Dilophochila glabra, Ramírez-Ponce & Zaragoza-Caballero & Curoe, 2023

Ramírez-Ponce, Andrés, Zaragoza-Caballero, Santiago & Curoe, Daniel J., 2023, A new species of Dilophochila Bates, 1888 with comments on natural history and distribution of the genus (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Rutelinae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 63, pp. 1-6 : 2-5

Dilophochila glabra sp. nov.

Figs. 1A, B, C, E, G , 2A, B

Type material

Holotype (♂; IEXA): a) " México, Oaxaca, Sierra Juárez, San Felipe Usila , Santa Cruz Tepetotutla. 17°43′16″N, 96°32′56″O ″,b)"Bosque mesófilo/ Pinus . Trampa luz 22-26/ jun/17, 1330 m. Ramírez-Ponce & Curoe″, c) " Dilophochila glabra Ramírez-Ponce et al., 2023 Holotype″ (red label) . Paratypes (146♂♂, 1♀): Same data as holotype except by: c) " Dilophochila glabra Ramírez-Ponce et al., 2023 Paratype ″ (yellow label): ARPC (29♂♂, 1♀), CCZ (3♂♂), CNIN (15♂♂), DJCC (28♂♂), IEXA (10♂♂), CEMT (3♂♂), MSPC (3♂♂), MNHN (5♂♂), MFN (5♂♂), NMB (5♂♂), NMPC (5♂♂), GALC (4♂♂), USNM (5♂♂) ; a) México, Oaxaca, Sierra Juárez, San Felipe Usila, camino a Sta Cruz Tepetotutla. Bosque mesófilo, b) Trampa de luz, aditivos met. 11-16/junio/2018, 1010 m 17°43′16.9″N, 96°32′56.5″O Ramírez-Ponce & Curoe col.,c)" Dilophochila glabra Ramírez-Ponce et al., 2023 Paratype ″ (yellow label): DJCC (4♂♂) ; a) México, Oaxaca, Sierra Juárez, San Felipe Usila, camino a Sta Cruz Tepetotutla . Bosque mesófilo b) Trampa de luz, aditivos met. 11-16/junio/2018, 1400 m. 17°42′40.01″N, 96°33′5.49″O Ramírez-Ponce & Curoe col., c) " Dilophochila glabra Ramírez-Ponce et al., 2023 Paratype ″ (yellow label):ARPC (11♂♂), DJCC (11♂♂).

Description: Holotype (♂; IEXA). Male, length 9.9 mm, greatest width 3.9 mm. Color: Ground color ocher; frons and pronotal discal vittae deep metallic green; elytral intervals IV, VII and IX slightly darker ( Fig. 1A ). Head: Clypeal margin with v-shaped notch; noticeably reflexed anteriorly; clypeal surface densely rugose, with scattered, moderately short, slightly curved setae; frontoclypeal suture complete ( Fig. 1B ). Frons with depression widening anteriorly; surface of depression as on clypeus except without setae; rest of surface of frons punctate; punctures dense,large, contiguous anteriorly, moderately dense and shallow posterior to eyes; supraocular area with 6-7 long, decumbent setae. Pronotum: Anterior angles acute and projected anteriorly, lateral margins sinuate, posterior angles slightly obtuse; surface irregularly, not densely punctate; punctures large; each side with 2 long, decumbent setae; anterior and lateral margins with long, irregularly spaced setae; lateral and posterior margins beaded. Scutelar shield: Surface irregularly, densely punctate; punctures moderate in size. Elytron: Glabrous, with 10 striae between suture and humeral umbone; striae slightly impressed by rows of large, round punctures separated approximately by their own diameter; intervals IV, VII and IX wider, clearly more elevated and darker than adjacent intervals ( Fig. 1A ); epipleuron not expanded in basal half ( Fig. 2A ). Venter: Surface completely covered by long, scattered setae ( Fig. 2B ). Pygidium: In lateral view, uniformly convex; surface moderately densely setose. Legs: Protibia ( Fig. 1C ) with margins mostly subparallel; external margin with 2 distinct teeth; subapical projection small, obtuse, weakly broadened; protarsomeres 1-4 moderately wide; protarsomere 5 with 2 basal, acute denticles; inner protarsal claw angulate and narrowly cleft. Male Genitalia: Base of parameres broadly and evenly curved; in caudal view, parameres elongate subtriangular, external margins weakly sinuate before preapical constriction; apices markedly broadened, rounded; in lateral view, ventral margin not folded (arrow) ( Fig. 1G ).

Sexual dimorphism: Males are always dorsally darker than females on the pronotum, the pronotal discal vittae of the females present a different intensity of coppery brown color and metallic green reflections. There is frequent variation in the elytral intervals IV, VII and IX, which are often darker, as well as in the abundance of ventral setae. Female, length 10.5 mm, greatest width 5.0 mm. Similar to male except as follows: dorsally ochre except frons and pronotum bright coppery, and elytral intervals IV,VII and IX light brown; clypeal margin less reflexed; epipleuron thickened and expanded in basal half; metatibia with distal denticle much more elongate and curved; preapical spur longer; tarsi more slender; inner protarsal claw narrow, not angulate and finely cleft; abdomen much less setose.

Variation: In males, length varies from 8.5 to 9.8 mm, and greatest width varies from 3.6 to 4.1 mm. In one male, the color of the pronotal vittae is not green but similar to the female′s.

Remarks: Dilophochila glabra sp. nov. is one of the two species in the genus that have the pronotum almost glabrous and is also characterized by two long and decumbent setae on each side of the pronotal disc, whereas D. gilli Morón & Howden, 2001 ( Honduras) presents only one setae on the right side near the middle of the disc; however, the genital differences, in addition to its widely disjunct distribution, allows them to be separated easily. On the other hand, D. glabra sp. nov. presents genital similarity with D. miahuatleca Morón & Howden, 2001 ; however, the rounded parameral apices differ from those of D. miahuatleca , which are remarkably acute and expanded externally, and the base of parameres not folded (folded in D. miahuatleca ). In addition, they are distributed in two mountainous systems separated by the central valleys of the state of Oaxaca ( Fig. 3 )

Etymology: The Latin name " glabra ″ ("smooth; bald, hairless″) alludes to the near absence of pronotal setae, which easily distinguishes this Dilophochila glabra sp. nov. from the rest of the species of Mexico.

Distribution: D. glabra is known only from the type locality, in the Sierra Norte of the state of Oaxaca, characterized by coniferous and cloud forests located between 900 and 1,300 masl.This area is part of a priority terrestrial region for conservation (RTP-130; Arriaga et al., 2000), with high functional ecological integrity, as well as high diversity and endemism.

Natural history: The specimens were collected with a metal additive light trap in an ecotone between cloud and pine forests in two collection events in successive years in the month of June, which coincided with a massive emergence of specimens. It should be noted that of the total sample (n = 148) only one female was collected.

Figures

Figure 1. Diagnostic characters of Dilophochila glabra sp.nov. (A,B,C,E, G) and D.miahuatleca Morón & Howden (D, F,H). (A) Dorsal habitus;(B) Head,pronotum and anterior legs;(C, D) Protibia;(E,F) Parameres (caudal view);(G,H) Aedeagus (lateral view).

Figure 2. Dilophochilaglabra sp.nov.(A) Lateral habitus;(B)Ventral habitus.

Figure 3. Distribution of the species of the genus Dilophochila Bates.