Megaphanaeus

Edmonds, W. D. & Zidek, J., 2010, A taxonomic review of the neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (129), pp. 1-111 : 14

Key to species of Megaphanaeus

1. Elytral striae ( Fig. 16 ) narrow, smooth, sides straight, converging apically. Interstriae 1-4 smooth, devoid of coarse sculpturing (x5); interstriae 5-7 microrugose (x25), more strongly so laterally. Female cephalic process ( Fig. 27 ) tridentate, middle tubercle strongly elevated. Atlantic coast forests of Brazil). bellicosus species group ............................................................................ ..................................................... Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) bellicosus (Olivier)

— Elytral striae widened, margins (especially of striae 2-4) undulate to some degree. Interstriae coarsely sculptured (x5). Female cephalic process a cylindrical horn (similar to that of male) lancifer species group ........................................................................................................... 2

2(1). Elytral interstriae ( Fig. 13 ) at most only indistinctly granulate, usually granulorugose; granulation, if distinct, confined to apical one-third of interstriae 2-6. Basal two-thirds of elytral striae 2-4 moderately undulate, width at widest points about twice that of narrowest points; strial margins at narrow points often bearing low, rounded tubercle. Metasternal shield ( Fig. 18 ) smooth to weakly punctate; triangular, anteromedian area of metasternum ( Fig. 17 , arrow) (usually hidden by retracted posterior margin of pronotum) smooth and shiny medially. Color usually dark metallic blue. Widely distributed in Amazonia ( Fig. 28 ) ....................................... .......................................................... Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) lancifer (Linné)

— Elytral interstriae completely covered by large, round granules. Striae variable. Metasternal shield ( Fig. 19 ) completely punctatorugose; triangular anteromedian portion of metasternum (usually hidden by retracted posterior margin of pronotum) finely granulate, at least laterally. Color usually green, yellowish green, rarely bluish green. Distribution variable, but never Amazonian ................................................................................................................................ 3

3(2). Margins of elytral striae 2-4 only gently undulate ( Fig.15 ), strial width at narrowings at least three-fourths of that at widest points; carinulae simple, seldom tuberculate. Triangular anteromedian portion of metasternum finely granulate laterally, smooth and shiny medially. Female lacking protarsi. Smaller beetles, length 25-35 mm. Xeric forests of eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina ( Fig. 28 ) .............................................................................................. ..................................................... Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) bonariensis (Gory)

— Margins of elytral striae ( Fig. 14 ) strongly undulate, strial width at narrowest points no more than one-half (often much less than one-half) of that at widest points; narrowings produced by apically tuberculate, finger-like projections of margins. Triangular anteromedian portion of metasternum completely finely granulate, or nearly so. Female with protarsi. Large beetles, length 30-55 mm. Dry forests of central Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina ( Fig. 28 ) .... ......................................................... Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) ensifer (Germar)

Figures

Figure 28. Approximate geographic distribution of Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) species.

Figure 13-27. Characters of the Coprophanaeus subgenus Megaphanaeus. 13) Elytral surface of C. lancifer. 14) Same, C. ensifer. 15) Same, C. bonariensis. 16) Same, C. bellicosus. 17) Mesosternum and anterior portion of metasternum of C. lancifer (arrow indicates smooth area of metasternum). 18) Metasternum of C.lancifer. 19) Same, C. ensifer. 20) Dorsal view of posteromedian pronotal prominence of female C. ensifer (broad form). 21) Same (narrow form). 22) Partial lateral view of pronotum male C. ensifer (arrow indicates lateral spine). 23) Same, C. lancifer (arrow indicates vertical ridge). 24) Dorsal view of posteromedian pronotal prominence of male C. lancifer. 25) Same, female (broad form). 26) Same (narrow form). 27) Anterior view of cephalic process of female C. bellicosus.