Dichotomius (Cephagonus) edmondsi, Nunes & Vaz-de-Mello, 2019

Nunes, Rafael V. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2019, Taxonomic revision of Dichotomius (Cephagonus) Luederwaldt 1929 and the taxonomic status of remaining Dichotomius Hope 1838 subgenera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Dichotomiini), Journal of Natural History 53 (37), pp. 2231-2351 : 2317-2318

3.12.: Dichotomius (Cephagonus) edmondsi new species

( Figure 37 (a-d))

Diagnosis. this species is separated from other in the group by the following combined characters: pronotum simply convexı lacking declivitiesı knobsı tuberclesı etc.ı and having very fine microsculpture (as D. vargasae ); elytra striae widened at basis (as D. paresi ); clypeo-genal angulation obtuse (120³) (as D. candango , fissus , D. spadiceus and D. ascanius ); pronotum with 2 – 4 rows of ocellate punctures along the margins; elytra strongly convex in lateral view; paramera short – having one-third the phalobasis length and posterior margin of paramera (lateral view) with a ‘ U ’ shape emargination near junction with phalobasis.

● HOLOTYPE (male): BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz. Chiquitos. ENE Santiago . 20³00 ’ Sı 59³35 ʹ Wı 622 m. Bosque Chiquitano . xi-2008 [at CEMT].

● PARATYPES: same data of Holotype [2 ƋƋı 2 ♀♀ at CEMT].

Description (Holotypeı male). BL: 16 mmı PW: 9 mm. Colour: dark brown to blackı opaque. Head: fronto-clypeal surface smooth. Genal and inter-ocular surfaces striated. Cephalic process produced in a single central tubercle. Pronotum: simply convex. Two to four rows of strongly impressed ocellate punctures present along pronotal borders. Metasternum: sides and margins of anterior lobe covered by long hair. Anterior portion of lobe with ocellate punctures in the middle. Ocellate punctures equally spaced on sides. Some punctures near distal margin elliptical. Elytra: striae deeply impressed having fine punctures spaced by twice their diameter. Striae basis widened forming rounded excavations. Interstriae convexı disc with dark brown colourı lacking microsculpture with very fine punctures (20 x). Abdomen: sides of each ventrite with a fine medial carina. ventrites glabrous. Puncture along each ventrite anterior margin interrupted medially as well groove along the posterior margin of sixth ventrite. Aedeagus ( Figure 37 (b-d)): dorsallyı paramere apexes truncatedı parallel; having one-third the phalobasis length. Longitudinal excavation present taking the whole paramera length; basal-rounded excavation present. Laterallyı subtle declivity from basis towards apex; posterior margin with ‘ U ’ shape emargination near the junction with phalobasis. Ventrallyı each paramera bearing a sinuated basal groove with coarse puncture. Subgenital plate emarginated both apically and basally.

Morphological variation. males BL: 9 – 16 mmı PW: 7 – 9 mm. Females BL: 12 – 15 mmı PW: 7 – 9 mm. Females are distinguished from males as follows: Head: fronto-clypeal surface striated. Coarse puncture present posterior to cephalic carina near both eyes. Cephalic carina transversalı forming a weak pair of tubercles. Pronotum: simply convexı lacking lobes. Chagrinated sculpture on disc. Elytra: striae deeply impressedı not widened at basis. Punctures separated by twice their diameter. Blue sheen present nea basis. Abdomen: sixth ventrite bearing a pair of weak tubercles at central portion.

Distribution. Bolivia (Santa Cruz) ( Figure 34 ).

Etymology. named after David Edmondsı american entomologist who collected the holotype.

Figures

Figure 34. Distribution map of D. gardneriı D. aielloaeı D. asenjoiı D. arnaudiı D. Clypeatus and D. edmondsi.

Figure 37. D. edmondsi: (a) male dorsal habitus; (b) paramera dorsal view; (c) paramera ventral view; (d) paramera lateral view. D. frizzasae: (e) male dorsal habitus; (f) paramera dorsal view; (g) paramera ventral view; (h) paramera lateral view. D. gardneri (i) male dorsal habitus; (j) paramera dorsal view; (k) paramera ventral view; (l) paramera lateral view.