Southwestern Association of Naturalists
Water Beetles of the Genus Suphisellus Crotch in the Americas North of Colombia
(Coleoptera: Noteridae)
Author(s): Frank N. Young
Source: The Southwestern Naturalist, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Sep. 15, 1979), pp. 409-429
Published by: Southwestern Association of Naturalists
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3671297 .
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THE SOUTHWESTERN NATURALIST24(3):409-429
SEPT. 15, 1979
WATER BEETLES OF THE GENUS
SUPHISELLUS CROTCH IN THE AMERICAS
NORTH OF COLOMBIA
(COLEOPTERA: NOTERIDAE)
FRANK N. YOUNG
IN 47401
Indiana University,
Bloomington,
ABSTRACT. The species and subspeciesof SuphisellusCrotch (Coleoptera:
northof Colombiaare discussed,and keysand figuresgiven
Noteridae)occurring
fortheiridentification.
The following
new names,synonyms,
or new combinations
are suggested:Suphisellusneglectusn. sp. (Colombia, Panama, Guatemala); S.
lineatus(Horn) coversS. centralis(Sharp), S. mexicanus(Sharp), and S. lineatus
(Wehncke,not Horn), new synonyms;S. insularis(Sharp) covers S. simplex
S.
(Sharp), S. similaris(Sharp), and S. floridanus(Blatchley),new synonyms;
rufipes(Sharp) is considereda synonymof S. nigrinus(Aube); S. punctipennis
(Sharp) is reducedto a subspeciesof S. bicolor(Say) producingtwo new combinations,S. bicolorbicolor(Say) and S. bicolorpunctipennis
(Sharp); S. gibbulus
and lectoallotypedesignated.Lectotypes
(Aube) is redefinedand lectoholotype
are designatedforotherspecieswhereappropriate.
The genus Suphisellus(Coleoptera: Noteridae) is clearlydefinedby
the followingset of characters:protibialspurspresent,strong,curved,
conspicuous; hind femora with angular cilia (setae or spurs); prosternal process broad, truncate (squarely cut off) behind; apex of
prostemalprocessat least twice its breadthbetweenthe anteriorcoxae,
but not broader than long; laminate inner plates of hind coxae with
a broad and deep angular excision at the posteriorend, leaving on
either side a divergingtriangularprocess; hind coxal cavities contiguous; last segmentof maxillarypalpus emarginateat its apex; pronotumwith lateral marginallines originatingat hind angle on either
side, divergingtoward the middle of margin, and disappearing at
about the middle; total lengthabout 1.9 to slightlymore than 4 mm.
Most of the species of Suphisellusare highlypolished on the dorsum
so thattheyappear shiningbetween any largerpuncturespresent,but
a few are so denselypunctateor have the microsculptureso strongly
incised that theyappear matteratherthan shining.
The Old World genus Canthydrusis morphologicallyvery similar,
409
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are completeto the
but the lateralmarginallines of the pronotum
A
anterior
as
in
the
genusHydrocanthus.fewSouthAmerican
margin
needfurther
noterids,
currently
placedin Canthydrus,
study.Suphisellus is represented
in
by manyspecies the tropicalregionsof the
Americas,
and,as usual withNeotropical
genera,as one movesnorth
more
intotheNearcticthespeciesbecomefewerand localpopulations
of
is
difficult
in habitat.The recognition someofthespecies
restricted
becauseof theirsmallsize and variability.
Hardlyanytwospecimens
cannotbe matched
lookexactlyalike,and old driedtypessometimes
seriesare available.Mostof
withanyspecimensevenwhenextensive
ofthecuticle,
thevariability
is simplydue to thedegreeofhardening
is almost
There
and
whichaffects
color,sculpture, generalbodyshape.
color
and
and
a
basis
to
colors
the
however, genetic
certainly,
patterns,
teneral
The
not
are
(callow).
always
lightlypigmentedspecimens
male externalgenitaliapresent,in my opinion,the mostimportant
charactersfordelimiting
the speciespopulations,
whichshow local
and colorpattern.
and clinalvariationin shape,punctation,
vestiture,
in severalwaysparallelsthegenusSuphiThe genusHydrocanthus
sellusin the UnitedStates.Each genushas an abundant,nearlyunicolorousspecies,in thecoastalplainfromaboutMobileBay northto
Virginiaor Delaware (H. oblongusSharpand S. gibbulus(Aube).
Each genushas a strongly
formin easternTexas,Louisiana,
bicolorous
form
and
and
a
Arkansas, Mississippi
feeblybicolorousor unicolorous
in the easternstates(H. texanusSharpand S. bicolor[Say]). Each
Georgia
darklycolored,speciesin southern
genusalso has an endemic,
and Florida,(H. regiusYoungand S. parsonsiYoung). Thereis no
Crotch,whichis widelydistribapparentparallelto S. punctipennis
utedin theeasternwoodlandarea butis rareor lackingin theupper
CoastalPlainand Piedmontareas,norare thereHydrocanthus
species
S. insularis
comparableto the small, Antillean-Circum-Caribbean
(Sharp) or thestripedS. lineatus(Horn).
and Hydrocanthus
The parallelsbetweenspeciesofSuphisellus
sugthatthisis theresult
I
an
correlation.
believe,however,
gest ecological
The
influences.
of selectiveforcesratherthanof directenvironmental
in colormayreflectdifferences
in background
differences
coloration,
and
thatis,thebrightstripesof S. lineatus(Horn) maybe disruptive
concealingin the clearstreamsand poolsin Mexicoand Texas while
the blacknessof H. regiusmay be concealingagainstthe mucky
bottomsof streamsand pools in southernGeorgiaand peninsular
Florida(Young1960a,1960b).
The lifehistory
ofnoneof thespecieshas been describedin detail,
410
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whichfeed
but all, togetherwiththeirlarvae, are scavenger-herbivores
largelyin masses of decaying vegetationor among roots dangling in
water. The numbers of individuals in decaying mats of water hyacinths (Pistia or Eichornia) or on tree roots dangling in streamsare
and
sometimesastounding.None of the species appears to be flightless,
In
for
in
numbers.
to
are
attracted
Brazil,
example,
many
light large
it is not unusual to take several hundred individuals representing
seven or more species in a lighttrap in a singlenight.
The genus is in need of revision,but the South Americanspecies are
so numerousand so poorly known that this cannot be attemptedat
present.The followingkeys, figures,and notes may contributeto a
betterunderstandingof these small insects,whichmay be of considerable importancein recyclingnutrientsin tropicalecosystems(Young
1967).
used in the followingdiscussionsare as follows:BMNH (British
Abbreviations
Mus., Nat. Hist., London); CAS (CaliforniaAcad. Sci., San Francisco); FM
(Field Mus., Chicago); INHS (Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv., Champaign); FSCA
Gainesville);MCZ (Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard
(Florida State Coll. Arthropods,
Univ.,Cambridge,MA); NMNH (U.S. Nat. Mus. Nat. Hist.,Washington);NMSU
(New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces); OSU (Ohio State Univ., Columbus);
SM (Snow Mus. Univ. Kansas,Lawrence); UMMZ (Univ. MichiganMus. Zool.,
AnnArbor);MNd'HN (Mus. Nat. d'Hist.Nat.,Paris).
KEY TO SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF SUPHISELLUS OF THE
ANTILLES AND AMERICA NORTH OF COLOMBIA
Elytradarkbrownto black withlighterstripes,bars,spots,or
2
irregularmarkings...............................................
8
1'. Elytrauniformly
lightbrownto black withoutlightermarkings.........
withdarkerbackground
2(1). Elytrawiithdistinctyellowstripescontrasting
(Figs. 1-3,21) length2.8-3.5 mm; Texas, Mexico,CentralAmerica..... 3
of elytraextendedso thatlightstripes,
2'. Black or darkbrownmarkings
if present,are interrupted;
elytrausuallywithyellowishspotsor bars
basal and/ormedialfasciaof lighterspots
and oftenwitha transverse
5
or bars (Figs. 4-8) ....................
..........................
3(2). Size larger,length3.2 to 3.5 mm;male externalgenitaliaas in
Fig. 21; Panama,Colombia,Venezuela,Mexico ...... simoni(Regimbart)
3'. Lengthusuallyless than3 mm,male genitaliaas in Figs. 1,2,3;western
Mexico,Texas and easternMexico,and CentralAmerica.... lineatus(Horn)
4(2'). Elytraand pronotumwithmoderately
coarse,close puncturesand
withstrongly
betweenpunctures;
reticulate
impressed,
microsculpture
elytradarkbrownto blackwithmarginslighterand barsor fasciaof
inwardfromthemarginnearmiddle;lastvisible
spotsextending
abdominalstemitefeeblyimpressedmediallyin bothmalesand females,
thepunctation
male genitaliaas in Fig. 4; length2.7 to
inconspicuous;
1.
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3.0+ mm; easternwoodlandarea of Canada and U.S ... puncticollisCrotch
4'. Elytraand pronotum
less strongly
reduced
punctatewithmicrosculpture
or almostlacking;elytraoftenwithsomelighterspotsor stripeson
bases ofelytrabeforemiddle;averagesize smaller;WestIndies,
..............
Centraland South America .......................
5
and narrow
5(4') Prosterumfeeblyto distinctly
groovedmedio-apically
betweenforecoxae;prosternal
almostmeetingin
marginssometimes
frontofforecoxae,notflattened,
below general
rounded,and extending
6
plane of ventralplatform........................................
5'. Prosternum
at mostveryfeeblygroovedmedio-apically;
prostemal
in front
processnotgreatlynarrowedbetweenforecoxae;prosternum
of forecoxae moreor less flattened,
7
broad ...........................
6'. Male externalgenitaliawithtip of penis narrowedin lateralview
spotsusuallyrestricted,
elongateand
(Fig. 5); elytrawithyellowish
notconfluent
withbar extending
inwardfrommargin;lastvisible
in malefeeblyimpressed
beforeapex,and in female
abdominalsternite
not
at sidesso as to be slightly
carinate,thepunlctation
feeblyimpressed
to
2.7
and
mm;
Panama,
2.9+
Guatemala,
conspicuous;length
............
Colombia .............................
neglectussp. nov.
6'. Male externalgenitaliawithtipofpenisnarrowedinlateralview
(Fig. 4); elytramarkings
(Fig. 6), somewhatsimilarto puncticollis
withbar extending
variable,butwithmediandiscalspotoftenconfluent
in frommargin;lastvisibleabdominalsterite of male somewhatmore
strongly
impressedbeforeapex,thanin femalein whichit is more
strongly
impressedat sides; lengthabout2.3 to 2.7 mm; Guadeloupe,
binotatus(Fleutiauxand Salle)
Cuba, Hispaniola .....................
7(5'). Elytralmarkings
usuallyincludingan elongatehumeralyellowish
stripeand an elongatediscalstripejustoutsidetheconspicuousdiscal
striaofpunctures;
externalmale genitaliawithtipofaedeagusnarrowed
in lateralview (Fig. 7); lastvisibleabdominalsterite ofmale feebly
beforeapex,thatoffemalefeeblycarinatefrombeinglaterally
impressed
impressed;lengthabout 2.3 to 2.5 mm; Guatemala,Nicaragua,British
Honduras ...........................................varians
(Sharp)
7. Elytrallightmarkings
or greatlyreduced;maleexternal
irregular
genitaliawithaedeagusbroadlyroundedat tip in lateralview and conspicuouslynarrowedtowardbase (Fig. 8); lastvisibleabdominal
in bothsexesimpressed
beforeapex; lengthabout2.6 to 2.8
sternite
mm; Panama, Colombia ...........................
subsignatus(Sharp)
8(1'). Bodyformshort,stout,almosthemispherical;
usually
prosternum
and coxal
longitudinally
groovedand archedalongwithmetasternum
rowsofsetate
is notflat;transverse
laminae,so thatventralplatform
punctureson abdomengreatlyreduced;size small,length1.8 to 2.3 mm.. 9
8. Bodyformbroadernearbases of elytraand moreor less taperedbehind;
a nearlyflatventral
metasterum,and coaxallaminaeforming
prosternum,
10
size usuallylarger,lengthabout 1.9 to over 4 mm ..........
platform;
withoutdarker
9(8). Prosterumonlyfeeblygrooved;head and pronotum
usualbrownish
areas,uniformly
yellow;elytralittledarkerthanpronotum,
brownish
(Fig.
ly uniformly
yellow;maleexternalgenitaliadistinctive
Mexico . . levis (Fall)
10); lengthabout2.2 to nearly2.4 mm; northwestern
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9'. Prosternum
grooved;head usuallydarkerat base and pronotum
distinctly
sometimes
withbothbase and apex darkened
darkenedat apex; pronotum
onto
thedarkening
disk;
extending
elytranearlyalways(exceptin
teneralspecimens)darkerthanlightestpartsofpronotum,
oftenstrikand head (Fig. 12); male external
withpronotum
inglycontrasting
genitaliadistinctive
(Fig. 12, 13, 14); lengthabout 1.9 to 2.2 mm;
Florida,West Indies,CentralAmerica,Mexico ....... insularis(Chevrolat)
rathercoarselyand closelybutshallowly
10(8'). Elytraand base ofpronotum
betweenthe punctures,
punctatewithreticulatemicrosculpture
giving
ofmale
a matteappearanceto surface;lastvisibleabdominalsternite
carinatetowardapex; lastvisible
laterallyand minutely
feeblycompressed
offemalecompressed
on eitherside and distinctly
abdominalsternite
male externalgenitaliadistinctive
carinateforabout % lengthofsternite;
mediumbrown
(Fig. 9); lengthabout2.5 to 2.7 mm;coloruniformly
or head; peninsular
above and below,theelytralittledarkerthanpronotum
parsoniYoung
and westernFloridaand southernGeorgia .................
10i. Elytraand base of pronotum
finelyor coarselybutnotcloselypunctate
11
................
and usuallywithoutdefinitereticulatemicrosculpture
11(10'). Size largeforgenus,lengthover4 mm;elytradarkerthanpronotum,
of elytraand base of
brownish
lightbrown,pronotum
yellow;punctation
almostlacking
coarseand close,butmicrosculpture
pronotum
moderately
notperceptibly
modilastvisibleabdominalsternite
betweenpunctures;
fiedin eithersex; male externalgenitaliadistinctive;
Panama,Venezuela,
majusculus(Sharp)
probablyColombia (Fig. 14) ......................
12
11'. Size smaller,lengthrarely3.8 mm ...............................
12(11'). Punctationof elytraldisk (exceptfordiscal stria) and base of
littleimpressed;length
fineor almostobliterated,
microsculpture
pronotum
13
2.6 to 3.8 mm ..................................................
12'. Punctation
of elytraldiskand base ofpronotum
coarseand
moderately
moreevident(less shiningbetweenpunctures);
microsculpture
impressed,
14
2.8
........................................
over
mm
lengthrarely
13(12). Averagesize smaller,length2.6 to 2.8 mm; body formshorter,
beforeapex in
broader;lastabdominalsterite transversely
impressed
bothsexes;elytralpunctation
somewhatcoarser;usuallywithelytra
and head withdarkareas withmargins
nearlyblack and pronotum
distinctive
male
(Fig. 20); Panama,Colombia,
lighter;
genitalia
curtus(Sharp)
Venezuela,Brazil .....................................
13'. Averagesize larger,length2.8 to 3.8 mm,usuallyover3.0 mm;body
in male,
formmoreelongate;lastabdominalsterite almostunmodified
reddish
deeplyimpressedon eitherside in female;colormoreuniformly
brownor blackwithmarginssomewhatlighter;male genitaliaas in Fig.
15; Southand CentralAmerica,Mexico,West Indies ...... nigrinus(Aube)
14(12'). Last visibleabdominalsternite
impressedon eitherside in bothmale
so in femaleso thatsternite
and female,morestrongly
may appear
.........
......
15
medially carinate ...............................
at middle,at
14'. Last visibleabdominalstemitewithan oval impression
16
least in females ................................................
or ifso elytradarkbrown,
bicolorous,
15(14). Dorsumusuallynotstrikingly
notblack (Fig. 15); male genitaliawithaedeagusbentat middleand
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r
II
I
2
4
`'9
3
5
0
6
"N)
7
9
8
9
Fig. 1. Suphisellus lineatus (Horn): Left, dorsal outline with color pattern semidiagrammatically represented; right, lateral aspect of aedeagus. Both from Sharp's "Type mihi"
(BMNH). Fig. 2. Suphisellus lineatus (Horn): Same as Fig. 1, but both from Sharp's "Type
mihi" of mexicanus (BMNH). Fig. 3. Suphisellus lineatus (Horn): Same as Fig. 1, but both
from lectoholotype of Sharp's centralis (BMNH) Fig. 4. Suphisellus puncticollis (Crotch):
414
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roundedat tip (Fig. 16); lengthabout2.4 to 2.8+ mm;inlandfrom
coastalplain,fromAlabama,Georgia,Tennessee,Kentucky,
to Illinoisand
Indiana,east to SouthCarolina,Virginia,and Delaware
........................................
bicolorpunctipennis(Sharp)
15. Dorsumusuallystrikingly
the elytraverydarkpiceousbrown
bicolorous,
to blue-black(Fig. 17); male genitaliaas describedin preceedingrubric
(Fig. 17); lengthabout 2.4 to 2.8+ mm; easternTexas,Louisiana,
Alabamaeast to MobileBay,northto Arkansasand
Mississippi,
Indiana ........................................
bicolorbicolor (Say)
reddishbrown;discalpunctation
16(14'). Dorsumuniformly
ofelytradeep;
bodyformmoreelongate(Fig. 19); lengthabout2.5 to 2.8 mm;male
femalewithlastvisibleabdominalsternite
unknown,
deeplyimpressedat
tenuicornis(Chevrolat)
middle; Cuba .................................
16'. Dorsumusuallyfeeblybicolorousto moderately
theelytra
bicolorous,
mediumto verydarkpiceousbrown;bodyformless elongate(Fig. 18);
male genitaliadistinctive
im(Fig. 18); lastvisibleabdominalsternite
pressedat middlein bothsexes;lengthabout 1.9 to 2.8 mm,usuallyabout
2.2 to 2.4; coastalplainfromMobileBay,Alabama,to Dismal Swamp,
.gibbulus (Aube)
Virginia,extendinginlandalong rivers................
Suphiselluslineatus(Horn)
1871 SuphislineatusHorn,Trans.Am.Ent. Soc. 2:329 (MEXICO: BAJA
CALIFORNIA: Cape San Lucas).
1882 Canthydrus
lineatusHorn,Sharp,Trans.RoyalDublin Soc. 2(2):273.
1876 Hydrocanthus
lineatusWehncke,DeutscheEnt. Zeit20:221 (Mexico).
1882a Canthydrus
centralisSharp,Trans.Royal Dublin Soc. 2(2):274
(GUATEMALA,San Geronimo)New synonymy.
1882b Canthydrus
mexicanusSharp,new nameforHydrocanthus
lineatus
Wehncke,Biologia-Centrali
Americana,Coleopt 1(2):6 (MEXICO:
Cordoba,and Oaxaca) New synonymy.
Thisspeciesis easilydistinguished
fromall othersoccuringnorthof
Colombiaby its size (lengthless than3 mm) and by the distinctive
of the elytra(Figs. 1, 2, 3). The characters
on whichSharp
striping
mexicanus
and
centralis
from
are all variable
lineatus
distinguished
Left,dorsal outline as in Fig. 1; middle, tip of aedeagus viewed from above (as in copulatory position); right, lateral aspect of aedeagus. All from a male from Monroe Co.,
Indiana (UMMZ). Fig. 5. Suphisellus neglectus sp. nov.: Same as in Fig. 4. From paratype
male (UMMZ). Fig. 6. Suphisellus binotatus (Fleutiaux and Salle): Same as in Fig. 4. Dorsal outline and color pattern after a female cotype (BMNH); male genitalia after a male
from Cuba (exMCZ). Fig. 7. Suphisellus varians (Sharp): Same as Fig. 4. After male lectoholotype (BMNH). Fig. 8. Suphisellus subsignatus (Sharp): Same as Fig. 4. Dorsal outline
after unique female type (BMNH); male genitalia after a male from Panama (UMMZ). Fig.
9. Suphisellus parsoni (Young): Left,dorsal outline with dark brown color suggested in part
by stippling; right, lateral aspect of aedeagus. Both after male holotype (CAS). Scale: For
dorsal outlines 30 mm on figures= 2.6 mm; genitalia 25 mm= 0.4 mm.
415
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/IOO*
"t
t
I
10
i
K
a
1
-
11
/
I
II)"--'"
--
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1').
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-Z
zz
14
15
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and involvemainlytheextension
ofthedarkpatternon theelytra,
and
the darkeningof the pronotumand head. A prosternalgrooveis
ofbothsexesbutis indistinct
or lackingin
presentin somespecimens
others.The male externalgenitaliaare verysimilarin all specimens
examinedfromwesternMexico,easternMexico,and CentralAmerica.
It is possiblethatlineatus,centralis,and mexicanusrepresentsubavailableis insufficient
species,but the amountof materialpresently
to allow detailedbiometrical
of the three
studies.The distribution
to
seems
be
and
that
of
disjunct
Lachophilus
populations
suggests
and inpictus(LaPorte) and its subspeiescoccinelloides
Regimbart
the
I
that
1970). suspect,however,
populasignisSharp(Zimmerman
is done.
tionswillbe foundto cometogether
whenfurther
collecting
Specimensexaminedinclude: S. centralisSharp, Lectoholotypemale (dissected), GUATEMALA, San Geronimo(Champion) and lectoallotypefemale
(same data), heredesignated,in BiologicalCentraliAmericanmaterial,(BMNH).
centralisare from:GUATEMALA:
Otherspecimensseen whichshouldrepresent
Guatemala City (BMNH); BRITISH HONDURAS: Cayo District (FSCA).
mexicanusSharpare from:MEXICO: VERA
Specimensexaminedwhichrepresent
Fig. 10. Suphisellus levis (Fall): Left, dorsal outline and suggested color pattern; lateral
outline with ventral platform omitted; view of tip of aedeagus viewed from above (as
in copulatory position); right, lateral outline of aedeagus. All after male from Mazatlan,
Mexico (BMNH). Fig. 11. Suphisellus insularis (Sharp): Same as Fig. 10. After lectoholotype male (MNd'HN); genitalia after a male from Dade Co., Florida (UMMZ). Fig.
12. Suphisellus insularis (Sharp): Same as Fig. 10. After lectoholotype male of simplex (Sharp) (BMNH). Fig. 13. Suphisellus insularis (Sharp): Same as Fig. 10. After
lectoholotype male of similaris (Sharp) (BMNH). Fig. 14. Suphisellus majusculus
(Sharp): Left, dorsal outline with color pattern represented semidiagrammatically; middle, view of tip of aedeagus viewed from above (as in copulatory position); right, lateral
outline of aedeagus. After lectoholotype male of majusculus (Sharp) (BMNH). Fig. 15. Suphisellus nigrinus (Aube): Left, dorsal outline of male of Sharp's "Type mihi" in BMNH; middle, lateral view of aedeagus of male; right, dorsal outline of lectoholotype male of rufipes
(Sharp) (BMNH). Color patterns suggested by differences in stippling-black, shading to
dark brown at margins, in nigrinus; dark brown, shading into reddish brown at margins, in
rufipes. Fig. 16. Suphisellus bicolor punctipennis (Sharp): Left,dorsal outline of female lectoallotype (BMNH); right, lateral view of aedeagus of male lectoholotype (BMNH). Fig. 17.
Suprisellus bicolor bicolor (Say): Left, dorsal outline with color pattern diagramatically
represented; right, lateral view of aedeagus. Both after a male from Louisiana (UMMZ).
Fig. 18. Suphisellus gibbulus (Aube): Same as Fig. 17. Lectoholotype male (BMNH). Fig. 19.
Suphisellus tenuicornis (Chevrolat): Dorsal outline of cotype female (BMNH). Fig. 20. Suphi-
sellus curtus (Sharp); Dorsal outline and aedeagus viewed from below and from side. After
a male from Panama (UMMZ). Fig. 21. Suphisellus simoni (Regimbart). Aedeagus from
below and side and dorsal outline. After a male from Panama (UMMZ). Scale: For dorsal
outlines 30 mm on figures= 2.6 mm; genitalia 25 mm= 0.4 mm.
417
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CRUZ in BCA material(BMNH), Sharp's"Type mihi'of mexicanusSharp (Not
type of lineatusWehncke); NUEVO LEON (UMMZ); SAN LUIS POTOSI
(NMSU), TAMAULIPAS (NMNH, NMSU), PUEBLO (UMMZ), VERA CRUZ
(UMMZ, NMSU). USA: TEXAS: Calhoun Co. (UMMZ), CameronCo. (SM),
Hidalgo Co. (SM), RefugioCo. (UMMZ). Specimensexaminedwhichrepresent
lineatusHorn are from:"California",probablyBAJACALIFORNIA (BMNH);
MEXICO: NAYARIT (UMMZ, CAS, NMSU), SINALOA (CAS, NMSU),
SONORA (NMSU), MICHOACAN (UMMZ), OAXACA (NMSU), and probablyJALISCO (BMNH).
Leech (1948) remarksthat althoughHorn in the originaldescriptionsays,
"Cape San Lucas, Lower Californiaand were collectedby Mr. Wm. W. Gabb,"
in a laterpaper (1894) Horn says,"Collectedby Mr. Gabb in Baja California.
Special localityunknown."
Leech (1948) gives recordsfor Baja Californiaas 5 miles S Miraflores,
and
20 milesN Comondu(CAS).
Suphisellus simoni (Regimbart)
1889 CanthydrussimoniRegimbart,Ann. Soc. Ent. France, ser. 6, vol. 8:383
(VENEZUELA).
This species has the elytrastripedmuch as in S. lineatus,but the
larger size and distinctivemale externalgenitalia (Fig. 21) should
distinguishit.
I have seen this species fromVENEZUELA (Carlos Bordon,Caracas); PANAMA: Tocumen (FSCA) and Cabima (NMNH); and MEXICO: JALISCO at
Barra de Navidad, La Huerta,and Melaque (NMSU).
Suphisellus puncticollisCrotch
1873 Suphis (Suphisellus) puncticollisCrotch,Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 4:397
(NorthAmerica).
1954 Suphiselluspuncticollis
Crotch,Young,Univ.FloridaBiol. Ser. 5(1):131.
This species is widespread in the woodland areas of the eastern
United States and southernCanada. It is easily distinguishedfrom
other species in this area by its size and the dark elytra with the
margin lighterand a short bar or broken fascia extendinginward
fromthe marginnear the middle (Fig. 4). Superficiallyit is remarkably similarto S. balzani (Regimbart), commonin Mato Grosso and
Rio Grande states of Brasil and in Paraguay. The resemblance is,
however,superficial;puncticollisis moreconvex,less attenuatebehind,
less coarselypunctate on elytraand pronotum,and lacks lightmarkings on the anterior1/3 of the elytra.The male genitalia also differ.
Nevertheless,one is temptedto believe that these two beetles must
occupy similarniches in theirrespectiveareas.
There is considerablevariationin color patternin the specimensbe418
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foreme, but I cannot detect any differences
suggestingsubspeciation.
I have discussedthe taxonomy
of thisspecies (Young 1954). I have since seen
additionalspecimensfromthe followingFLORIDA counties: Alachua, Baker,
Broward,Collier,Dade (Royal Palm State Park, W. S. Blatchleyin BMNH),
Jackson,
Gilchrist,
Jefferson,
Marion,
Glades,Highlands,
Lake,Lee, Levy,Putnam,
and Monroe.The FSCA holdslargeseriestakenwithblack-light
trapsin Alachua,
Putnam,and Marion counties.I have also seen specimensfrom GEORGIA,
INDIANA, MICHIGAN, NORTH and SOUTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK,
VIRGINIA, and ONTARIO.
Suphisellusneglectussp. nov.
similarto S. varians (Sharp), binotatus(FleuDiagnosis. Superficially
tiaux & Salle), and subsignatus(Sharp), but easily separated by differencesin the male externalgenitalia (Fig. 5). Distinguishablefrom
S. varians and subsignatusby the grooved prosternumand more reduced light color patternof the elytra,and fromS. binotatusby the
more reduced light color pattern of the elytra and the less pronounced modificationof the last visible abdominal sternitein both
male and female.
Holotype Male. Ovate, narrowedbehind,moderatelyconvexabove and
feeblyconvexbelow, the ventralplatformnearlyflat.Total length2.8
mm; greatestwidthnear bases of elytra1.4 mm; widthof pronotumat
base 1.3 mm; width at apex of pronotum0.8 mm; lengthof prosternal
process 0.4 mm; total length of ventralplatform(prosternum,metasternum,and coxal laminae) 1.3 mm. Head with punctationreduced,
smooth,shining with microsculpturereduced. Pronotummuch like
head except for usual setigerouspuncturesalong side and anterior
marginsand large rathershallow puncturesalong base. Elytra more
regularlypunctate,with puncturesmuch like those at base of pronotumbut with largerpunctureson disk and near base along suture;
discal stria of punctures obscured by other punctation; elongate
marginalsetae not conspicuous.Venter: Ventralplatformmuch as in
binotatusin structureand punctation,but withapex of prosternalprocess somewhatmore deeply impressedand base of metasternumnot
as deeply impressed; prosternumnarrowedbetween the fore coxae,
with elongate groove distinct;a similargroove on basal 1/3 of metasternum,thencenarrowingand continuingto apex of ventralplatform.
Ventralplatformnarrowerthan in variansor subsignatus.Last visible
abdominal sterniteimpressedat middle, but not so distinctlyso as in
binotatus; fore and middle tarsi expanded with small suction pads
similarto binotatus.
AllotypeFemale. Similar to male, except that last visible abdominal
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sterniteis impressedat sides, but less so than in binotatusand not appearing carinate. Punctationand elytralmarkingsmuch as in male.
Prosternalgroove not as distinctbut similar to that of male. Total
length2.9 mm; greatestwidthnear bases of elytra1.6 mm.
Color and Pattern.Holotype male with head yellowishbrown with
vaguely darkerarea at base; pronotumyellowishbrown with an irregulardarkerreddishbrownspot in middle of anteriormargin;elytra
dark reddishbrown (almost piceous) with narrowlylighterside margins and three small yellow spots arrangedas follows: 1) a rounded
spot on disk behind base, about equidistant from side margin and
suture and well-separatedfrombase; 2) a lateral elongate spot near
side margin (connected to lighter side margin in some apparently
teneral specimens); and 3) an elongate discal spot at about middle
of elytron.Elytral suturewith a small area at base lighter(Fig. 5).
Female allotype similar but with head slightlymore infuscateand
pronotalbase slightlyinfuscate.
Variation. An extensiveseries before me is surprisinglyconstantin
punctation and elytral markings. Specimens from Guatemala and
Colombia are quite similarexcept that the Colombian examples are
slightlylarger.The reductionof the elytrallightpatternto small spots
seems characteristicof mature specimens. Some specimens from
Guatemala show an additional small yellow spot behind the median
discal spot near the sutureas in typicalbinotatus.
Types. Holotype,allotype (UMMZ), and 85 paratypesfrom COLOMBIA:
Magdalena;Isla SalamancaParque National,80 km.westof Santa Marta,22 Feb.
1968, 23 Feb. 1968, and 16 Mar. 1968, B. Malkin (UMMZ, FM); Santa Marta,
Rodadero,in permanentswampypond,20-22 Mar. 1968, 6, B. Malkin (UMMZ,
FM). GUATEMALA: Paso Antonio,400', Champion,2 marked'n.sp." in cotype
seriesof S. varians (BMNH). PANAMA:Tocumen,Jul.-Aug.1970, BLT, 122,
Diego Navas (FSCA). BRITISH HONDURAS: Cayo Provide,Mile 66 on western
highway,14 Jul. 1969, BLT, W. and D. Hasse, 6 (FSCA); Paratypeswill be
distributedto othermuseumsand individuals.Two damaged specimensfrom
MEXICO: TABASCO: Teapa (NMSU) are probablyalso neglectus.
This species was firstrecognized among the cotypes of S. varians
in the Biologia Centrali Americana material in BMNH. Its distinctness only became apparentupon dissectionof males.
Suphisellusbinotatus(Fleutiaux & Salle)
1889 Canthydrusbinotatus(Fleutiaux & Salle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, Ser. 6,
vol. 1:370 (GUADELOUPE).
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This species is very similarin most characteristicsto S. neglectus,
ofthemale aedeagus.The
butis easilydistinguished
by thestructure
colorpatternappearsto be variable,and it is possiblethatmorethan
one speciesis involved.CotypesfromGuadeloupe (BMNH) have
characteristic
lightbars extendinginwardfromthe marginalpale
area and smallspotson the apical 1/3 of the elytranear the suture
(Fig. 6). SpecimensfromCuba and Hispaniola associatedwith
have lateralspotsseparatedfromtheinward
males (MCZ), however,
of
extensions thelightmarginand theapical spotsare lacking.I candifferences
not detect any significant
among specimensfromthe
a widespreadspecies
threeislands,and suspectthattheyrepresent
the
islands.Exceptfor
in
various
by subspecies
possiblyrepresented
S. punctidorsumthisspeciesresembles
itssmallersize and smoother
collis.
Specimens examinedinclude: GUADELOUPE, 2 female cotypes (BMNH).
CUBA: Soledad, Cienfugos(MCZ). Hispaniola:DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Sanchez (MCZ).
varians(Sharp)
Suphisellus
variansSharp,Biologia-Centrali
1882 Canthydrus
Americana,Coleopt. 1(2):5
(GUATEMALA,Paso Antonio)
ofthemale externalgenitaliaand theelongatelight
The characters
thisspecies.The
of the elytra(Fig. 7) shoulddistinguish
markings
broadbetweenthe forecoxae and lacksthe
is relatively
prosternum
characteristic
grooveofneglectusand binotatus.
a dissectedmalefrom
To fixthisnameI designateas Lectoholotype
an associatedfemalewiththe
the cotypeseriesand as Lectoallotype
samedata (BMNH).
Otherspecimensexaminedare from:NICARAGUA: Granada (FSCA). BRITISH HONDURAS: Cayo District(FSCA).
subsignatus
Suphisellus
(Sharp)
1882 Canthydrus
Sharp,Trans.RoyalDublinSoc. 2(2):271
subsignatus
(PANAMA).
The unique femaletype (Fig. 8) of thisspecies (Panama in BMNH) agrees
well with males and femalesfromPANAMA: Canal Zone, AlbrookForest site
(NMNH); Tocumen (FSCA); Gambosa (FSCA). COLOMBIA: Isle Salamanca,
Parque Nacional(UMMZ).
fromGuadeloupe,but thisrecord
Fleutiauxand Salle (1889) recordsubsignatus
probablybelongto binotatusor a new species.
insularis
Suphisellus
(Sharp)
insularisCharp,Trans.RoyalDublin Soc. 2(2):270 (CUBA:
1882a Canthydrus
VillasProvince,SantoDomingo).
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1882b Canthydrus
simplexSharp,BiologiaCentraliAmericana,
Coleopt.1(2):5,
pl. 1, fig.3 (GUATEMALA: Paso Antonio).New Synonymy.
1887 CanthydrussimilarisSharp,ibid. Supplement,p. 748 (MEXICO: VERA
CRUZ) New Synonymy.
1914 Canthydrus
Can. Ent. 46:63 (Kissimmeeand Lake
floridanus
Blatchley,
Okeechobee,FLORIDA) New Synonymy.
Careful comparisonof the typesof the fournames cited above convinces me that they representa single widespread species. The male
genitaliaare verysimilarin all four,and the othercharacterscited by
Sharp and Blatchleyare variable. See Figs. 11-13.
The types of S. similarisfromVeracruz,Mexico, are slightlylarger
thaninsularisfromFlorida,Cuba, Hispaniola,PuertoRico, and Guatemala, but are otherwisevery similar.The types of similarisare all
light yellowishbrown withoutindicationof darkermarkingson the
pronotum,but this may be due to theirbeing teneral (callow). Other
specimens from Veracruz (Reyes-Castillo) and Guerrero (FSCA)
have the elytra darker than the pronotum,but the latter is not
infuscated.
The Central American, Antillean, and Floridian specimens are
similarin having dark elytrawithoutany lightermarkingsand a dark
mark at least at the anterioredge of the pronotum.Some specimens
fromFlorida have both base and apex of pronotumdarkenedand the
marks united on the disk.
Specimensexaminedinclude: "San Domingo,Coll. M. de Bouvouloir"(presumablySanto Domingo in Villas Province,CUBA), type male of insularisin
MuseumNationald'HistoireNaturelle,Paris.CUBA: Cienfuegos,Soledad (MCZ).
Hispaniola: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Sanchez (MCZ). HAITI: Miragoane
(MCZ). PUERTO RICO: Lake Guanica (MCZ). GUATEMALA: Paso Antonios,
5000', Champion,Biologia CentraliAmericanamaterial(BMNH), Sharp'stypes
of simplex.The middle specimenof threeon card is designatedLectoholotype,
GUATEMALA: Paso Antonio,400', Champion (Biologia Centrali Americana
Material[BMNH]), Sharp'stypesof similaris.Dissectedmale in cotypeseriesis
designatedLectoholotype;femalespecimenmarked"Type" is designatedLectoallotype. MEXICO: VERACRUZ (UMMZ). GUERRERO: 0.6 mi. S Puerto
Marques (Acapulco) (FSCA). USA: FLORIDA: Lake Okeechobee,Okeechobee
Co. 6 Mar. 1913,W. S. Blatchley(Purdue Univ.,Lafayette),Blatchley'stypesof
floridanus.The label specimenis designatedLectoholotype;Dade Co., Royal
Palm State Park,W. S. Blatchley(BMNH). I have also seen specimensfrom
the followingFLORIDA counties:Alachua,Broward,Collier,Dade, Glades,Highland, Lake, Martin,Osceola, St. Lucie, Sarasota,and Volusia (UMMZ, FSCA).
abundantin masses of decayingwater
Suphisellusinsularisis oftenextremely
in southern
Floridaand also is attracted
to light.
hyacinths
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levis(Fall)
Suphisellus
1909 Canthydrus
levisFall, CanadianEnt. 41:161 (LOWER CALIFORNIA:
San Josedel Cabo).
This species appears to be separable frominsularisby the characters
in the key. It seems to be consistentlylarger,and the externalmale
genitalia are different
althoughof the same general type as those of
insularis.(Fig. 10).
I have seen specimensonly fromMEXICO: NAYARIT: Tepic (CAS); SINALOA: Mazatlan (BMNH). Farthersouthin GUERRERO, insularisoccurson the
westcoast,and thesetwoputativespeciesmayactuallymerge.
Leech (1948) had notseenthisspeciesfromLowerCalifornia.
SuphisellusparsoniYoung
1952 SuphisellusparsoniYoung,FloridaEnt. 35(4):157 (Sebring,FLORIDA).
This species is similarto S. gibbulus (Aube) in size and shape, but
differsfromany otherspecies in the genus knownto me in the coarse,
dense elytral and basal pronotal punctation and the distinctlyimpressed microsculpturebetween the punctures.It also differsfrom
both bicolor and gibbulus in the male externalgenitalia and secondary sexual characters.(Fig. 9).
At present,parsoniis knownfromonlya few localities:FLORIDA: Highlands
Co., Sebring,20 July1942,at light,Carl T. Parsons,holotypeand allotype(CAS),
LibertyCo., 5 mi. S Wilma on Fla. 65 (UMMZ); pond 7 mi. E Wilma,associated with sphagnum(UMMZ), Walton Co., hog wallow near Bruce (UMMZ),
Okaloosa Co., Stream3 mi. W. Blackwater(UMMZ); GEORGIA: CharltonCo.,
OkeefenokeeSwamp (SM). It maybe a sphagnumbog specieswhichis mixedin
mostcollections
withgibbulus.
Suphisellusmajusculus(Sharp)
1882 Canthydrus
majusculusSharp,BiologiaCentraliAmericana,
Coleopt.
1(2):6 (PANAMA:David, Champion).
The large size and coarse, distinct,punctationof the elytra and
base of the pronotumshouldmake this species easy to recognize (Fig.
14). It seems,however,to be relativelyrare.
Specimens examined include: PANAMA: (Champion) in Biologia Centrali
Americanamaterial(BMNH), Sharp'scotypes.The dissectedmale in thisseries
is designated Lectoholotype.PANAMA: Tocumen (FSCA). VENEZUELA:
ESTADO GUARICO: Calabozo, Estaci6n Biologica (Carlos Bordon,Caracas);
Santa Maria de Ipira,200 m (Bordon,Caracas; UMMZ).
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Suphisellusnigrinus(Aube)
1838 Hydrocanthus
6:411
Aube,SpeciesGeneraldes Coleopteres,
nigrinus
(ANTILLES and BRAZIL fromcollectionsof Chevrolatand Buquet).
1882 CanthydrusrufipesSharp, Trans Royal Dublin Soc. 2(2):273 (CUBA:
Amazonas,Parana?) New synonymy.
This species is verywidespread if we base the characterizationon
the externalmale genitalia. The principal variationis in color (Fig.
15). The supposedly canaliculate prosterum cited by Sharp seems
to me illusory.Within series fromBrazil, the prosternumis nearly
flat,feeblychanneled,or deeply channeled.In specimensI have seen
fromthe Antillesthe prosternum
is at mostfeeblygrooved.Suphisellus
described
from
and (Parana?)", at most
"Cuba,
Amazonas,
rufipes,
a
smaller
Antillean-Mexican-Central
American subspecies.
represents
from
the
Antilles
and
Mexico, which should repreMany specimens
sent rufipes,are almost as darklypigmentedas typicalnigrinusfrom
Brazil, but others,especially those from Mexico, are much lighter,
sometimesresemblingfeeblybicolorousspecimensof bicolor.None of
the Antillean-Mexican-Central
American specimens I have examined
has the prosternumas deeply grooved as some specimensof nigrinus
fromBrazil.
I have seen specimensof this species or complexfrom:BRAZIL (BMNH,
UMMZ, FM, NMNH, FSCA, et al.). BOLIVIA (UMMZ). COLOMBIA (UMMZ).
SURINAME (Rijksmuseum,
Leyden and UMMZ). TRINIDAD (UMMZ). ECUADOR (NMNH). VENEZUELA (UMMZ; Bordon,Caracas).
Specimensreferableto rufipesbecause of theirlightercolorationhave been
examinedfrom:CUBA: marked"female type,"here designatedLectoholotype
(BMNH). BRAZIL: Amazonascited by Sharp,but apparentlya small,possibly
teneralspecimenof nigrinus(BMNH). ANTIGUA (NMNH). CUBA: Soledad
(MCZ); Cayamas (NMNH). JAMAICA (FSCA, NMNH). COSTA RICA
(NMNH). PANAMA CANAL ZONE: Ancon(NMNH); Corozol (NMNH); Chiva
Chiva (UMMZ). PANAMA: Cabima (NMNH); LaChorrera(UMMZ). MEXICO:
TABASCO (BMNH); TAMAULIPAS (UMMZ); VERA CRUZ (BMNH, UMMZ,
NMSU); CAMPECHE (NMSU; CHIAPAS: AzufereNMSU); JALISCO: La
Huerta (NMSM); OAXACA (NMSU). I have also seen specimensreferableto
rufipesfromCOLOMBIA and VENEZUELA (UMMZ).
The specimenfromParana, cited doubtfully
by Sharp, does not seem to be
in theBMNH. Fleutiauxand Salle (1889) recordnigrinusfromGuadeloupe.
Suphisellusbicolor(Say)
1834 NoterusbicolorSay,Trans.Am. Soc. Phil. 4:446 (Louisiana,Mr.Barabino).
In its typicalformthis is a verystrikinginsect,with pale yellowish
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brown ("honey yellow" Thomas Say) head and pronotumand blueblack elytra. This stronglybicolorous form extends as far north as
Indiana, but is replaced to the east by a paler formwhich is only
feebly bicolorous or uniformlyyellowish brown above. The male
external genitalia of the typical form and the paler eastern form
(punctipennisSharp) are identical in structure,and aside fromcolor
the differencesbetween the two are variable and largely clinal in
nature.That is, fromthe northeasttoward Louisiana and Texas specimens become progressivelysmaller,less coarsely punctate, and apparentlynarrowerand more convex. The secondarysexual characters
are also identical,and contrastwith those of S. gibbulus (Aube). The
relationshipbetween the latter species and bicolor will be discussed
later.
The easternformis rare and spottyin distributioncompared with
the typicalform.I have not been able to findmixed populationsexcept in Indiana, but I believe that the two interbreedin Mississippi,
Alabama, Missouri,Indiana, and southernIllinois. The strikingdifferencebetween the bicolorous and unicolorousor feebly bicolorous
formsis not strictlydue to environment.I have kept the unicolorous
Indiana formin the laboratoryforover a year withoutany intensification of the elytralcoloration.
I believe that S. bicolor has the same relationshipto punctipennis
as that seen in Hydrocanthusiricolor(Say), in which the unicolorous
formintermixesand interbreedswiththe strongnorthern-northeastern
form
that
extendsfromTexas northeastward.The unibicolorous
ly
colorous conditionin this insect also is not strictlyenvironmentaland
does not change duringlife afterthe initialhardeningof the cuticle.
Despite the similarityof male external genitalia and secondary
sexual characters,and the clinal nature of other differencesbetween
indicate genetic
bicolorand punctipennis,I thinkthe color differences
differenceswhich distinguishtwo subspecificpopulations.I therefore
suggestthe followingnew combinations.
Suphisellusbicolor bicolor (Say) New Combination
The range of this bicolorous population extends from eastern
Texas northwardto Indiana and eastward to Alabama (Fig. 17).
About at Mobile Bay, Alabama, it is replaced by the feeblybicolorous
or unicolorousS. gibbulus in the lower coastal plain, and to the north
by punctipennis.
in
orparishes
includes
from
thefollowing
counties
Material
examined
specimens
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the USA: ALABAMA: Mobile; ARKANSAS: Arkansas,Monroe,Ouachita;INDIANA: Monroe;LOUISIANA: Concordia,Grant,LaSalle, Madison,PointeCoupee,
Rapides, St. Landry,Tensas; MISSISSIPPI: Newton; TEXAS: Aransas,Brazos,
San Jacinto,
Valverde,Victoria(UMMZ, NMNH).
This typicalformhas been reportedfromCalifornia(Leech 1970) whereit was
almostcertainly
introduced.
accidentally
Suphisellusbicolorpunctipennis(Sharp) New Combination
1882 Canthydrus
punctipennis
Sharp,Trans. Royal Dublin Soc. 2(2):270
(Carolina).
Sharp's types of this species are marked "Amer. Bor. Horn" and
"Carolina #509." The latteris a male, and I hereby designate it as
the Lectoholotype(Fig. 16). The number509 refersto Sharp's identificationnumber.The accompanyingfemalemarked"Amer.Bor. Horn"
I designate as Lectoallotype.
All specimens cited by me under this name previously (Young
1954) prove, on the basis of male externalgenitalia and secondary
sexual characters,to be teneral,lightlycolored specimensof gibbulus.
I have seen verysimilarspecimensfromthe followingcountiesin the eastern
USA: ALABAMA: Cherokee, Greene, Houston, Montgomery;DELAWARE:
Kent,BombayHook, (OSU); GEORGIA: Hart, Fulton; ILLINOIS: Pope, Lake
Glendale,(INHS); INDIANA: Monroe;KENTUCKY: Clinton;NEW JERSEY:
NORTH CAROLINA: Cherokee;TENNESSEE: Campbell,Fentress;
Burlington;
SOUTH CAROLINA: Beaufort;VIRGINIA: Albemarle(all recordsrepresented
by specimensin UMMZ, NMNH, FSCA, and FM unlessotherwiseindicated.)
Suphisellus tenuicornis(Chevrolat)
1863 Hydrocanthus
tenuicornis
(Chevrolat,Ann,Soc. Ent. France(Ser. 4)
3:199 (CUBA).
I have seen only a single female of this species in the Sharp collection (BMNH). It is marked"W.I. Cuba, ex coll. Chev." and "Cotype."
This individual is nearly uniformlyreddish brown and looks very
much like a large female S. gibbulus (Fig. 19). I think the name
should be retainedpendingthe examinationof Chevrolat'sothertypes
and new material fromCuba. The species seems to be very rare in
collections,and is not representedin the extensivecollectionsof P. J.
Darlington,Jr.(MCZ).
It is interestingthat the differencesbetween the specimen I have
seen and gibbulus fromFlorida are very similar to those between
Hydrocanthusoblongus Horn from Florida and supposed Cuban
specimensof that species. That is, in the Cuban examplesthe color is
reddish,and the size is larger.
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Suphisellusgibbulus(Aube)
1838 SuphisgibbulusAube,Speciesgeneraldes Coleopteres6:414, (UNITED
STATES).
This species has been synonymizedwith S. bicolor (Zimmerman
1919:115), but is smalleron the average, somewhatmore convex,and
has the last visible abdominal sterniteimpressed in the middle in
both sexes. The male externalgenitaliaare similarto those of bicolor,
but the aedeagus is slenderand more attenuatetoward the tip (Fig.
18). I believe these differencesalong with differencesin punctation
and colorationindicate the existenceof a distinctspecies population
in the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plane from Mobile Bay area in
Alabama to the Dismal Swamp of Virginia.
The question is, does the name gibbulus apply to thispopulationor
to punctipennis?I have been unable to locate specimensin the Aube
collectionin Paris (MNd'HN), and thereforepropose as Lectoholotype and Lectoallotypea male and female cotypein the Sharp collection (BMNH) marked "Type mihi, Amer. Bor. ex Mus. DeJean." I
have compared specimensfromAlachua Co. Florida (Payne's Prairie,
23 July 1960, F. N. Young ex UMMZ), with the above types and
distributedthem under that name. Additional specimens from this
series are available fordistributionto museumsupon request.
As definedabove, gibbulus proves to be a highlyvariable species,
but the variationis difficultto quantify.In general,specimens from
southernFlorida are smallerand increase in average size northward
then westward and northeastward.Teneral specimens are not only
morelightlycolored,but are largerand appear broaderand differently
punctatethan fullyhardened individualsfromthe same series.I have
examined and dissected numerous specimens from many localities
throughoutthe range and cannot find any characterswhich suggest
the existenceof separate populations.
I have found no evidence that interbreedingoccurs between gibbulus and b. bicolor or b. punctipennis,and have, in fact,found only
one mixed population. The two species seem usually to occupy differenthabitats.The mixed population is fromSouth Carolina (BeaufortCo., Cambahee Rivermarsh,25 July1959,F. N. Young [UMMZ]).
In a seriesof 18 males and females,the small,unicolorousmales have
the genitalia and secondary sexual charactersof gibbulus, while a
singlelarger,stronglybicolorousmale has the genitaliaand secondary
sexual charactersof b. bicolor. Among the females,the larger specimens usuallyhave the compressedlast visible stemitecharacteristicof
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bicolor females,while the smaller females and some larger ones, as
well as the males, have this sterite impressed at the middle. The
appearance of the single stronglybicolorous male individual so far
outside the range of typicalb. bicoloris puzzling. It is possible that it
indicates interbreedingwith gibbulus and subsequent recombination,
allowing the expressionof the bicolorouscondition.
Suphisellusgibbulusis one of the commonestbeetles in Florida and in the
lower coastal plains of Georgia. I have examinedmaterialfromthe following
counties:ALABAMA: Mobile, (H. P. L6ding) probablyin Baldwin Co.; Grand
Bay, Mobile Co. (H. P. L6ding); GEORGIA: Bryan,Brantley,Bullock,Charlton,
Clinch, Echols, Glynn,Lanier, Liberty,Lowndes, Mitchell,Pulaski, Seminole,
Telfair;FLORIDA: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Brevard,Broward,Calhoun, Citrus,
Clay, Collier,Columbia,Dade, Franklin,Gadsen, Gilchrist,Hamilton,Hardee,
LaHendry,Hernando,Highlands,Hillsboro,Indian River, Jackson,Jefferson,
fayette,Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty,Madison, Marion, Martin,Okaloosa,
Okeechobee,Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas,Polk, Putnam,St. Johns,St. Lucie,
Seminole,Sumter,Taylor,Volusia, Walton,Washington.It probablyoccurs in
every countyin Florida. SOUTH CAROLINA: Barnwell,Beaufort,Brunswick.
(Voucherspecimensforthe above recordsare in UMMZ, FSCA, or FM.)
Suphisellus curtus (Sharp)
curtusSharp,Trans.RoyalDublin Soc. 2(2):272 (BRAZIL):
1882 Canthydrus
Amazonsand ? Pampas (Germain).
This species looks like a large bicolorwith infuscatedpronotumand
head. It should be readilyseparatedfromthe otherspecies by its size,
coloration,and male externalgenitalia (Fig. 20). It seems to be widely distributedin South America.
I have examinedspecimensfromBRAZIL (UMMZ), VENEZUELA (UMMZ,
Bordon,Caracas),COLOMBIA (UMMZ), PANAMA:Tocumen(FSCA).
Sharp (1882) questionablyplaces a specimenmarked"Pampas (Germain)"
withthetype.He says thatthisspecimenis larger,moreconvexand elongate,but
verycloseto curtus(in collectionof M. de Bouvouloir).
UndescribedSpecies
A male fromEl Salto, JALISCO, collectedby H. E. Hinton(BMNH)
and a few specimensfromLa Huerta, JALISCO, collected by J. R.
Zimmerman(NMSU), probablyrepresentan undescribedspecies. The
elytralmarkingsresemblethose of varians,but the male genitalia are
more like those of neglectus.
A single female fromTepic, NAYARIT, collected by Boris Malkin
(CAS), looks like a teneral lineatus,but is verycoarselypunctateon
the dorsum.
I wantto thankcuratorsand otherpersonnelof variousmuseumswhereI have
workedon this project.I also thankthose who have lent me material.Thanks
428
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are especiallydue to High B. Leech (CAS), J. Balfour-Browne
(BMNH), P. J.
(NMSU).
Jr.(MCZ), Paul J. Spangler(NMNH), and J. R. Zimmerman
Darlington,
Contribution
No.-- fromthe ZoologicalLaboratoriesof Indiana University,
Foundation.
aided by grantsfromthe NSF, NIH, and Indiana University
LITERATURE CITED
FLEUTIAUX, E., AND A. SALLE. 1889. Liste de Coleopteresde la Guadeloupe
d' especes nouvelles,Ann. Soc. Ent. France (6th ser.) 9:351-484.
et descriptions
HORN, G. H. 1894. The Coleopteraof Baja California.Proc. CaliforniaAcad.
Sci. (2nd Ser.) 4:302-449.
towarda knowledgeof the insectfauna of
LEECH, H. B. 1948. Contributions
Lower California.No. 11. Coleoptera:Haliplidae,Dytiscidae,Gyrinidae,Hydrophilidae,Limnebiidae.Proc.CaliforniaAcad. Sci. (4th Ser.) 24:375-484.
LEECH, H. B. 1970. Copelatusglyphicus(Say) and Suphisellusbicolor(Say),
water beetles new to Californiaand presumablyintroduced(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae and Noteridae).Proc.CaliforniaAcad. Sci. (4th Ser.) 37:237-248.
YOUNG, F. N. 1954. The waterbeetlesof Florida. Univ. Florida Stud., Bio.
Ser.5(l):ix+238pp.
effect
YOUNG, F. N. 1960a. The colorsof desertwaterbeetles-environmental
or protective
Ann.Ent. Soc Am.53:422-425.
coloration?
YOUNG, F. N. 1960b. Regionalmelanismin aquatic beetles.Evolution14:277283.
mechanismin tropicalforests.Ecology
YOUNG, F. N. 1967. A possiblerecycling
48:506.
ZIMMERMAN, J. R. 1970. A taxonomicrevisionof the aquatic beetle genus
Laccophilus(Dytiscidae) of NorthAmerica.Mem. Am. Ent. Soc. 26, i + 275 pp.
des deutschenentomogischen
ZIMMERMANN, A. 1919. Die Schwimmkifer
Museumsin Berlin-Dahlemund die wissenshaftlichen
ErgebnisseihrerDurchArch.furNaturg.,Abt.12, 83:68-249,2 pls,21 figs.
arbeitung.
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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions