Aphotaenius convexus ( Harold, 1880 )

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 : 396-397

Aphotaenius convexus ( Harold, 1880) Figs. 9 , 26–31

Saprosites convexus Harold 1880: 38–39 ; Schmidt 1922: 408.

Aphotaenius convexus (Harold) ; Stebnicka 1998: 204–205.

Aphotaenius colombiensis Cartwright 1952: 183–184 ; Cartwright 1963: 49; Chalumeau 1983: 4, fig. 3, 6; Stebnicka 1998: 204–205 (synonymy), 2009: 40–41, fig. 56.

Haroldiataenius colombiensis (Cartwright) ; Chalumeau 1983: 2, fig. 3; 3, fig. 6 (lapsus calami).

Diagnosis. Length 3.3–3.9 mm ( Figs. 26–28 ). This species is distinguished by the head with a band of coarse punctures posteriorly, clypeal margin usually thin and rounded on each side (lacking teeth) ( Fig. 9 ), epipharynx with projecting tylus ( Fig. 29 ), pronotal punctures evenly distributed, pronotal posterior margin extended posteriorly and weakly lobelike, metaventrite finely punctate, elytra with evenly convex intervals, and parameres thick to narrowly truncate apex ( Figs. 30–31 ). It is known from Colombia (Antioquia, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Norte de Santander) and Venezuela ( Táchira).

Type. For S. convexus : Von Bogotá, La Luzera und Medellin ( Harold 1880). Deposited in ZMHB ( Stebnicka 1998), not examined. For A. colombiensis : “/ Colombia / Cund 2900m / Guasca / 10- III-1942 /”, “/ Chapin / No 674”, [red paper] “/ Type No. / 59444”, [handwritten] “/ Type / Aphotaenius / colombiensis / Cartw. /”, “/ USNMENT / [QR Code] / 01350550 /” (NMNH, examined).

Material Examined. (n = 40). COLOMBIA: Boyacá: Villa de Leyva , 2,100 m, VII-1999, Vazde-Mello (1 CEMT); Magdalena: Sra. Nev. Sta. Marta, Cerro Kennedy – Vda. Minas, Bosque sec. helechos, 2,450 m, 28-XII-1998, J. A. Noriega, Gradiente Altit. T. pitfall ex. hum. (1 CEMT); Norte de Santander: 12 km S Pamplona , 3,000 m, 9-V-1974, H. & A. Howden (2 CMNC, 3 FSCA); 25 km S Chinácota, 2,300 m, 10-V-1974, H. & A. Howden (1 CMNC); VENEZUELA: Táchira: La Ca~ nada, 3,000 m, 21-VI-1957, C. J. Rosales [H. & A. Howden coll., ex A. Martinez coll.] (14 CMNC, 4 FSCA); Paramo El Zumbador, 40.3 km NE Tariba, 2,420 m, 07° 5802000 N, 72° 0501500 W, 30-V-1998 - 053E, R. Anderson, elfin forest litter (1 CMNC); 50 km NE San Cristóbal, 3,000 m, 17-18-V-1974, H. & A. Howden (3 CMNC); 47 km NE San Cristóbal, 2,600 m, 20-V-1974, H. & A. Howden (6 CMNC); 55 km NE San Cristóbal, 3,300 m, 22-V-1974, H. & A. Howden (3 CMNC, 1 FSCA).

Remarks. Aphotaenius convexus is the largest species in the genus. It is most morphologically similar to A. cambeforti and A. plaumanni .

Figures

Figs. 6–9. Aphotaenius species, head to elytral base, oblique frontal view. 6) A. carolinus; 7) A. howdeni; 8) A. elegans, new species; 9) A. convexus.

Figs. 26–31. Aphotaenius convexus. 26) Dorsal habitus; 27) Ventral habitus; 28) Lateral habitus; 29) Epipharynx; 30–31) Male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views, respectively, scale bars = 0.5 mm.