Parochodaeus bituberculatus ( Erichson, 1847 )

Mondaca, José, Fierro, Andrés & Rothmann, Sergio, 2019, Parochodaeus bituberculatus (Erichson) (Coleoptera: Ochodaeidae) and Faargia gentilii (Martínez) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), two species newly discovered in Chile, Zootaxa 4608 (1), pp. 187-190 : 187

Parochodaeus bituberculatus ( Erichson, 1847) ( Fig. 1 )

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other Chilean scarabaeoids by the absence of a true ocular canthus dividing the eye, and for having the clypeus shorter and frons armed with two elongate and obsoletes tubercles ( Fig. 1B ). The protibial apex is straighter and narrower ( Fig. 1C ). Ochodaeidae possess pectinate mesotibial spurs not found in other scarabaeoids in the region ( Fig. 1D ). The elytral locking mechanism consists of acute elytral apices and bituberculate propygidium.

Specimens examined. 1 female at: Chile, Arica y Parinacota, Zapahuira , pista de aterrizaje, 18°18’57.12’’S – 69°36’22.51’’W, 3368 m, light trap, 29-III-2013, col. A. Fierro ( JMEC) . 1 male at: Chile, Arica y Parinacota, Pachama , 18°25’41,15’’S, 69°31’34,07’’W, 3443 m, light trap, 29-III-2013, col. A. Fierro ( MNNC) .

Distribution. The native range of P. bituberculatus includes west side of Peru ( Erichson 1847; Ratcliffe et al. 2015). New country record: Chile, Arica and Parinacota Region, Parinacota Province ( Fig. 3 ).

Habitat. Parochodaeus bituberculatus was found in the mountains located east of the city of Arica in northern Chile, between 3,368–3,443 m. The native vegetation of this locality consists principally of resinous shrubs, herbaceous plants, cacti, and coarse grasses. The distribution corresponds to the Puna biogeographic province that also extends into eastern Bolivia, southern Peru, northern Argentina, and Chile ( Morrone 2001) .

Remarks. Erichson (1847) described the species, but the only information given is that the specimen was from the west side of the Andes in Peru. The only recent specimens known are in the J.-B. Huchet collection in Paris, and are from Chaute, Peru at an elevation of 2,400 m (M.J. Paulsen, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America, personal communication).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Parochodaeus bituberculatus. A, Female, dorsal habitus; B, head; C, protibia; D, pectinate mesotibial spurs in Ochodaeidae family. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. New records of Parochodaeus bituberculatus (white circles) and Faargia gentilii (yellow triangle) in Chile.