P. J. Darlington, Jr.
On Some Carabidæ, Including New Species, from the Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Psyche 38:145-164, 1931.
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19311 Carabidas from North Carolina and Tennessee 145 ON SOME CARIBIDB, INCLUDING NEW SPECIES, FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CARO-
LINA AND TENNESSEE
In late August and early September, 1930, I collected with an expedition from the Museum of Comparative Zoology (of Cambridge, Massachusetts) on several of the mountain ranges of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Probably because of the lateness and dry- ness of the season few phytophagous or other arboreal beetles were found. However, Carabidse, in which I was chiefly interested, were abundant in suitable places, espe- cially on the heavily forested slopes of the higher moun- tains, so that we (Prof. Nathan Banks, Dr. F. M. Car- penter, Mr. Gilbert Banks and myself) were able to secure about 1800 specimens of the family. Dr. W. S. Creighton and Mrs. Creighton collected about 400 additional Cara- bid= at Little Switzerland, in the Black Mountains, North Carolina, also during the summer of 1930. This collection they have very kindly turned over to me. Study of these series of accurately labeled specimens has led to the recog- nition of several new species and subspecies, and it is chiefly to describe these novelties that the present paper is written. However, a few previously described local forms are dis- cussed. It is hoped that the paper may help to stimulate coleopterists to collect and study the interesting fauna of the southern Appalachian uplands. Only when much more '
collecting has been done, and the specimens labeled accur- ately and in detail, can a comprehensive study of this fauna and of its distribution be undertaken. I am indebted to the authorities of the Museum of Com- parative Zoology not only for sending me with their expedi-
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146 Psyche [December
tion to the southern Appalachian region, but for permitting me to study the Coleoptera which were secured, and to refer to the invaluable type collections in the Museum. The authorities of the American Museum have very kindly al- lowed me to examine several types and other specimens in their care collected by Beutenmiiller in the Black Mountains.
Scaphinotus viduus irregularis Beut.
Taken by us at about 6,000 feet on Mt. Mitchell, Black Mountains, N. C., and at 5,200 feet at Newfound Gap, Smoky Mountains, on the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. Three specimens in all, under stones and loose bark. I have seen the type in the American Museum. This is a geographical subspecies of the more northern typical viduus, not an aberration as stated by Roeschke (1907, p. 145). Irregularis seems to be the only recognizable sub- species of viduus, for the series of viduus which I have ex- amined from New England and other regions show con- clusively that leonardi Harr. is not valid. All the char- acters given by Harris (1839, p. 193) to distinguish leo- nardi from viduus prove to be of a purely individual nature.
Scaphinotus confusus n. sp.
General form and structure of the subgenus Irichroa as defined by Roeschke (1907).
Color black, with variable seneus or purplish reflections above.
Head of the usual Irichroa type, but with the labrum less deeply emarginate and the eyes less prominent than usual. Prothorax narrow, by actual measurement very slightly (about 10%) wider than long, but appearing as long as wide ; about 1.6 times as wide as head.
Sides bluntly angu- ,
late just before the middle, slightly convexly arcuate from lateral angles to anterior angles, slightly concavely arcuate and converging from lateral angles to basal angles, which are obtusely rounded. Base and apex slightly emarginate. Lateral margins very narrowly and evenly flexed from
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19311 Carabidas from North Carolina and Tennessee 147 base to apex; each margin with a seta at the lateral angula- tion and a second seta a little before (not in) the basal
angle.
Disc of pronotum irregularly punctate and trans- versely wrinkled especially near the base and sides, varia- bly elsewhere. Disc with a deep basal and a shallower apical transverse impression, the two connected by a median longi- tudinal impressed line.
Elytra with humeri broadly rounded, nearly obliterated. Each elytron with about 16 punctured striae anteriorly, but with more, especially in the S, near and behind the middle. Striae frequently in part irregular, however, espe- cially laterally and apically and along a well-marked zone between the 9th and 11th striae (as counted near the front of the elytron) . Epipleurse rather closely and coarsely, but not deeply, punctured.
Anterior tarsi of 8 very narrowly dilated, sole of the basal joint with spongy pubescence only in apical one- fourth of its length.
Length : $ , 22.5-24-5 ; $ , 26-28 mm.
Type:
8, Museum of Comparative Zoology, No. 16430, from Mt. Mitchell, Black Mountains, North Carolina, taken by myself, September 7, at about 6,000 feet altitude, under loose bark at the base of a dead conifer in damp forest. Allotype Q and 5 paratypes ( 8 8 s 2 s ) from "Black Mountains, N. C., Beutenmiiller," dated from May to July. One 8, which I have not made a type, was taken by my- self between Newfound Gap and Clingman's Dome, 5,200- 6,642 feet, in the Smoky Mountains, on the North Carolina- Tennessee state line, September 2. A pair of paratypes is in my own collection; all the other specimens mentioned are in the Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Scaphinotm confusus may be distinguished from the other species of subgenus Irichroa as follows: 1. Prothorax rather broadly margined, the margin ex- panded toward the base ... . . .. . . .. . ......... ... . .. . ...... ..S. viduus Margin usually narrower, not expanded toward the base ...................................................................... 2
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148 Psyche [December
2. Anterior tarsi of 8 scarcely dilated, sole of first joint with spongy pubescence confined to apical %. Elytral striae confused from about the 9th to the 11th striae, the zone of confusion separated from the marginal area of confused punctuation by several regular striae. Size larger, all specimens seen over 22 mm. long .............................................. 3
Anterior tarsi of 8 more dilated, sole of first joint with spongy pubescence covering at least apical Vq, sometimes nearly whole sole. Elytra usually, but not always, without a zone of confused striae separated from the margin by regular striae. Size smaller, usually under 22 mm. ................................ 4
3. Prothorax both actually and proportionately wider, almost exactly twice as wide as head ................ S. guyoti Prothorax narrower, about 1.6 times as wide as head. Upon direct comparison the lateral margin of the prothorax is seen to be more abruptly and more narrowly reflexed, and the eyes to be less .............................
prominent than in guyoti
S. confusus
.............................................. 4.
All other species of Irichroa
Beutenmuller included confusus in his conception of guyoti, and it is possible that he had specimens of confusus before him when he described ungelli (1918, p. 89). How- ever, since the entire description of ungelli consists of a statement that it is merely a black color form of guyoti, since no type seems to have been designated, and since Beutenmuller's material is so scattered that it is impossible to say that he did not have a black guyoti in his series, it seems best to take his statement at its face value and consider angelli as really a black form of Scaphinotus guyoti Lec. (It is to be noted that S. guyoti and S. con- fusus cannot be separated by color.) By thus interpreting Beutenmuller's inadequate description literally, I think that much future confusion may be avoided, especially abroad.
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1931 1 Carabidas from North Carolina and Tennessee 149 Scaphinotus guyoti Lec.
(angelli Beut.)
Not taken by the Museum of Comparative Zoology ex- pedition. Described from "The Black Mountains of North Carolina . . . resembling in its characters C. andrewsi, but as large as C. viduus" (from original description, Le- conte, 1866). The only specimens I have seen in addition to the type are a pair ( 8 s ) in the Blanchard Collection, Museum of Comparative Zoology, from Highlands, N. C. The relationship of this species to confusus Darl. (see key above) parallels very closely that of S. andrewsi to S. ger- mari, as interpreted by Roeschke (1907). It is to be noted that Roeschke did not know guyoti, but drew his description from those of several authors who failed to distinguish confusus from guyoti. Nomaretus (Maronetus) unistriatus n. sp. Of the general form and structure of the subgenus, some- times called genus, Maronetus; i. e., of the imperfectus group of Nomaretus.
Piceous black, strongly shining.
Head as usual in the subgenus, constricted just behind the eyes but expanded posteriorly to form a condyle. Prothorax as long as wide, about 1.6 times as wide as head, widest about the middle; sides broadly arcuate in anterior ^A, converging but slightly sinuate before the ob- tuse basal angles; base and apex nearly squarely truncate. Disc of pronotum smooth and shining, with deep basal and shallower apical transverse impressions, the two connected by a median impressed longitudinal line; pronotum with also a short, deep sublongitudinal impression on each side near the basal angle. Raised lateral margin of pronotum very fine and even; each margin with two setigerous punc- tures, one about v3 from apex and one a little before base. Elytra widest well before the middle, outer margin strongly arcuate anteriorly, slightly and nearly evenly arcuate posteriorly to the pointed but not produced apex. All striae completely obliterated except the sutural, which
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150 Psyche [December
is represented in anterior % of elytral length by a series of coarse, subconfluent punctures. Disc of elytra otherwise shining and impunctate, except that on the left elytron there are three and on the right two setigerous (the bristles can be detected in three of the five punctures, and are broken off in the other two) punctures in a position corresponding to the 4th interval in striate Maronetus. Subapital mar- ginal setigerus punctures of elytra nearly obliterated, only one or two very small ones being visible on each elytron. Epipleurse and under surface of body shining, impunc- tate except for the usual orderly series of setigerous punc- tures.
Tarsi and palpi of $ unknown; those of normal for Maronetus.
Length: Q, 7 % mm.
Type:
2, Museum of Comparative Zoology, No. 16431, from Highlands, N. C., June, 1888. In the Frederick Blan- chard Collection, probably collected by Blanchard himself. Nornaretus unistriatus is unique in the great reduction of the elytral striation, and probably also in the reduction of the marginal setigerous punctures near the apex of the elytra. Blanchard's specimen (my type) has been men- tioned by Leng (1916, p. 42) as probably representing an undescribed species, but Leng did not describe it, because he was unable to determine the amount of variation nor- mally occurring in species of Maronetus. Fortunately the series of over 50 specimens of M. schwarzi before me shows pretty conclusively that such variation is not extreme, so that I feel sure that unistriatzis is a real species, not an individual variant of some striate form. In addition to the unique characters by which it may be recognized at a glance, unistriatus differs from schwarzi in having the dor- sal surface not microreticulate, and from imperfectus (probably its closest relative)
in having setigerous punc-
tures on the elytra in a position corresponding to the 4th interval in the striate species.
Nomaretus (Maronetus) debilis debilis Lec. Taken by us in the Smoky Mountains at Newfound Gap
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19311 Carabidas fromNorth Carolinaand Tennessee 151 near 5,200 feet, and between the Gap and Clingman's Dome, near 6,000 feet.
Both localities are on the North
Carolina-Tennessee state line. Three specimens in all. These have the elytral striae less impressed and less heavily punctured, especially apically and externally, than the unique type of debilis from Georgia, but it would not be wise to describe a Smoky Mountain race until a larger series of both it and the typical form can be examined. Nomaretus (Maronetus) debilis alpinus Beut. Taken by us in the Black Mountains on Mt. Mitchell, 5,000-6,711 feet, and on Grandfather Mountain, 3,000-4,000 feet. Five specimens in all. This distinct form is stouter than debilis, with nearly impunctate elytral striae. It seems to be a geographical (northern) rather than an alti- coline subspecies of debilk, notwithstanding the opinions of Beutenmiiller (1903, p. 512) and of Roeschke (1907, p. 160) to the contrary, for in the Smoky Mountains nearly typical deb& ranges nearly as high as alpinus does in the Black Mountains.
Both Nomaretus debilis and its subspecies alpinus seem invariably to be found under stones and logs on the ground, not under loose bark or among dead leaves like most of our other eastern Cychrini.
Sphaeroderus multicarinatus n. sp.
Unusually elongate for the genus. Black, with bluish or purplish reflections on the head, prothorax, and outer mar- gins of elytra.
Head as usual in the genus, except much more rugose than usual between the eyes, and usually with a strong, longitudinal puncture midway between the eyes. Prothorax about 1.6 times as wide as head; appearing at least as long as wide, but by actual measurement about % wider than long. Base slightly wider than apex. Sides evenly, not strongly, arcuate in anterior %, distinctly sinu- ate before the right or slightly obtuse posterior angles. Base and apex slightly emarginate; lateral margins nar-
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152 Psyche [ December
rowly and evenly elevated, with a single setigerous punc- ture at middle. Pronotum with moderate basal and apical transverse impressions, with a fine longitudinal median impression from base to apex, and with a deep longitudinal fovea on each side extending from base more than y3 to apex. Numerous punctures are grouped in and near the fovese and across the base, otherwise the disc is smooth, impunctate, and shining.
Elytra widest behind the middle, sides more arcuate pos- teriorly than anteriorly. Each elytron with about 16 striae as counted across the middle of its length. Intervals 4, 8 and 12 cariniform, but often interrupted; intervals 2, 6 and 10 also often cariniform (especially in Q ) but usually lower and more interrupted; other intervals much lower and usually so much interrupted that they resemble series of small tubercles ; apex and outer margin of elytron studded with small tubercles, the striae confused. Epipleurse mod-
erately closely and coarsely punctate.
Anterior 8 tarsi broadly dilated, basal joint entirely pubescent below; 8 palpi each with last joint expanded, as usual in the genus.
Length 14-17 mm.; width 5.8-7 mm.
All type specimens from the Smoky Mountains, as fol- lows : holotype 8, allotype Q , and 23 paratypes (12 8 8, 11 Q Q ) from Newfound Gap, near 5,200 feet, on the North Carolina-Tennessee state line, August 30 to September 3, 1930. 7 paratypes ( 8, 6 Q Q ) from between Newfound Gap and Clingman's Dome, 5,000-6,642 feet, on the same state line, September 2. 2 paratypes ( Q ) from State Road to Newfound Gap, Tennessee side, 3,500 feet, Sep- tember 1. 3 paratypes ( 8 8 Q ) from Deep Creek (Bryson City), North Carolina, 2,000 feet, August 23-26. Holotype, allotype and paratypes in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (No. 16432) ; paratypes in the writer's collection. All type specimens taken by the writer and the other mem- bers of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 1930 expedi- tion, in forest, usually under loose bark, in rotten logs, or on the ground among dead leaves. I have seen other speci-
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1931 1 Carabidse from North Carolina and Tennessee 153 mens, which I have not made types, from Highlands, N. C. (Blanchard Collection, Museum of Comparative Zoology.) This species may be distinguished from other Sphsero- deus as follows :
Sides of prothorax near base broadly and distinctly, though not strongly, sinuate ; elytra with numer- ous parallel carinse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S. multicarinatus Sides of prothorax not sinuate, or, if sinuate, elytra without distinct parallel carinse
All other species of Sphseroderus
The exceptionally narrow prothorax, and strong punc- ture on the head midway between the eyes in multicarinatus are also useful diagnostic characters.
Multicarinatus is a geographical representative of Sphas- roderus bicarinatus Lee., which it replaces in the Smokies. As species go at present in the genus, multicarinatus is a specific form, differing from bicarinatus (of which I have seen the type and numerous other specimens from the Black Mountains, N. C.) in being more slender, with the sides of the prothorax sinuate, with a constant puncture between the eyes (rarely present in bicarinatus), and with better developed elytral carinse. However, I have seen intergrades between the two species-notably a specimen from Lake Toxaway, N. C., 3,000 feet, August 28, taken by myself. Notwithstanding Leng's (1961, p. 41) opinion to the contrary, I think that Sphasroderus lecontei, bicari- natus, and multicarinatus are all geographical representa- tives of a single stock, and that when the genus is revised upon a sounder basis, the last two forms should be con- sidered as (very distinct) subspecies of lecontei. Until a revision can be undertaken, however, the three forms had better be kept apart.
Nebria appalachia n. sp.
A member of subgenus Nebria s. str., group XI of Ban- ninger's (1925) "Die Nibriini."
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154 Psyche [December
Brownish to piceous black; legs, palpi, antennae, and (usually) a pair of spots between the eyes flavous. Head proportionately large, with unusually prominent eyes.
Prothorax cordate; about Vy wider than the head across the eyes ; just over $$ wider than long; base slightly nar- rower than apex, nearly Vq narrower than widest part; sides evenly arcuate in anterior %, strongly sinuate before the acute basal angles. Base and apex slightly emarginate ; basal angles each with a setigerous puncture; lateral mar- gins narrow, without setigerous puncture; Disc of prono- turn not punctate; transverse basal and apical impressions and median longitudinal line present, and also a pair of short, linear basal fovese just within the basal angles. Elytra widest behind the middle, each elytron indepen- dently rounded at apex ; humeri distinctly narrowed ; elytra each with 8 well impressed striae, the striae faintly or not punctate, the 3rd interval with 3 or 4 large seti- gerous punctures. Inner wings about as long as the elytra. Prosternal process margined except at extreme apex. Abdominal sternites 3 to 5 each, with a pair of single setae near middle. Anterior tarsi of 8 slightly dilated, the first 3 joints pubescent beneath.
Length' 7.5-8.5 mm. Width 3.0-3.7 mm.
Holotype 8, allotype 9, and 43 paratypes from the Smoky Mountains, below Newfound Gap, Tennessee side, near 5,000 feet, August 30. 8 paratypes from the Black Mountains, Mt. Mitchell, N. C., near 6,000 feet (just above Camp Alice), September 5. Holotype, allotype, and para- types in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (No. 16433) ; paratypes in the writer's collection. All specimens taken by the writer under stones on gravelly bars and banks of small mountain brooks.
The absence of the lateral marginal bristle of the pro- thorax and the presence of red spots between the eyes dis- tinguish appalachia from all our other species of Nebria s. sir., group XI (cf. Banninger, 1. c.) except from pallipes. From the latter appalachia may be known at once by its much smaller size, proportionately smaller prothorax and
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1931 1 Carabidse from North Carolina and Tennessee 155 larger head, and especially by the acute rather than obtuse basal angles of the prothorax. Appalachia is one of our smallest, perhaps really our smallest, Nebria, and is appar- ently a strictly alticoline species. Careful search at 3,500 feet along the banks of the very stream, on the upper reaches of which the type series (Smoky Mountains) was collected, did not yield a single specimen. Pterostichus ( Gastrellarius) unicarum n. sp. Small, slender, but slightly ventricose; dark brown or piceous, antennae, palpi, tarsi, and apices of tibiae rufous. Head with two setigerous punctures over each eye; eyes moderately prominent ; antennae long and slender ; mentum tooth entire, elongate, triangular, bluntly pointed at apex. Prothorax by actual measurement very slightly wider than long; 1% times as wide as head; somewhat con- stricted toward base; base slightly narrower than apex, y3 as wide as widest part; sides evenly arcuate in anterior , rather strongly sinuate before the rectangular basal angles; lateral margin very fine and even; base margined, but sometimes indistinctly so at middle. Pronotum with basal and apical transverse impressions faint, connected by a deeper, longitudinal impressed line on middle of disc; later basal fovese linear, extending from base ?I$ or less toward apex; surface of pronotum impunctate even about the fovese.
Elytra more than lh wider than the prothorax % to % longer than wide; striae entire, not or just detectibly punc- tate; 3rd interval with a single setigerous puncture at or just behind the middle. Inner wings atrophied. Anterior tarsi of 8 slightly dilated, first 3 joints pubes- cent below; apex of last ventral segment with 1 bristle on each side in 8, 2 in 9.
Length 6.2-7.5 mm. Width 2.5-3 mm.
All specimens from the Smoky Mountains, as follows: Holotype $, allotype Q, and 33 paratypes from New- found Gap, North Carolina-Tennessee state line, 5,000-5,200 feet. 4 paratypes from State Road to Newfound Gap, Ten-
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