Hemiphileurus cavei Ratcliffe, 2003

Ratcliffe, Brett C., 2003, New Species of Hemiphileurus Kolbe from Honduras and Guatemala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (3), pp. 334-338 : 334-335

Hemiphileurus cavei Ratcliffe , new species

( Figs. 1–2 )

Type Material. Holotype male labeled ‘‘ HONDURAS: El Paraiso, 8.3 km SE Capire , 675 m, N138589540, W858499250, 17 Abril 1999, RD Cave & J. Torres. ’’ Single male paratype with same data except date of 12 June 1999 and collector R. Cave.

Holotype deposited at the University of Nebraska State Museum . Paratype deposited in the Brett C. Ratcliffe collection (Lincoln, NE).

Description of Holotype. Male. Length 22.9 mm; width 10.2 mm. Color black. Head: Frons with surface densely punctate to rugopunctate; punctures moderately large, deep, nearly confluent; center of frons with nearly round depression, depression rugopunctate within. Frontoclypeal

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juncture with 2 tubercles. Clypeus with surface rugopunctate at center, sparsely punctate on sides; apex nearly pointed, strongly reflexed; strong carina from apex to base of each tubercle absent.Eyes large, interocular width equals 3.3 transverse eye diameters. Antenna 10-segmented, club subequal in length to segments 2–7. Mandibles arcuate on lateral edge, apices acute. Pronotum: Surface on anterior fifth moderately densely punctate; punctures large, mostly transverse, becoming confluent in anterior angles; remainder of surface either side of longitudinal furrow with sparse, moderate to large punctures, punctures becoming slightly smaller and denser at lateral and basal margins. Median, longitudinal furrow moderately deep and broad, extending anteriorly from near base to well-past middle but not near anterior margin; surface within furrow with large, dense, confluent punctures. Two small, rounded, transverse tubercles present just behind anterior margin, one either side of midline. Base with complete marginal bead. Elytra: Rows of punctures in furrows; punctures moderate in size, deep, ocellate, separated from one another by less than a puncture diameter. Intervals distinctly and equally convex, with sparse micropunctures. Pygidium: Surface moderately densely punctate; punctures moderately large, ocellate, minutely setigerous except for a few long, tawny setae near margins either side of middle. In lateral view, surface regularly convex. Legs: Foretibia quadridentate. Posterior tibia at apex with strong, acute tooth on upper angle and several short, broad spinules below upper angle. Apex of first tarsomere of posterior tarsus extended into long, acute spine. Venter: Prosternal process short, broad, with 3 parallel, transverse depressions. Last sternite with narrow, transverse row of rugosity near base. Parameres: Figures 1–2 .

Paratype. Male. Length 19.9 mm; width 8.8 mm. The paratype does not differ significantly except that the sides of the pygidium have several long, tawny setae.

Distribution. Hemiphileurus cavei is known only from the type locality in central Honduras.

Locality Records (2 specimens examined). HONDURAS (2) EL PARAISO (2) : 8.3 km SE Capire.

Temporal Distribution. April (1), June (1).

Diagnosis. Hemiphileurus cavei is distinctive because of the quadridentate foretibia and the unique form of the male parameres. Only four other species of Hemiphileurus have quadridentate foretibiae: H. dispar (Kolbe) from Hispaniola, H. microps (Burmeister) from Mexico and Guatemala, H. illatus from the United States and Mexico, and H. parvus Dupuis and Dechambre from Cuba. Hemiphileurus cavei most closely resembles H. microps except that the parameres differ significantly ( Figs. 1 , 3).

Etymology. This species is named after my friend and colleague, Dr. Ronald D. Cave (formerly Escuela Agricultura Panamericana, Zamarano, Honduras; now University of Florida, Ft. Pierce), who collected the specimens.

Biology. As with most species of Phileurini, nothing is known of the biology of this species. According to Ron Cave (pers. comm., August 2002), the type locality is a low elevation, broadleaf forest with a highly diverse vegetation with large trees on steep slopes. Pine trees, nearly ubiquitous in much of Honduras, are absent. This locality undergoes a severe dry season from January to May during which a few trees lose all their leaves. This forest is a remnant island surrounded by massive deforestation that has occurred during the last ten years.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Parameres of H. cavei Ratcliffe, n. sp., caudal and lateral views. Fig. 3. Parameres of H. microps (Burmeister), caudal view. Figs. 4–5. Parameres of H. dechambrei Ratcliffe, n. sp., caudal and lateral views. Fig. 6. Parameres of H. cylindroides (Bates), caudal view. Fig. 7. Parameres of H. simplex (Prell), caudal view.