Research Article |
Corresponding author: Igor M. Sokolov ( igbembi@yahoo.com ) Academic editor: Thomas Philips
© 2021 Igor M. Sokolov, Kyle E. Schnepp.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Sokolov IM, Schnepp KE (2021) A new subterranean species of Anillinus Casey (Carabidae, Trechinae, Anillini) from Florida. Subterranean Biology 39: 33-44. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.39.65769
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A new species of blind subterranean ground beetle in the genus Anillinus Casey is described from Florida. Anillinus albrittonorum sp. nov. (type locality: 6 miles NW High Springs, Columbia County, Florida) has a unique structure of female genitalia and occupies an isolated position within the genus. This new species is illustrated with images of the habitus, body parts, and male and female genitalia. Relationships of A. albrittonorum to other members of the genus are discussed.
Column trap, distribution, new species, soil fauna
The genus Anillinus Casey is one of the most speciose North American genera of blind coleopterans. It currently includes more than 55 species, distributed across the eastern and central parts of the United States (
It appears that these two Floridian species of Anillinus are only a part of the anilline fauna of the state. One explanation for the low number of species recorded from Florida, in addition to climatic, ecological, and physiographic factors, could be insufficient sampling of the appropriate habitat. A recent investigation of soil fauna conducted in the state resulted in the collection of a series of anilline specimens, which, after examination, proved to be a new species of Anillinus. The description of this new species forms the major content of this paper.
This study is based on the examination of 23 specimens of Anillinus collected near High Springs in Florida. Type material of Anillinus albrittonorum is deposited in the following collections:
KESC Kyle E. Schnepp Collection, Gainesville, FL, USA;
Terms used in this paper follow
Extractions and processing of genitalia were made using standard techniques as described by
Photographs of the external features of specimens were taken with a Macropod Pro photomacrography system (Macroscopic Solutions, LLC). Digital images of genitalia were taken with a Nikon Eclipse Ni-U light microscope supplied with DS-Fi2 camera and DS-LR3 camera control unit.
All specimens were measured using tpsDig 2.17 (
ABL apparent body length, from clypeus to apex of elytra;
WH width of head at level of first orbital setae;
WPm maximum width across pronotum;
WPa width across anterior angles of pronotum;
WPp width across posterior angles of pronotum;
LP length of pronotum from base to apex along the midline;
WE width of elytra at level of 2nd discal seta;
LE length of the elytra, from the apex of the scutellum to the apex of the left elytron.
Apparent body length (ABL) measurements are given in mm, others are presented as ratios: mean widths – WH/WPm and WPm/WE; body parts – WPa/WPp, WPm/WPp, WPm/LP, WE/LE, LP/LE, LE/ABL, and WE/ABL. All values are given as the mean ± standard deviation.
Family Carabidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Trechinae Bonelli, 1810
Anillinus Casey, 1918: 167. Type species: Anillus (Anillinus) carolinae Casey, 1918, by original designation.
Micranillodes
Jeannel, 1963a: 57. Synonymy established by
Troglanillus
Jeannel, 1963b: 147. Synonymy established by
Holotype
: male (
Paratypes
(22 specimens). Same data as holotype [1 male,
This species is named in honor of the Albritton family, Matthew, Pam, Rowan, and Henry, whose interest and assistance in collecting brought about the discovery of this beetle.
USA, Florida, Columbia County, 6 miles northwest High Springs, 29.8674°N, 82.6664°W (Figs
Adults of A. albrittonorum can be distinguished from both Florida species of Anillinus by its subparallel, elongate, only slightly convex habitus. Anillinus kovariki and A. dohrni belong to the group of species with ovoid and convex habitus (cf. description of A. dohrni “Testaceus, robustus ovatus supra convexus…”,
Moderate-sized for the genus (ABL 1.56–1.92 mm, mean 1.71±0.094 mm, n = 17). Males (ABL 1.70–1.92 mm, mean 1.78±0.098 mm, n = 5) slightly larger than females (ABL 1.56–1.88 mm, mean 1.69±0.082 mm, n = 12).
Habitus
: Body form (Fig.
Integument
: Body color brunneo-rufous, appendages testaceous. Microsculpture (Fig.
Prothorax
: Pronotum (Fig.
Scutellum : Externally visible, triangular, with pointed apex.
Elytra : Slightly convex, of average length (LE/ABL 0.58±0.006) and width (WE/LE 0.57±0.011) for the genus, with traces of 5–6 striae. Humeri distinct, rounded, in outline forming an obtuse angle with longitudinal axis of body. Lateral margins subparallel in middle, slightly convergent at basal fifth, evenly rounded to apex at apical third, with shallow subapical sinuation. Basal margination distinct.
Legs : Protarsi of male with moderately dilated tarsomere I. Profemora moderately swollen.
Males with metafemora modified; each bearing a small projection with small tubercles at posterior margin. Females metafemora unmodified.
Male genitalia
: Median lobe (Fig.
Digital images of male and female genitalia of Anillinus albrittonorum sp. nov. (6 mi NW High Springs, Columbia County, Florida). Male genitalia: A median lobe, right lateral aspect; apex to upper left and basal bulb to lower right B left paramere, left lateral aspect C right paramere, right lateral aspect. Female genitalia: D ovipositor sclerites E spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.
Female genitalia
: Spermatheca (Fig.
This species is known only from the type locality in the High Springs area of Columbia County, Florida (Fig.
All specimens of this species were collected from deep sand soil using underground column pitfalls. The underground traps used are comprised of ½ inch hardware cloth tied into a cylinder with PVC plastic pipe on each end. Each section of pipe is 10 inches in length and the hardware cloth is two feet long. The cloth overlaps with each pipe approximately 2 inches, resulting in a trapping length of 20 inches. The effective trapping depth is from 10 inches to 30 inches below the soil surface. A plug of soil the size of the trap is removed from the ground and the trap installed in the hole. A jar containing propylene glycol with a funnel on top the same diameter as the pipe is lowered to the bottom and is used to collect and preserve insects burrowing through the sand. These traps were placed in an area of deep sand on the north end of the northern Brooksville ridge, one of many “islands” of elevated karst and sand that cover Florida. There are numerous ridge systems in Florida, generally running north to south, that were beach dunes formed by past fluctuations in ocean levels (
The new species belongs to group VII of the endogean Anillus species (
This new finding increases to three the total number of Anillinus species recorded from Florida. Thus, in relation to anilline diversity, Florida occupies the third position among the Gulf States (after Alabama and Texas), and several considerations suggest that additional new species remain to be discovered in the state.
The Florida peninsula has a rather complicated geological history, involving changing ocean levels, isolation from other areas, and the indirect impact of glaciation with periodic multiple marine transgressions, and fluvial and rainfall erosion (
We greatly appreciate valuable help with digital imaging provided by Alex S. Konstantinov (Systematic Entomology Laboratory-USDA, Washington, DC, USA). Assistance with map making was provided by Matthew Albritton (Office of Agriculture Technology Services-FDACS, Alachua, FL, USA) and assistance in the field was provided by Krystal Ashman (DPI-FDACS, Gainesville, FL, USA). Curt Harden provided useful discussions early in this project. Paul Skelley (DPI-FDACS, Gainesville, FL, USA) provided constructive comments on the manuscript. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Plant Industry is thanked for their support on this contribution.
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