Phanaeus balthasari Arnaud, 2001

Moctezuma, Victor, Halffter, Gonzalo & Lizardo, Viridiana, 2021, The Phanaeus tridens species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea): a dung beetle group with genital morphological stasis but a changing ecological niche, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 61 (2), pp. 447-482 : 454-455

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.37520/aemnp.2021.025

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:85434EFF-F859-4BBF-8AB5-F50B9BA08771

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6303354

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1B2B878A-8A2D-FFB5-FF1B-FAB4EE50F7A8

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Phanaeus balthasari Arnaud, 2001
status

stat. nov.

Phanaeus balthasari Arnaud, 2001 View in CoL , stat. rev.

( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 , 34 View Figs 32–42 , 45 View Figs 43–54 , 56 View Figs 55–62 )

Phanaeus tridens balthasari Arnaud, 2001: 6 View in CoL . Type locality: Guatemala, Huehuetenango.

Type material examined. GUATEMALA: H UEHUETENANGO: HOLOTYPE (originally designated by ARNAUD 2001, examined from photographs; Fig. 9 View Figs 8–9 ) 1 ♂ ( PFASF). MEXICO: CH I APAS: P ARATYPE (examined from photographs): 1 ♂, 2 km S. Chicoasen ( CMNC).

Non-type material studied. GUATEMALA: H UEHUETENANGO: 1 ♂, Nenton,Camino Nenton-San José Chaquial ( UVGC); 1♀, Nenton, Finca El Carmen ( UVGC); 2♂♂ 1♀, Nenton, Finca El Zapote, Río Lagarteros ( VMPM); 1 ♀, Nenton, La Trinidad ( UVGC); 1 ♂, Nenton, San José Chaquial ( VMPM). MEXICO: CH I APAS: 1 ♀, Cerro Hueco ( GHVM); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, El Pozuelo ( GHVM); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Las Delicias ( GHVM: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, VMPM: 1 ♂); 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, Meseta de Copoya, Tuxtla Gutiérrez ( GHVM: 3 ♀♀, VMPM: 1 ♂); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, San Pedro ( VMPM); 2 ♀♀, Santa Rosa ( GHVM: 1 ♀, VMPM: 1 ♀); 3 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Vicente Guerrero ( VMPM); 2 ♀♀, Vicente Guerrero, San Fernando ( VMPM).

Diagnosis. Metallic green species with yellow-red sheen ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 , 45 View Figs 43–54 , 56 View Figs 55–62 ). Sides of pronotal disc finely granulate and becoming granulorugose on raised outer margin of disc; disc weakly but coarsely rugose, more sparsely posteriorly ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 , 45 View Figs 43–54 ). Posteromedial process of pronotum produced into denticle, distinctly widened towards apex (not reaching anteromedial denticles), elongate, and apically bifurcated ( Figs 34 View Figs 32–42 , 45 View Figs 43–54 ). Anteromedial portion of pronotal disc with two denticles, distinctly separated by medial inconspicuous tubercle, this tubercle sometimes absent ( Fig. 45 View Figs 43–54 ). Anterolateral margins of pronotal disc with distinctly developed ridge of tubercles ( Fig. 45 View Figs 43–54 ). Posterolateral angles of pronotum less developed than posteromedial process of pronotum ( Figs 34 View Figs 32–42 , 45 View Figs 43–54 ). Elytral striae scabriculous, distinctly impressed and superficially punctate ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 ). Elytral interstriae scabriculous, smooth, superficially punctate and convex ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 ).

Variability. Minor male. Similar to major males, except for reduction of secondary sexual characters (i.e., cephalic horn, pronotal processes and posterolateral angles). Female. Similar to male, except for head showing trituberculate carina; pronotal sculpture granulate; pronotum with anteromedial black macula, and anteromedial trapezoidal carina followed by posterior concavity ( Fig. 56 View Figs 55–62 ).

Comments. Specimens of this species were erroneously referred to as P. pseudofurcosus by EDMONDS (1994), who considered it a subspecies of P. tridens ( Figs 1–5 View Figs 1–5 , 45 View Figs 43–54 , 55 View Figs 55–62 ). Additionally, specimens of the real P. pseudofurcosus ( Figs 22–23 View Figs 22–23 , 39 View Figs 32–42 , 51 View Figs 43–54 , 62 View Figs 55–62 ) were referred to as the “ Colima population” of P. tridens tridens ( EDMONDS 1994) . Subsequently, ARNAUD (2001) recognized the mistake by EDMONDS (1994) and described this taxon as a new subspecies, P. tridens balthasari . Finally, EDMONDS & ZÍDEK (2012) proposed P. t. balthasari as a junior subjective synonym of P. tridens , arguing that the entire P. tridens species group needed to be scrutinized.

The results of the present study demonstrate that P. balthasari merits full species status, because it is distinctly distinguished from P. tridens by a unique character combination: the posteromedial process of pronotum distinctly narrowed medially in posterior view ( Fig. 34 View Figs 32–42 ; not narrowed in P. tridens , Fig. 32 View Figs 32–42 ), ridge of tubercles of anterolateral margins of pronotal disc more raised in P. balthasari ( Fig. 45 View Figs 43–54 ), posterolateral angles of pronotum parallel in P. balthasari ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 ; subparallel in P. tridens , Figs 1–5 View Figs 1–5 ) and pronotal disc more coarsely rugose in P. balthasari ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 , 45 View Figs 43–54 ). Putative hybrid specimens or populations between P. tridens and P. balthasari were not found, while P. tridens is restricted to north-central Veracruz and P. balthasari to Chiapas and Guatemala ( Fig. 64 View Fig ).

Distribution. From Chiapas, Mexico to Huehuetenango, Guatemala ( Fig. 64 View Fig ).

UVGC

Collecion de Artropodos

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Scarabaeidae

Genus

Phanaeus

Loc

Phanaeus balthasari Arnaud, 2001

Moctezuma, Victor, Halffter, Gonzalo & Lizardo, Viridiana 2021
2021
Loc

Phanaeus tridens balthasari

ARNAUD P. 2001: 6
2001
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