Nanotermitodius Howden, 2003

Skelley, Paul E., Smith, Andrew B. T. & Mora-Aguilar, Eder F., 2022, A review of the flightless genus Nanotermitodius Howden, 2003 (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Rhyparini), Zootaxa 5200 (4), pp. 355-364 : 356

Nanotermitodius Howden, 2003

Nanotermitodius Howden, 2003: 393 .

Type species: Nanotermitodius peckorum Howden, 2003: 396 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Nanotermitodius is unique among the rhyparines by having the male sexual dimorphism of a Rhyparus - type mesotibia and Termitodiellus - type metatibia ( Skelley 2007). The females have simple, unmodified tibial apices. Other useful characters to diagnose Nanotermitodius include elytral carinae sinuate in dorsal and lateral views, caudal apex of discomedian costa on elytra with an erect tuft of setae, mesoventrite with shallow longitudinal median groove, metaventrite with distinct discolateral fovea on either side of midline, and male protibia distinctly tridentate at apex, female protibia weakly tridentate. The genus also has fused elytra with flight wings reduced to vestigial buds, reduced eyes, and is presently known only from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Comments. Howden (2003) provided a generic description, which also acted as the species description for N. peckorum . Thus, a brief diagnosis of the genus listing important delimiting characters was needed. Other traditional characters like body shape, costal development, etc. vary between these two Nanotermitodius enough to overlap with other genera, making these characters less useful for generic delimitation. Skelley (2007) noted that male N. peckorum have Rhyparus - type mesotibia but Termitodiellus - type metatibia. The new species shows this character combination more prominently than N. peckorum . This tibial combination in the males will readily distinguish Nanotermitodius .