Amerilochus Skelley, 2007

Skelley, Paul E., 2007, New South American taxa of Odontolochini Stebnicka and Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Insecta Mundi 2007 (22), pp. 1-15 : 3

Amerilochus Skelley , new genus

Type species. Amerilochus cinereus Skelley , n. sp., here designated.

Diagnosis. Body with dorsal surface entirely argillaceous (with grey, clay-colored covering); head with clypeal margin thick, flattened, double edged; pronotum with medial longitudinal groove, bounded each side by small ridge, basal edge with broad transverse groove; elytra with alternating intervals distinctly higher than intervening intervals.

Description. Body elongate, somewhat parallel-sided, dorsally argillaceous. Head moderately gibbose, strongly deflexed at middle; clypeal margin moderately thickened, flattened in front, double edged from frontal lobe to frontal lobe; anterior clypeal margin thickest at middle, medially with small spiniform tooth projecting inwardly on inner edge. Pronotum slightly wider than long, rectangular, sides decline sharply, sides nearly invisible from above; clypeus and anterior lateral portion of pronotum forming cavity for reception of fore legs; disc with medial longitudinal groove bounded by small ridges, lateral surface with weak irregular depression from small pit near anterior angles toward median base; lateral pronotal margin nearly straight in dorsal view, not explanate, in lateral view emarginate, bearing a small subapical tooth; pronotal base sinuate with broad marginal groove. Scutellum small, narrow, triangular. Elytra weakly oval, surface argillaceous; odd intervals raised, carinate, even intervals flattened; striae impressed, sharply defined, punctures moderate; elytral base with distinct marginal bead and humeral lobe that projects anteriorly, humerus rounded. Prosternum broad and flat behind procoxae. Meso- and metasternal juncture straight, flat. Mesosternum with setose callosity. Metasternum with distinct medial longitudinal groove, laterally distinctly, coarsely punctured. Abdominal sternites 2-4 with broad transverse basal groove, distinctly fluted. Pygidium with longitudinal groove in basal half, apical half distinctly eroded posterior of transverse carina. Profemur very broad, with protrochanter rectangular width to length = 1:1.5; surface smooth, argillaceous. Protibia with teeth restricted to apex, 2 small lateral teeth and a single tooth on the inner angle beneath insertion of protarsus; protibial spur not seen. Mesocoxae widely separated, elongate, nearly parallel with body axis. Meso- and metafemur elongate, narrow, flattened, posterior edge with fine marginal line. Meso- and metatibia somewhat flattened, triangular in cross-section, gradually widening to apex; apical fringe of spinules short, indistinct; apical spurs stout, short; ventral surface covered with dense pubescence. Meso- and metatarsi not as long as tibia, ventrally covered with dense pubescence; basal tarsomere broad, 3 times longer than second tarsomere.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from “American Odontolochus ” combining the prefix and suffix to form “ Ameri-lochus ” (gender masculine).