Cyclocephala monacha Ratcliffe, 2008

Ratcliffe, Brett C., 1821, More New Species ofCyclocephalaDejean, 1821 from South America (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 62 (2), pp. 221-241 : 221-241

Cyclocephala monacha Ratcliffe , new species

( Figs. 31–33 )

Type Material. Holotype male, labeled ‘‘ Rio Cotuhe , Colombia, I19-1946.’’

Holotype deposited at the University of Nebraska State Museum , Lincoln, NE.

Holotype. Male. Length 17.0 mm; width across humeri 8.5 mm. Color of clypeus, pronotum, pygidium, legs, and venter dark reddish brown; frons black; elytra light reddish brown. Head: Entire surface similarly punctate, punctures small, moderate in density. Clypeus semicircular, apex weakly emarginate. Interocular width equals 2.5 transverse eye diameters. Antenna 10-segmented, club slightly longer than segments 2–7. Pronotum: Surface punctate, punctures small, moderate in density, becoming slightly larger and denser on sides. Posterior angles broadly rounded. Basal bead absent. Elytra: Surface minutely shagreened, punctures moderate in density and size, some in indistinct rows, sutural row distinct. Pygidium: Surface moderately densely punctate, punctures moderate in size, becoming smaller and sparser at apex. In lateral view, surface weakly convex in basal 2/3, strongly convex in apical third. Legs: Protibia tridentate, basal tooth small, removed from middle tooth. Protarsus strongly enlarged; tarsomeres 2–4 each slightly larger than preceding; 5th longer than tarsomeres 1–4 combined; median claw enlarged, strongly curved, apex split into large and small rami. Metatarsus subequal in length to metatibia. Venter: Prosternal process long, columnar; apex transversely oval with raised, transverse ‘‘button’’ on anterior half. Last sternite very deeply emarginate. Parameres: Figs. 32–33 .

Etymology. The name is derived from the Greek word monachos, meaning single or solitary, in reference to the single type specimen and to the uniquely singular form of the parameres.

Distribution. Cyclocephala monacha is known only from the type locality at Rio Cotuhe´, Amazonas, Colombia (2 ° 53 9 S, 69 ° 44 9 W). This is a small stream north of Leticia that feeds into the Rio Putamayo just south of Santa Clara near the Brazilian border. The habitat is lowland tropical rain forest. I have also seen this stream spelled Rio Catuhé on some maps.

Diagnosis. The parameres ( Figs. 32–33 ) are unique among Cyclocephala species. This species will key as far as couplet 415 in the key to male Cyclocephala species in Endrödi (1985), which is close to C. contracta Kirsch. While C. monacha is externally similar to C. contracta , the parameres are very different between the two species.

Figures

Figs. 31–33. Cyclocephala monacha: 31) dorsal view of holotype; 32–33) parameres