Spasalus crenatus (MacLeay, 1819)

(Fig. 19)

Type locality. Demerara (= Guyana).

Diagnosis. 17.4–20.0 mm total length. Clypeus hidden below frons, not visible dorsally, with anterior angles well developed. Frons border with a notch and without secondary medio-frontal tubercles. Frontal fossae glabrous. Medio-frontal tubercles developed, not joined to interior tubercles by a ridge. Internal tubercles as large as mediofrontal tubercles. Central tubercle with apex not free; latero-posterior tubercles small but marked. Antennal club with five long lamellae. Apex of lacinia unidentate. Mentum with medial base protruding and glabrous. Prosternal process rhomboidal, acute. Mesosternum glabrous with elongate and marked scars. Antero-lateral metasternum and lateral groove glabrous, disc delimited by punctures from posterior to middle. Humeri glabrous and epipleura with sparse setae basally.

Material examined. 90 specimens. DOMINICA: St. Andrew, 3.VIII.73, Camb., leg., Paxillus puncticollis Lepeletiere et Serville (5 IEXA); St. George Parish, Roseau botanical garden, 18.VI.2004, R. Turnbow, Spasalus Det.: J.C.S., Spasalus crenatus (MacLeay, 1819) Det.: Jiménez-Ferbans, 2012 (1 UVGC). GRENADA, Grand Etang, 12.I.1969, col. R.T. Bell (1 IEXA). GUADELOUPE: Grand-Matouba, 30.VI.1971, col. L. Gruner (24 IEXA); Neuf-Chateau, Sainte Marie, 1.VIII.1971, col. L. Gruner (14 IEXA); same locality and collector, 1.VIII.1971 (2 IEXA). MARTINIQUE: Morne de Golet, 11.8.1975, Spasalus crenatus (MacLeay) det. 1998 A. R. Gillogly (4♀♀ IEXA). PUERTO RICO: El Verde Field Sta. El Verde, P.R. V-18-70. R. Laviane// Under bark of log// Paxillus crenatus MacLeay. Det.: R. Lavigne 1970 (2 IEXA); Humacao Dist., Casa Cabuy, Hwy. 191 nr. Florida, 31.VII-2.VIII.1999. J.E. Eger (1 IEXA); Jayuya. 5-III-64, col. G. Halffter (7 IEXA); Lares, 5.IV.47. coll. J.N.A. (1 IEXA); Las Marías, IX, 1940. Mendez (1 IEXA); Luquillo. Exp. Forest, El Verde Station, ex decaying log, 500 m, 4.I.1988, col. J. B. Wallace (8 IEXA); Ponce Rd. 10 Km 24, inside decayed log 600 m, 2.I.1977, J. Micheli, Paxillus puncticolis (6 IEXA); same data as before, 3.I.1977, (7 IEXA); same data as before Km 21, 11.IX.1976 (5 IEXA). SAINT LUCIA: Thomazo, 12.IV.1978, Fc. & Camberfort (1 IEXA).

Distribution. Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Virgin Islands (Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978; Ivie & Gillogly 1998; Peck 2006, 2009; Galindo-Cardona 2003; Galindo-Cardona et al. 2007). Widespread in South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Suriname (Reyes-Castillo 1973).

Comments. Luederwaldt (1931) and Ivie & Gillogly (1998) recorded this species from Cuba, but we have never seen specimens from this island. Galindo-Cardona (2003) comments that S. cretaus is the only Passalidae in Puerto Rico. Chalumeau & Gruner (1974) noted that it has been collected in rotting logs of Bursera icica (Burseraceae).