Abstract
We clarify the diagnosis and geographic distribution of the widespread, variable eastern coastal species Languria taedataLeConte, 1854, in North America. After examining types and the range of variation and geographical distribution of thespecies, we propose synonymy of L. erythrocephalus Blatchley, 1924, with L. taedata, new synonymy. We report the dis-covery of an all-piceous form (“Form C”), the first of the genus, found primarily along the western Gulf Coast of the Unit-ed States. The recognition of this form requires a modification to the most recent key to North American genera ofLanguriinae. The larvae of L. taedata feed within the stems of Spartina alterniflora Loisel (Poaceae). We provide addi-tional notes on the occurrence of L. taedata in coastal marshes in Louisiana. The types of L. apicalis Motschulsky, L. ni-griceps Motschulsky, L. obscura Motschulsky, and L. rufiventris are reexamined. A revised synonymic checklist is provided for North American Languriini.References
Arnett, R.H., Jr., Samuelson, G.A. & Nishida, G.N. (1993) The insect and spider collections of the world (second edition). Flora and Fauna Handbook No. 11. Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, FL. 310 pp.
Blatchley, W.S. (1924) New Coleoptera from southern Florida with notes on other interesting species. The Canadian Entomologist, 56, 164–170.
Evenhuis, N.L. (2011) Abbreviations for insect and spider collections of the world. <http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/codens/codens-inst.html>. Last accessed 30 June 2011.
Fall, H.C. (1901) List of the Coleoptera of southern California, with notes on habits and distribution and descriptions of new species. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, 8, 1–282.
Genung, W.G., Woodruff, R.E. & Grissell, E.E. (1980) Languria erythrocephalus: host plants, immature stages, parasites, and habits (Coleoptera: Languriidae). Florida Entomologist, 63, 206–210.
Gimmel, M.L. & Carlton, C.E. (2008) The identity of Languria femoralis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languriinae). Zootaxa, 1821, 67–68.
Lawrence, J.F. & Vaurie, P. (1983) A Catalog of the Coleoptera of America North of Mexico. Family: Languriidae. Fascicle 529-92. USDA-ARS, Washington, DC. x + 14 pp.
LeConte, J.L. (1854) Synopsis of the Erotylidae of the United States. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 7, 158–163.
Leschen, R.A.B. (2003) Erotylidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cucujoidea): phylogeny and review. Fauna of New Zealand. Number 47. Manaaki Whenua: Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Leschen, R.A.B. & Skelley, P.E. (2002) Family 86. Languriidae. In: Arnett, R.H., Jr., M.C. Thomas, P.E. Skelley, & J.H. Frank (eds.). American Beetles, Vol. 2: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 343–347.
Leschen, R.A.B. & Węgrzynowicz, P. (1998) Generic catalogue and taxonomic status of Languriidae (Cucujoidea). Annales Zoologici, 48, 221–243.
Martins, U.R. & Pereira, F.S. (1965) Revisão dos Languriinae Neotropicais (Coleoptera, Languriidae). Arquivos de Zoologia, 13, 139–300.
Motschulsky, V. de (1860) Coléoptères rapportés de la Sibérie orientale et notamment des pays situées sur les bords du fleuve Amour. In: Schrenck, P.L. Reisen und Forschungen im Amur-Lande. Band II. Zweite Lieferung. Coleopteren. Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, St. Petersburg, pp. 77–257.
Schaeffer, C. (1904) New genera and species of Coleoptera. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 12, 197–236.
Vaurie, P. (1948) Review of the North American Languriidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 92, 119–156.
Vaurie, P. (1974) Synonymy in Acropteroxys gracilis Newman (Coleoptera, Languriidae, Languriinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 28, 108.