Pseudomorpha huachinera

Diagnosis
Color tone of dorsum castaneous and uniform; body rectangulate, lateral margins of elytra parallel, slightly tapering to an apically truncated and laterally slightly rounded apex; dorsum mostly glabrous with irregularly and wide-spaced short erect setae; pronotum with lateral margins broadly explanate, disc convex and medially planar; elytral interneurs and intervals nearly effaced, faint zig-zag interneurs apparent under high magnification, 10 umbilicate setae present near lateral margin, dorsal edge of epipleuron lined with long laterally erect setae.

Description
Size: Medium to large for genus, ABL = 5.9 to 6.4 mm, SBL = 5.9 to 6.4 mm, TW = 4.8 to 5.0 mm. Preocular lobe-eye ratio 0.63 to 0.69. Pronotum ratio (L/W): 0.27 to 0.31. Elytron ratio (L/W): 1.6 to 1.7. Color: Dorsum castaneous, explanate margins of pronotum and elytra slightly translucent. Luster: Dorsum dull, slightly matte. Microsculpture: Small isodiametric sculpticells throughout dorsal surface. Head: Genal lobe obsolete, rim posteriad and below eye bearing at least five robust setae directed perpendicular to head; preocular lobe distinct and slightly arching (Fig. 7); eye barely exceeding preocular lobe/gena boundary, barely arcuate; clypeus fused to frons with pigmented furrow slightly effaced medially, bisetose, setae laterad on margin; labrum with four setae projecting anteriorly (Fig. 7); antennal flagellum markedly setose, antennomeres 1-3 bisetose. Prothorax: Pronotum mostly glabrous with irregularly and wide-spaced short erect setae, apex slightly rounded medially and narrower than ocular boundary, disk markedly convex and medially planar, width coequal to or slightly wider than elytra across humeri, base and apex fringed with more or less evenly spaced setae, pigmented median line ending about ¾ before basal margin, lateral margins of pronotum with wide explanate sides, anterior angle 72.06°; prosternal apex fringed with short, evenly spaced setae. Pterothorax: Scutellum visible, small, triangulate with slightly rounded lateral margins; elytra smooth, interneurs nearly effaced, markedly zig-zagged under high magnification, lateral margin slightly sinuate at basal third, 10 umbilicate erect setae on the ventrally directed curvature of the elytral lateral portion (Fig. 1). Abdomen: All sterna sparsely setiferous, sternum III densely so; male sternum IV with broad median dense row of posteriorly decumbent setae, sternum VII with two pair of two setae each along posterior edge; female with 2 pairs of 4 setae on sternum, and numerous longer setae on sterna IV, V, and VI. Legs: Legs flattened, setiferous, tibia bearing fringed ring of setae on distal end, femur with distinct lateral sulcus, femora and tibia sparsely setose. Male Genitalia: (Fig. 13) Basal orifice hooded by phallobase, orifice recessed and small, phalloshaft arching, shaft narrows toward apex and slightly constricted at apical third; parameres co-equal in length, with the left paramere only slightly longer than right, both asetose; apical orifice small, about 1/5 the length of shaft. Female Genitalia: Not investigated.

Holotype. México. Sonora, Nacori Chico, 86.2 km NE Arroyo El Cocono, Sierra Huachinera, 30.044°N, 108.537°W, 1660m, 7–8 August 1982 (G.E. Ball) (NMNH: ADP110112, female). Paratypes are listed below; see other specimens examined.

Derivation of scientific epithet. The epithet “huachinera” is a singular feminine noun used in apposition and refers to the name of the mountain range in which these beetles were collected. The area was once the home of the Ópata Amerindians until the Spanish missionary Cristóbal García founded the town of Juan Evangelista de Huachinera in 1645.

Distribution
México, Sonora, Yécora, 16 km NW Rancho Aguajia, and 2 km S Old Hwy, 28.403°N, 109.094°W, 1311m, 28–29 July 1987 (S. McCleve) (CAS: 8111009, male paratype). USA, Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Pajarito Mountains, Pena Blanca Canyon, 31.386°N, 111.093°W, 1191m, 2 July 1980 (S. McCleve) (UATC: ADP110961, male paratype), Pajarito Mountains, Peña Blanca, 31.409°N, 111.085°W, 1283m, 15 August 1964 (R.H. Arnett Jr.) (FSCA: ADP112631, female paratype). Lower Ida Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, USA June 12, 2018

Geographic distribution. This species is currently known from Arizona and northern México.

Biology
Dispersal potential. These beetles are macropterous and have been recorded at lights, they are capable of flight; they are swift and agile runners. Accordingly, the species may be expected to be more broadly distributed across a wider geographical range than current records indicate.

Way of life. Adults are likely found in ant nests and the surrounding vicinity; females are ovoviviparous (Liebherr and Kavanaugh 1985); larvae are ant nest inquilines (Erwin 1981). Members of Pseudomorpha huachinera occur at midland and upland altitudes in between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts in the riparian vegetation zones and in oak-pine forests. Adults are active in July– August, very hot months in this area.