Floyd G. Werner.
Anthicidae of the Greater Antilles and a new species from Venezuela (Coleoptera).
Psyche 90:211-236, 1983.

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ANTHICIDAE OF THE GREATER ANTILLES,
AND A NEW SPECIES FROM VENEZUELA
(COLE0PTERA)l
BY FLOYD G. WERNER
Department of Entomology
University of Arizona
Tucson 85721
Thirteen of the 29 species that are known or reported from the Greater Antilles appear to be endemic. Five (Anthicus darlingtoni, hispaniolae, macgillavryi, soledad and subtilis) make up the subtilis- group, which does not seem to have near relatives on the mainland. Three others stand quite isolated in their genera: Acanthinus schwarzi in an almost exclusively neotropical genus, Anthicus blackwelderi and russoi in a world-wide genus that contains many diverse ele- ments. A. blackwelderi is counted among the endemic species because it has different color patterns on the islands that it is known to inhabit; the form of the internal sac of the male genitalia is very different from that of possible relatives on the mainland. A. russoi is probably not properly placed in Anthicus, and is unlike any anthicid known to me in several details; Menozzi's (1930) evidence that it is a myrmecophile with a native ant makes local origin seem logical. The 5 other endemic species are similar to mainland New World species. Mecynotarsus hispaniolae and jamaicanus belong to the elegans-group, which has species from Florida to Central America. Notoxus bipunctatus and jamaicus have been assigned to the monodon-group (Chandler 1978), which ranges from Canada to northern South America. Finally, Anthicus antilleorum seems to have originated in the Greater Antilles and spread to the Virgin Islands and Bahama Islands; its nearest relatives are found around the southern Caribbean.
Within the 13 endemic species, there is inter-island variation in color pattern in 3: Anthicus antilleorum, blackwelderi and soledad; in each instance the Jamaican population is different from that of 'Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal paper No. 3662. Manuscript received by the editor August 30, 1982.



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212 Psyche [VOI. 90
the adjacent island of Cuba (and Hispaniola in antilleorum and blackwelderi).
Two of the other 16 species listed are based on records that can- not be verified: Acanthinus ebeninus on an old specimen with a "Cuba" label, and Amblyderus sp. on some specimens from Puerto Rico that cannot now be located. Ten are shared with continental areas of the New World: Acanthinus angusticollis, concinnus, quin- quemaculatus and scitulus, Anthicus pallidus, Sapintus similis and teapensis, Thicanus texanus, and Vacusus holoxanthus and vicinus. These may have reached the Greater Antilles without human help, but Vacusus holoxanthus is found mainly from Chile to Bolivia, and Acanthinus scitulus seems not to have been present in the lowland localities that were extensively collected in the 1930's, so is probably of recent introduction. Finally, 4 species of Anthicus are of Old World origin:floralis and formicarius, which are almost cosmopoli- tan; tobias, which is expanding its range in several parts of the world; and crinitus.
Two large genera, the world-wide Tomoderus and the New World Ischyropalpus, are conspicuous by their absence. The latter genus, at least, should have been collected if it was present; mainland spe- cies are often abundant on blossoms. That the fauna has not been completely sampled is indicated by the addition of a species of Mecynotarsus from Hispaniola through the recent collecting of J. and S. Klapperich.
A critical part of the material reported here was collected by Philip J. Darlington, Jr. in the 1930's. I wish to thank Dr. Darling- ton and subsequent curators of the M. C. Z. for permission to retain these specimens until they could be studied in comparison with continental faunas. The second large lot came from the collecting of Richard E. Blackwelder and Edward A. Chapin, and was made available by the U. S. National Museum; it was collected in the same period. The largest recently collected lot originated in the collecting of J. and S. Klapperich in the Dominican Republic, and was made available by Dr. M. Branucci of the Naturhistorisches Museum in Basel.




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19831 Werner - Anthicidae 213
Key to Greater Antilles Anthicidae
1. Prothorax with an anterior horn that extends over the ............................................ head .25
-
......................... Prothorax without a horn.. .2 2. Sides of mesosternum curved outward to form a broad plate, with a variably developed fringe of setae along its edges ............................................. 15 - Mesosternum with sides diagonal and nearly or quite straight, without fringe setae. ........................ .3 3.
First visible abdominal sternum with a transverse, pubescence- lined invagination behind each hind coxa. Elytral pubescence double, the under layer more appressed, diagonal. ..... .24 -
First visible abdominal sternum without invaginations. Elytral pubescence usually single, double in Anthicus pallidus. .. .4 4.
Elytral pubescence double, undercoat more diagonal. Pale, somewhat flattened, elytra with dark brown midband and suture, markings usually isolating a pale zone in basal and apical fourth of each elytron; head truncate. 2.25-2.35 mm. Hispaniola, Puerto Rico ........... Anthicus pallidus Say -
Elytral pubescence simple ........................... .5 5.
Vertex of head somewhat produced, edge nearly straight from middle to weak temporal angles (Fig. 11). Uniform pale brown, somewhat shiny, elytra sometimes with a weak median cloud. Ca. 2.6 mm. Hispaniola, Puerto Rico ...... .......................... Thicanus texanus (LaFerte) -
Base of head from truncate to evenly rounded. ......... .6 6.
Base of head truncate, temporal angles narrowly rounded .................................................. 7 -
Base of head rounded, temporal angles broadly rounded or ........................................ notevident 10 7. Head microreticulate between punctures. Rufescent to brown, elytra usually brown except across base. Elytral pubescence very short and inconspicuous. 2.9-3.2 mm. Jamaica .................. Anthicus formicarius (Goeze) -
Head smooth and shiny between punctures ............ .8 8.
Elytral setae sparse and as long as width of a femur, subde- cumbent. Rufescent, shiny, elytra with dark markings that



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Psyche [VOI. 90
usually isolate a common pale spot in apical third. 2.5-3.2 mm. Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands ....................... ............................ Anthicus crinitus LaFertk -
Elytral pubescence shorter than width of a femur; dark elytral markings not enclosing a common pale spot in apical area ............................................... 9 9.
Elytral pubescence short and even, the erect tactile setae extending well above the decumbent setae. Prosternum with uniformly distributed punctures and pubescence in front of coxae. Elytra pale at base and usually in an obliquely oval spot in apical third of each. 2.0-2.3 mm. Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Virgin Islands and Bahama Islands; elytra usually lacking posterior pale spots in Jamaican popula- tion.. ..................... Anthicus antilleorum, sp. n. -
Elytral pubescence longer and less decumbent, the tactile setae barely evident among the setae. Prosternum with front half of portion in front of coxae smooth, back half bearing some coarse punctures and setae. Uniformly dark (Jamaica) or elytra pale across base and at apex, the posterior marking rounded in front (Cuba, probably Hispaniola). 2.27-2.55 mm. ...................... Anthicus blackwelderi, sp. n. lO(6)
Rufescent or paler, with pale appendages; elytra usually with suture and whole apical half black except for a round, very pale spot on each in apical third. 2.6-3.0 mm. 8 tegmen with apex knob-like, lacking lateral tufts of setae. Jamaica, Virgin Islands ................. Anthicus tobias Marseul -
Elytra usually with a complete or interrupted dark midband and an oblique pale subapical band, never with a round pale spot on each in apical third. 8 tegmen pointed, with a tuft of setae on each side. Anthicus subtilis-group ............ .11 1 1.
8 front tibiae excavated in apical 21 5. Elytral midband often complete. 2.1 1-2.24 mm. Cuba. ........................ ...................... Anthicus macgillavryi Buck - front tibiae simple
.............................. .12
12. 8 tegmen gradually tapered to apex, slender. Elytral mark- ings dark, all connected along suture, including a dark zone across base. Ca. 2.5 mm. Hispaniola .................... ....................... Anthicus hispaniolae, sp. n. -
8 tegmen not evenly tapered to apex. ................ .13



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1 9831 Werner - Anthicidae 2 15
13. 8 tegmen very bluntly truncate at apex except for a small median point. Elytral midband complete in Cuban specimens seen, interrupted at suture in Jamaican specimens. 2.22-2.53 mm. Cuba, Jamaica ............. Anthicus soledad, sp. n. -
....
8 tegmen with sides slightly constricted beyond middle ................................................. 14 14. Antennae unusually long and slender. Elytral midband reduced to a pale brown triangle with point toward suture, on each side. 2.47-2.76 mm. Hispaniola ................. ...................... Anthicus subtilis LaFertk -
Antennae not so slender. Elytral midband interrupted at suture, but mark truncate toward suture on each side. Elytra .............. slightly inflated. 2.02-2.42 mm. Hispaniola ........................... Anthicus darlingtoni, sp. n. 15(2)
Pronotum with a pair of small bumps near anterior edge of disc. Fringe setae of mesosternum closely appressed to mesepisterna. Rufous, elytra black or brown with basal fourth rufous in a well-demarcated zone; appearing glabrous and subopaque. 2.6-3.2 mm. Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands .......................... Anthicusfloralis (L.) - Pronotum without such bumps. Fringe setae of meso- sternum at least slightly raised from surface of mesepi- sterna ........................................... .16 16.
Sides of prothorax not constricted, almost evenly tapered ... from widest part, near front, to basal impressed line .17 -
Sides of prothorax at least slightly constricted anterior to basal impressed line ............................... .18 17.
Shiny, only erect tactile setae very obvious; luteous to rufous, elytra with apex and an interrupted submedian band dark. 2.3-2.8 mm. Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands ................ Vacusus vicinus (LaFert6) -
Shiny but with surface partly obscured by appressed pubes- cence; tactile setae short and inconspicuous. Moderately slender, entirely tannish. 1.8-2.0 mm. Jamaica ........... ....... Vacusus holoxanthus (Fairmaire & Germain) 18(16) Pubescence fine, silky, moderately dense, appressed, cover- ing all of elytra. Dull rufescent to brown, elytra with dark midband and apex, markings usually connected along su- ture .............................................. 19



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216 Psyche [VOI. 90
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Pubescence very sparse, or dense pubescence confined to postbasal transverse impression of elytra ............. .20 19. (^ fifth visible abdominal sternum excavated on disc; lobes of visible sternum 6 moderately broad. 2.6-3.2 mm. Cuba, Puerto Rico ...... Acanthinus quinquemaculatus (LaFertk) -
(^ fifth visible abdominal sternum simple; lobes of visible ster- num 6 narrow. 2.4-3.0 mm. Hispaniola ................. .................. Acanthinus concinnus (LaFertk) 20(18) Elytra with a dense patch of white pubescence in postbasal transverse impression. Dark brown, shiny, otherwise gla- brous with erect tactile setae; head triangular, it and prono- turn longitudinally strigose. Ca. 2.8 mm. Cuba? .......... .................... Acanthinus ebeninus (LaFertk) -
Elytra without patch of dense pubescence in postbasal ..............................
transverse impression .2 1
.............
21. Head and prothorax strongly sculptured .22 - Whole dorsal surface smooth, shiny, punctures fine and indistinct, setae very short, sparse and inconspicuous, only ...........................
erect tactile setae evident .23
22.
Dark brown with quadrate yellowish white mark laterally in cuticle of postbasal transverse of elytra; head unusually large, it and prothorax with some longitudinal striations. 2.0-2.8 mm. Jamaica, Cuba ............................ ..................... Acanthinus angusticollis (LaFertk) -
Head and prothorax rufescent, elytra rufescent at base, with a complete luteous band in postbasal impression, brown behind. Head and prothorax rugose-punctate. 2.4-2.8 mm. Cuba. ..................... Acanthinus schwarzi Werner 23(21) Rufescent, elytra paler with brownish to almost black mark- ings, at least in narrow, interrupted bands at basal and apical thirds, to dark with postbasal impression and a narrow post- median band pale. Prothorax with a strong constriction that continues weakly across dorsum. Edge of mesosternal shelf visible from above, in front of elytral humeri. Head nar- rower than semicircular behind eyes. 2.0-2.9 mm. Cuba ... .................... Acanthinus scitulus (LeConte) -
Pale rufescent, elytra pale rufescent at base, dark brown on humeri and behind postbasal transverse impression. Pro-



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Werner - Anthicidae 2 17
thorax weakly constricted, almost evenly globular from basal impressed line to collar. Only fringe setae of mesoster- num visible from above. Ca. 2.0 mm. Hispaniola ......... ............................. Anthicus russoi Krekich 8 fifth visible abdominal sternum shallowly dished out on disc, the excavation flanked with some erect setae. Ca. 2.0 mm. Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands .................. Sapintus teapensis (Champion) 8 visible sternum 5 simple. Ca. 2.7 mm. Jamaica ......... ......................... Sapintus similis Werner Each side of prothoracic horn with 3 teeth, the apex about equal to a tooth. Visible abdominal sternum 1 without a pubescence-lined invagination behind each hind coxa. Length ca. 2 mm. Mecynotarsus elegans-group ........ .26 Each side of prothoracic horn with 3-7 teeth, the apex con- siderably broader than any tooth. Visible abdominal sternum 1 with a pubescence-lined invagination behind each coxa. Prothoracic horn with a few ventrolateral pits. Notoxus monodon- group ............................................ 27 Elytra slightly inflated. Pubescence cinereous but with some intermixed ferrugineous scales on disc of pronotum and basal half of elytra; elytra piceous at base, in a postmedian band, and in a large posterior triangular marking on each. Jamaica .............. Mecynotarsus jamaicanus Werner Elytra strongly inflated. Pubescence cinereous, with diffuse slightly darker to pale rufescent markings on disc of pronotum, dull brown on elytra from base along a broad zone to an apical pale cordate mark, and in a feeble slightly postmedian band and subapical band delimiting the cordate mark. Markings very weak in some individuals. Hispaniola ...... ..................... Mecynotarsus hispaniolae, sp. n. 27(25) Dark elytral markings usually including some on sides that curve inward toward suture at apex. Tip of 8 aedeagus trun- cate. Jamaica. .................... Notoxus jamaicus Pic -
Dark elytral markings not including any on sides behind an irregular transverse midband. Tip of 8 aedeagus deeply split. Puerto Rico ............. Notoxus bipunctatus Chevrolat



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218 Psyche [VOI. 90
Measurements are given in 0.01 mm as head: length from vertex to clypeofrontal suture over width across eyes and behind; pro- thorax: length including collar over width at collar, maximum, at constriction, and across base; elytra: length over width at humeri where 45O angle would touch them, and maximum. Total length as given is the sum of head, prothorax and elytra. Anthicus antilleorum, sp. n.
Fig. 9, 19.
2.01-2.24 mm, rufescent, the legs luteous, elytra with a brown midband, the base and an oblique apical mark on each luteous. Head quadrate, antennae moderately thick toward apex; elytra somewhat inflated, even in fully winged individuals. Pubescence moderately short, almost appressed, the tactile setae evident above the setae.
Holotype 3, 2.1 1 mm. Head 39/46,42; eyes 161 13, 32 apart, 16 from base, which is straight, the temporal angles narrowly rounded; sides almost straight behind eyes. Disc slightly flattened, with mod- erately large, deep punctures ca. 3 apart, except on midline of front; pubescence almost appressed, moderately conspicuous. Antennae ca. 77 long, 7 thick at segment 10, segments 7-1 1 forming a feeble club that is thicker than segment 1. Prothorax 47/24,44,32, its sides just perceptibly concave at usual level of constriction; anterolateral portion narrowly curved. Punctures strong, denser than on head, ca. 2 apart. Elytra perceptibly swollen, 1251 53,73; punctures strong, ca. 3 apart; setae 5 long, slightly curved, almost appressed; tactile setae 5, suberect, slightly curved. Legs unmodified. Apical margin of vis- ible abdominal sternum 5 just perceptibly convex. Holotype: 3, CUBA: Baraguh (IV-25-28, at light, C. F. Stahl) in MCZ. Paratypes: CUBA: Baraguh (same data, 6; 11-10-26, L. C. Scaramuzza), Soledad nr. Cienfuegos (Apr. 1936, P. J. D.; V,VI-'39, C. T. Parsons), Cayamas (Mar.-May, E. A. Schwarz), Camagiiey Prov.: Monte Imias nr. California (at light, June 7, 1959, M. W. Sanderson). HISPANIOLA: REP. DOM.: Bani (65m), Boca Chica (lorn), and Ocoa (475m), all J. & S. Klapperich, 1971-73. Paratypes in MCZ, USNM, Base1 Museum and collection of FGW. Not desig- nated as paratypes: JAMAICA: Morant Bay (Chapin and Blackwelder, 4). VIRGIN ISLANDS: Tortola (BVI, Brandywine Bay, J. F. G. Clarke,



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19831 Werner - Anthicidae 219
1). BAHAMA ISLANDS: Cat Island (Bennets Harbour, E. B. Hayden & L. Giovanolli, 2).
The specimens from Jamaica are darker than those from Cuba and Hispaniola, only one of them having the posterior pale elytral mark. The pubescence may be less appressed but the specimens are so abraded that they were identified with difficulty. This species is probably most closely related to A. pauxillus Champion,panamen- sis Werner, and margaritae, sp. n., from Guatemala, Panama, and eastern Venezuela, respectively. The color pattern is similar. The <$ genitalia are similar, but the simple internal sac provides few clues to relationship. A. panamensis has the tegmen step-tapered. Anthicus margaritae, sp. n.
Fig. 8, 20.
1.90-2.20 mm, of form of Anthicuspanamensis Werner and antil- leorum, sp. n., differing from both species in having the head broader behind the eyes and gradually widened to the narrowly rounded temporal angles. Tegmen of <$ genitalia convexly tapered as in antilleorum, but with the apex slightly more pointed. Antero- lateral angles of prothorax quite narrowly rounded, as in the above 2 species, differing mainly in this feature from A. exiguus Champion. Holotype <$, 1.92 mm; head 33/44,40; eyes 161 14, separated by 29,15 from base. Punctures of head ca. 3 apart, on slightly convex disc. Antennae 75 long, 7 thick at segment 10. Prothorax 461 20,42,3 1. Elytra slightly swollen but with very distinct humeri, 1 131 5 1,65. Punctures slightly sparser than on head, intervals smooth and slightly convex; setae ca. 9 long, not quite so decumbent as in antilleorum, tactile setae 9 and erect.
Holotype: 8, VENEZUELA: I. Margarita: Puerto Fermin (12.48, Marcuzzi), in CASC, San Francisco. Paratypes: VENEZUELA: I Mar- garita: Puerto Fermin (same data, lo), Juan Griego (3.48,2). Sucre: Carupan (9.48, 2). I am indebted to K. S. Hagen for the loan of these specimens, and for some additional specimens without labels. Paratypes in CASC and collections of KSH and FGW. Anthicus blackwelderi, sp. n.
Fig. 10, 13, 21.
2.27-2.55 mm, of aspect of a Vacusus species, head truncate, prothorax without a constriction, and elytra subparallel. Jamaican



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220 Psyche [VOI. 90
individuals brown, with slightly paler legs, antennae and palpi. Cuban individuals with pale marking at base and apex of elytra. Moderately coarsely punctured.
Holotype 8, 2.34 mm. Head 441 5 l,47; eyes 191 15, 35 apart, 20 from base, which is truncate with a slight impression at midline, the temporal angles narrowly rounded; disc slightly flattened, smooth, with strong punctures ca. 4 apart except on midline of front; setae decumbent. Antennae ca. 97 long, 7 thick at segment 10, which is slightly longer than thick. Prothorax 491 16,40,3 1, with even punc- tures denser than on head, ca. 2 apart, about as wide as intervals. Elytra 141/56,73, with feeble omoplates, as deeply punctured as head and prothorax, punctures ca. 3 apart; setae decumbent, 8, slightly curved; tactile setae 4, suberect. Underside of thorax with punctures slightly smaller than above; front part of prosternum, anterior to coxae, smooth in front half, with some punctures and suberect setae in back half. First visible abdominal sternum finely punctured, rest punctulate. Visible sternum 5 with its apex gently convex, as in 9; 6 with no indication of even an emargination; last visible tergum shiny, its edge beaded, almost concealed by the ter- gum before it, which is densely short-pubescent and has an almost evenly rounded apex, as in $.
Holotype: 8, JAMAICA: Kingston (no date, Chapin & Black- welder) in USNM. Paratypes: JAMAICA: Kingston (C & B, 4; P J D, l), Morant Bay, Gordon Town, Trinityville, Bath St. Thomas, Blue Mts. (nr. 4500', P.J.D.). Paratypes in USNM, MCZ and FGW col- lection. Not designated paratypes: CUBA: Oriente Prov.: coast below Pico Turquino (1); Soledad nr. Cienfuegos (2). HISPANIOLA: Rep. Dom.: Constanza (IS). The Constanza specimen has very reduced dark elytral markings, with rounded posterior emargination. Even teneral Jamaican specimens have uniformly colored elytra. Anthicus russoi Krekich
Fig. 5, 22.
Anthicus russoi Krekich in Menozzi 1930: 93 (type-locality: Moca, Rep. Domini- cans).
Stricticomus russoi: Bonadona 198 1 : 275. 8, Jarabacoa, 2.20 mm, very smooth, shiny, appearing somewhat glabrous except for long, erect tactile setae; body and basal 36 of elytra pale rufescent (abdomen brown in another specimen); humeri



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I 9831 Werner - Anthicidae 22 1
and apical area of elytra brown. Head semicircular behind eyes; prothorax evenly swollen in profile at level of widest portion. Head 42/45,39; eyes prominent, 171 13, 27 apart, 20 from base. Disc evenly convex, punctures ca. 4 apart, small but distinct on front, very fine behind; setae ca. 1, decumbent, almost invisible, tactile setae erect, 7, fine. Antennae 105 long, 7 thick at segment 10, gradually thickened, with moderately conspicuous suberect curved setae ca. 4 and erect, nearly straight tactile setae ca. 7. Prothorax 471 18,36,25,28; portion anterior to strong basal impressed line almost globular, rising 11 above line from top of base to top of strong collar. Elytra 13 1 / 50,67; humeri well defined, omoplates slightly swollen; postbasal transverse impression well indicated but