Aphotaenius howdeni Cartwright, 1963

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 : 400-401

Aphotaenius howdeni Cartwright, 1963

Figs. 7 , 44–49

Aphotaenius howdeni Cartwright 1963: 51 , fig. 5; Chalumeau 1983: 4, fig. 5; Stebnicka 2009: 41, fig. 57.

Diagnosis. Length 2.9–3.3 mm ( Figs. 44–46 ). This species is distinguished by the head with a band of coarse punctures posteriorly, clypeal margin thin and strongly dentate on each side ( Fig. 7 ), epipharynx with tylus not projecting ( Fig. 47 ), pronotal punctures evenly distributed, metaventrite with coarse, foveate punctures, elytra with carinately convex intervals laterally and apically, elytral stria I with basal punctures encroaching upon intervals, and parameres thick to broadly truncate apex ( Figs. 48–49 ). It is known from northeastern Mexico ( Nuevo León, Tamaulipas).

Type. “ Chipinque Mesa / Monterrey, N. L. / MEX. VII 26-29 / 1960 H. F. Howden // HOLOTYPE / Aphotaenius / howdeni / Cartwright // HOLOTYPE CNCNo. 8544”. Deposited in CNIC, examined .

Material Examined. (n = 18) MEXICO: Nuevo León: Chipinque Mesa, Monterrey, 26-29-VII-1960, H. F. Howden ( 1 paratype CMNC, 5 paratypes CNIC); same locality, 24-26-VII-1960, H. F. Howden ( 1 paratype CNIC); same locality, 5,400 ft. [ 1,646 m], 22-VI-1969, S. & J. Peck, forest litter, Berl 64 (4 CMNC, 2 EGRC, 1 FSCA); 25 km SW Linares, 24.7507, -99.7656, 650 m, 17-24-III-1991, R. Brooks & R. Leschen #43, ex. flight intercept trap (2 SEMC); 29 km W Linares, S Rosa Canyon, 700 m, 3-5-VI-1983, S. & J. Peck, oak & thorn forest, carrion traps (1 CMNC). Tamaulipas: Gómez Farias, Rancho del Cielo , 3,700 ft. [ 1,128 m], 1-4- VII-1969, S. & J. Peck, cloud forest (1 CMNC).

Remarks. Aphotaenius howdeni is similar to A. carolinus , being subtly different in the diagnostic characters. Their isolated distribution is the best character for identification, and because of this isolation we retain them as separate species. More material and more detailed analysis may alter this taxonomic hypothesis in the future.

If A. howdeni , like A. carolinus , feeds on dung in areas with eastern deciduous forests, we would expect it to occur in other regions of Mexico, at higher elevations, where these forest remnants occur.

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. 44–49. Aphotaenius howdeni. 44) Dorsal habitus; 45) Ventral habitus; 46) Lateral habitus; 47) Epipharynx; 48–49) Male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views, respectively, scale bars = 0.5 mm.