Neochodaeus Nikolajev 1995: 77

Paulsen, M. J., 2007, Nomenclatural changes in the Nearctic Ochodaeinae and description of two new genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ochodaeidae), Insecta Mundi 2007 (21), pp. 1-13 : 9-10

Neochodaeus Nikolajev 1995: 77

( Fig. 4-5 )

Remarks. The genus Neochodaeus was created by Nikolajev (1995) for two North American species, N. praesidii (LeConte) [type species] and N. frontalis (LeConte) , based on the presence of a longitudinal sulcus on the propygidium. Several Nearctic species also possess a longitudinal sulcus and would appear to belong to the genus. However, as described above, there are two distinct propygidial forms, each corresponding with a distinct form of the mentum. Neochodaeus is here limited to species with a short propygidium and short, trapezoidal sulcus, with a more or less flat mentum that is not longitudinally impressed ( Fig. 5 ).

Two additional Nearctic species are transferred to Neochodaeus forming new combinations: N. repandus (Fall) and N. striatus (LeConte) . The synonymy of O. complex with N. frontalis is doubtful, and a revision of the genus is necessary to determine the status of O. complex with respect to N. frontalis and N. repandus . I retain O. complex as a synonym of N. frontalis pending such a revision. In addition, more Central American species remain to be transferred to the genus.

Figures

Figure 1-4. Propygidia of Nearctic Ochodaeinae genera. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. 1) Unmodified propygidium of Cucochodaeus sparsus, with elytral apices evenly rounded. 2) Two tubercles present on apex of propygidium in Parochodaeus duplex, dentate elytral apices also shown. 3) Elongate propygidium with subparallel sulcus in Xenochodaeus simplex. 4) Short propygidium with trapezoidal sulcus in Neochodaeus praesidii, arrow indicates stridulatory peg.

Figure 5-6. Mentum (center) of Neochodaeus sp. and Xenochodaeus sp. Scale bar = 200 m. 5) More or less flat mentum of N. praesidii. 6) Longitudinally impressed mentum of X. americanus.