Mesomerodon Ohaus, 1905

Moore, Matthew R., Jameson, Mary L., Garner, Beulah H., Audibert, Cedric, Smith, Andrew B. T. & Seidel, Matthias, 2017, Synopsis of the pelidnotine scarabs (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Rutelini) and annotated catalog of the species and subspecies, ZooKeys 666, pp. 1-349 : 1

Mesomerodon Ohaus, 1905 Figs 2E , 3C, D , 39 , 40

Type species.

Mesomerodon spinipenne Ohaus, 1905.

Species.

2 species; length 17-24 mm.

The genus Mesomerodon includes two species that are distributed in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia ( Machatschke 1972, Soula 2008). Members are sexually dimorphic, with males having an acute, spiniform processes on the apical callus of the elytra (shared with Hoplopelidnota ) and an acute process on the posterior margin of the mesofemur. Species in the genus are testaceous in color, ovate-shaped, and similar in overall gestalt to species of Pelidnota (Pelidnota) . The genus is diagnosed by the following additional characters: lateral edge of mandibles without reflexed teeth; lateral edge of protibia with three teeth; pronotum with apical bead complete medially, laterally and basally; mesosternum produced beyond mesometasternal suture; male parameres with a well-developed ventral plate.

The biology of Mesomerodon species is unknown and larvae are not described; sister-group relationships have not been examined. Adults are collected at lights at elevations between 300-750 m.

Figures

Figure 2. Characters of the mesofemora and metatibiae in pelidnotine genera. A Epichalcoplethis aciculata (F. Bates), metatibia somewhat flattened (dorsal view) B Pelidnota virescens, metatibia not flattened (dorsal view) C Mecopelidnota sp., metatibia at base with a semicircular notch D Pseudogeniates cordobaensis Moore et al., metatibia simple at base E Mesomerodon gilletti Soula male, acute production of posterior margin of mesotibia (ventral view).

Figure 3. Characters of the thorax (ventral view) and elytral apex (dorsal and lateral views). Mesosternal keel not surpassing base of mesocoxae (A) or keel surpassing base of mesocoxae (B). Acute, spiniform projections at apex of elytra (C, D). A Homonyx elongatus B Pelidnota dobleri Frey C Mesomerodon gilletti, dorsal view D Mesomerodon gilletti, lateral view.

Figure 39. Mesomerodon gilletti Soula holotype male and allotype female from CCECL. A Dorsal habitus holotype B Specimen labels, holotype C Male genitalia, lateral view D Specimen labels, allotype E Dorsal habitus, allotype.

Figure 40. Mesomerodon gilletti Soula male from FSCA. A Dorsal habitus B Lateral habitus C Male genitalia, lateral view D Parameres, caudal view.