Correction on the status of Nematodes pavidus Horn, 1886 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Dromaeolinae: Dromaeolini), with redescriptions of two species from the southeastern United States and the Caribbean

Abstract

The status of Nematodes pavidus Horn (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), in relation with Nematodes punctatus LeConte and Nematodes teres Horn is being questioned after Muona (2000) revised the family in the Nearctic region. Investigations into the status of N. pavidus included explorations of the histories among these three species and examining images of the types through the Museum of Comparative Zoology’s website. It has been confirmed that Muona erred by synonymizing N. pavidus with N. teres before transferring both N. punctatus and N. teres to Dromaeolus Kiesenwetter. A correction has been made by transferring N. pavidus from N. teres and placing it as a new synonym of N. punctatus. Otto et al. (2023) transferred N. teres to their new group, Absensiugum Otto, Muona and Córdoba-Alfaro, after a related, undescribed species had been detected in Costa Rica. Observed external morphologies of N. punctatus contradict known group character states present in Dromaeolus, particularly the lateral antennal grooves. Upon comparisons between N. punctatus in relation with other similar species within the tribe, the eucnemid shares similar external morphologies with those assigned to Plesiofornax Cocquerel and has been transferred to the group thereby creating a new name, Plesiofornax punctata (LeConte) new combination. Both A. teres and P. punctata are redescribed and imaged for both sexes.