Vol. 110,No. 3,May&June. 1999 137 TWONEW SPECIES O AMBLYDERUS (COLEOPTERA: ANTHICIDAE) FROM GREATSAND DUNESNATIONALMONUMENT, COLORADO1 Michael J. Weissmann, Boris C. Kondratieff^ ABSTRACT: Two new species ofantlike flower beetles, Amblyderus triplehorni, n. sp., and A. werneri, n. sp. are described from Great Sand Dunes National Monument in south-central Colorado. Biological notes are included on the mating behavior and feeding by A. triplehorni. ThespeciesofAmblyderusfromNorthAmericahavebeentreatedbyLeConte (1850, 1852)andCasey (1895),resulting ineightnames. Werner(1975),how- ever, recognized only four species,A. granularis (LeConte),A. obesus Casey, A.pollens(LeConte), andA.parvicepsCasey. Casey (1895) consideredAmblyderus to be "one ofthe mostcharacteristic elements of the seabeach population." While typically associated with sea beaches, some membersofthe genusare likely tobe found in any areas where there are sand dunes in the interiorofNorth America. Blatchley (1910) noted thatA. pallens "occurs beneath rubbish on the sand beach and dunes ofLake Michigan, its hues so blending with those of the sand that the insects are scarcely visible until they move."A. pallens is known from a good numberof inland dunes and sandy river bank sites, while A. granularis is well known fromtheGreatLakesbeachareas,aswellasafewseashoretjune-sitesontheeast coastoftheUnited States(Chandler,personalconarnuhication). Two new species ofAmblyderus were coltepfed at Great Sand Dunes Na- tional Monument, and were originally determined as undescribed by the late Floyd G. Werner. Donald S. Chandler, University ofNew Hampshire, will be revising the genus (personal communication), but encouraged us to describe' the following twonew species. In addition tothesetwonew species, the'wide- spreadA. pallens (LeConte) occurs at the Monument, but was notrecorded in WeissmannandKondratieff(1999). GreatSandDunesNationalMonumentconsistsofspectaculardunespushed upagainst the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The dune mass covers 101 km2 on the east side of the San Luis Valley in Alamosa and Saguache Counties of m south-central Colorado. These dunes towermore than 200 above the valley floor (over 2400 m elevation). Two additional endemic Coleoptera species havebeendescribedfromtheGreatSandDunesarea:CicindelatheatinaRotger (Rotger 1944)andEleodeshirtipennisTriplehorn(Triplehorn 1964). TheterminologyofthedescriptionsfollowsChandler(1997). 1 Received September 4, 1998. Accepted January 20, 1999. 2Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523. ENT. NEWS 110(3): 137-143, May & June 1999 138 ENTOMOLOGICALNEWS AmblyderustriplehorniWcissmannandKondraticff,NEWSPECIES Figs. 1, 2 Description. Length 4.5 - 5.0 mm. Head triangular, wider than long; posterior-lateral angles rounded with base slightly impressed; eyesblack, large,oval, and separated from baseofheadby a distance equal to nearly their own; integument dark brown posteriorly with lighter integument anteriorly; surface coarsly tuberculate over entire disc except for median smooth line that is broaderat apex andnearly halfasbroad but still distinctatbase;antennae nearly twice as longas head, with last antennomere conical, pubescent on distal 2/3. Thorax with prothorax distinctly wider than head at base, tapering evenly to base which is approx. 2/3 the width ofthe pronotal apex; disc of pronotum covered with tubercles, each ofwhich is anterior to a corresponding decumbent seta arising from a puncture; anterior margin more finely tuberculate with longer, erect hairs extending toward the head both dorsally from the pronotum and ventrally from the prosternum; integument darker posteriodorsally and usually lighter anteriorly and ventrally, es- pecially in females. Elytra suboval, nearly twice as long as wide, and 1/3 wider than the basal margin ofthe prothorax; sides slightly convex and widest in the anterior 1/3,posteriorly tapering slightly to a subtruncate to slightly sinuate apex that is medially slightly prolonged posteriorly; disc somewhat rugose,with decumbent short pubescence, with darker integument,usually lighter colored at the anteriorcorners and on the narrow humeri.Legs lightercolored than abdomenand elytra,often paleoreven yellow;anteriortibiae ofmaleonly slightly sinuateondistal portionand clothed with long pubescence; tibial spurs slightly longer in the females than in the males.Abdo- men dull with dark integument,covered with dense recumbent hairs; last 1-1/2 tergites extending beyond the apex ofthe elytra. Aedeagus with legmen elongate,tapering to apex,rounded distally (Fig. 2). Diagnosis.Amblyderustriplehornicanbeeasily distinguished from all other mm North American Amblyderus by its larger size (4.5-5.0 long) and taperedtegmenoftheaedeagus(Fig. 2). Discussion. Color is variable in A. triplehorni, but males are generally darkerthan females. Males usually have mostofthe head, pronotum, and abdo- men darker, with lighterregions in the very anteriorportionsoneach ofthese areas. The integument is darkest, often black, on the ventral abdomen, and lightestontheantennae,legs,ventralregionofprothorax,andanteriorportion ofthehead.Pubescenceiswhitetosilvery.Femalesareoverall lighterincolor, often with theheaduniform incolorand the ventral thorax lightcolored(dark inmales).Someindividualsarelighttanthroughout,givingtheappearanceofA. pallens but almost twice the size. Also, A. pallens lacks the dense erect hairs on the anteriormarginofthe prothorax,andthe pygidium isnotfully exposed dorsally. Specimens Examined. Holotype: Cf Colorado, Alamosa Co.. Great Sand Dunes National Monument, 16-VII-1974, C.A., W.E., and B.W. Triplehorn (deposited at the USNM collection, Smithsonian). Paratypes: Colorado: 214 99' 135 Cfdf same data as holotype (OSUC, UAIC, USNM. CSUC and UNHC); 9 99, 1 tf Great Sand Dunes. Dr. Lenczy 6 [June?] 1964 (UAIC and UNHC); 3 99, 1 Cf Great Sand Dunes Nat'l. Monument. 25 mi. NE Alamosa, Alamosa Co., 8 June, 18 June, and 13 July 1983, T.P. Sluss (GRSA); 1 9 Saguache Co., Gr. Sand Dunes Nat. Mon.,E. part ofdune mass, 8200-8400', 6 Aug. 1990, Vol. 110,No. 3,May&June. 1999 139 Fig. 1. Dorsal habitus of Amblyderus triplehorni. 140 ENTOMOLOGICALNEWS -i V- 1 ".i Figs. 2 - 5. Dorsal view oflegmen ofaedeagus. 2. A. triplehorni', 3. A. werneri', 4. A. werneri, extruded aedeagus; 5. A. pall-ens. L. Clement & M. Weissmann, inside dead Polyphylla (CSUC); 5 oeoe Saguache Co., Gr. Sand Dunes Nat. Mon., 7 June 1991, L. Clement, K. Darrow & M. Weissmann, on dune mass, 8200' (CSUC); 3 oeoe Gt. Sand Dunes National Monument, 5 July 1958, Carol Whitney (CSUC). Additional Records: Colorado; 10 oeoe Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Alamosa Co., IX-1-1974, D.S.Chandler. Distribution.This speciesiscurrentlyknownonlyfromGreatSand Dunes National Monument,Alamosaand SaguacheCounties,Colorado. Biological andCollectionInformation.IndividualsofA. triplehorniwere observed between 5:00 and 7:30 pm on 8 July 1997 on the eastern dunes at GreatSandDunesNationalMonument,approximately 1 kmuphillfromMedano Creek.Theywereencountered inlargenumbers indebrispocketsonthe south- eastsideofdunes(downwind),wherebitsofgrassanddeadinsectsaredropped by wind. Individuals would move rapidly across the dune surface in a circui- tous pattern between wind gusts, scavenging for food and occasionally stop- ping to feed on a small dead insect(especially aphids) trapped in debris pock- ets by strong winds. During a strong wind gust, they would lie flat, thereby reducing their profile exposed to the wind. As the wind would pick up sur- rounding debris of live and dead material and blow it around, A. triplehorni would tend to remain immobile until the gust passed, and then wouldcontinue moving around. Vol. 110,No.3,May&June. 1999 141 As the wind died down, they would move up to the crest ofthe ridge and dozens tohundredsofindividualswouldbe visible onjustafew square meters ofridge. They would move around in seemingly random patterns, stopping at every dead insect part but only feeding on some presumably skipping over parts that were too dessicated. One individual was observed to prefertiny yel- low cicadellids that were present in large numbers. Two methods of feeding were observed: 1) head down using the middle and hind legs to anchor the body with theforelegsandpalpsmanipulating the food; and 2) turningoveron the back and manipulating the food by using all six legs to rotate the food around and move it tothe mouth. Occasionally one wouldcatch and hold food with itsmouthandforelegsandwalkerradicallyposteriorlywith it. Mating pairs were observed and duration ofcopulation was variable, ap- parently interrupted by large wind gustsorthe approachofanotherindividual. Etymology.This species isnamed inhonorofCharlesA. Triplehorn,Ohio State University, who, withW.A. and B.W.Triplehorn,collectedthe large type seriesfromGreatSandDunesNationalMonumentinJuly, 1974. AmblyderuswerneriWeissmannandKondratieff,NEWSPECIES Figs. 3, 4 Description. Length 3.0 mm. Head very broadly triangular, nearly twice as wide as long; posterior-lateral angles rounded with base distinctly impressed; eyes large, oval, and separated from posterior margin of head by a distance nearly equal to their own length; integument light yellowish brown, sometimes darker posteriorly; surface indistinctly tuber- culate over entire disc except for median smooth line; antennae nearly twice as long as head. Thorax with prothorax only slightly wider than head at base, tapering to base which is approx. 1/2 the width of apex; prothorax cylindrical near base; disc of pronotum covered with tubercles, each of which is anterior to a corresponding decumbent seta arising from a punc- ture; anterior margin more finely tuberculate with white to silvery erect hairs extending toward the head dorsally and with longer hairs extending laterally and ventrally from the prosternum; integument uniformly light yellowish brown. Elytra suboval, nearly twice as long as wide, and 1/3 wider than the basal margin ofthe prothorax; sides slightly convex and widest in the anterior 1/3, posteriorly tapering slightly to a subtruncate apex; disc somewhat rugose with decumbent short pubescence with darker integument, usually lighter colored at the anterior corners, on narrow humeri, and medially. Legs lighter colored than abdomen and elytra, often pale or even yellow; anterior tibiae of male only very slightly sinuate on distal portion; Abdomen dull with dark integument, covered with dense recumbent hairs; last tergite only slightly extending beyond the end of the elytra in most individuals, although fully exposed on some females. Aedeagus with legmen broad and scoop-shaped with a nipple- like apex (Fig. 3). The extruded portion ofthe aedeagus with soft tissue as in Fig. 4. Diagnosis.AmblyderuswerneriissimilarinsizetothesympatricA.pallens, but darker in color, and the pygidium is visible dorsally. The aedeagus is similar to that ofA. pallens (Fig. 5), except that the tegmcn in A. pallens is broad with three distinctdistal projections. 42 ENTOMOLOGICALNEWS 1 Discussion. The few specimensavailable arerathersimilarin sizeandcol- oration. Specimens Examined. Holotype: Cf Colorado, Saguache Co., Gr. Sand Dunes Nat. MLoCn.C,leSmaenndtC(rdeeepko,si7te9d00a't,tTh2e5USSRN7M3WcolSleecc.tio3n1,,S1m2itJhusloyni1a9n9)1.,PMarVatylipgehst,:MCJoloWreaidos:sm2an9n9& same data as holotype (CSUC); 3 CfCf, 499 Great Sand Dunes National Monument, 25 mi. NE Alamosa, Alamosa Co., 18 June 1983, T.P. Sluss (GRSA); 6 CfCf, 6 99 Saguache Co., Baca Land Grant, 29 July 1997, in pitfall trap, P.M. Pineda (CSUC); 16 CfCf, 25 99 Alamosa Co., Medano Ranch, Interdunal Wetland, 17-20 June 1998, in pitfall trap, P.M. Pineda & C. Cordova (OSUC, UAIC, USNM, CSUC and UNHC); 14 CfCf, 799 Alamosa Co., Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Main Sand Mass, 23-25 (June?) 1998, P.M. Pineda (OSUC, UAIC, USNM, CSUC and UNHC). Distribution.Thisspecies iscurrentlyknownonlyfromGreatSandDunes NationalMonument,andsurroundingsimilarhabitatsinAlamosaandSaguache Counties. Biologicaland CollectionInformation.Three specimenswerecollected at amercury vaporlamp on 12 July 1991. It is not clear whether they were actually attracted tothe lightorwhetherthe placementofthe light(on topofa dunepeak)wasontopoftheirnight"roosting"location.Thesespecimenswere collectedatthedunesonthe farnorthwestportionofthedunemassalong Sand Creek(SaguacheCounty).Itisunknownwhere inthemonumentthesevenT.P. Sluss specimens (18 June 1983) were collected. Ten specimens ofA. pallens werecollectedbySlusswiththesamelabeldata(GRSA).Pinedaalsocollected 21 specimensofA.pallenson the BacaLandGrant(29July 1997) in the same pitfall trapswithA. \verneri. Etymology.Thisspecies isnamed inmemoryofFloydG.Werner, Univer- sity ofArizona, a prolific worker in the Anthicidae, who first determined that this species was undescribed. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank all who loaned us specimens, including Carl A. Olson, Dept. of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (UAIC); the staff at Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Mosca, CO (GRSA), and Donald S. Chandler, Department of Zoology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (UNHC). Additional specimens were collected for this study by Phyllis M. Pineda, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO and have been deposited in the C.P. Gillette Entomological Museum at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (CSUC). Donald Chandler and Charles A. Triplehorn, Museum of Biological Diversity, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (OSUC) reviewed the manu- script and provided helpful suggestions. Illustrations were prepared by Lynn Bjork and Scott J. Fitzgerald, and Richard Cowan assisted with creating the plates. Vol. 110,No. 3.May&June, 1999 143 LITERATURE CITED Blatchley, VV. S. 1910. An illustrated descriptive catalogue of the Coleoptera or beetles (exclusive of the Rhynchophora) known to occur in Indiana with bibliography and descriptions of new species. Bull. #1 Indiana Depart. Geol. Nat. Res. 1386pp. Casey, T. L. 1895. Coleopterological Notices, VI. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 8:435-838. Chandler, D. S. 1997. Revision of the genus Malporus Casey (Coleoptera: Anthicidae: Anthicinae). Coleop. Bull. 51:265-275. LeConte, J. L. 1850. General remarks upon the Coleoptera of Lake Superior. Pp. 201-242 In: Agassiz, J. L. R. Lake Superior: Its physical character, vegetation, and animals, compared with those ofother and similar regions. Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, Boston. 428pp. LeConte, J. L. 1852. Synopsis ofthe anthicites ofthe United States. Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci. 6: 91-104. Rotger, B. 1944. A new species of Cicindela and two new records ofColeoptera. Pan-Pac. Entomol. 20: 76-77. Triplehorn, C. A. 1964. A new species of Eleodes from Colorado (Coleoptera: Tenebrioni- dae). Ohio J. Sci. 64: 60-62. Weissmann, M. J. and B. C. Kondratieff. 1999. An inventory of arthropod fauna at Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado. Univ. Kans. Nat. Hist. Mus. Spec. Publ. 24:57-68. Werner, F. G. 1975. New synonymy in the nearctic Anthicidae (Coleoptera). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 77:290. SOCIETY MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 1998 Dr. Jon Gelhaus Biodiversity group, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Dr. Gelhaus discussed "Bug Hunting in Mongolia," in particular his entomological research at ancient lake Hovsgol Nuur. His slides illustrated the difficulties of travel in those remote areas as well as the impressive landscapes and remarkable insects. He empha- sized in his talk the intense interest of the Mongolian scientists and their students in discovering and protecting their natural heritage. Jon also reminded the audience of the hazards of fieldwork in areas far from the beaten track with an account of his almost-tragic injury sustained while playing softball. He was lucky that he could be adequately treated with the resources at hand. He ended by pointing out that his studies have only begun and that there is a vast wealth of undiscovered entomological knowledge waiting in central Asia for those able to undertake such challenging expeditions. William J. Cromartie, Corresponding Secretary