Dendropaemon (Sulcopaemon) similis Blut, 1939

François Génier & Patrick Arnaud, 2016, Dendropaemon Perty, 1830: taxonomy, systematics and phylogeny of the morphologically most derived phanaeine genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, Phanaeini), Zootaxa 4099 (1) : 79-81

40. Dendropaemon (Sulcopaemon) similis Blut, 1939

( Figs. 40 , 106–107, 154)

Dendropaemon similis Blut 1939 , Arch. Naturg. (N.F.) 8: 282 (original description) Dendropemon simile: Blackwelder 1944 , U.S. Nat . Mus. Bull. 185: 211 (checklist) Dendropaemon similis: Edmonds 1972 , Univ. Kansas Sc. Bull. 49: 851 (comment taxonomy) Dendropaemon (D.) similis: Arnaud 2002 , Col. Monde 28: 15 (mention)

Type locality. Paraguay.

Diagnosis. The small size combined with the three-segmented meso- and metatarsi with the second segment being subequal in length to the first segment will place the species in the quadratus species complex. The lateral pronotal fossae with the sharply carinate anterior edge will separate it from most other species in the group. The three-segmented meso- and metatarsi will separate it from D. quadratus , the rounded pronotal lateral edges and the obtuse anterior angles in dorsal view will separate it from D. nitidicollis and the elytral striae 1 bent laterally before reaching the apical margin will separate it from D. fasces .

Description. Male holotype ( Fig. 40 ). Body. Body small, length 9.0 mm, maximum width 4.0 mm; body subrectangular in dorsal view; dorsum narrowly flat. Color. Dorsal surface dark brown to black, glossy, with green and coppery metallic sheen; head brown along anterior edge of clypeus, with green and coppery metallic sheen on remaining surface; pronotum with green metallic sheen except for anteromedian carina, on anterior portion of disc and surface adjacent to lateral fossae; elytra with uniform green metallic sheen; ventrum dark brown to black; pygidium with green and coppery metallic sheen; legs reddish brown to dark brown. Head. Clypeus broadly arcuate, anterior portion slightly upturned; clypeal teeth ogival; clypeal median emargination broadly u-shaped, clypeal edge emarginate on external side of each clypeal tooth, clypeal teeth ventral surface lacking carina, clypeal margin ill-defined, lacking sharp carina posteriorly, clypeal surface with transverse blunt rugulae; clypeogenal suture well-defined, bluntly carinate internally; genal surface with fine blunt transverse rugulae laterally, minutely punctate internally, lacking distinct transverse carina, simply convex; clypeofrontal carina rather low, approximately 4 times wider than high, slightly arcuate in dorsal view, simply carinate, clypeofrontal carina apical edge straight in frontal view; eyes small in dorsal view, interocular ratio 5.5. Pronotum. Pronotum transverse in dorsal view, pronotal width/length ratio 1.4; disc of pronotum minutely punctate on disc, punctures becoming fine on lateral declivities, with a fine longitudinal sulcus on posterior two-third; pronotal anterior margin wider and flat lateral to eyes; anterior portion with a tri-sinuous carina, carina produced into a tubercle medially; anterior angles surface with fine blunt longitudinal rugulae, slightly but distinctly sulcate along posterior edge of anterior margin; lateral fossae rounded and bordered anteriorly by a sharp carina; lateral portions unmodified; pronotal basal fossae small, more or less rounded; posterior margin ill-defined on a short distance on each side of pronotal basal fossae, lacking setae. Elytra. Elytra approximately as long as wide in dorsal view, elytral combined width/length ratio 1.0; elytral base lacking distinct margin, simply convex; elytral striae 1–4 very wide basally and tapering toward apex, very deeply impressed basally, elytral striae 5 similar to 4 on disc, strial punctures minute, stria 1 well-defined apically, connecting to marginal stria; interstriae slightly convex, minutely punctate with fine irregular depressions throughout, with some microsculpture along striae. Thoracic sterna. Proepisternal carina reduced, present along coxal insertion only; metasternal median lobe bluntly angularly produced anteromedially, ventral ridge ill-defined, keel shaped. Legs. Profemur posterior surface slightly but distinctly convex, rather coarsely punctate and glabrous internally, posterointernal margin rather thick, evenly developed, internal edge rather wide, with a contiguous row of setae along anterointernal edge, remaining surface smooth. Protibia with four teeth on lateral edge; internal basal angle lobate; anterior surface lacking aligned row of setae internally, with few aligned and isolated setiferous punctures only, surface coarsely microsculptured between punctures; posterior surface with coarse irregular punctures externally to median carina, surface glossy between punctures, with a single interrupted setal row along lateral teeth. Mesofemur obtusely angular on anterointernal edge apically. Mesotibia rather short, gradually widening toward apex in anterior view; anteroapical edge slightly sinuate in anterior view, anteroapical row of setae complete; apicoanterior edge circularly indented internally; external edge more or less rounded, with several large elongate setiferous punctures. Mesotarsus similar in shape to metatarsus, 3-segmented, first segment moderately elongate, approximately two times as long as wide at apex. Metafemur internal edge nearly straight and lateral edge arcuate, lacking distinct depressed area anterointernally before apex, apicoposterior edge unmodified, anterior surface with a well-defined irregular sulcus on apical half. Metatibia moderately slender, slightly widening toward apex in anterior view, anterior surface with distinct row of setae, surface glossy basally and slightly irregular apically, metatibial posterior surface flat between longitudinal row of setae and lateral edge, with transverse microsculpture. Metatarsus 3-segmented, first segment moderately elongate, approximately two times as long as wide at apex, with anterointernal carina well defined and almost reaching apical edge. Abdominal sternites. Sternites 3–6 longitudinally slightly convex; sternites 4–6 with 1–3 unaligned rows of setae laterally, glabrous medially; sternite 7 slightly longitudinally concave medially, shorter than segment 6 along midline; pygidium finely punctate on disc. Male genitalia (Figs. 106–107). Parameres produced onto a lobe laterally; surface smooth, glossy apically.

Measurements (1 male). Length: 9.0 mm.

Primary type data ( Fig. 154 ). Holotype male (MTD): [ Paraguay / Dr Bohls]/ [♂]; [Coll. C. Felsche/ Kauf 20, 1918] green card; [Typus] red card; [ Dendropaemon / similis Blut / Paraguay, Dr. Bohls] hanwritten; [WORLD/ SCARAB./ DATABASE/ WSD00016771]; [HOLOTYPE / Dendropaemon / similis / Blut, 1939] red card; [ Dendropaemon / similis / Blut, 1939 / vid. F. Génier, 2014].

Material examined. Primary type only.

Natural history. Unknown.

Remarks. Female and variation unknown.

As noted by Blut (1939), this species is externally extremely similar to D. fasces . In the original description, Blut states that the holotype male is from San Salvador ( Paraguay). However, the locality data labels on the specimen only state “ Paraguay ”. Two specimens of D. fasces studied by Blut are clearly labeled as from San Salvador and both of these specimens are from the type series of D. fasces studied by Blut and are identical to the lectotype. This is certainly casting doubts on the exact type locality.

In addition to characters used in the description the following differences can also separate D. similis from D. fasces : the punctures of the posterior portion of the profemur are much larger and confluent, the surface exhibit coarse microsculpture, the same is true for the meso- and metafemora. Although much more difficult to quantify and describe, the posterior portion of the pronotum is slightly more convex laterally, the posterior border is, as a result, well defined on a longer distance. Finally, the pygidial surface show distinct microsculpture and the parameres are less explanate apically in dorsal view and are slightly shorter.

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 41. Dorsal habitus. 37. D. latistriatus, male holotype; 38. D. nitidicollis, male lectotype; 39. D. quadratus, male neotype; 40. D. similis, male holotype; 41. D. denticollis, female holotype.

FIGURES 134 – 154. Primary type labels. 134. D. hirticollis; 135. D. pauliani; 136. D. renatii; 137. D. ater; 138. D. piceus; 139: D. telephus; 140. D. viridis; 141. D. viridipennis. 142. D. convexus; 143. D. fredericki; 144. D. angustipennis; 145. D. bahianus; 146. D. amyntas (= D. attalus); 147. D. ganglbaueri; 148. D. refulgens; 149. D. fractipes; 150. D. fasces; 151. D. haroldi; 152. D. nitidicollis; 153. D. quadratus; 154. D. similis; 155. D. denticollis.