Alaudes setigera

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Alaudes setigera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Beetle
Suborder: Polyphaga
Family: Tenebrionidae
Genus: Alaudes
Species: A. setigera
Binomial name
Alaudes setigera
Blaisdell, 1919

Diagnosis

Lateral aspect of pronotum with short, clavate setae. Elytral setae slender and hair-like throughout, occasionally varying to feebly clavate-lanceolate, especially toward the sides and apex (Fig. 9C); setae uniform in length, vestiture always muchlonger than twice width,length of longest setae equal to or shorter than apical two antennomeres combined; punctures deep, well defined, distance between punctures about equal to size of puncture. Parameres (Fig. 2B) longer than basal piece; basal piece slightly broader than parameres, curved basally. Parameres gradually curved basally.

Description

Elytral setae uniform in length, occasionally feebly clavate-lanceolate, especially toward the sides and apex, length of longest setae equal to or shorter than apical 2 antennomeres combined; punctures deep, well-defined, distance between punctures equal to or less than size of puncture.

Distribution

Distribution.Widespread in central and southern California, western Nevada, southern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.

Biology

Collection Data.Some specimens were collected directly with ants in the genera Crematogaster Lund and Pheidole Westwood. Specimens were also berlesed or sifted from duff of manzanita, Ceanothus, oak, and pine. Collected in pitfall traps in the following habitats:Sand Wash-creosote-Paloverde, cheesebush and quail bush area,“in Joshua tree”,“at base of Opuntia parryi [Englmn.]”, “Ephestia soil hibernac”, “hillside coastal sage scrub”, “Oak Manzanita”, “Chaparral Scrub”, “sage brush”, “rockyhillside”, “on sand under cliffs with swallow nests”, “Artemesia tridentata Nutt.”, “Atriplex [L.]Franseria [5Ambrosia L.]”, bigcone Douglas fir, “moss under shrubs”, “Rhamnus [L.] sp.”. Also found crawling on sand dunes at night. Elevation range 125–2,200 m.

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