens from: ON, PA, CT, NJ, FL, LA, and AR.
Bibloplectus choctaw n. sp. Figures 21-22
Length 0.67-0.72. Head and pronotum orange to orange-brown, with ab domen and elytra darker, elytral apices often markedly darker; male mes otibiae with small apical spur, meso- and metatibiae lacking apical setal comb; aedeagus with small ventral lobe, apical armature of aedeagus with four teeth.
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Figures 18, 21, 23, 25, 27, dorsal and left lateral view aedeagus; 19, posterior view male middle = leg; 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, posterior view male meso- and metatibia. Scale 0.05 mm. 18-20. Bibloplectus ruficeps (LeConte). 21-22. Bibloplectus choctaw n. sp. 23-24. Bibloplectus creek n. sp. 25-26. Bibloplectus Cherokee n. sp. 27-28. Bibloplectus leviceps Casey
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Specimens examined, 38: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., 5 mi W Red Oak, VII-1980, K.H. Stephan (FMNH). PARATYPES (all males): eutopotypical (2), VIII-1981 (5); Latimer Co., V-1982 (1), VII 1982 (5), VIII-1984 (1), VI-1985 (6), 1-1986 (1), VIII-1987 (1), VIII-1988 (7); Cleveland Co., Norman (Oliver Woods), VII-20-1968, W. Suter, oak log (1, FMNH); TEXAS, Colorado Co., Columbus, VI-6, Hubbard & Schwarz (1, USNM); MISSOURI, Oregon Co., XI-11-1937, W.F. Turner, peach orchard (1, USNM). Jeannel (1949:49) figured the aedeagus of a spec imen of choctaw from Pennsylvania. Twenty-one females from Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri are associated by size, coloration, and label data, but are not designated as paratypes. Collected sifting forest litter, in an oak log, and twenty-two specimens (males and females) were collected in blacklight traps. Most commonly collected in summer, with a single record from Jan uary. Named in honor of the Choctaw Indians.
Bibloplectus creek n. sp. Figures 23-24
Length 0.66-0.74. Body orange to orange-brown, with elytral apices often darker; male mesotibiae swollen, with small preapical spur obscured by dense setae, meso- and metatibiae lacking obvious setal comb, apex of metatibiae densely setate; aedeagus with short angulate ventral lobe, main body evenly narrowed to acute apex. Specimens examined, 12: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., 11-1987, K. Stephan, sifting flood debris (FMNH). PARATYPES (all males): eutopotypical (2); VII-1988, ultraviolet light (1); MISSOURI, Boone Co., McBain, X-l-1974, M. Hennessey, soil-soya (1, USNM); KENTUCKY, Horse Cave, V-3-1934, VI-15-1934, H.E. McClure, flying 6:30 P.M. (3, FMNH). Four females with identical label information are associated with the males, but are not designated as paratypes. The specimens were collected in February and July in Oklahoma. Named in honor of the Creek Indians.
Bibloplectus Cherokee n. sp. Figures 25-26
Length 0.62-0.67. Body orange-brown to brown, with elytra slightly darker; male mesotibiae swollen, with small preapical spur, comb of six thickened setae at apex, metatibiae with comb of five setae at apex; aedeagus with ventral lobe and penis fused through most of length, lobe at right apex strongly expanded then narrowed to acute point in dorsal view. Specimens examined, 19: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., V-1982, K. Stephan (FMNH). PARATYPES (all males): 5 mi W Red Oak, X-1980 (1), V-1981 (1); Latimer Co., XII-1981 (1), V-1982 (3), XI 1982 (2), III-1985 (2), IX-1985 (1), 11-1987 (1). Six females are associated with this species based on color, size, and label data. Records are from September to May, with the largest series collected inMay. The only habitat
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information is that two specimens were collected from flood debris. Named in honor of the Cherokee Indians.
Bibloplectus leviceps (Casey) Figures 27-28
Euplectus leviceps Casey 1884:115. Type loe: D.C. Lectotype female in Casey collection here designated: //Washington DC 24-5/Casey bequest 1925/TYPE USNM 38631/leviceps Type Cas/LECTOTYPE Euplectus leviceps Casey desig. DSChandler '88//. Paralectotype male in USNM main collection: //Deer Park 4.7 Md/Coll. Hubbard & Schwarz/E. leviceps Casey/ leviceps Casey/PARALECTOTYPE Euplectus leviceps Casey desig. DSChandler '88//.
Length 0.75-0.84. Body orange to orange-brown, with elytra darker; male mesotibiae slightly inflated, with long apical spur, with apical setal comb, metatibiae with comb of five short thick setae on apical flange; aedeagus with ventral lobe arcuate to right and abruptly reflexed toward aedeagal apex. A series from Florida was collected in hardwood leaf litter. I have seen specimens from: MD, DC, VA, and FL.
Bibloplectus integer (LeConte) Figures 29-30
Euplectus integer LeConte 1878b:386. Type loc: Michigan. Holotype female, MCZC Type 6195.
Length 0.74-0.82. Body brown to dark brown; male mesotibiae swollen, with long apical spur, with apical setal comb, metatibiae with comb of seven short thick setae on apical flange; aedeagus with ventral lobe abruptly curved to left at apex, strongly recurved spine at aedeagal apex. This northern species is associated with forest leaf and log litter (Chandler 1987), and also with moss based on collection data for a number of Ca nadian specimens. I have seen specimens from: NB, NS, ME, NH, VT, PA, PQ, ON, OH, MI, IN, IL, and MB.
Bibloplectus sobrinus Casey Figures 31-32
Bibloplectus sobrinus Casey 1897:555. Type loc: Rhode Island. One male, six female syntypes, USNM Type 38630.
- Length 0.73 0.78. Body orange-brown to brown, elytra darker at apices; mesotibiae swollen, with long apical spur, with indistinct setal comb, me tatibiae with comb of four thick setae at apex on apical flange; aedeagus with ventral lobe bearing long aciculate process at apex, with projection from aedeagus bifurcate near apex. A series from Connecticut was collected in leaf litter. I have seen speci mens from: RI, and CT.
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Figures 29, 33, 35, dorsal and left lateral view aedeagus; 31, left lateral view aedeagus; Figs = 30, 32, 34, 36, posterior view male meso- and metatibia. Scale 0.05 mm. 29-30. Bibloplectus integer (LeConte). 31-32. Bibloplectus sobrinus Casey. 33-34. Bibloplectus osage n. sp. 35-36. Bibloplectus chickasaw n. sp.
Bibloplectus osage new species - Figures 33 34 - Length 0.72 0.77. Body orange, elytra orange-brown; males with me sotibiae slightly swollen, with long apical spur, meso- and metatibiae lacking obvious setal comb; aedeagus with loosely attached sickle-shaped paramere, ventral lobe slightly narrowed to broad truncate apex. Specimens examined, 12: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., 1-1982, K. Stephan (FMNH). PARATYPES (all males): Latimer Co., 1-1982 (1), XI-1982 (1), 1-1985 (1), 11-1987 (2). Six females are associated by size, coloration, and label data, but are not designated as paratypes. Specimens were collected from November to February, with eight of these (males and females) collected in January. Named in honor of the Osage Indians.
Bibloplectus chickasaw new species Figures 35-36
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- Length 0.71 0.77. Body orange to orange-brown, with the elytra and particularly the elytral apices darker; male mesotibiae slightly swollen, with long apical spur, meso- and metatibiae with apical setal comb; aedeagus with ventral lobe elongate, narrow, obliquely truncate at apex, with laterally protruding large lobate structure bearing long curved spine at apex. Specimens examined, 15: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., 1-1982, K. Stephan (FMNH, on slide). PARATYPES (all males): 5 mi W Red Oak, XII-1982 (1), 111-27-1983 (1), IV-3-1983 (1); Latimer Co., V 1982 (1), XI-1982 (2), 11-1985 (1); ARKANSAS, Lee Co., X-l-1936, W.F. Turner, peach orchard (1, USNM); ILLINOIS, Union Co., VI-4-1937, W.F. Turner, peach orchard (1, USNM). Five females from Oklahoma and Ar kansas are associated with this species by size, color, and label data. Col lected from November to April, and found in grass clumps, meadow grass roots, and oak/pine forest litter. Named in honor of the Chickasaw Indians.
Dalmosella tenuis Casey
Specimens examined, 73: 5 mi W Red Oak, 4 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; hollow oak stump, oak treehole, rotten maple stump, rot ting maple log, sifting pine stumps, sift rotten wood, woodrat nests near swamp, lowland forest, and forest litter. Collected from July to April, with the longest series from December and March. Associated with rotten wood. Grigarick and Schuster (1980) presented figures of this species. I have seen additional specimens from: NH, MA, OH, NJ, DC, NC, TN, GA, FL, AL, and LA.
Melba Casey
The last key toMelba is that of Bowman (1934), which is an integration of the information provided by Casey in his descriptions. Fourteen species were included by Bowman in his key to this genus, with tenuis originally and currently placed inDalmosella, and puncticollis (LeConte) now placed in Zonaira Grigarick and Schuster (Chandler 1985). Of those not imme diately treated here inMelba, Trimium americanum LeConte is here trans ferred to Trimiomelba Casey (NEW COMBINATION); and Trimium dis color LeConte (type loc: Louisiana) is recognized as an apparently mislabeled female specimen of the European Trimium brevicorne (Rei chenbach) (NEW SYNONYMY). The holotype of Trimium simplex Le Conte ismissing from the point, but from the written description is probably a Pygmactium, and is here placed as Incertae Sedis. Trimium durum Brendel is here moved from Basolum Casey to Melba, leaving Basolum with only the type species, Trimium impunctatum Brendel, whose types of this species appear to be lost. The validity of Basolum as a genus is doubtful, but cannot be resolved at this time. With these movements, Melba in North America is reduced to ten names for four valid eastern species, in addition to the
This content downloaded from 132.177.228.65 on Mon, 11 May 2015 19:07:56 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions D. S. CHANDLER 523 western M. quercae Chandler (1985) from Arizona. Three of the four east ern species are found throughout eastern North America.
Key to melba of eastern north America - 1. Pronotum lightly granulate, length 0.66 0.78.thoracica (Brendel) Pronotum smooth, length 0.78-0.95.2 2. (1) Pronotum with base feebly constricted, lateral margins almost straight; Iowa .maja (Brendel) Pronotum with constriction at basal fourth distinct, base two-thirds width of maximum pronotal width.3 3. (2) Males with mesotibiae angulate in apical half (Fig 38).sulcatula Casey Males with mesotibiae slightly thickened from middle to apex (Fig 40) .p?rvula (LeConte)
Melba maja (Brendel) Trimium major Brendel 1892:167. Type loc: Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Holotype female, ANSP Type #8286. Lectotype! desig. by Moxey (1962).
Length 0.90. The only specimen of this species that I have seen is the female holotype from Iowa. It is quite different from the other members of the genus by the slightly and evenly converging lateral pronotal margins. The other species have a marked constriction in the basal fourth of the pronotum.
Melba sulcatula Casey - Figures 37 38
Melba sulcatula Casey 1897:567. Type loc: Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. Male and female syntypes, USNM Type #38653. Melba fossiger Casey 1897:568. Type loc: New York. Holotype female, USNM Type #38651. NEW SYNONYMY. Melba dentipes Raffray 1904:536. Type loc: St. Vincent, Pennsylvania. Male type in MNHN (not seen). NEW SYNONYMY.
- Length 0.81 0.93. The medially tuberculate male mesotibiae place this species nearest to quercae Chandler, with the tubercle blunter in sulcatula and the apical armatures of the male genitalia being different. Females are difficult to distinguish from those of p?rvula, and may be recognized only by subtle difference of the greater basal convexity of sternite VI. Raff ray's description and figure of dentipes makes it clear that it is a synonym of sulcatula. Specimens examined, 21: 5 mi W Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; lowland for est litter, lowland oak stump. Collected from October to March, with most specimens obtained in December and January. Associated with rotten wood, and leaf litter. I have seen additional specimens from: IA, OH, PA, NY, MD, MS, and LA.
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Figures 37, 39, 41, 44, dorsal view aedeagus; 38, 40, 42, posterior view male middle leg; 43, ventral view male abdomen; 45, dorsal view; 46, dorsal and right lateral view aedeagus. Scale = 0.05 mm. 37-38. Melba sulcatula Casey. 39-40. M. p?rvula (LeConte). 41-42. M. thoracica (Brendel). 43-44. Pygmactium quercavum n. sp. 45-46. Sebaga ocampi Park.
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Melba p?rvula (LeConte) - Figures 39 40
Euplectusparvulus LeConte 1849:108. Type loc: Charleston, South Carolina. Holotype male, MCZC Type 6187. Trimium durum Brendel 1892:166. Type loc: Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Holotype male, ANSP Type #8260. NEW SYNONYMY. Trimium gracilis Brendel 1892:167. Type loc: Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Holotype male, ANSP Type #8289. NEW SYNONYMY. Trimium laticolle Brendel 1892:167. Type loc: Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lectotype female, ANSP Type #8288. Lectotype desig. by Moxey (1962). NEW SYNONYMY. Melba texana Casey 1897:566. Type loc: Columbus, Texas. Male and female syntypes, USNM Type #38654. NEW SYNONYMY. Melba uniformis Casey 1897:569. Type loc: Boston Neck, Rhode Island. Female syntypes, USNM Type #38652. NEW SYNONYMY.
- Length 0.78 0.90. This is the most commonly collected species ofMelba, and often females predominate. The males are readily recognized by the thickened, nonangulate mesotibiae, while the females are difficult to dis tinguish from those of sulcatula. Specimens examined, 339: 5 mi W Red Oak, Red Oak, 3mi SW Red Oak, ? 4 mi W Red Oak, 2 mi E Gowen, Robbers Cave State Park Lost Lake, ? Gaines Creek 3 mi SW Damon, "Latimer Co."; oak treehole, oak tree hole with Neotoma nest, willow treehole, boxelder treehole, sift brush pile, rotten maple stump, sift rotten pine, sift rotten wood, upland forest, low land forest litter, flood debris, and clumps of grass near lake. Collected throughout the year, and occurring most commonly from November to Jan uary, and June to July. Most frequently collected in association with rotting wood, and less commonly from leaf litters. I have seen additional specimens from: NE, IA, IL, MI, OH, PA, ON, NY, NH, MA, RI, CT, NJ, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, LA, and TX.
Melba thoracica (Brendel) Trimium thoracica Brendel 1889:196. Type loc: Iowa. Lectotype female, ANSP Type #8287. Lectotype desig. by Moxey (1962).
- Length 0.66 0.78. Easily separated from all other Melba by the gran ulate pronotal disc and smaller size. Specimens examined, 16: 5 mi W Red Oak, "Latimer Co."; oak treehole, lowland forest, river debris, upland forest. Collected from November to April. Found commonly in other states in various leaf litters. I have seen additional specimens from: IA, MO, IL, PA, DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, AR, and TX.
Trimiomelba dubia LeConte
Specimens examined, 23: Latimer Co.; lowland forest, hollow oak stump in lowland, forest litter, in blacklight trap. Collected from January to March,
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Pygmactium Schuster and Grigarick - This genus of minute (0.6 0.8) euplectines is particularly frustrating as males are usually not present in even some quite long series from leaf litters of the two previously described, and males are required for identification. Males are common in the new species treated here, which is found primarily in treeholes. In the recent description of this genus (Schuster and Grigarick 1968) the two species were adequately figured, but were not separated in a key.
Key to Males
1. Sternite III with lateral excavation as long as sternite, II longitudinally tumid in line - with excavation (Fig 43); eyes with 30 36 facets; Oklahoma and Arkansas .quercavum n. sp. Sternite III with lateral excavation extending at most two-thirds length of sternite, not reaching base; number of eye facets variable.2 2. (1) Maximum length of setae on carina projecting laterally over excavation greater than length of carina, excavation lateral to carina shallow, lacking any distinct deep circular impression; southeastern states.steevesi Schuster & Grigarick Maximum length of setae on carina projecting laterally over excavation greater than length of carina, with small deep circular impression in excavation just lateral to apex of setal brush; southeastern states.mollyae (Park)
Pygmactium quercavum n. sp. - Figures 43 44 - - Length 0.66 0.75. Males macropterous, eyes with 30 36 facets; ster nite II longitudinally tumid anterior to excavation on sternite III, longitu dinally sulcate lateral to tumid area, sulcus with short thick setae originating from coarse punctures, III with deep round excavation through length, me dial margin a laterally protruding flange bearing brush of long setae, 2 slen der tubercles originating near lateral margin of excavation, sternite IV lightly impressed posterior to excavation of III, with relatively coarse punctures. Half of females macropterous with same number of eye facets as males, micropterous specimens with 10-15 facets; abdomen lacking modifications. Specimens examined, 101: HOLOTYPE male, OKLAHOMA, Latimer Co., 5 mi W Red Oak, IV-1-1983, K. Stephan, ex:oak treehole (FMNH). PARATYPES: eutopotypical (1 male); Latimer Co., X-1982 (2 males), XII
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1982 (1 male, 2 females), IV-1983 (7 males, 1 female, oak treehole, lowland forest), V-1983 (1 male), IV-1984, (1 male, 1 female, lowland forest), IX 1984 (1 female, oak treehole), XI-1984 (5 males, 14 females, oak treehole), 11-1985 (2 females, lowland forest), III-1985 (2 females, lowland forest), VII-1985 (7 males, 8 females, oak treehole), III-1986 (2 males, 6 females, oak treehole), XI-1986 (4males, 8 females, oak treehole), XII-1986 (1male), 1-1987 (2 males, 1 female, oak treehole); 1 male, Red Oak, XI-1983, K. Stephan, ex:oak treehole with Neotoma nest; 10males, 7 females, 3 mi SW Red Oak, VII-2-1987, D. Chandler & K. Stephan, sift oak treehole. AR KANSAS: 2 males, Independence Co., 4.3 mi E Stone, on line on Hwy. 14, IV-17-1977, E. Chenowith, berl. hardwoods (UADE). The name is derived from the principal habitat, oak treeholes. Collected almost entirely from oak treeholes, while the other species of the genus are commonly collected in leaf litter. The majority of specimens were obtained from Spring to early Summer, but there are a number of records from September to March.
Euplectinae, Jubini
Sebaga ocampi Park Figures 45-46
Specimen examined: Oklahoma, Latimer Co., XII-1987, K. Stephan, sift ing leaf litter. This specimen represents the first record of a member of the large Neotropical tribe Jubini in North America. S. ocampi has been the northernmost representative of the Jubini with its description based on single individuals from Tamaulipas and Tabasco, Mexico (Park 1945). The Oklahoma specimen is smaller (1.2 mm) than those in the original description (1.8 mm), and the pronotal tubercle is only one and a half times the diameter of an ocular facet rather than three times the diameter. However, a small series of ocampi from San Luis Potosi encom
Figure 47. Location of Latimer County in Oklahoma.
This content downloaded from 132.177.228.65 on Mon, 11 May 2015 19:07:56 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 528 PSELAPHIDAE OF LATIMER COUNTY passes this variation and the male genitalia of the specimens from both sites are identical. I have seen additional specimens from the Mexican states of San Luis Potosi, and Veracruz.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Karl Stephan for his untiring persistance in attempting to collect every possible pselaphid species in Latimer County, and also for the hospitality that he and Jana Stephan provided during our collecting expedition to Latimer County. Also thanked are those curators and individuals who have sent me types or other specimens, and are listed with the codons used to indicate specimen depositions: Don Azuma, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP); A.F. Newton, Jr., Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago (FMNH); S.R. Shaw, Harvard University, Cambridge (MCZC); Paul Skelley, Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville (PSC); C.E. Carlton, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (UADE); J.M. Kingsolver and P.J. Spangler, Systematic Entomology Laboratory and Smithsonian In stitution respectively, Washington, DC (USNM). J.F. Burger and R.M. Reeves, University of New Hampshire, Durham, reviewed the manuscrupt.
Literature Cited
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