Trogellus (Trogellus) neotropicalis ( Bates, 1886 ) Paulsen, 2013

Paulsen, M. J., 2013, A new genus for the Neotropical species of Aesalus Fabricius, with descriptions of eight new species (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Aesalinae), Insecta Mundi 2013 (325), pp. 1-25 : 10

Trogellus (Trogellus) neotropicalis ( Bates, 1886) , new combination.

Aesalus neotropicalis Bates 1886: 2 , original combination.

Type Material. Lectotype male ( BMNH), here designated, labeled: a) blue-bordered, circular “ SYNTYPE ”; b) “Capetillo, / Guatemala, / G.C. Champion. ”; c) handwritten “AE salus / neotropicalis / Bates”; d) “B.C.A. / 2.2”; e) “Sp. figured.”; f) “ BMNH (E) / #608327”; g) red paper “ Aesalus / neotropicalis / Bates, 1886 [male symbol]/ LECTOTYPE / des. M.J. Paulsen ”.

Paralectotype [male or female symbol] pair (glued on card, BMNH) labeled: a) as lectotype; b) redbordered circular “ TYPE ”; c–e) as b–d of lectotype; f) “H. Bomans det., 1986 / [ Aesalus / neotropicalis / Bates”; g) yellow paper “ Aesalus / neotropicalis / Bates, 1886 [male or female symbol] / PARALECTOTYPES / des. M.J. Paulsen”. Paralectotype [male or female symbol] pair (glued on card, BMNH) labeled as previous pair but without label b. Paralectotype male ( FMNH) labeled: “ Guatemala / City / Champion.”; b) handwritten “ Aesalus / neotropicalis / co-type Bates”; c) ”Chicago Nat Hist Mus / B. Benesh Colln. / Lucanidae (Benesh / Access No._); d) yellow paper “ Aesalus / neotropicalis / Bates, 1886 [male symbol] / PARALECTOTYPE / des. M.J. Paulsen”. Paralectotype female ( CNCI) labeled: a) “ Guatemala / City / Champion.”; b) “B.C.A. / 2.2.”; c) “COTYPE / [8234] / CNCNo. / [ A. neotropicalis / Bates]”; d) [ Aesalus / neotropicalis / Bates] / DET. at B.M. / H. F. Howden ‘62”; e) yellow paper, “ Aesalus / neotropicalis / Bates, 1886 [female symbol]/ PARALECTOTYPE / des. M.J. Paulsen”. All specimens with my determination label: “ Trogellus / neotropicalis / ( Bates, 1886) / det. M.J. Paulsen 2013”.

Description. Lectotype male: Length: 4.1 mm. Width: 2.2 mm. Head: Clypeus triangular with distinctly produced, tooth-like apex. Canthus elongate, length approximately 2× width. Mandibles with external median tooth at angulation. Pronotum: Surface densely punctate, with fine tubercles evident anterolaterally; punctures moderate in size. Elytra: Surface with acute bristles, bristles relatively long (distinctly longer than canthus). Legs: Protibia tridentate, teeth triangular, sharp. Mesotibia with 2 strong, external teeth and acute apex. Metatibia with 1 large median tooth and acute apex. Male genitalia: Parameres 2/5 as long as median lobe. Median lobe more or less symmetrical, cylindrical and tapering before spatulate, less sclerotized apex ( Fig. 20 ).

Variation in other specimens. Length: 3.8–4.2 mm. Width: 2.0– 2.3 mm. Legs: Metatibia with external tooth weaker in females.

Distribution. GUATEMALA: Guatemala (3): Guatemala City. Sacatepéquez (5): Capetillo.

Temporal Distribution. No data (8).

Diagnosis/Remarks. At around 4mm in length, this species is distinctly smaller than most other species of Trogellus . It is immediately recognizable among the Guatemalan species due to its acute elytral bristles and stronger protibial teeth. Bates (1886) indicated that a series was collected by “beating the withered leaves and boughs of fallen forest trees”. No recent specimens have been examined. Maes (1992) included Veracruz, Mexico in this species’ distribution, but that specimen is part of a new species described below, and T. neotropicalis is not known from Mexico.

The lectotype male from the original syntype series in the BMNH has a label indicating that it was the specimen illustrated in the BCA by Bates (1886).

Figures

Figures 18–23. Male genitalia of Trogellus species, dorsal view. 18. T. herrmanni n. sp. 19) T. ticiticus n. sp. 20) T. neotropicalis. 21) T. chapinitus n. sp. 22) T. hawksi n. sp. 23) T. trogoides. The male genitalia of T. maesi n. sp. are unknown.