Aphotaenius gaucho Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello, 2020

Skelley, Paul E. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2020, Review of Aphotaenius Cartwright, 1952 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 74 (2), pp. 389-403 : 398-399

Aphotaenius gaucho Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello , new species

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Figs. 13 , 38–40

Diagnosis. Length 2.5 mm ( Figs. 38–40 ). This species is distinguished by the head lacking the band of coarse punctures posteriorly, all punctures fine, clypeal margin thin and rounded on each side (lacking teeth or angulation) ( Fig. 13 ), pronotal punctures evenly distributed, metaventrite finely punctate, and elytral intervals evenly convex on the disc, eroded on the sides over the declivity. It is known from Brazil ( Rio Grande do Sul).

Description. Body oblong, glossy, piceous black; elytra dark brown. Clypeal apex rounded on each side of wide but shallow median emargination, median edge between angles weakly triangularly flattened upward, margin thin in antero-ventral view, genae small; clypeal surface weakly alutaceous, almost impunctate, vertex (posterior part of head) with punctures small, same size and distribution as on clypeus. Epipharynx not examined. Pronotum convex, posteriorly not lobed at middle, with fine marginal line bearing small punctures; side margin finely reflexed; surface with mixed very fine and moderately coarse punctures throughout, coarse punctures about size of those in elytral striae, coarse punctures lacking over lateral tumosity. Elytra widest at middle, striae strongly punctate-crenate; discal intervals convex with scattered, minute punctures, strongly convex and eroded on sides over declivity. Ventral sclerites glossy, metaventrite smooth with widely scattered fine punctures; abdominal sternites coarsely fluted along sutures and finely punctate; disc of pygidium eroded without median longitudinal carina. Legs moderate in length, metafemur without posterior line, meso- and metatibiae with fine transverse ridges; basal metatarsomere equal in length to upper tibial spur and to next 3 tarsomeres combined. Genitalia not examined.

Material examined. Holotype (gender undetermined) of Aphotaenius gaucho : “ BRASIL: Rio Grande do Sul / Santa Cruz do Sul / Cerro Alegre , open area / (P7) 29° 4801800 S, / 52° 1905500 W, pitfall bovine / feces, 17.xii.2011, R Bohn /”, “/ 122 42480 / Scarabaeid”. Deposited in CEMT .

Etymology. In Brazil, the name ‘gaúcho’ refers to a person from the region (either extreme southern Brazil, or Rio Grande do Sul State) where this species occurs (noun in apposition).

Figures

Figs. 10–13. Aphotaenius species, head to elytral base, oblique frontal view. 10) A. cambeforti; 11) A. plaumanni; 12) A. hamelae, new species; 13) A. gaucho, new species.

Figs. 38–40. Aphotaenius gaucho, new species. 38) Dorsal habitus; 39) Ventral habitus; 40) Lateral habitus.