Gracilaclopus electricus 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 : 12-14

Gracilaclopus electricus Ocampo & Mondaca , new species

( Figs. 15, 16 , 27 a–c, 32)

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from the other species of Gracilaclopus by the following combination of characters: Labral apex indented at middle; body bicolored with scutellum and elytra both light brown; size <4.0 mm; male genitalia as Figs. 27 a–b.

Description. Holotype male. Length 3.07, width 1.58 mm. Color: Head and pronotum brown to dark-brown; head progressively darker from clypeus to frons; elytra light brown; legs, antennae, and mouthparts brown; ventral surface brown. Head ( Fig. 15 ): Frons flat on apical half, convex at base; surface sparsely 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. Labral shape subrectangular in dorsal view apex indented at middle, strongly reflexed, glabrous. Pronotum ( Fig. 16 ): 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 sparse, setose, setae moderately long. Legs: Mesotibiae and metatibiae with two transverse carinae. Mesotibial and metatibial apex with fringe of spine like setae. Male genitalia ( Figs. 27 a-c): Parameres as long as phallobase, curved at middle; apex rounded.

Remarks. Only males are known and they vary only slightly in length (2.90–3.40 mm, width 1.52–1.75 mm).

Type material: Holotype male at IAZA labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Dique el Carrizal, 823 m / S33°17’30”, W68°44’32” / Jan 2. 2002. F. C. Ocampo” “ Gracilaclopus / electricus / Ocampo & Mondaca / HOLO- TYPE (red holotype label). Paratypes (all male). Eight paratypes at IAZA labeled as holotype except for paratype labels. Twenty-seven paratypes (17 IAZA, 10 UNSM, 17 CMNC) labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa, Ñacuñán / Campo Quemado / 7-II-1988. S. Lagos.” Eighteen paratypes (10 IAZA, 8 MNCN) labeled: “ARGEN- TINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa Ñacuñán / 12-XII-1998. S. Lagos”. Seven paratypes at IAZA labeled: “ARGEN- TINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa Ñacuñán / 18-VII-1998. S. Lagos”. Seventeen paratypes (10 IAZA, 7 JMEC) “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa Ñacuñán / 18-VII – 16-VIII - 1998. S. Lagos”. Four paratypes at IAZA labeled: “R.A. Mza. Sta. Rosa / Ñacuñán 29-XII-97 al 07-II-98. S. Lagos”. Four paratypes at IAZA labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa Ñacuñán / 12-I-1997. S. Lagos”. Seven paratypes at IAZA labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa Ñacuñán / 20-X - 22-XI-1997. S. Lagos”. Sixteen paratypes (6 IAZA, 10 FVMC) labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Santa Rosa Ñacuñán / 17-I-2004. G. Flores. Five paratypes at IAZA labeled: R.A. Mza. Sta. Rosa / Ñacuñán / 22-12-1996. / S. Roig.” One paratype at CMNC labeled: Mendoza / El Challao / 1-IV-1949 ”. One paratype at IAZA labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Reserva de la Biósfera Ñacuñán, Médanos / 34°00’12”S 67°55’08”W / 569 m. 4 Feb. 2006. At light. / F. C. Ocampo, E. Ruiz, / G. Zalazar. All paratypes labeled: Gracilaclopus / electricus / Ocampo & Mondaca / PARATYPE (yellow label).

Type locality. Argentina, Mendoza, Dique el Carrizal (33°17’30” S, 68°44’32” W).

Etymology. The name “ electricus ” refers to the characteristic behavior of this species that jumps and walks in an electric or excited manner when it arrives at a light trap.

Distribution ( Fig. 32 ). ARGENTINA. Mendoza: Ñacuñán (106), El Challao (1), Dique el Carrizal (9).

Temporal distribution. January (33), February (33), March (3), July (7), July-August (17), October-November (6), November (2), December (17).

Gracilaclopus morochus Ocampo & Mondaca , new species ( Figs. 17, 18 , 28 , 32 )

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from the other species of Gracilaclopus by the following combination of characters: Labral apex truncate, slightly indented in middle, lacking deep indentation or teeth; body dark brown or black; size> 5.0 mm; male genitalia as Figs. 28 .

Description. Holotype male. Length 3.73 mm, width 1.30 mm. Color: Head, pronotum, elytra, scutellum dark brown to black; legs, antennae, and mouthparts brown; ventral surface dark brown to black. Head ( Fig. 17 ): Frons flat on apical half, convex at base; surface 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. Labral shape subrectangular in dorsal view, apex slightly indented in middle, reflexed, glabrous. Pronotum ( Fig. 18 ): Surface sparsely punctate, with few setae; setae long, slender. Marginal bead present in all margins, reduced on posterior margin at middle. Anterior angle right-angled; posterior angles broadly rounded. Scutellum: Triangular , apex rounded, surface punctate at base, smooth at apex. Elytra: Surface punctate, punctures sparse, sparsely setose, setae short. Legs: Mesotibiae and metatibiae with two transverse carinae. Mesotibial and metatibial apex with fringe of spine-like setae. Male genitalia ( Fig. 28 ): Parameres longer than phallobase, broadly curved; apex rounded.

Remarks. Only males are known and they vary only in size (3.25–3.90 mm, width 1.36–1.52 mm).

Type material. Holotype male at IAZA labeled: “ ARGENTINA: Catamarca / RP 2. S of Ancasti. 573 m / 28°52’57”S, 65°25’04”W. / 18/XII/09. F. C. Ocampo / C. Dominguez, F. Campón”; “ Gracilaclopus / morochus / Ocampo & Mondaca / HOLOTYPE ”. Paratypes (all male). Forty paratypes (33 IAZA [20 preserved in 95° et-OH at -20°C], 6 JMEC, 3 UNSM,) labeled as holotype except for: “ Gracilaclopus / morochus / Ocampo & Mondaca / PARAYPE”.

Type locality. Argentina, Catamarca, Ruta Provincial N° 2, S of Ancasti (28°52’57”S, 65°25’04”W).

Etymology. This species is named “ morochus ”, from the Argentinean slang “ morocho ” meaning dark in color, referring to the dark brown or black color of this species.

Distribution ( Fig. 32 ). ARGENTINA. Catamarca: Ruta Provincial N°2 (south of Ancasti) (41).

Temporal distribution. December (41).

Figures

FIGURE 32. Distribution map of Gracilaclopus electricus, G. m o ro c h u s, G. nigroscutatus, and G. parvulus.

FIGURES 15 – 16. Gracilaclopus electricus, 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.

FIGURES 17 – 18. Gracilaclopus morochus, male.