Parataenius estero, Stebnicka & Skelley, 2009

Stebnicka, Z. Teresa & Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Taxonomic redefinition of the genera Parataenius Balthasar and Pseudataenius Brown, with descriptions of three new species (Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), Insecta Mundi 2009 (66), pp. 1-18 : 9

Parataenius estero , new species

Figure 2 , 8

Diagnosis. Very similar to P. simulator with stout body and pronotal punctation pattern. Parataenius estero differs from all other species in the genus by its short, stout body and dark coloration.

Description. Length 3.5-3.6 mm. Body stout, convex ( Fig. 2 ) shiny black. Head moderate in size, clypeal margin obtusely rounded on each side of rather deep median emargination, genae right angled, fringed with setae; clypeal surface coarsely transversely rugulose, vertex with very few fine punctures. Pronotum strongly convex, side and base margined, posterior angles rounded, lateral edge finely crenate, fringed with rather short setae; surface everywhere with very fine, shallow, evenly distributed punctures separated by more than their own diameter, and with few coarse punctures widely scattered on each side of disc ( Fig. 8 ). Scutellum pentagonal, impunctate. Elytra convex, sides arcuate, humeri finely denticulate; striae noticeably impressed, strial punctures crenate inner margins of intervals; intervals slightly convex with minute, scattered punctures. Ventral surface shiny, smooth; mesosternum convex, shagreened, intercoxal carina short; metasternum relatively short, smooth from side to side, disc slightly concave; abdominal sternites shiny, finely fluted along sutures, sternite 5 grooved; surface smooth at middle, irregularly, setigerously punctate on sides, penultimate sternite with row of coarse punctures; disc of pygidium subgranulate, piliferous, not deeply eroded. Meso- and metafemora smooth, shiny, 3-4 coarse punctures at apex, posterior femoral lines incomplete; meso- and metatibiae setaceous, moderately dilated apically; apex of metatibia with fringe of short setae, without accessory spine, spurs slender, faintly sinuate; basal tarsomere of metatarsus slightly arcuate, shorter than upper tibial spur and longer than following 3 tarsomeres combined, tarsomere 5 longer than combined tarsomeres 3-4. Male unknown.

Type material. Holotype female: Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Fernandez , XII.1958 (Purchase ex F.H. Walz), in NMNH . Paratype female, same data as holotype, in NMNH.

Etymology. The species epithet is from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 1-6. Parataenius spp., dorsal habitus. 1) P. selvae, holotype. 2) P. estero, holotype. 3) P. simulator. 4) P. derbesis. 5) P. brunneus. 6) P. martinezi, holotype.

Figure 7-12. Parataenius spp., anterolateral view of head and pronotum. 7) P. selvae, holotype. 8) P. estero, holotype. 9) P. simulator. 10) P. derbesis. 11) P. brunneus. 12) P. martinezi, holotype.