New records for 23 species of Nearctic false click beetles including new country records for Protofarsus convexus (Fisher) (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Dirhagini) Author Otto, Robert L. W 4806 Chrissie Circle, Shawano, WI 54166, USA text Insecta Mundi 2024 2024-12-20 2024 95 1 11 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.14662335 1942-1354 14662335 8870AE27-8CE8-4B9B-8E6E-4135C695F5FFCMNHC Protofarsus convexus (Fisher, 1945) Figure 4 Farsus convexus Fisher 1945: 87–88 . Differential diagnosis. The presence of a complete lateral elytral ridge will readily distinguish P. convexus from species of the related Nematodinus Lea. The sinuous, posteroventrally directed anterolateral pronotal ridges will further separate the species from P. caribicus Muona. Material examined. Five specimens from Texas ( new USA records ) were included in this study: UNITED STATES of AMERICA : TEXAS : Cameron County: USA : TEXAS : Cameron Co./ Sabal Palm Grove Ref. (site 2)/ 25.84851[°]N, 97.41794 ° W / IV-24–VI-5-2009 , FIT-ground/ E.G. Riley-1041, palm forest // Protofarsus / caribicus / Figures 1–5. Nearctic Eucnemidae . 1) Protofarsus caribicus , dorsal habitus. 2) Protofarsus caribicus , lateral view of pronotum. 3) Protofarsus convexus , lateral view of pronotum. 4) Protofarsus convexus , dorsal habitus. 5) Trigonopleurus cordobaalfaroi , dorsal habitus. (Scale: 2–3 = 0.5 mm; 1, 4–5 = 1.0 mm.) Muona/ Det. R.L. Otto/ 2010 [folded] // Protofarsus / convexus / (Fisher)/ Det. R.L. Otto/ 2024 (1, GERP ); USA , TX : Cameron Co./ Sabal Palm Grove/ IV-25–V-29-2009 / UV lite trap // 25.849°N , 97.417°W / in dense palm/ and ebony forest/ Heffern & Raber // Protofarsus / convexus / (Fisher)/ Det. R.L. Otto/ 2024 (3, TAMUIC ); USA : TEXAS : Cameron Co./ Sabal Palm Grove Ref. (site 1)/ 25.84799°N , 97.41881°W / V-21–VI-5-2009 , UV light/ palm forest, E.G. Riley-1037 // Protofarsus / caribicus / Muona/ Det. R.L. Otto/ 2010 [folded] // Protofarsus / convexus / (Fisher)/ Det. R.L. Otto/ 2024 (1, GERP ). Redescription. Length 4.0– 5.5 mm . Width 1.2–1.7 mm . Body oblong, elongate; uniformly reddish brown; antennae and legs reddish brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent yellowish setae ( Fig. 4 ). Head : Subspherical, without median carina or groove; surfaces shiny, punctures deep and closely spaced; apical margin of frontoclypeal region evenly rounded, more than 2 times wider than base; mandibles stout, bidentate, densely punctate. Antennae : Antennal flagellomeres I–VIII weakly serrate, about 1/2 of the length of the body; flagellomere I longer than wide, longer than II; flagellomere II longer than wide, slightly longer than III; flagellomeres III–VIII slightly longer than wide, subequal; flagellomere IX longer than wide, longer than VIII. Pronotum : Surface somewhat shiny, densely and closely punctate; quadrate, with moderate, sharp hind angles; lateral sides parallel-sided at basal 2/3, arcuate at apical 1/3; disc convex, without fovea; anterolateral ridge short and directed posteroventrally; posterolateral ridge elongate, extending 3/4 the length of the pronotum; base sinuous, with short, median groove above scutellar shield. Scutellar shield : Quadrate, subtriangular, punctate and distally rounded. Elytra : Striae vaguely indicated throughout, moreso basally near humeri; interstices flattened; surfaces somewhat shiny, transversely rugose at basal 1/2, shallowly punctate at apical 1/2. Legs : First tarsomere shorter than the combined length of remaining four on mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsi; tibiae rounded in cross section; metathoracic tarsomeres I–IV simple; metathoracic tarsomere IV as wide as III; metathoracic tarsomere V elongate; pretarsal claws simple. Venter : Closely and shallowly punctate, with short, recumbent yellowish setae; hypomeron with poorly indicated notosternal antennal grooves; metathoracic episterna parallel-sided; metathoracic coxal plates medially 1.2–2.5 times wider than laterally. Geographical distribution. Outside the United States , this rarely encountered New World species of eucnemid has been recorded from Nicaragua and Panama . In the United States , P. convexus has been recorded from a single county in southern Texas . Biology. Four specimens were taken from a UV light trap placed in a mixed palm forest at a nature reserve in southern Texas . One specimen was taken from a ground flight intercept trap in a palm forest. Larvae and pupae are unknown.