Degallieridium, 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 : 20-21

3. Degallieridium new genus

Diagnosis: Body short, oval, convex ( Fig. 18) and very small size (length 2.0 mm or less). Dorsum brown; dorsal setae thick, as wide as lateral elytral striae. Clypeus with two teeth, laterally rounded; eyes dorsally as long as twice their width ( Fig. 47). Hypomeron without lateral longitudinal carina. Elytral interstriae with two rows of punctures, only one of them bearing setae. Pseudoepipleuron medially inflexed, but gradually narrowed posteriorly ( Fig. 11). Parameres strongly divergent apically ( Fig. 48).

Description: Length 1.8–2.0 mm; body short ( Fig. 18), oval, bright brown, with no traces of metallic sheen. Clypeus with two triangular teeth separated by V-shaped emargination, laterally simply rounded and continuous with genal border. Clypeofrontal and clypeogenal sutures indistinct. Eyes, in dorsal view, twice as long as wide; interocular width four times eye width ( Fig. 47). Pronotum lacking anterior or posterior beads; lateral callosity present, elongated and darker than remaining parts of pronotum; disc centrally with large setose punctures. Pronotum and hypomeron separated by simple complete carina, with its posterior two-thirds placed ventrally (anterior third lateral). Hypomeron laterally lacking longitudinal carina; mesoepimeron anteriorly lacking transverse carina. Metasternum with small glabrous punctures on the disc. Elytral interstriae with two rows of punctures on disc, inner one bearing setae; interstriae flat on disc, apically convex; striae apically clearly wider and deeper than on disc. Pseudoepipleura medially inflexed (posteriorly almost in a transverse plane in relation to anterior part), but without sharp angle and gradually narrowed posteriorly ( Fig. 11), completely glabrous. Protibiae laterally with three strong teeth distributed along apical seven-tenths, not denticulate basally, and ventrally lacking scale-like setae on teeth. Width of apices of mesotibiae and metatibiae about one-third length of tibia. Length of parameres shorter than one-half that of phallobase, right angled in relation to phallobase axis, apically flattened and strongly divergent with sharp lateral apical angles ( Fig. 48). Internal sac with a long helicoidal pseudoflagellum occupying most of phallobase length, and secondary pseudoflagellum flattened all along. Coxites small and well defined, glabrous. Spermatheca C-shaped, strongly narrowed apically, basally somewhat bulbous; spermathecal duct not sclerotized.

Sexual dimorphism: Males have proclaws strongly bent in the middle with last tarsomere hollowed to receive them, an apical mesal tooth in protibia directed downward, and less transverse pygidium compared to females.

Type species: Degallieridium lilliputanum new species (monotypy).

Etymology: After Nicolas Degallier, friend, histeridologist and collector of part of the type series of the species described below. Gender neuter.

Distribution: Central Brazil (Minas Gerais state and Distrito Federal) and Bolivia, corresponding to scattered localities in Cerrado and Chaco provinces of the Chacoan subregion.

Remarks: This genus appears closely related to Feeridium , with which shares the absence of the hypomeral lateral longitudinal carina, pseudoepipleural longitudinal fold, and parameral and spermathecal general form. It is most easily distinguishable by size ( Feeridium is about five times longer) and body form (very elongated in Feeridium ), although many other differences do exist, for instance, Feeridium lacks modification in male proclaws. Both genera belong to the clade that includes also Trichillum , Eutrichillum , and Besourenga (see discussion above). A strong overall similarity exists between Degallieridium and Leotrichillum , however relationships of the latter with other genera are obscure.

Composition: Besides the type species, the genus contains at least one new species currently in the process of being described.