Isocopris tarsalis ( Luederwaldt, 1931 )

Rossini, Michele & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2017, A taxonomic review of the genus Isocopris Pereira and Martínez, 1960 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), with description of a new Brazilian species, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 51 (19 - 20), pp. 1091-1117 : 1111-1112

Isocopris tarsalis ( Luederwaldt, 1931)

( Figures 6 and 8 (b))

Pinotus tarsalis Luederwaldt, 1931: 355

Description

Medium-sized species, 12 – 20 mm, body entirely black and shining, antennal club brownish-tan. Head: clypeus triangular and elongated forward, margin reflexed and narrower at middle, with two blunt and close teeth separated by a very weak emargination, sides of the clypeus feebly and evenly curved, head margin distinctly notched at the clypeo-genal junction, genae clearly expanded beyond the clypeus, both sexes with a conical fronto-clypeal horn flanked by two small humps, tubercle-like and slightly backward, tip of horn blunt, clypeus and genae finely wrinkled, frons with deeper wrinkles or punctures. Thorax: pronotum simply convex, lateral and posterior margins evenly curved, anterior margin with a low and thin bead, sometimes slightly depressed at middle. Anterior region of pronotum almost vertical above the head, often shallowly depressed at middle, anteromedial protuberance absent, pronotal surface shining, with very tiny punctures evenly distributed, posterior margin shallowly and coarsely punctuated, punctures sometimes associated to small granules. Elytra convex, striae well impressed, interstriae weakly convex, elytral punctuation similar to that of pronotum. Prosternum finely punctuated, some punctures with short setae, mesosternum finely microsculptured, with shallow and irregular punctures, medially swollen and smooth, metasternum evenly and feebly convex, longitudinally crossed by a medial sulcus, which is deeper on the inferior side of metasternum, metasternal surface with a very fine microsculpture, inconspicuous and evanescent punctures mostly distributed on the superior side. Abdomen: pygidium wider than high, margins completely bordered, surface with inconspicuous punctures evenly distributed. Legs: fore tibiae slender, external teeth acuminated, apical and internal angle of fore tibiae with a distinct tooth directed inward and a few straight setae. Apical spur acuminated and curved, with apex directed inward, hind tibiae with apical spur apically truncated. Fore tarsi with last tarsomere larger, tarsal claws modified, long and strongly folded ( Figure 6 (e)). Male genitalia: parameres as represented in Figure 6 (c – d).

Distribution

Brazil (Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul) ( Figure 8 (b)). Species mostly found in the Brazilian cerrado .

Remarks

This species is fairly rare in collections and its biology is still unknown. So far, it has only been collected using flight intercept traps and not captured using pitfall traps baited with excrement.

Type specimens examined

Holotype (1 ♀ MZSP): 1: TIPO (printed on red label with black border). 2: Matto Grosso, Murtinho, R. Spitz, tip. XI.29. (printed and handwritten on cream label with black border). 3: ♂ (drawn on cream label). 4: Pinotus tarsalis Luederw, Lueder. det. 30 (handwritten on

cream label with black border). 5: 17,387 (printed on white label). 6: LECTOTYPE, Pinotus tarsalis Lued., 1931 , ♂, des. F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello, 2011 (printed and handwritten on red label with black border). Paratype (1 ♂ MZSP): 1: aedeagus (mounted on a cream label) . 2: ALOTIPO (printed on red label with black border). 3: Matto Grosso , Murtinho, R . Spitz , tip . I.30 (printed and handwritten on cream label). 4: Pinotus tarsalis Lueder., Lueder. det. 30 (handwritten on cream label with black border). 5: 17,388 (printed on white label).

Other specimens examined

BRAZIL: Goiás: Codemin . 3 – IV – 92 (1 ♂ CEMT) . Niquelândia . X-1994. I – 1995 (1 ♂ CMNC; 1 ♀ CEMT) . Mato Grosso: Chapada dos Guimarães . 06 – X – 1982 (1 ♀ CEMT) . Porto Estrela . 15°38 ʹ 30 ” S, 57°12 ʹ 20 ’ W. 10 – X – 2011 (1 ♂ CEMT) . Utiariti . Rio Papagaio . 01-12-XI-1966 (1 ♂ CMNC) . Uirapuru . II – 2003 (1 ♂ CEMT) . Rondónopolis . Jardim Atlântico . 16°28 ʹ 08 ” S, 54° 34 ʹ 44 ’ W. XII – 2011 (1 ♀ CEMT) . Minas Gerais: Martinho Campos (1 ♂, 1 ♀ CEMT) . Três Marias (1 ♂, 1 ♀ CEMT) . Buenópolis . 17°53 ʹ 09 ” S, 44°17 ʹ 46 ” W. 17 – IV – 2008 (1 ♂ CEMT) . Paracatu . XI-1997 (1 ♀ CEMT) .

Figures

Figure 6. Isocopris tarsalis. (a–b) Dorsal habitus of male and female. (c–d) Dorsal and lateral side of the parameres. (e) Tarsal claw.

Figure 8. Distribution maps of the genus Isocopris. (a) I. foveaolatus and I. xacriaba. (b) I. imitator and I. tarsalis. (c) I. hypocrita and I. nitidus. (d) I. inhiatus.