Phalangogonia hawksi, Smith, Andrew B. T., 2003

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2003, A new species of Phalangogonia Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini) from Costa Rica, Zootaxa 316, pp. 1-4 : 1-4

Phalangogonia hawksi new species ( Figs. 1–3)

Type specimen. Male holotype deposited at the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad ( INBio), Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica. Holotype labeled “ COSTA RICA: PUNTARENAS Rancho Quemado, 300 m 25 May 2001 M. Posla” (typeface) and “PHA­ LANGOGONIA HAWKSI SMITH ɗ HOLOTYPE ” (handwriting and typeface, black border). Type locality: Rancho Quemado (8°40'N, 83°34'W; Osa Peninsula), Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from all other species in the genus Phalangogonia by the following combination of characters: dorsal colour tan with prominent black pattern on head, pronotum, and elytra ( Fig. 1); frons glabrous; eye bulbous, protruding from side of head in dorsal view; pronotum moderately punctate; pygidial disc shagreened to granular, setose; mesometasternal process robust, not declivous with respect to venter; male genitalia as in Figs. 2–3 .

Description of holotype. Male. Length 21.0 mm, width 11.0 mm. Colour tan with prominent black pattern on head, pronotum, and elytra ( Fig. 1); ventral surface and pygidium black. Head: Dorsal surface densely punctate. Clypeus setose, weakly rounded, apex reflexed. Frontoclypeal suture complete, straight. Eye large, bulbous, length in lateral view 0.3 x head length in lateral view. Labrum with apex vertically produced with respect to clypeus, produced at middle, triangular. Mentum setose, apex strongly reflexed into oral cavity. Antenna with 10 antennomeres; club length greater than length of antennomeres 2–6. Pronotum: Surface glabrous, moderately punctate (densely punctate near lateral border). Lateral border distinct; apical, basal borders indistinct. Elytron: Surface glabrous. Striae weakly defined, punctate. Epipleuron with ventral surface flat. Pygidium: Surface shagreened, setose; setae long, cream­coloured. Ve nt er: Thorax glabrous medially, setose laterally; setae long, yellowish­brown. Mesometasternal process projecting parallel to body, apex adjacent to procoxae. Abdominal sternites sparsely setose. Legs: Protibia with 3 teeth. Mesotibia and metatibia with medial carina. Tarsomeres 1–4 wider than long, cup­shaped. Mesotarsomere and metatarsomere 1–3 with ventral pad of thick, yellowish­brown setae. Tarsomere 5 elongate, with weak ventrobasal tooth. Tarsal claws with modified claw thickened when compared to other claw, apex bifurcate. Male genitalia: Figs. 2–3 . Phallobase fused to parameres. Parameres fused together except at apex; dorsomedially without keel or swelling; apex constricted, curved ventrally.

Variation. Unknown. The holotype is the only specimen examined.

Etymology. I am very pleased to name this species after David C. Hawks (University of California­Riverside). It was during a visit to Riverside when I discovered the holotype of this species in Dave's collection.

Distribution. Known only from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

Key to the species of Phalangogonia (modified from Smith and Morón [2003])

1. Pygidial disc appearing smooth, without noticeable microsculpturing (some scattered punctures and setae present); mesometasternal process robust, declivous (sloping away) with respect to venter........................................................................................ 2

­ Pygidial disc shagreened, rugose or granular; mesometasternal process weak to robust, apex parallel with respect to venter................................................................ 3

2(1). Metatarsomeres 1–3 with well developed pad of ventral spines and setae; male parameres with distinct dorsomedial keel, apices with strong tooth; Puebla, Veracruz,

Oaxaca and Veracruz, México....................................................... P. lacordairei Bates ­ Metatarsomeres 1–3 with weak pad of ventral spines and setae; male parameres with poorly defined dorsomedial keel, apices with weak tooth; eastern Guatemala to northwestern Honduras........................................................................ P . dispar Ohaus 3(1). Eyes small, almost flush with side of head in dorsal view.......................................... 4

­ Eyes bulbous, distinctly protruding from side of head in dorsal view ........................ 5

4(3). Pronotum with sparse, scattered punctures; clypeus with surface mainly glabrous (sometimes with sparse, scattered setae); southern México to Guatemala................... ....................................................................................................... P . obesa Burmeister

­ Pronotum with dense, sometimes confluent punctures; clypeus with surface uniformally setose; El Salvador.................................................................. P . punctata Franz

5(3). Mesometasternal process produced to or surpassing base of procoxae ..................... 6

­ Mesometasternal process not reaching base of procoxae........................................... 8

6(5). Dorsal colour tan with prominent black markings on head, pronotum, and elytra ( Fig. 1); male parameres as in Figs. 2–3 ; Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.......... P . hawksi Smith

­ Dorsal surface with uniform coloration....................................................................... 7

7(6). Dorsal colour mostly pale green; Oaxaca, México.... P. jamesonae Smith and Morón

­ Dorsal colour tan or light to dark yellowish­brown (sometimes creamy white when alive); Honduras to Panama................................................................ P . sperata Sharp

8(5). Head dorsally glabrous; pygidium brown to black, granulate; length 18–24 mm; Quezaltenango, Guatemala................................................................... P. parilis Bates

­ Head dorsally setose; pygidium tan, not granulate but with obvious microsculpturing; length 24–31 mm; Oaxaca to Chiapas, México.............. P . ratcliffei Smith and Morón

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 3. Male genitalia of Phalangogonia hawksi. 2. lateral view; 3. dorsal view.