Stebnickiella 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 : 13-14

Stebnickiella Skelley , new genus

Type species. Stebnickiella zosterixys Skelley , n. sp., here designated.

Diagnosis. Stebnickiella is easily recognized by its broad head, flattened clypeal margin, and anteriorly tumid pronotum with explanate sides and basal constriction.

Description. Body elongate, oval, constricted at base of pronotum, reddish-brown, surface glossy. Head nearly as broad as pronotum, weakly deflexed at middle; clypeal margin thin laterally, thickening toward middle, flattened in front, double edged, thickest at middle, medially with small triangular tooth projecting inwardly on inner edge. Pronotum broad, wider than long, tumid anteriorly, sides explanate; lateral edge evenly rounded to basal constriction, lacking teeth, edge finely margined; clypeus and anterior lateral portion of pronotum forming cavity for reception of fore legs; pronotal base evenly arched, with broad transverse basal depression, edge with complete marginal line. Scutellum small, narrow, triangu- lar. Elytra oval, surface glossy; intervals flat to weakly convex; striae impressed, sharply defined, punctures moderate; elytral base with marginal bead laterally, humeral tooth projects laterally. Prosternum broad and flat behind procoxa. Meso- and metasternal juncture straight, flat. Mesosternum with 3 longitudinally linear callosities at middle, 2 small circular callosities on each side, and anterior row of deep punctures; medial callosity not attaining meso-metasternal juncture, half length of submedial callosities which reach juncture. Metasternum with distinct medial longitudinal groove, each side with transverse groove anterior of metacoxa, weaker groove posterior of mesocoxae; surface smooth, laterally with large foveate punctures. Abdominal sternites 2-4 with basal transverse row of large foveate punctures; sternites 2-5 with narrow basal groove; sternites 5-6 minutely punctate. Pygidium with longitudinal groove in basal half, apical half distinctly eroded posterior of transverse carina, glossy. Profemur elongate, with protrochanter width to length = 1:2; surface smooth, glossy. Protibia with 3 large, laterally placed teeth, evenly distributed along margin, apical tooth largest; apical spur prominent. Mesocoxae widely separated, elongate, nearly parallel with body axis. Meso- and metafemur elongate, narrow, flattened, posterior edge lacking marginal line. Meso- and metatibia somewhat flattened, triangular in cross-section, gradually widening to apex; apical fringe of spinules long, distinct; apical spurs long, slender; ventral surface glabrous, lateral margin with 2 dense rows of setae. Meso- and metatarsi narrow, nearly as long as tibia; basal metatarsomere 3 times longer than second tarsomere; tarsomeres with few apically placed setae.

Etymology. It is with great pleasure that I am able to name this distinctive genus for Z. Teresa Stebnicka, eminent taxonomist of Aphodiinae, who has devoted much of her recent research to the New World’s fauna (gender feminine).