Agathidium mexicanum Hendrichs, 1979: Types rediscovered

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Biodiversity of Mexico

Background:

• Agathidium mexicanum is the only species of Leiodidae described by a Mexican entomologist, Jorge Hendrichs.
• Hendrichs, an amateur coleopterist, amassed a substantial beetle collection of 18,400 specimens.
• Most of Hendrichs' collection is housed at the Instituto de Biología, UNAM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the description and type locality of Agathidium mexicanum.
• To highlight the contribution of Jorge Hendrichs to Mexican entomology.

Main Methods:

• Review of the original description of Agathidium mexicanum by Hendrichs (1979).
• Examination of collection data for type specimens.

Main Results:

• Agathidium mexicanum was described by Jorge Hendrichs in 1979.
• Type specimens were collected in Estado de Mexico and Distrito Federal (now Ciudad de México), with the type locality being Cerro Tlaloc, Estado de México.
• The type series consists of 13 specimens: 1 holotype (male), 1 allotype (female), and 11 paratypes (6 males, 5 females).

Conclusions:

• Agathidium mexicanum represents a unique contribution to the study of Mexican Leiodidae.
• The legacy of Jorge Hendrichs' amateur entomological work is preserved in scientific collections and publications.