Four new species of the genus Anillinus Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anillini) from Alabama, U.S.A., with a revised key to the Alabama species

Authors: Anzaldo, Salvatore - Sal

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2020
Publication Date: 7/3/2020
Citation: Sokolov, I.M. 2020. Four new species of the genus Anillinus Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anillini) from Alabama, U.S.A., with a revised key to the Alabama species. Zootaxa. 4808(3):547-559.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4808.3.9

Interpretive Summary: Ground beetles are among insects important for U.S. agriculture. Many are predators of exotic pests that can be used as biological control agents while some are serious pests themselves destroying valuable crops costing millions of dollars annually. This work documents a discovery of a ground beetle species previously unknown to science. The species is described, illustrated and compared to known species of the genus. The study will be useful to biological control workers, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and anyone interested in predatory beetles.

Technical Abstract: Four new species of anilline ground beetles are described from Alabama. Two species from Jackson County, Anillinus clinei, new species, and Anillinus folkertsioides, new species, are troglobitic and litter species, respectively. Anillinus hildebrandti, new species, is a troglobitic species from a cave in Morgan County. Anillinus humicolus, new species, from Jefferson County is supposedly an endogean species. All new species are illustrated with images and drawings; a distribution map and a modified key to the Alabama species are provided. With these new discoveries, the known fauna of Anillinus of Alabama now includes twelve species. Species compositions of Anillinus based on habitat preferences of taxa satisfactorily explain the variations in total species numbers and number of endemics among Alabama and other eastern American states.