Bothynus sapukai Duarte, Dupuis and Grossi, 2025

Duarte, Paulo R. M., Dupuis, Fabien & Grossi, Paschoal C., 2025, Taxonomic revision of the Bothynus ascanius (Kirby, 1819) (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Dynastinae) species group, Journal of Natural History 59 (9 - 12), pp. 663-737 : 723-725

Bothynus sapukai Duarte, Dupuis and Grossi sp. n.

( Figures 4c , 7d , 11k , 13o , 14o , 16d , 19l , 20e , 22 )

Diagnosis

Bothynus sapukai sp. n. is nearly identical to B. rufipennis sp. n., but can be distinguished from the latter species by the set of characters listed above (see the differential diagnosis of B. rufipennis sp. n.). Bothynus sapukai sp. n. can also be compared to B. cylindricus , B. laticifex and B. ovalatus sp. n. However, B. sapukai differs from B. cylindricus by the concavity with complete posterior edge in both sexes; parameres with minute punctures only, combined with the apical lobes bearing divergent inner margins ( Figure 13 (o)); and tergite 8 of female entirely covered with coarse rugosity ( Figures 19 (l), 20(e)). Bothynus cylindricus instead bears the pronotal cavity with interrupted posterior edge in both sexes ( Figure 9 (c)); parameres with large and dense punctures, combined with nearly parallel apical lobes ( Figure 13 (e)); and tergite 8 of female finely rugose or punctate on disc (similar to those of B. laticifex ; see Figures 19 (i), 20(c)). From B. laticifex , B. sapukai sp. n. is distinguished by the inner protarsal claw of male with branches subequal in length ( Figure 11 (k)), parameres with convergent apical lobes ( Figure 14 (f)) and tergite 8 of female coarsely rugose ( Figure 19 (l), 20(e)). While B. laticifex bears the inner protarsal claw of male with outer branch shorter than inner one ( Figure 11 (e,f)), parameres with subparallel apical lobes ( Figure 13 (i)) and tergite 8 of female punctate or finely rugose ( Figure 19 (i), 20(c)). For the differentiation of B. sapukai sp. n. from B. ovalatus sp. n, see the differential diagnosis of the latter above.

Holotype

Male, dissected, labelled: ‘ PARAGUAY: Paraguarí, Sapucai , 19.viii.1994, Drechsei leg’. ( CERPE).

Paratypes

Three males with same data as holotype ( CERPE) . Two females, same data as holotype, except for ‘ 28.vii.1997’ ( CERPE) . One male, same data as holotype, except for: ‘ x.1995’ ( FDPC). One male and one female, labelled: ‘ PARAGUAY: Paraguarí, La Colmena, Caatumi, 03.v.2005’ ( FDPC). Two males and two females, labelled: ‘ PARAGUAY: Departamento

Central, Capiata , 03.x.2005’ ( FDPC). One female, labelled: ‘ PARAGUAY: Paraguarí: PN Ybycui, 21.xi.1989’ ( FDPC).

Holotype description ( Figure 4 (c))

Length: 18.0 mm. Width: 9.5 mm. Colour: Reddish brown. Head: Clypeus subtriangular (posterior width 2.8 times wider than anterior); lateral margins regularly convergent, without constriction; anterior teeth small, triangular; surface densely rugose, glabrous. Frontoclypeal carina finely marked, slightly arched. Frons densely, transversely rugose; setae scarce, confined on sides close to eyes. Interocular width equals 4.3 transverse eye diameters. Ocular canthus subtriangular, weakly crenulate on outer margins. Mouthparts: Mandible bearing 3 teeth on outer margin; apical tooth subtriangular, diagonally truncated apically; medial tooth rounded apically, larger compared to apical one; basal tooth triangular, smaller than previous ones. Maxilla with 3 small, triangular teeth produced on apex of galea ( Figure 7 (d)). Labium subtriangular, slightly rounded laterally; lateral margins densely covered with large, deep, setigerous punctures; disc strongly rugopunctate. Antennae: Club globular, subequal in length to antennomeres 2–7 combined. Prothorax: Pronotum with small, conical anterior tubercle, rounded on apex; cavity oval, narrow, confined on anterior disc, moderately deep; pronotal surface strongly rugopunctate on anterior corners; lateral punctures large, dense, ocellate, contiguous, gradually becoming smaller, sparser towards discal region; posterior margin entirely covered with large, deep, coalescent punctures. Pterothorax: Scutellar plate subparabolic, finely punctate, punctures irregularly scattered. Elytral striae well marked, covered with small, ocellate punctures; punctures on sutural stria predominantly contiguous; punctures on other striae from contiguous to separated by 1 puncture diameter; interstriae scarcely punctate, except for the juxtasutural stria with large punctures scattered from anterior region to posterior corner of elytron. Legs: Inner protarsal claw deeply incised, with inner branch broader than outer one ( Figure 11 (k)). Protarsomere 5 bearing a ventrolateral, subapical process. Mesoand metatibia only with a middle carina produced on outer surface. Abdomen: Tergite 7 with stridulatory apparatus formed by 1 band of numerous finely marked, transverse striae. Tergite 8 glabrous, strongly rugose on sides, becoming finely rugopunctate on disc. Sternite 4 nearly completely rugopunctate; sternites 5–7 with a row of setose punctures confined on sides, disc smooth; sternite 8 densely rugopunctate on sides, disc smooth. Aedeagus: Parameres, in caudal view, smooth, rounded laterally at basal half, strongly constricted lateroventrally at apical half; apical lobes oval, with outer curvature close to basis, inner margins distinctly separated at basis, becoming strongly convergent towards apex ( Figure 13 (o)). Parameres, in lateral view, convex dorsally; ventral area with a small, basal carina; apex weakly deflexed; subapical region behind lobes strongly depressed ( Figure 14 (o)).

Variation in the paratypes

Males. Length: 16.8–17.0 mm. Width: 9.1–10.1 mm. Head: Interocular width equals 4.6 transverse eye diameters. Mouthparts: Mandible with rounded basal tooth. Legs: Inner protarsal claw sometimes with shorter outer branch (possibly broken). Aedeagus: Parameres provided with lateroventral teeth visible in caudal view. Females ( Figure 16 (d)). Length: 18.5–19.9 mm. Width: 9.9–10.8 mm. Head: Interocular width equals 4.2 transverse eye diameters. Prothorax: Pronotum bearing small anterior tubercle; cavity shallow, nearly declivous; sides of pronotum entirely covered with dense, large, deep, contiguous punctures; disc less punctate compared to sides; cavity densely rugopunctate, punctures oval in shape. Pterothorax: Elytral punctures larger compared to those of male, easily observed at naked eyes or 10× magnification. Legs: Inner protarsal claw simple, similar to outer claw. Tarsomere 5 without lateroventral process. Abdomen: Tergite 8 glabrous, completely covered with coarse rugosity ( Figures 19 (l), 20(e)). Sternite 8 entirely rugose, scarcely setose.

Distribution

Known from Paraguay (Paraguarí) ( Figure 22 ). There are records from Argentina and Uruguay ( Ratcliffe et al. 2023).

Etymology

The species name refers to ‘sapukaí’ from the Guaraní dialect, which means clamour. The specific epithet name has the same pronunciation as their type locality, Sapucai , a city of the Paraguari department, Paraguay.

Remarks

Bothynus sapukai sp. n. refers to ‘ Bothynus species 3 ’ mentioned by Ratcliffe et al. (2023).

Figures

Figure 4. Male dorsal habitus (continuation): (a) Bothynus robustus sp. n.; (b) Bothynus rufipennis sp. n.; (c) Bothynus sapukai sp. n.; (d) Bothynus scutellopunctatus sp. n.; (e) Bothynus fabius.

Figure 7. Ventral view of left maxilla: (a) Bothynus arriagadae sp. n; (b) Bothynus ascanius; (c) Bothynus ovalatus sp. n.; (d) Bothynus sapukai sp. n. gl = galea.

Figure 9. Laterodorsal view of male pronotum (a, c, e, g, i, k), detail of the posterior sides (b, d, f, h, j, l): (a, b) Bothynus ascanius; (c, d) Bothynus cylindricus (black arrow points to posterior marginal rugosity); (e, f) Bothynus laevipennis; (g, h) Bothynus laticifex; (i, j) Bothynus nyx; (k, l) Bothynus rufipennis sp. n.

Figure 11. Inner view of the male protarsomere 5 and respective claws (a, b, d, e, g – i), frontal view of the male protarsal claws (c, f): (a) Bothynus ascanius; (b) Bothynus cyclops; (c, d) Bothynus cylindricus; (e, f) Bothynus laticifex; (g) Bothynus gisae sp. n.; (h) Bothyhus laevipennis; (i) Bothynus ovalatus sp. n.; (j) Bothynus robustus sp. n.; (k) Bothynus sapukai sp. n.; (l) Bothynus fabius. Black arrows indicate the inner branch of the inner protarsal claw. ipc = inner protarsal claw, opc = outer protarsal claw, pt5 = protarsomere 5, vap = ventroapical process, vmp = ventromedial process.

Figure 13. Parameres in caudal (a–r) and frontal views (s, t): (a) Bothynus arriagadae sp. n.; (b) Bothynus ascanius; (c) Bothynus cribrarius; (d) Bothynus cyclops; (e, s) Bothynus cylindricus (arrows point to basal constriction); (f) Bothynus deiphobus; (g) Bothynus gisae sp. n.; (h) Bothynus laevipennis; (i, t) Bothynus laticifex; (j) Bothynus minor; (k) Bothynus nyx; (l) Bothynus ovalatus sp. n. (arrows point to contiguous basis of the apical lobes); (m) Bothynus robustus sp. n.; (n) Bothynus rufipennis sp. n.; (o) Bothynus sapukai sp. n. (arrows point to the basal separation of the apical lobe); (p) Bothynus scutellopunctatus sp. n.; (q) Bothynus fabius; (r) Bothynus thrix. al = apical lobe.

Figure 14. Parameres in lateral view: (a) Bothynus arriagadae sp. n.; (b) Bothynus ascanius; (c) Bothynus cribrarius; (d) Bothynus cyclops; (e) Bothynus cylindricus; (f) Bothynus deiphobus; (g) Bothynus gisae sp. n.; (h)Bothynus laevipennis;(i)Bothynus laticifex;(j) Bothynusminor; (k)Bothynus nyx;(l)Bothynus ovalatus sp.n.; (m) Bothynus robustus sp. n.; (n) Bothynus rufipennis sp. n.; (o) Bothynus sapukai sp. n.; (p) Bothynus scutellopunctatus sp. n.; (q) Bothynus fabius; (r) Bothynus thrix.

Figure 16. Female dorsal habitus (continuation):(a) Bothynus nyx; (b) Bothynus ovalatus sp. n.; (c) Bothynus rufipennis sp. n.; (d) Bothynus sapukai sp. n.; (e) Bothynus scutellopunctatus sp. n.; (f) Bothynus fabius; (g) Bothynus thrix (paratype).

Figure 19. Stridulatory striae on tergite 7 (a, b), tergite 8 of females in dorsal (c, d) and caudal views (e–l), respectively: (a, c) Bothynus deiphobus; (b, d) Bothynus fabius (black arrows point to the lateral excavations); (e) Bothynus ascanius; (f) Bothynus bentoi sp. n.; (g) Bothynus cyclops; (h) Bothynus gisae sp. n.; (i) Bothynus laticifex; (j) Bothynus ovalatus sp. n.; (k) Bothynus rufipennis sp. n.; (l) Bothynus sapukai sp. n.

Figure 20. Detail of the discal region on tergite 8 of the females (a–e): (a) Bothynus cyclops; (b) Bothynus gisae sp. n.; (c) Bothynus laticifex; (d) Bothynus ovalatus sp. n.; (e) Bothynus sapukai sp. n.

Figure 22. Known geographical distribution of Bothynus arriagadae sp. n., Bothynus cylindricus, Bothynus laticifex, Bothynus ovalatus sp. n., Bothynus rufipennis sp. n., and Bothynus sapukai sp. n.