Nunoidium, Vaz-De-Mello, 2008

Vaz-De-Mello, Fernando Z., 2008, Synopsis of the new subtribe Scatimina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Ateuchini), with descriptions of twelve new genera and review of Genieridium, new genus, Zootaxa 1955, pp. 1-75 : 36-37

9. Nunoidium , new genus

Diagnosis: Body dark, elongated ( Fig. 26). Clypeus with two short triangular teeth separated by wide Vshaped emargination. Eyes, in dorsal view, as wide as two-fifths of their length, interocular width seven to eight times eye width ( Fig. 77). Pronotum and hypomeron separated by strong carina, pronotum with posterior bead. Mesofemora and metafemora oval, mesotibiae and metatibiae strongly widened apically. Male claws and tarsi unmodified.

Description: Length 3.2–5.0 mm, body elongated, parallel sided ( Fig. 26), color dark brown to black, shiny, without metallic sheen. Clypeus with two triangular upturned teeth, separated by wide V-shaped emargination, laterally rounded, margin continuous with that of gena. Clypeofrontal and clypeogenal sutures indistinct. Eyes, in dorsal view, as wide as two-fifths of their length; interocular width seven to eight times eye width ( Fig. 77). Pronotum lacking anterior bead, but with uninterrupted posterior one; separated from hypomeron by smooth carina; lateral callosity weakly defined, elongated; disc covered by setose punctures. Hypomeron with strong lateral longitudinal carina; mesoepimera with anterior transverse carina; metasternum covered by simple setose punctures on disc. Elytral discal interstriae (except sutural interstria) with biseriate setose punctures, interstriae flat on disc, mesal ones slightly convex on declivity; striae deeper and wider on declivity than on disc. Pseudoepipleura gradually narrowed posteriorly, with continuous row of punctures. Protibiae with three strong teeth, distributed along apical three-fifths of length, denticulate at base, with ventral scale-like setae on teeth. Mesofemora elongated, oval, as long as three times their medial width; metafemora short, oval, as long as twice its medial width; mesotibiae and metatibiae strongly widened apically; mesotibiae apically as wide as third of its length, metatibiae as long as twice apical width. Pygidium vertical, transverse. Parameres flattened ( Fig. 78), shorter than half length of phallobase, right-angled in relation to phallobase. Internal sac with helicoid pseudoflagellum and three flattened elongated acessory lamellae. Coxites symmetrical, rectangular, mesally toothed. Spermatheca very elongated, C-shaped, apically slightly spiraled.

Sexual dimorphism: Males with apicomesal tooth in all tibiae; metasternum slightly concave (flat in females), abdominal disc flat (slightly concave in females) and pygidium less transverse.

Type species: Pedaridium argentinum Arrow, 1913 (= Nunoidium argentinum ( Arrow, 1913) , new combination).

Etymology: Named after my son, Nuno Falqueto Vaz de Mello. Gender neutral.

Distribution: Central, northern and northwestern Argentina, occupying about the Southern Chaco province of the Chacoan subgregion ( Fig. 108).

Remarks: Nunoidium appears to be closely related to Genieridium , however, the completeness of the carina separating pronotal disc from hypomeron, vertical pygidial position, and presence of posterior pronotal bead, among other characters, will readily separate it. Apomorphies of this genus are the presence of posterior pronotal bead, absence of modification in male claws, elongation of spermatheca, and psammophilous modifications of metalegs.

Composition: Only the type species is known.

Material examined: