Chrysina falcifera Hawks, 2017

Hawks, David C., 2017, Five new species of Chrysina Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae), Insecta Mundi 2017 (544), pp. 1-9 : 1-2

Chrysina falcifera Hawks , new species

Figures 1 , 6–8 .

Type data. Holotype male (deposited at BMNH), labeled: a) handwritten “ Pirris / Costa Rica / June

“ Chrysina / falcifera male symbol / Hawks , 2017 / HOLOTYPE ”. Paratype female labeled: a) handwritten “Savanillas / de Pirris / C. Rica 5.1900” ; b) “ Nevinson Coll. / 1918-14” ; c) handwritten “ Plusiotis / marginatus /Waterh.”; d) on yellow paper, “ Chrysina / falcifera female symbol / Hawks, 2017 / PARA- TYPE ”. Paratype male ( Fig. 1 ) labeled: a) handwritten “ Costa Rica ” ; b) on yellow paper, “ Chrysina / falcifera male symbol / Hawks, 2017 / PARATYPE ”.

Description, holotype male. Length 22.5 mm, width 11.5 mm. Color of dorsal surface of head, pronotum, elytra, and pygidium mostly iridescent yellowish green; clypeus and pronotum edged with golden green; elytral margin with well-defined metallic golden band (includes apical calli); ventral surface of body iridescent green; femora and tibiae iridescent yellow-green; tarsi iridescent cupreous; antennal scape iridescent yellowish green dorsally; remainder of antennomeres present brown (clubs missing).

Head. Form broadly rounded. Dorsal surface of head with small, weakly impressed punctures, mixed with fine punctures. Clypeus convex in lateral view. Anterior border of labrum bisinuate, with 2 emarginations. Mandibles hidden in dorsal view. Eye size moderate with ratio of interocular distance to width of pronotum at base = 1: 2.1.

Thorax. Pronotal basal margin absent in central region adjacent to scutellum. Pronotal surface with small punctures larger, more deeply impressed than those of head; punctures sparse, becoming denser laterally. Mesosternal process long, slightly dorsoventrally compressed, rounded at apex. Each elytron with striae nearly obsolete, only sutural and 3 discal striae at all visible, interstriae weakly punctate as pronotum; epipleural fold narrow, terminating just posterior to first abdominal sternite.

Abdomen. Surface smooth with several short, fine hairs at apex. Genitalia: Genital capsule length 7.5 mm. Parameres ( Fig. 6–8 ) fused into dorsoventrally flattened, ventrally reflexed, narrow hook, apex weakly notched; each side near base with 1 short triangular spine; ventral keel absent. Ventral plates asymmetrical, narrow, apices acute.

Male paratype variation (n= 1). Length 22 mm, width 11 mm. Male paratype ( Fig. 1 ) differs from the holotype in the following ways. Ratio of antennal club length to interocular distance = 1: 2.2. Tibiae and tarsi coppery orange.

Female paratype variation (n= 1). Length 27 mm, width 14 mm. Female differs from the holotype in the following aspects. Female with clypeal margin, tibiae, tarsi, and elytral margin purplish red. Elytral margin thickened in basal 2/3. As is common in the genus, the female body is slightly more convex in lateral view, legs and tarsi are relatively slightly smaller, and the antennal club is shorter. Ratio of interocular distance to width of pronotum at base = 1: 2.1. Ratio of antennal club length to interocular distance = 1: 2.4. Inferior genital plates subcircular, strongly convex, irregularly emarginate along apical margin.

Diagnosis. Chrysina falcifera is most similar to C. marginata (Waterhouse) and other members of the marginata group ( Hawks 2001). It differs most conspicuously in the form of the male genitalia. The parameres of all other species of the marginata group possess very long lateral processes ( Hawks 1999; Curoe 2011).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin falcifer , meaning sickle-bearing, in reference to the strongly falcate male genitalia. It is used as a feminine adjective in the nominative singular.

Remarks. Savanilla de Pirrís is in San José Province, Costa Rica, located in the foothills of the Pacific Coast Range near Rio Grande de Pirrís. To my knowledge, there are no recently collected specimens of this species, and it would be worthwhile to survey for it, and assess its habitat and potential conservation issues in this region of Costa Rica.

Figures

Figures 1–5. Chrysina adult dorsal habitus photographs (not to scale). 1) Chrysina falcifer Hawks, new species. 2) Chrysina galbina Hawks, new species. 3) Chrysina juxtaprasina Hawks, new species. 4) Chrysina paulseni Hawks, new species. 5) Chrysina sagacita Hawks, new species.

Figures 6–20. Chrysina genitalia photographs (not to scale). 6–8) Chrysina falcifer Hawks, new species, male genital capsule. 6) Dorsal view. 7) Ventral view. 8) Apical view. 9–11) Chrysina galbina Hawks, new species, male genital capsule. 9) Dorsal view. 10) Ventral view. 11) Apical view. 12–13) Chrysina juxtaprasina Hawks, new species, male genital capsule. 12) Dorsal view. 13) Ventral view. 14–16) Chrysina paulseni Hawks, new species, male genital capsule. 14) Dorsal view. 15) Ventral view. 16) Apical view. 17, 18) Chrysina sagacita Hawks, new species, male genital capsule. 17) Dorsal view. 18) Ventral view. 19) Chrysina juxtaprasina Hawks, new species, female inferior plates. 20) Chrysina paulseni Hawks, new species, female inferior plates.