Diabroctis mimas ( Linnaeus, 1767 )

Gillett, Conrad P. D. T., Gillett, P. T., E. D. T, James & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2010, Diversity and distribution of the scarab beetle tribe Phanaeini in the northern states of the Brazilian Northeast (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (118), pp. 1-19 : 10

Diabroctis mimas ( Linnaeus, 1767)

Figure 11

Collection data. Ceará: Maranguape, Tabatinga, 38 o 43’48"W ; 04 o 00’42"S, 126m Caatinga , open area dung traps, 26. iii. 2008: 1m ; Maranguape, Piraponga, 38 o 41’59"W 03 o 53’26"S, 200 m Atlantic forest , dung trap, 14. ii. 2008: 1f ; Maranguape, São Benedito, Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Penha , 38 o 40’53"W ; 03 o 52’18"S, 160 m Atlantic forest , forest dung trap, 25. iii. 2008: 7m + 4f ; Acarau, coastal ‘restinga’ vegetation, in diurnal flight, no date. NEW STATE GENUS AND SPECIES RECORDS .

Maranhão: Santa Quitéria do Maranhão, Fazenda Rodiador , 42 o 40’46"W ; 03 o 24’50"S, 47m Restiinga , forest dung traps, 22. ii. 2008. 1m ; idem, under dung in forest, 24. iii. 2008: 1m. NEW STATE RECORDS .

Pernambuco: Recife, Guararapes Airport, in diurnal flight, no date (early 1980’s); Recife, Dois Irmãos, dug up from under animal dung in forest, ix. 1988: 1m + 1f.

Results. 2008 data: 15 specimens; 10 males and 5 females. Male: Female sex ratio 1.50. Bait preference (2008 data): Dung (15). Temporal distribution (all data): February (2), March (13).

Distribution. A widespread species through much of the northern half of South America. In Brazil it has been recorded from the states of BA, Pará, Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso and São Paolo ( Pessôa 1935). Lopes et al. (2006) also record it from BA and Silva et al. (2007) collected it in the Atlantic forest in PE. It has been cited elsewhere from Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay ( Arnaud 2002a) and Uruguay ( Olsoufieff 1924). We have also seen specimens from Peru (specimens in MGCB) and from the Brazilian Distrito Federal and states of Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás. (specimens in FVMC).

Remarks. Diabroctis mimas is most commonly found in Atlantic forest remnants in the study area although it can also occur in open caatinga and cerrado habitats. It appears restricted to elevations below 200 m and has been collected in human dung baited traps. In Atlantic forest areas it is not unusual to find the beetles inside burrows on forest paths. The species is sympatric with C. cyanescens in Atlantic forest and with C. pertyi and C. cyanescens in caatinga. Specimens from the NE match those from other distant areas (e.g. Peru) in color.

Figures

Figure 7-13. Habitus images. 7) Coprophanaeus cyanescens (Olsoufieff, 1924) male specimen from Maranguape, São Benedito, Sanctuario da Nossa Senhora de Penha (CE). 8) Coprophanaeus acrisius (Macleay, 1819) male specimen from Santa Quiteria de Maranhão, Fazenda Rodiador (MA). 9) Coprophanaeus dardanus (Macleay, 1819) male specimen from Baturité, Uirapuru (CE). 10) Coprophanaeus (Metallophanaeus) pertyi (Olsoufieff, 1924) male specimen from Maranguape, Tabatinga (CE). 11) Diabroctis mimas (Linnaeus, 1767) male specimen from Maranguape, Piraponga (CE). 12-13) Phanaeus melibaeus Blanchard, 1843 male specimen from Santa Quiteria de Maranhão, Fazenda Rodiador (MA). Photographs by M.P.T. Gillett.