Ligyrus (Ligyrus) burmeisteri Steinheil, 1874

(Figs. 4D, 5D, 6A, 7E, 8B, E, 15K, 18C, 25H; 36)

Ligyrus burmeisteri Steinheil, 1874: 560 . Original combination.

Male lectotype designated by Endrödi (1969: 65) (MNHN) “ Buenos Aires // Burmeisteri / 5 ♀ Steinh // Ex-Musaeo / E.Steinheil//MUSEUM PARIS / 1952 / COLL. OBERTHUR // Lectotypus / Ligyrus / burmeisteri / Steinh. / Endrody // LECTOTYPE / Tomarus / burmeisteri (Steinheil / 1872) // MNHN / EC4415” Type locality: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Ligyrus distinctus Fairmaire, 1892: 244 . Synonym. Female lectotype designated by Endrödi (1969: 65) (MNHN) “ Ligyrus / distinctus / Jan / Rioja // MUSEUM PARIS / Collection León Fairmaire / 1906 // TYPE // Lectotype / Ligyrus / distinctus / Fairm / Endrody // MNHN / EC6757”. Type locality: La Rioja, Argentina.

Description. Habitus as in Fig. 25H. Length 9.9–13.5 mm; humeral width 5.7–7.5 mm. Color reddish brown. Head: Frons deeply rugopunctate, with large and sparse punctures, nearly smooth on vertex and only with sparse, small punctures. Frontoclypeal region with a carina, narrowly interrupted at middle. Ocular canthus acute; with 8 ventral setae. Clypeal surface rugopunctate to transversely rugose, striae denser than those on frons. Clypeus triangular, base 3 times wider than apex. Clypeal teeth triangular, separated by 1 diameter tooth. Mandible with 2 apical and 1 lateral widely rounded tooth, tooth 1 longer and narrower than tooth 2 (Fig. 5D). Maxilla subrectangular; galea with 5 small teeth (Fig. 4D). Apex of labrum bilobed (Fig. 6A). Interocular distance equal to 3.5 times an eye width. Antennal club very long. Pronotum: Surface with large, sparse punctures. Apex without tubercle or fovea. Elytra: First interval punctate, punctures similar to the other intervals. Inner surface of apex with small transverse tubercles (Fig. 8E) forming about 69 parallel lines. Abdomen: Apex of tergite IV with a diagonal line of 10 transverse, parallel, short carinae (Fig. 8B). Pygidial surface with small to large punctures, denser on base and anterior corners. Strongly (male) to slightly (female) convex in lateral view. Legs: Protibia tridentate; basal tooth slightly distant from others. Protarsus of male simple; inner claw simple. Metatibia slightly contracted at apex. Apex of metatibia entire, with 19–25 spinules. Female genitalia: Subcoxite subrectangular (2 times wider than long). Coxite subquadrate (as long as wide); surface flat. Subcoxite wider and subequal in length to coxite. Male genitalia: Spiculum gastrale thin, apex truncate. Parameres with apical 4th narrowed, without minute spines; lateral ventral teeth long (Figs. 15K, 18C). Internal sac with lamellar spiny belt long (5 times longer than copulatory lamellae); accessory lamella thin and fold.

Diagnosis. Ligyrus burmeisteri can be recognized by the antennal club very long (2 times longer than antennomeres 2–7); clypeus long, strongly contracted towards apex; clypeal teeth triangular, long, and not separated; frontal carina narrowly interrupted at middle; pronotum without tubercle or fovea (Fig. 25H); parameres with apical 4th narrowed, without minute spines; lateral teeth of parameres long (Figs. 15K, 18C).

Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru (Endrödi 1985).

Locality records (Fig. 36). 333 examined specimens from CEIOC, CERPE, FSCA, MNHN, MN/UFRJ, MZUSP, UNSM, USNM, ZMUB. Some records from Neita-Moreno & Ratcliffe (2017). ARGENTINA (768). Buenos Aires (283): Algarrobo; Azul; Bahía Blanca; Buenos Aires; Felipe Sola; Goyena; General Madariaga; Guamini; La Plata; Las Flores Ciudad; Coronel Rosales; Mar del Plata; Mercedes; Olivos; Quequén-Saladón; San Blas; San Fernando; San Isidro; Seis de Septiembre; Sierra de la Ventana, Sauce Grande; Tandil; Trenque Lauquen; Villa Iris. Catamarca (94): Catamarca; Guayamba; La Viña. Chaco (8): Chaco de Santiago; La Represa de los Indios; Resistencia. Chubut (6): Las Chapas; Puerto Madryn. Córdoba (42): Alpa Corral; Alta Gracia; Córdoba; Cosquín; Cruz del Eje; Espinillo; La Carlota; Los Olmos; Mar Chiquita; Río Primero; Santa María; Villa Dolores; Villa Soto. Corrientes (3): Corrientes; San Roque; Santo Tomé. Entre Ríos (1): Conconrdia. Formosa (1): Clorinda. Jujuy (52): Cosquin; El Volcán; Jujuy; Ledesma; Palmar; Parque Nacional Calilegua; San Pedro de Jujuy; Santa Bárbara; Volcán Tilcara; Yuto. La Pampa (20): General Pico; Guatraché; Santa Rosa; Winfredo. La Rioja (15): Jaguey; La Rioja; Patquía; Pozo de Piedra (4 km E Chepes). Mendoza (69): Cerro Guadal; Chacras de Coria-Luján de Cuyo; Mendoza; Moliches; Guaymallen; Rodeo de la Cruz-Guaymallen; San Martín; Santa Rosa. Misiones (10): Concepción Santa María; Loreto; Posadas; San Pedro. Salta (57): Cafayate; Campo Quijano; El Carril; El Corralito; El Naranjo; General Güemes; Guachipas; La Rioja; Rosario de Lerma; Salta; San Lorenzo; San Martín. San Juan (3): Desamparados; San Juan; Sarmiento. San Luís (15): Arizona; San Luís. Santa Fé (12): Reconquista; Rosario; Sancti Spiritu; San Javier; Santo Tomé, Río Salado. Santiago del Estero (16): Río Salado; Robles; Santiago del Estero. Tucumán (61): Estación Gendarmería; San Pedro de Colalao; Tucumán. BOLIVIA (14). Cochabamba (10): Cochabamba. La Paz (1): Murillo. Santa Cruz (1): Ichilo, Calacoto. Imprecise data (2): Bolivia. BRAZIL (77). Distrito Federal (1): Brasilia. Mina Gerais (18): Lambary; São Joao da Lagoa; Vila Monteverde. Rio de Janeiro (24): Itatiaia; Miguel Pereira; Rio de Janeiro. Santa Catarina (6): Corupa; Mafra; Rio Vermelho; São Bento. São Paulo (28): Alto de Pirra; Barueri; Cantareira; Itu, Fazenda Pau d’ Alho; Lageado; Porto Flor; Santo Amaro; São Paulo. PARAGUAY (1). Caaguazú (1): Estancia Primera. URUGUAY (22). Maldonado (1): Punta Ballena. Montevideo (8): Colón; Montevideo; Río Uruguay .

Natural history. In Bolivia, L. burmeisteri larvae are abundant in humus and peaty soils in the wetter regions, such as the highlands of Cochabamba, where they infest potatoes (Squire 1972). The adults are attracted to lights during the summer and are found in dry to wet habitats (Neita-Moreno & Ratcliffe 2017).