Dalotia Casey 1910

Dalotia Casey, 1910a

(Fig. 55 in Yosii & Sawada 1976; Figs. 125–126 in this paper)

Dalotia Casey, 1910a: 106 (as subgenus of Dimetrota; type species: Dimetrota (Dalotia) pectorina Casey, 1910a, by original designation).

Atheta (Dalotia): Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 662 (as synonym of Atheta (Dimetrota)).

(Other references are omitted)

Diagnosis. Dalotia can be recognized by the combination of the following characters: body broad; sensilla a of epipharynx long; antennal article 2 as long as article 3, articles 4– 10 slightly elongate or subquadrate; ligula with narrow base and split apically; labial palpus with setae, and present; ligula with two long setae; hypopharynx with long setae; infraorbicular carina complete, pronotum strongly transverse, with microsetae directed anteriad along the midline; in lateral portions of the disc microsetae directed laterad and obliquely posteriad (Type I, Benick & Lohse 1974); pronotal macrosetae long; pronotal hypomera fully visible in lateral view; medial macroseta of mesotibia strong, longer than tibial width; mesothoracic process narrow; tarsal formula 4­5­5; metatarsal segment 1 as long as segment 2; with one empodial seta, shorter than claws; abdominal terga 3–5 with transverse basal impression; medial lamellae of internal sac present; copulatory piece with pointed apex.

Dalotia differs from Atheta in having its ligula with two long setae (Fig. 125) and long hypopharyngeal setae (Fig. 126).

Discussion. The type species of Dalotia is Dimetrota pectorina Casey, 1910a by original designation. Casey did not specifically state in his description of Dalotia that Dimetrota pectorina was the type species of Dalotia; however, while designating the type species of Noverota Casey, 1910a in the same paper, Casey stated (1910a, p. 90): “The first species may be regarded as the type, as in all other cases where the type is not specifically named”. Dimetrota pectorina is a synonym of the species known as Atheta coriaria (Kraatz, 1856) (see below).

Muona (1979a, 1979b, 1987) pointed out that the species well known under the name Atheta coriaria does not in fact belong to Atheta because of the bisetose glossa and the distinct complex structure of the internal sac of the aedeagus. Because this species occurs in North America (Muona 1979a, 1984) Muona did not propose a new name for the genus which would include this species. He suggested that one of the Casey names might be used when the types of Casey species are revised. My revision of Casey types of Aleocharinae suggests that Dalotia should be the valid name for this genus.