Onthophagus zapotecus Zunino and Halffter

Höglinger, Marc, Huber, Andrea & Eichler, Klaus, 2019, Entwicklung Medizintechnik 2019 bis 2030: stationäre Rehabilitation & amp; stationäre Psychiatrie, The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (3), pp. 535-550 : 542-543

Onthophagus zapotecus Zunino and Halffter

Of the nine brachypterous species of Onthophagus known worldwide (Gasca et al. 2018), there are two recorded from Oaxaca: Onthophagus pedester Howden and Génier and O. zapotecus . Onthophagus zapotecus ( Fig. 7 ) was first described from three museum specimens (Zoology Museum of Lund, Sweden) that were collected by sifting soil at 22 km north of the city of Oaxaca. Our capture of more than 60 individuals increases the known distribution to the Sierra Norte (San Pablo Etla) and Sierra Sur (Santo Domingo Ozolotepec and San José del Pac´ıfico) ( Fig. 9 ). This flightless species may have coprophagous habits, as it was collected in our dung-baited pitfall traps, but since no living specimen has been observed feeding on or nesting with dung, this cannot be confirmed. It was collected between 2,400 and 2,900 m elevation in pine forest. The newly collected specimens allowed a redescription of this species.

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 7B, D ). General body shape more oval and convex than usual for Onthophagus species due to longitudinal reduction of elytra and corresponding thoracic-abdominal areas. Length = 4.5—6.0 mm from clypeal apex to pygidium, maximum width 4 mm across middle of pronotum. Color: Base of head, pronotum, elytra, and abdominal venter very dark reddish brown, almost black; clypeal edge and legs light reddish with yellowish brown marks at base of 6 th elytral stria and apex of 5 th interstria, integument rather shiny. Head: Clypeus approximately as wide as long, margin forming a large arch with genaes, raised margin subsinuate medially. Genae quite wide, triangular, with a very arched apex; genal sutures visible. Clypeal carina absent. Frontal carina very broadly V-shaped, continuous or sometimes interrupted in middle by deep, well-defined, large puncture. Clypeal punctures slightly confluent anteriorly, more widely spaced posteriorly and on frons. With dorsal pubescence of very sparse light yellowish-white setae. Pronotum: Highly developed, convex, with an obtuse antero-medial protuberance. Lateral margins with rounded anterior angles, almost straight between these and intermediate angles, basal bead evanescent medially. Sculpture of pronotal disc formed mainly by large, dense, irregularly distributed punctures, with few secondary punctures. With dorsal pubescence of very sparse light yellowish-white setae basally and laterally, a seta arising from the center of some punctures. Surface with shagreened microsculpture. Elytra: Very convex, with non-parallel, arched lateral margins; without humeral calli; Fine, punctate elytral striae; interstriae almost flat, with irregular strong and dense punctation. Setae more evident than on pronotum and slightly inclined posteriorly. Surface with shagreened microsculpture. Legs: Anterior tibiae very slender and elongate; inner margin curved, prolonged anteriorly and terminating with a brush of long, yellow setae; outer margin with 4 teeth, 1 st 3 of same size, closer to each other than to 4 th smaller basal tooth; apical spur reduced. Pygidium: With 2 longitudinal, reddish spots laterally; sculpture formed by large, dense, ill-defined punctures; shagreened surface with very pale yellowish white setae.

The female ( Fig. 7A, C ) differs from the male by the subtriangular development of the clypeus, the apex of which is very low medially; the frontal carina raised at lateral angles and separated in some cases in the middle by large, well-defined, deep puncturee; the more pronounced genal angle; the less developed pronotum; and the protibiae with four equidistant teeth, the basal tooth smaller in comparison with the first three teeth.

Material Examined. México: Estado de Oaxaca, “La Mesita”, San Pablo Etla , Oaxaca. 3♂, 17-VI- 2017 Coprotrampa 96°42 ′ 3.20″ W, 17°10 ′ 51.14″N Bosque de pino-encino 2,798m.; “La Mesita”, San Pablo Etla , Oaxaca. 3♂, 4♀ 8- VII-2017 Coprotrampa - 96°42 ′ 2.55″W, 17°10 ′ 49.95″N, Bosque de Pino 2,822m. Arriaga J. A. Col; Reserva Comunitaria San Pablo Etla. 6♂, 4♀ 23-IX-2016 coprotrampa 96.714888W, 17.178782° N, bosque de pino/encino, 2,515m Arriaga J. A. Col .

Figures

Fig. 7. Onthophagus zapotecus. A) Illustration of female, B) Illustration of male, C) Female, dorsal habitus, D) Male, dorsal habitus.

Fig. 9. Known distribution of Onthophagus species in Oaxaca, Mexico.