(Figs. 82–83 in Lohse et al. 1990 (as Boreophilia chillcotti))
Atheta caviceps Blatchley, 1910: 354 (nec Poppius, 1908).
Atheta caviceps: Fenyes, 1920: 227 (as a species of doubtful systematic position; also as preoccupied name).
Atheta (s. str.) caviceps: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 639 (as preoccupied name and synonym of At. blatchleyi).
Atheta (s. str.) blatchleyi Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 639 (replacement name for At. caviceps Blatchley, 1910 (nec Poppius, 1908)).
Atheta (s. str.) caviceps: Moore & Legner, 1975: 355 (as preoccupied name and synonym of At. blatchleyi).
Atheta (s. str.) blatchleyi: Moore & Legner, 1975: 355 (as valid species; misspelled as At. blatchelyi).
Xenota caviceps: Seevers, 1978: 268 (as synonym of X. blatchleyi).
Xenota blatchleyi: Seevers, 1978: 267 (as valid species).
Boreophilia chillcotti Lohse in Lohse et al., 1990: 157, syn. nov.
Type material. Lectotype of Atheta caviceps (here designated): ♂ (with the head and thorax missing), “TYPE” (red label), “Pine Ind.[iana] v:19:07 [19.v.1907]”, “3612. Det. A.Fenyes ”, “Purdue Blatchley collection”, “ Atheta caviceps sp. nov. 5243” (PURC). Paralectotypes: ♀ (with the head and prothorax missing), “ Marshall Co. Ind. [iana] W.S.B. [Blatchley] 52009 [20.v.1909]”, “3616 det. A.Fenyes ”, “Purdue Blatchley collection” (PURC) (The second paralectotype of At. caviceps (♀ (with the head and prothorax missing), “ Marion Co. Ind. [iana] W.S.B. [Blatchley] 51510 [15.v.1910]”, “3616 det. A.Fenyes ”, “Purdue Blatchley collection” (PURC)) is not conspecific with the lectotype).
Holotype of Boreophilia chillcotti: CANADA: Manitoba: ♂, Churchill, 4.vi.1952 (J.G.Chillcott) (CNCI).
Additional material. UNITED STATES: Alaska: 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Kenai Mts., 3 mi. NW Jct. Hwy. 1 & 9, 400’, 18.vi.1978 (Smetana & Becker) (CNCI, KSEM); ♂, Mi. 23 Taylor Hwy., 8.vii.1968 (Campbell & Smetana) (CNCI); 2♂♂, 6♀♀, Mi. 1249 Alaska Hwy., Deadman Lake, 6–7.vii.1968 (Campbell & Smetana) (CNCI, SPSU); ♂, Mi. 1252 Alaska Hwy., 7.vii.1968 (Campbell & Smetana) (CNCI); ♀, Prudhoe Bay Rd., Bonanze Cr., 66º40’N 150º40’W, 900’, 2.vii.1978 (A. Smetana & J.M.Campbell) (CNCI); CANADA: New Brunswick: ♂, Kouchibouguac N.P., 21.ix.1977 (J.M. Campbell) (CNCI); Northwest Territories: ♂, 12♀♀, 5 mi. SE Fort Simpson, 21.vi.1972 (A. Smetana) (CNCI, KSEM, SPSU); Yukon Territory: ♀, Dawson City, 10.vii.1968 (Campbell & Smetana) (CNCI).
Diagnosis. See Lohse et al. 1990.
Discussion. The types of At. caviceps and Boreophilia chillcotti are identical in external characters and in the shape of the aedeagus, including the sclerites of the internal sac.
Atheta blatchleyi has the pronotal setation pattern of Type II. The holotype of Boreophilia chillcotti has damaged setation on the pronotum, and that explains why Lohse (Lohse et al. 1990) could not describe the setation of that species correctly. Based on the pronotal setation pattern and the shape of the aedeagus and spermatheca, this species cannot be placed in Boreophilia. Pending generic revision of Athetini, the species is placed in Atheta.
Distribution. Atheta blatchleyi is a transnearctic species but its distribution is poorly documented. It is known from the United States (Alaska and Indiana) and Canada (Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Manitoba and New Brunswick).