Polynoncus vazdemelloi Huchet and Costa-Silva, 2018

Costa-Silva, Vinícius, Strümpher, Werner P., Thyssen, Patricia J. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2024, Taxonomic revision of the South American genus Polynoncus Burmeister, 1876 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Trogidae), Journal of Natural History 58 (1 - 4), pp. 14-166 : 154-158

Polynoncus vazdemelloi Huchet and Costa-Silva, 2018

( Figures 5a , 61 , 66 )

Polynoncus vazdemelloi Huchet and Costa-Silva, 2018: 554 (original description); Alencar et al. 2002: 154 (checklist of beetles from north-eastern Brazil).

Type specimens examined. HOLOTYPE. (♂ CEMT – Figure 66 ) First label [white with black border, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco. / AraÇoiaba : CIMNC [Instruction Field Marechal Newton Cavalcanti] / V-2010. LIannuzzi’. Second label [red, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des. Costa-Silva, 2018 / HOLOTYPE’ ( Figure 66e ). Type locality: AraÇoiaba, Pernambuco (Brazil).

PARATYPES (5 ♂ and 12 unsexed CEMT; 1 IEXA; 2 DZUP; 1 ♂ and 1 unsexed MZSP; 2 ZUEC; 9 CERPE) . First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco, / AraÇoiaba , CIMNC [Instruction Field Marechal Newton Cavalcanti] / 23-III-2010 LIanuzzi’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (3 CEMT; 2 IEXA; 1 MZSP; 2 ZUEC). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco, / AraÇoiaba , CIMNC [Campo de InstruÇão Marechal Newton Cavalcanti] / V-2010 LIanuzzi’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (2 CEMT; 1 DZUP). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco, / AraÇoiaba , CIMNC [Campo de InstruÇão Marechal Newton Cavalcanti] / 21-iv-2010 LIanuzzi’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (4 CEMT; 1 DZUP). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ AraÇoiaba – PE / (CIMNC) / 19 .I .2010 / Correria, R .S . col / (Pitfall) Fechada 5’. Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 CEMT). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ Ibateguara – AL / (Varjão) / 19 .ix .2007 / Filgueiras, B .K .C. col / (carcaÇa) [carcass]’. Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 ♂ CEMT) . First label [white, typeset]: ‘ Ibateguara – AL / (Dois BraÇos) / 3 .xi .2007 / Filgueiras, B .K .C. col / (carcaÇa) [carcass]’. Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 ♂ CEMT; 1 ♂ MZSP) . First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco / Camaragibe, Aldeia, 01- / 30 . v . 2016, 100 m [m above sea level], - / 7.977°S, − 35.006°W / I.V.P.C. Grossi leg’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 CEMT; 6 CERPE). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco / Camaragibe, Aldeia, 01- / 3 .vi . 2016, 100 m [m above sea level], - / 7.977°S, − 35.006°W / I.V.P.C. Grossi leg’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (3 CERPE). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco / Camaragibe, Aldeia, 01- / 31 .v . 2016, 100 m [m above sea level], - / 7.977°S, − 35.006°W / I.V.P.C. Grossi leg’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 CEMT). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Pernambuco . / Recife . Dois Irmãos . / alunosUFPE’. Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 ♂ CEMT) . First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: PB / João Pessoa, / DSE / UFPB / AA Endres’ . Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 ♂ CEMT) . First label [white, typeset]: ‘ BRASIL: Alagoas, Ibateguara / Serra Grande , 9°00 ʹ 01″ S’ / 35°51 ʹ 19″ W, 05 October 2011 . / Pitfall. Mata Atlântica , Interior . / BKC Filgueiras ”. Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 CEMT). First label [white, typeset]: ‘ COLEOPTERA / RECD-Iguarassu-PE / Brasil / 10 .VII.07, 3M/IV / Silva et al ’. Second label [yellow, Vinícius Costa-Silva’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus vazdemelloi / Huchet & Costa-Silva / des . Costa-Silva, 2018 / PARATYPE’ (1 CEMT).

Differential diagnosis. This species is most similar to P. parafurcatus , but differs by having medial edges and basal tubercles of pronotum fused, which are disconnected in the latter species.

Polynoncus vazdemelloi is most morphologically similar to P. furcillifer , but its elytral tubercles are poorly elevated and elongate (at least 2× longer than wide), and its poorly developed latero-basal tubercles of pronotum can be used to distinguish the two species. In P. furcillifer , the elytral tubercles are more prominent and rounded (seldom elongate), and the latero-basal tubercles of pronotum are distinctive. The male genitalia of both species are distinctive. For details of description, see Huchet and Costa-Silva (2018, p. 554).

Geographic distribution. Huchet and Costa-Silva (2018) described Polynoncus vazdemelloi based only on a type series (65 specimens) with its distribution restricted to north-eastern Brazil. After examination of a large series of this species from other South American collections, we conclude that P. vazdemelloi occurs in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil (from Pernambuco to Paraná state) ( Figure 61 ).

Examined non-type material (137 specimens). BRAZIL: Bahia, Ibirapitanga, Mata do Ppuã , 14 November 2014, G.R.G. Silva leg. (2 CEMT) ; Igrapiúna, Juliana Farm, Mata São José, 13.836°S, 39.283°W, 14 November 2014, G.RG. Silva leg. (2♂, 1♀ and 1 unsexed CEMT) ; Igrapiúna, Vila 5, 13.802°S, 39.167°W, 19 May 2010, R. Carvalho leg. (1♀ CVMD) ; Igrapiúna, Vila 5, 13.802°S, 39.167°W, 19 May 2010, R. Carvalho leg. (1♂ and 3♀ CEMT) ; Ilhéus, January– February 1999, no collector (1 MZSP) ; Ilhéus, Una, November–December 1998, Cabruca [ Cooperative of Organic Producers of Southern Bahia] leg. (1 MZSP) ; Ituberá, Pancada Grande, 13.799°S, 39.183°W, 9 April 2009, C.M. Campos and P.P Lopes leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Nilo PeÇanha, 31 m, 13.631°S, 39.201°W, September 2011, pitfall trap, C.M.P. Leite leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Porto Seguro, RPPN Veracel [ Private Reserve of Natural Heritage ], 11 November 2004, Mata primária, J. Louzada leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; Una, Reserva Biológica de Una [UNA Biological Reserve], 15.176°S, 39.105°W, 2 July 2017, pitfall trap, T.B. Souza leg. (4 CEMT) ; Wanceslau Guimarães, 13.566°S, 39.683°W, December 2011, C.M.P. Leite leg. (1♂, 1♀ and 1 unsexed CEMT). Espirito Santo, Marechal Floriano, 500 m, 20.391°S, 40.690°W, January 2003, L. Dias leg. (1♂ CEMT). Paraíba, João Pessoa, Mata do Buraquinho , 7.139°S, 34.860°W, 8 September 2009, R.C.A.P. Farias leg. (1 CEMT) ; Mamanguape, Rebio Guaribas, 6.683°S, 35.166°W, June 2002, pitfall trap with faeces, M.I.M. Hernández leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Mamanguape, Rebio Guaribas, 6.683°S, 35.166°W, November 2001, pitfall trap with faeces, A.A. Endres leg. (2♂ and 2 unsexed CEMT). Paraná, Morretes, E.E. Embrapa, 140 m, 25.453°S, 48.882°W, 10 December 2015, Leopardus pardalis faeces, E.H. Raine leg. (2 CEMT) ; Morretes, E.E. Embrapa, 140 m, 25.453°S, 48.882°W, 17 December 2015, human faeces, E.H. Raine leg. (1♂, 1♀ and 2 unsexed CEMT) ; Morretes, E.E. Embrapa, 140 m, 25.453°S, 48.882°W, 27 January 2016, human faeces, E.H. Raine leg. (1 CEMT) ; Morretes, Santuário Nhundiaquara, 100 m, 25.425°S, 48.889°W, 15 January 2016, Panthera onca faeces, E.H. Raine leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Morretes, Santuário Nhundiaquara, 100 m, 25.425°S, 48.889°W, 27 January 2016, human faeces, E.H. Raine leg. (2♂ and 3 unsexed CEMT) ; Morretes, Santuário Nhundiaquara, 100 m, 25.425°S, 48.889°W, 5 February 2016, Tamandua tridactyla faeces, E.H. Raine leg. (1♂ IEXA) ; Morretes, Santuário Nhundiaquara, 100 m, 25.425°S, 48.889°W, 18 November 2015, human faeces FIT, E.H. Raine leg. (1 CEMT). Pernambuco, AraÇoiaba, CIMNC [Instruction Field Marechal Newton Cavalcanti], 116 m, 23 March 2010, L. Iannuzzi leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; AraÇoiaba, CIMNC, 116 m, May 2010, L. Iannuzzi leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Caramagibe, Aldeia, 100 m, 7.976°S, 35.006°, May 2017, FIT, P. Grossi and FZ Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♀ and 6 unsexed CEMT). Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Lage Park, 22.953°S, 43.209°W, February 1992, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Rio de Janeiro, Lage Park, 22.953°S, 43.209°W, December 1990, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (6♂, 2♀ and 7 unsexed CEMT). São Paulo, Bertioga, Parq. Est. Serra do Mar [Serra do Mar State Park], 21 m, 23.750°S, 45.922°W, 24 April 2017, pitfall trap with gizzard, V. Costa-Silva leg. (1♀ EMAC) ; Bertioga, Parq. Est. Serra do Mar [Serra do Mar State Park], 21 m, 23.750°S, 45.922°W, 24 April 2017, pitfall trap with gizzard, V. Costa-Silva leg. (4♂ CEMT) ; Caraguatatuba, 21 September 2012, carcass, A. Diaz leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Caraguatatuba, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar [Serra do Mar State Park] – Núcleo Caraguatatuba, 23.591°S, 45.423°W, 13 January 2012, human faeces, E. Bovy leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Cotia, Reserva do Morro Grande [Morro Grande Reserv], February 2008, A.A. Silva leg. (1♀ and 2 unsexed MZSP) ; Cotia, Reserva do Morro Grande , February 2008, A.A. Silva leg. (1♂ and 2♀ MZSP) ; Eldorado, Caverna do Diabo State Park [Parque Estadual Caverna do Diabo], 24.636°S, 48.404°W, 10–20 October 2005, E. Aguiar and P.M.S. Martínez leg. (1 MZSP) ; Iporanga, PETAR [Alto Ribeira State and Tourist Park], 24.589°S, 48.629°, 9 April 2018, B. Ribeiro and W. Yamashida leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Mogi das Cruzes, Parque das Neblinas, 810 m, 23.791°S, 46.196°W, September 2015, human faeces, R.V. Nunes leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Praia Grande, Parque Estadual Xixová-Japui [Xixová-Japui State Park], 6–20 January 2000, interceptaÇão de voo [FIT] (1♂ CEMT) ; Praia Grande, Parque Estadual Xixová-Japui [Xixová-Japui State Park], 8 July 1999, interceptaÇão de voo [FIT] (1♀ CEMT) ; Praia Grande, Parque Estadual Xixová-Japui [Xixová-Japui State Park], 1 December 1999, interceptaÇão de voo [FIT] (1♀ CEMT) ; Praia Grande, Parque Estadual Xixová-Japui [Xixová-Japui State Park], 1 March 2000, interceptaÇão de voo [FIT] (1♀ CEMT) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 28 September–01 November 2001, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (2 MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 852 m, 23.655°S, 45.889°W, 18 September 2012, pitfall trap with faeces as bait, T. Vargas leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 23 July–30 August 2002, S.A.Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (3♂, 3♀ and 2 unsexed MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 28 June–27 July 2001, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1♂ and 1♀ MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 1–28 November 2001, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1♂, 1♀ and 5 unsexed MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 27 January–01 March 2002, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1♀ and 1 unsexed MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 1–29 March 2002, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (2 MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 9–12 March 2002, S.T.P. Amarante and team leg. (1 MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 24 May–20 July 2002, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1 MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 27 July–04 September 2001, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (2 MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 28 November 2001 – 09 January 2002, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1♂ and 5 unsexed MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 9–27 January 2002, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1♂ and 4 unsexed MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 4–28 September 2001, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1 MZSP) ; Salesópolis, EstaÇão Biol . de Boracéia [ Biological Station of Boracéia ], 29 May–28 June 2021, S.A. Casari and I.B. Francini leg. (1 MZSP) ; São Luiz do Iparaitinga , Parq. Est. Serra do Mar [Serra do Mar State Park] (Vargem Grande), 23.437°S, 45.237°W, 17 January 2012, human faeces, E. Bovy leg. (2 CEMT) ; São Luiz do Iparaitinga , Parq. Est. Serra do Mar [Serra do Mar State Park] (Vargem Grande), 23.437°S, 45.237°W, 17 January 2012, human faeces, Marion Boutefeu leg. (1 CEMT) ; Sete Barras, Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho [ Carlos Botelhe State Park ], 24.196°S, 47.927°W, 30 January 2012, human faeces, E. Bovy leg. (1 CEMT).

Remarks. We examined a large number of specimens (137) collected from the Atlantic Forest (stretching along the Atlantic coast of Brazil). All the specimens match the description of Polynoncus vazdemelloi (see Huchet and Costa-Silva (2018). However, we noticed that males of a population from Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro states have the medial lobe not dorsoventrally flattened at the middle in lateral view (as in Figure 66d ), but have the median lobe with uniform width until the apex. It is possible that this population could represent another new species, but a phylogenetic study with a molecular approach is needed to confirm this. Until such time as more material becomes available for analysis, we will regard these differences in the male genitalia as intraspecific variation for now.

Figures

Figure 5. Differential morphology in Polynoncus spp.:lateral margin of pronotum a, bulbous [P.vazdemelloi] and b, rounded [P.gemmingeri]; pronotal ridges and basal tubercles of pronotum c, fused [P.furcillifer] and d, separated (black line) [P.parafurcatus]; surface of elytra e, with tubercles [P.pedestris] and f, without tubercles [P. diffluens]; g, pronotal ridge and antero-lateral tubercle connected by (white arrow) [P. patagonicus]; h, humeral callus prominent (white arrow) in P. chilensis and i, humeral callus not prominent (white arrow) in P. mirabilis. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 61. Distribution map of Polynoncus pseudogemmiger sp. n. (red circles) and P. vazdemelloi (green triangles) in South America. The records with a black dot in the centre indicate the type locality of the respective species.

Figure 66. Holotype of Polynoncus vazdemelloi Huchet and Costa-Silva, 2018: habitus in a, dorsal and b, lateral view; male genitalia in c, lateral and d, dorsal view; e, labels. Scale bar: 1 mm.