Gracilaclopus candelariae Ocampo & Mondaca

Ocampo, Federico C. & Mondaca, José, 2012, Revision of the scarab subfamily Aclopinae Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Argentina and Chile, Zootaxa 3409, pp. 1-29 : 10

Gracilaclopus candelariae Ocampo & Mondaca , new species

( Figs. 10, 11 , 25 , 31 )

Diagnosis. This species is recognized by the following combination of characters: labral apex truncate lacking indentation or teeth; body bicolored; size> 5.5 mm; male genitalia as Fig. 25 .

Description. Holotype male. Length 5.53 mm, width 2.30 mm. Color: Head, pronotum, scutellum brown to dark-brown; head progressively darker from clypeus to frons; elytra light brown, elytral suture darker then disc; legs, antennae, and mouthparts brown; ventral surface brown. Head ( Fig. 10 ): Frons flat on apical half, convex at base, surface sparsely to densely punctate, glabrous. Clypeus strongly transverse; lateral margins oblique; anterior margin straight, slightly reflexed, frontal area of anterior margin oblique; frontoclypeal suture obsolete, surface densely punctate, with small transversal carina in middle. Labral shape subrectangular in dorsal view, apex not indented in middle, strongly reflexed, glabrous. Pronotum ( Fig. 11 ): Surface sparsely punctate, with few setae; setae long, slender. Marginal bead present in all margins, reduced on posterior margin at middle. Anterior angle nearly right-angled; posterior angles broadly rounded. Scutellum: Triangular , apex rounded, surface punctate at base, smooth at apex. Elytra: Surface punctate, punctures moderately dense, setose, setae long. Legs: Mesotibiae and metatibiae with two transverse carinae. Mesotibial and metatibial apex with fringe of spine-like setae. Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ): Parameres longer than phallobase, broadly curved; apex rounded.

Remarks. Males vary slightly in length (4.89–6.18 mm, width 2.03–3.03) and color, some specimens being darker or lighter in color.

Type material. Holotype male at IAZA labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Catamarca / Termas de Hualfín. 1864 m / S 27°12’46” W 66°51’56” / XII-8-2003 / F. C. Ocampo.”; “ Gracilaclopus / candelariae / Ocampo & Mondaca / HOLOTYPE ” (red label). Paratypes (all male). Fifty-five paratypes (48 at IAZA [41 preserved in 95° et-OH at - 20°C], five at JMEC, and three at FVMC) labeled as holotype except for “ Gracilaclopus / candelariae / Ocampo & Mondaca / PARATYPE ” (yellow label). Three paratypes (one at IAZA and two at JEBC) labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Catamarca / Pta. de Balasto 3-15/II/01 / G. Arriagada”; “ Gracilaclopus / candelariae / Ocampo & Mondaca / PARATYPE ” (yellow label).

Thirty-eight paratypes at IAZA (34 preserved in et-OH at -20°C) labeled ARGENTINA: Salta / 4 km N Cafayate / 26°3'52''S, 65°56'19''W / 1583 m 23-XI-2006 / F. Ocampo, E. Ruiz, G. San Blas, G. Zalazar. “ Gracilaclopus / candelariae / Ocampo & Mondaca / PARATYPE ” (yellow label).

Type locality. Argentina, Catamarca, Termas de Hualfín (S 27°12’46” W 66°51’ 56).

Etymology. This species is named after FCO’s neice, Candelaria Ocampo, to encourage her love for nature and fascination with the world’s insect diversity.

Distribution ( Fig. 31 ). ARGENTINA. Catamarca: Punta de Balasto (2), Termas de Hualfín (55). Salta: Cafayate (4 km N) (38).

Temporal distribution. February (2), November (38), December (55).

Figures

FIGURE 31. Distribution map of Gracilaclopus bidentulus, G. caceresi, G. c a n d e l a r i a e, and G. crepuscularis.

FIGURES 10 – 11. Gracilaclopus candelariae, male.

FIGURES 23 – 30. 23) Male genitalia of G. bidentulus, aedeagus lateral view; 24) G. c a c e re s i, aedeagus lateral view; 25) G. candelariae, aedeagus lateral view; 26 a – b) G. crepuscularis, aedeagus lateral and frontal views respectively; 27 a – c) G. electricus, a – b) aedeagus lateral and frontal views, c) ventral plate of the genital segment; 28) G. m o ro c h u s, aedeagus lateral view; 29) G. nigroscutatus, aedeagus lateral view; 30) G. parvulus, aedeagus lateral view.