New distribution records and recent spread of Hymenorus farri Campbell (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) to Florida...
By Steiner, W.
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Steiner, W. (2004) New distribution records and recent spread of Hymenorus farri Campbell (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) to Florida and in the Caribbean Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 106(4): 739-746.
Abstract.
Hymenorus farri CampheW (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) appears to be spreading as a "weed species" in the Caribbean region. The beetle is diagnosed and illustrated. New country distribution records are reported for the Bahamas, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico. Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S.A. (Florida), and the Virgin Islands, and additional collections from the Cayman Islands are noted. The occurrences, habitats, biogeography, and uncertain origin of the insect are discussed.
Diagnosis
Hymenorus farri (Figs. 1, 2) is unique among its congeners in having dense median patches of fine setae and punctures on basal abdominal sternites in males (Fig. 3). Other species have punctures more evenly distributed over these surfaces. This character and the combination of the relatively small and widely separated eyes, robust yellowish legs and tarsi, and finely, densely punctate pronotum with short, fine, erect pubescence, allow its separation from other species of similar size (4.5-5.5 mm). The apical two abdominal sternites are very dark brown, in contrast to the rest of the venter, which is reddish brown.
USA Collection Records
FLORIDA: Monroe County. Key Largo, near Sunset Point, 25°02'45"N, 80°29'45"W, \5 May 2000, coll. W. E. Steiner & J. M. Swearingen/Under matted dry thatch on powdery soil, open mowed field among scattered trees" [in field notes: "... after dark . . . big vacant park-like lot with isolated trees & groves, open mowed sandy flats with leaf litter deep & spongy in some areas — dug into & removed thick top layer to expose dry organic rich powdery soil beneath — got good series of a small
Hymenonis prob.
farri . . ."] (41);
"FL, Monroe Co., Middle Torch Key, Sec. 17, Lazelle Place, uv light trap, 10-19.viii.l992, S. & J. Peck, 92-315" [site described (S. Peck, personal communication) as "very disturbed, open, weedy, hot and dry"] (19, SBPC);
"FLORIDA [Palm Beach Co.], Boynton Beach, 12-VI-1968, FE. Wood, J. A. Davidson/Collected at black light" (3).