Neaneflus fuchsii

Neaneflus fuchsii (Wickham)

(Fig. 18)

Elaphidion fuchsii Wickham 1905: 170.

Diagnosis. Length 17–20 mm, pronotum averages 0.95 times longer than wide, elytra together average 2.81 times longer than wide (Fig. 18a, c, d). Integument rufous (in most California specimens) to brunneous (most Texas specimens) (Fig. 18). Antennae weakly or not carinate (Fig. 18); antennomeres with vestiture of very short, uniform, dense setae (long setae nearly absent); middle and outer antennomeres expanded apicolaterally, very strongly so in females. Spine of third antennomere shorter than second antennomere, projecting away from antennal plane by less than 20 degrees, acute at apex; fourth antennomere usually lacking a spine or dentiform. Antennae of males extending nearly to elytral apex (Fig. 18a, d); of females, extending just beyond elytral midpoint (Fig. 18c). Pronotum broadly but weakly rounded at sides, broader or as broad as long; with dense punctures slightly obscured by pubescence; narrow medial to slightly posteromedial, shiny, impunctate callus usually present (Fig. 18). Elytral apices rounded apicolaterally to broad, subspiniform suture (sutural spine nearly length of second antennomere). Elytral pubescence moderately dense, with mostly recumbent, recurved setae. Procoxal cavities widely open by about twice the width of rounded, nearly unexpanded prosternal process (Fig. 18g, h). Protibia slender, gradually widening apically with the dorsal margin straight and non-carinate.

Discussion. This species, like N. opacicornis, is recognized by the antennae with a very short vestiture of pubescence with long setae nearly absent, combined with strongly expanded middle and apical antennomeres (moreso in females) (Fig. 18f), unexpanded and rounded prosternal process (Fig. 18g, h), and short and broad proportions of the elytra and pronotum (Fig. 18 a-d). Examination of two female specimens shows pronounced sexual dimorphism of the antennae, with most antennomeres being strongly apicolaterally expanded (Fig. 18f). The antennae are much shorter in females and barely attain the apical third of the elytra, while in males, the antennae extend beyond the elytral apices by about 1–2 antennomeres. This level of sexual dimorphism has not been seen in Aneflomorpha or related Elaphidiini.

Distribution and biology. The range of this desert species was listed in Linsley (1963) as “southern Utah and Arizona to southeastern California ”. With additional material from the Big Bend region of Texas herein assigned to this species, the range is expanded to western Texas. Thus, the range includes the Mojave and Chihuahuan Deserts, but its presence in the Sonoran Desert has not been documented. In addition to the wide geographic range of this species, it has a broad host range as well that apparently exploits both dead and living plants in the Rosaceae and Solanaceae. Swift (2008) reared N. fuchsii from dead branches of Lycium cooperi A. Gray in Los Angeles County, California. Heffern et al. (2018) reared it from living stems of Prunus fasciculata (Torr.) A. Gray in San Bernardino County, California.

Material examined. USA: California: Independence, July 17, Wickham Collection (holotype, USNM); Joshua Tree National Monument, Pinyon Wells, 20 July 1968, E. L. Sleeper (SWLC); Los Angeles Co., Big Pines, Wrightwood, 16 July 1966, M. E. Thompson (TAMU); Orange Co., Back Bay, 24 October 1964, S. Gilbert (TAMU); Texas: Brewster Co., Black Gap WMA, 2 July 2016, J.E. Wappes, coll. (FSCA); Presidio Co., Big Bend Ranch State Park, Leyva Campground, uv light, 29.4766°, −103.9461°, 17 July 2021, E. Riley (10, DJHC; 1, SWLC); Presidio Co., Big Bend Ranch State Park, Leyva Campground, uv light, 29.4766°N, 103.9461°W, 16–17 July 2021, E. G. Riley (7, EGRC).

Identification Key to Neaneflus Species

1. Elytral suture subspiniform (spine nearly length of second antennomere). Prosternal process rounded at apex (Fig. 18g, h). Most specimens greater than 17 mm long. California specimens usually rufous to light testaceous (Fig. 18d, e); Texas specimens usually dark testaceous to brunneous (Fig. 18 ac). Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona and Chihuahuan Desert of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico ................................ Neaneflus fuchsii (Wickham)

— Elytral suture dentiform (projection much shorter than second antennomere). Prosternal process transverse at apex (Fig. 17g, h). Most specimens shorter than 17 mm long. Dark rufous to light brunneous integument (Fig. 17e, f). Known only from Chihuahuan Desert of southwest Texas and eastern New Mexico .................................................. Neaneflus opacicornis (Linsley)