Aphengium cupreum Shipp 1897

Silva, Fernando A. B. & Vaz-De-Mello, Fernando, 2015, A revision of the genus Aphengium Harold, 1868 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Ateuchini), Zootaxa 3955 (4), pp. 505-520 : 509-510

Aphengium cupreum Shipp 1897

( Figs 13–18 , 32 , 36 , 38, 41)

Aphengium cupreum Shipp 1897: 187 (original description)

Diagnosis. Male of A. cupreum is readily distinguishable from all other Aphengium species by the following character: dorsal surface of head with foveiform punctures separated by distance equivalent to at least two times puncture diameter along most of midline ( Fig. 15 ). Furthermore, the aedeagus and fronto-lateral peripheral sclerite (FLP) are unique among Aphengium species ( Figs. 32 , 38). Female can be immediately distinguished by the combination of two characters: punctures on dorsal surface of head usually contiguous ( Fig. 16 ); central and anterior portions of head with rugose surface ( Fig. 16 ).

Description. Length. Small (7–8 mm) ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Head. Foveiform punctures dense, not contiguous, separated by at least two times puncture diameter ( Fig. 15 ); punctures often elliptical. Punctures on anterior portion, near to clypeal teeth, weakly impressed. Pronotum. Covered by foveiform, setose punctures; larger on lateral and posterior portions, not contiguous, usually separated by less than one puncture diameter ( Fig. 17 ). Disc of pronotum slightly convex. Anterior angle of pronotum approximately 70°. Lateral angle greater than 90°; margin not explanate. Margin between lateral and posterior angles straight. Elytra. Elongate-oval shape ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Disc slightly convex, with dense and conspicuous setae. Lateral margins slightly curved outwards. Foveiform punctures separated on the elytral disc by distance equivalent to at least two times puncture diameter. Secondary sexual characters. Besides the sexual dimorphism described for the genus, females differ from males in the following aspects: punctures on dorsal surface of head usually contiguous ( Fig. 16 ). Central and anterior portions of head with rugose surface. Punctures on central portion of pronotum small and weakly impressed ( Fig. 18 ); punctures more dispersed than those in males. Aedeagus. Length of parameres approximately one-half that of phallobase; ventral margin slightly curved inward; dorsal margin almost straight; apex acuminate ( Fig. 32 ). Superior right peripheral sclerite (SRP) as in figure 36. Fronto-lateral peripheral sclerite (FLP) as in figure 38.

Material studied. Type material. Neotype ( NHML) [here designated]: ♂. BRAZIL: ESPÍRITO SANTO: Linhares, Reserva Natural Vale, 04–06/VIII/2012. R.C. Lima col (ex-CEMT).

Non-type material [38]. BRAZIL: ESPÍRITO SANTO: Cachoeira de Itapemirim, [41°07'13"W, 20°51'00"S], II.1997, J. Louzada (1♀ CEMT); Castelo, [41°12'13"W, 20°36'13"S], XII.1996, J. N. C. Louzada (9♂ 11♀ CEMT; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ CERPE); Linhares, Faz. Lagoa do Macuco, prim. lowland Atlantic Forest, (39°58'43"W, 19°03'50"S), 27.I.2000, pitfall, F. Génier and S. Ide (1♂ 2♀ CEMT); same, Reserva Natural Vale, [40°03'50"W, 19°08'28"S], 9.VI.2012, pitfall pig faeces, R. C. Lima (5♂ 5♀ CEMT); same, 04–06.VIII.2012, (1♀ CEMT); MINAS GERAIS: Açucena, [42°32'34"W, 19°04'27"S], II.1952, A. B. Machado (1♀ CEMT).

Taxonomic notes. The type of this species as described in the original description ( Shipp, 1897) is said to be in the Tring Museum. The Tring Museum insect collection is now deposited in NHML (M. Barclay, pers. com.), but no specimen of A. cupreum was found in that latter institution that could be considered a type. Nor has any specimen identified under this name that could have come from either Tring or Shipp been found in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, or in any other consulted museums. The type specimen is then considered by us to be irretrievably lost ( ICZN article 75.3.4). The original description mentions differences between this species and the older A. sordidum that are of secondary sexual nature (e.g clypeal teeth shorter and thorax broader than A. sordidum ), making this species hard to characterize from the original description except for the type locality given there. Hence, the exceptional need to clarify its identity ( ICZN article 75.3.1). Since no name-bearing type specimen is believed to be extant and a name-bearing type is necessary to define this species objectively, we herein designate a neotype. So, in order to maintain the stability of nomenclature, a male from Reserva Natural Vale, Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 04–06/VIII/2012, R.C. Lima leg ( ICNZ article 75.3.3), coming from a locality described as the original type locality of this species ( ICZN article 75.3.6), and corresponding to its original

description (see Shipp, 1897; ICNZ articles 75.3.2 and 75.3.5) was chosen to be the neotype, being here deposited in the institution where the original type specimen was alleged to be ( NHML), a recognized scientific institution that maintains a research collection with proper facilities for preserving name-bearing types ( ICZN article 75.3.7).

Distribution. This species is known from lowland Atlantic Forest from Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states. It has not been recorded yet but could also be present in northern Rio de Janeiro state (Campos area) and extreme southern Bahia (around Porto Seguro). Numerous field trips have been made to the latter location but no Aphengium specimens have been caught so far.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 18. Aphengium cupreum Shipp; 13. Male (dorsal view); 14. Female (dorsal view); 15. Male head; 16. Female head; 17. Male pronotum; 18. Female pronotum.

FIGURES 31 – 34. Aedeagus of Aphengium; 31. A. sordidum (arrow shows dorsal margin of parameres curved inward at its apical third); 32. A. cupreum; 33. A. ibateguara sp. nov.; 34. A. curtum sp. nov.

FIGURES 35 – 36. Superior right peripheral sclerite (SRP) of Aphengium; 35. A. sordidum; 36. A. cupreum; Figures 37 – 40. Fronto-lateral peripheral sclerite (FLP) of Aphengium; 37. A. sordidum; 38. A. cupreum; 39. A. ibateguara sp. nov.; 40. A. curtum sp. nov.