Trogellus (Trogoides) maesi, Paulsen, 2013

Paulsen, M. J., 2013, A new genus for the Neotropical species of Aesalus Fabricius, with descriptions of eight new species (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Aesalinae), Insecta Mundi 2013 (325), pp. 1-25 : 13-14

Trogellus (Trogoides) maesi Paulsen, new species.

Type Material. Holotype female ( UNSM) labeled: a) “ NICARAGUA: Matagalpa / Montaña Selva Negra / N 13 o 00’01” W 85 o 54’32” / VI-24/25-2002, FI Trap ”; b) “BC Ratcliffe, ML Jameson, / FC Ocampo, MJ Paulsen / ABT Smith”; c) UNSM SCARAB DNA / VOUCHER SPECIMEN / [AS63 / SEPT.-2002];” d) red paper, “ Trogellus / maesi [female symbol] / Paulsen, 2012 / HOLOTYPE ”.

Paratype female ( MJPC) labeled: a, b as holotype ; c) yellow paper, “ Trogellus / maesi [female symbol] / Paulsen, 2013 / PARATYPE ”.

Description. Holotype female. Length: 4.7 mm. Width: 2.8 mm. Head: Clypeus triangular, apex not distinctly produced. Canthus long, length approximately 2× width. Mandibles with external tooth at angulation. Pronotum: Surface densely punctate, with distinct tubercles posterolaterally at base of bristles; punctures large, ocellate. Metasternum: Punctures anterolaterally moderate in size. Elytra: Surface with blunt bristles, bristles moderately long (distinctly longer than 4 th tarsomere). Legs: Protibiae tridentate, teeth small, margin between teeth nearly flat. Mesotibia with 3 external teeth (proximal tooth smaller) and acute apex. Metatibia sinuate, with 2–3 small external teeth; apex tumid. Female genitalia: Styli short, strongly hooked.

Paratype varies as follows: Length: 5.8 mm. Width: 3.0 mm.

Distribution. NICARAGUA: Matagalpa (2): Selva Negra.

Temporal Distribution. June (2).

Diagnosis/Remarks. This species has a narrower, more elongate ocular canthus than T. trogoides . Externally, the species is similar to T. hawksi in the shape of the ocular canthus and the tuberculate pronotum, but the prosternum before the procoxae is distinctly narrower in T. maesi than in the remaining specimens of the subgenus, and the metatibiae are distinctly more sinuate. Furthermore, the styli of the female genitalia are shorter and more strongly hooked than in T. hawksi , and the metasternum has larger ocellate punctures. Both specimens were collected in a flight-intercept trap, and are female, so the male genitalia of the species remain unknown.

Etymology. The first, and only, stag beetle known from Nicaragua is named for Jean-Michel Maes of Leon, Nicaragua, in honor of his publications on Lucanidae and sympatry with the new species.

Trogellus (Trogoides) trogoides ( Albers, 1883) , new combination.

Aesalus trogoides Albers 1883: 228 , original combination.

Aesalus smithi Bates 1889: 382 , new synonymy.

Type Material. Neotype of Aesalus trogoides , here designated, and holotype of A. smithi (BMNH) female labeled: a) “Chilpancingo, / Guerrero, / 4600 ft. / June. H. H. Smith”; b) “B.C.A. / [382, 2a]”; c) handwritten “ Aesalus / smithi / Bates”; d) red-bordered, circular “Type”; e) red-bordered, circular “Holo- / type”; f) “H. Bomans det., 19[86] / [ Aesalus / smithi Bates ]”; g) handwritten “ HOLOTYPE / “ Aesalis (sic) smithi Bates / M.D.K. 1986”; h) handwritten [female symbol] / sexed by / Araya 1998”; i) “ BMNH (E) / #608319”; i) red paper, “ Aesalus smithi / Bates, 1889 / HOLOTYPE ”; j) red paper, “ Aesalus trogoides / Albers, 1883 / NEOTYPE / des. M.J. Paulsen”; k) “ Trogellus / trogoides / ( Albers, 1883) / det. M.J. Paulsen 2013”. Justification for the designation of a neotype is presented in the Introduction above.

Description. Neotype female. Length: 5.9 mm. Width: 2.9 mm. Head: Clypeus triangular with distinctly produced, tooth-like apex. Canthus short, length approximately equal to width. Mandibles without external tooth at angulation. Pronotum: Lateral margin explanate in anterior view. Surface densely punctate, lacking obvious tubercles posterolaterally; punctures large, ocellate. Elytra: Surface with blunt bristles, bristles short (distinctly shorter than 4 th tarsomere). Legs: Protibia tridentate, external teeth small, margin between teeth slightly flat. Mesotibia with 4 external teeth (proximal tooth smaller). Metatibia with 1 small median tooth and tumid apex.

Other specimens vary as follows: Length: 4.9–6.5 mm. Width: 2.7–3.3 mm. Males with metatibial apex acute. Male genitalia: Parameres narrow, 2/5 as long as median lobe, located on dorsal surface of median lobe; median lobe symmetrical, with large triangular lateral processes at distal third, processes with distal margin straight ( Fig. 23 ).

Distribution. MEXICO: Distrito Federal (37): Magdalena Contreras – Parque Nacional Los Dinamos (MJPC, UNAM); Tlalpan - La Venta (BMNH, CMNC, CASC, FMNH); Guerrero: Chilpancingo; Sierra de Taxco ( Reyes-Castillo & Boucher 2003). Hidalgo (3): P.N. el Chico, Cam a la Peña del Cuervo; PN Los Marmoles, Zimapan, La Encarnacion Bosque de Encino (IEXA); Tenango de Doria ( Reyes-Castillo & Boucher 2003); Tlanchinol ( Delgado & Márquez 2006). Jalisco (2): Tecolotlan, Sierra de Quila; Zapotlán el Grande, Nevado de Colima (IEXA, UNAM). Mexico (1): Real de Arriba / Temescaltepec; Rio Frio ( Reyes-Castillo & Boucher 2003). Michoacan: Pátzcuaro ( Reyes-Castillo & Boucher 2003). Morelos (1): Tres Cumbres (CMNC). Puebla: Huauchinango ( Reyes-Castillo & Boucher 2003). Tamaulipas (1): 6 mi W. Rio Sabinas near Encino (TAMU); Gómez Farías ( Reyes-Castillo & Boucher 2003).

Temporal Distribution. April (1), June (3), July (30), August (1), October (1). No data (9).

Diagnosis/Remarks. This species is the largest in the genus and can immediately be recognized by the short and broad ocular canthus and by the absence of tubercles on the sides of the pronotum (instead being distinctly punctate with large, ocellate punctures). In other species of the subgenus Trogoides the tubercles of the posterior part of the pronotum are distinct. The parameres of the male genitalia are much shorter than in T. hawksi , the other species occurring in Mexico. According to the labels, the specimen from Tres Cumbres was collected as a larva in February and eclosed in April. Specimens have been taken in pine logs at high elevations.

Reyes-Castillo and Boucher (2003) treated the species and provided a brief description and detailed distributional map. Howden and Lawrence (1974) listed specimens of A. near trogoides from the “state of Morelia, Mexico ” (which probably refers to the T. trogoides specimen from Tres Cumbres, Morelos in the Howden Collection/CMNC), as well as from the “state of Tabasco ”. I have not encountered any specimens from Tabasco, which would be outside the known range of T. trogoides . Maes, in an undated web page (http://www.bio-nica.info/lucanidae/ AESALUS %20TROGOIDES.htm, accessed 21.VIII.2013) construed this latter locality reference to mean the town of Tabasco in Zacatecas state. If that is correct, it would most likely refer to T. trogoides , although it would also be a significant extension of the known range.

This species has the largest distribution of any in the genus, but as with most other species, it is found at high elevations in pine and pine-oak forests. Reyes-Castillo and Boucher (2003) reported finding living and dead adults, larvae, and pupae in the dark reddish parts of decaying pine trunks and stumps from May to October. Other specimens have been taken in pine logs with lighter, crumbling decomposing wood (A.D. Smith, personal communication).

Figures

Figures 18–23. Male genitalia of Trogellus species, dorsal view. 18. T. herrmanni n. sp. 19) T. ticiticus n. sp. 20) T. neotropicalis. 21) T. chapinitus n. sp. 22) T. hawksi n. sp. 23) T. trogoides. The male genitalia of T. maesi n. sp. are unknown.