Desertaclopus 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 : 17-21

Desertaclopus Ocampo & Mondaca , new genus

( Figs. 33–43 )

Type species. Desertaclopus lucasi Ocampo & Mondaca , here designated.

Diagnosis. This genus is distinguished from the other aclopine genera by the following combination of characters: shape of the outer margin of the mandibles sinuous or slightly angulate (broadly rounded in Aclopus ; angulate in Gracilaclopus ); labral shape rounded and not reflexed (subrectangular and strongly reflexed in Gracilaclopus ; rounded; reflexed or not in Aclopus ); frons and clypeus with one transverse carinae (lacking in Aclopus and Gracilaclopus ); eye canthus well developed, thumb-like; mesotibia and metatibia with one transverse carinae (two in Gracilaclopus and Aclopus ), mesotibial spurs contiguous and metatibial spurs apart, metatarsus folds between spurs.

Description. Male. Scarabaeidae , Aclopinae , medium in size (4.33–11.50 mm, width 1.68–5.15 mm). Shape elongate with subparallel margins. Color: variable, light brown, brown, black or bicolored. Head ( Figs. 33 , 35 , 38 ): Eye canthus well developed, anterior margin reflexed, posterior margin bearing 3–6 setae, setae short; frontocanthal carina present, well developed. Eyes well developed clearly visible on dorsal view, rounded, not divided by eye canthus. Frons convex, with well developed transversal carinae. Clypeus transverse; lateral margins rounded; anterior margin straight or broadly rounded, slightly reflexed or not with well developed transversal carinae; frontoclypeal suture obsolete. Labrum protruding beyond clypeal margin, shape semicircular. Mandibles protruding beyond clypeal margin, sinuate or angulate externally, concave dorsoventrally, lacking incisory teeth, molar area poorly developed, ventral surface moderately setose or glabrous. Labium longer than wide, strongly reduced, labial palps with three palpomeres, palpomere 3 as long as or slightly shorter than 1–2 combined; labial surface setose, setae dense to moderately dense, long, and slender. Maxillae poorly developed, palp with 4 palpomeres. Antennae with eight antennomeres. Pronotum ( Figs. 33 , 36 , 39 ): Convex, wider than long. Surface punctate, glabrous or with few setae. Marginal bead present on anterior and lateral margins (lacking on posterior margin); anterior margin slightly concave or straight, with membrane well developed; lateral margins broadly rounded; posterior margin slightly sinuous. Anterior angle, slightly obtuse or right-angled; posterior angles broadly rounded. Scutellum: Large , triangular or sub triangular, apex rounded. Elytra ( Figs. 34 , 37 ): Convex, longer than wide, lateral margins rounded. Surface punctate, punctures sparse or moderately dense, glabrous or with very few setae, setae short. Elytral striae absent, except for sutural striae; pseudoepipleura not developed. Venter: Prosternal process with welldeveloped columnar, densely setose. Metasternum long, ~0.6 times as long as wide; six ventrites exposed medially, ventrite 1 slightly visible; surface setose, setae long; ventrites 3 and 4 membranous on apical margin. Pygidium not exposed beyond clypeal margin, triangular, surface sparsely or densely setose; setae long, slender. Legs ( Figs. 34 , 37 ): Femora robust, setose. Protibiae with two teeth, protibial spur not developed. Mesotibiae and metatibiae with one transverse carinae. Mesotibial and metatibial apex with fringe of thick setae. Mesotibial spurs contiguous, metatibial spurs apart. Metatibial tarsal insertion with notch, notch associated with tibial process. Tarsus longer than tibiae. Protarsomeres, mesotarsomeres, and metatarsomeres 1 and 5 longer than 2, 3, 4 individually; all tarsi with long, apical setae. Protarsal claws curved or straight, simple, symmetrical. Male genitalia ( Figs. 40–42 ): Parameres symmetrical, slender genital segment with ventral plate developed, plate with apical margin rounded ( Fig. 40 c), dorsal plates not developed.

Etymology. From the Latin “ desertum ” and the generic name Aclopus , referring to the habitat where the species in this genus were found.

Distribution: Argentina, Chile.

Figures

FIGURES 33 – 34. Desertaclopus atacamensis, male.

FIGURES 35 – 37. Desertaclopus lucasi, male.

FIGURES 38 – 39. Desertaclopus marcosi, male.

FIGURES 40 – 42. 40 a – c) Male genitalia of Desertaclopus lucasi, a – b) aedeagus lateral and frontal views, c) ventral plate of the genital segment; 41 a – b) D. marcosi, aedeagus lateral and frontal views; 42 a – b) D. atacamensis, lateral and frontal views.

FIGURE 43. Distribution map of Desertaclopus atacamensis, D. lucasi, and D. marcosi.