Onthophagus howdeni Zunino and Halffter, 1988

Höglinger, Marc, Huber, Andrea & Eichler, Klaus, 2019, Entwicklung Medizintechnik 2019 bis 2030: stationäre Rehabilitation & amp; stationäre Psychiatrie, The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (3), pp. 535-550 : 539-540

Onthophagus howdeni Zunino and Halffter

Onthophagus howdeni ( Fig. 5 ) was originally collected in Ayoquezco de Aldama (Road Oaxaca - Puerto Escondido) in Oaxaca. The label data read verbatim as “ México, Oax., R´ıo de la Y, 70 km. S Oaxaca, km. 20 W jct; 2150m. 17.VI.1979, H. and A. Howden”. It was described based on two male specimens. According to Zunino and Halffter (1988a), the study of a greater number of specimens that include females would show differences with Onthophagus pseudoundulans Zunino and Halffter. No other study of this species has been published, but Halffter et al. (2019) elevated it to species status. Until now, O. howdeni has not been collected since its description. Our discovery of it in the Sierra Norte (San Pablo Etla and Zempoaltépetl) and Sierra Sur (Miahuatlán) expands its known distribution ( Fig. 9 ). It is abundant in the area of Sierra Norte, also sharing localities with O. howdenorum . It inhabits pine and pine-oak forests from 2,100 to 3,000 m, and also highland grasslands over 3,000 m. The previously unknown female is described here.

Description of Female. Length 6.2–8.3 mm, maximum width 3.7 mm across middle of pronotum ( Fig. 5A ). Color: Very dark blue, almost black, olive green or bluish green, red to greenish red with metallic reflections on head and pronotum ( Fig. 5C ). Head: Clypeus a non-elongated trapezoid, distinctly sinuate at apex. Lateral margin of head very weakly incised at clypeo-genal limit, genae enlarged, widest across middle, basal quarter weakly concave, genal sutures hardly indicated. Clypeal carina slightly evident. Frontal carina slightly sinuate in middle. Clypeal punctation transverse, rugose, delimited posteriorly by low clypeofrontal carina; frons with weak punctation, only with some large and separate punctures on vertex. Pronotum: Basal bead evanescent between posterior angles and middle; lateral margins weakly convex between anterior and intermediate angles. Disc convex, apparently glabrous, surface with medium size punctures, punctures denser and oval anteriorly, sparser and more circular posteriorly, with shagreened microsculpture. Elytra: Striae very thin, weakly impressed with small, separated punctures; interstriae almost flat, with small punctures and very small, scattered granules. Seteae very small, almost imperceptible. Surface microsculpture shagreened. Legs: Not elongated, protibial lateral margin with 4 teeth and a series of small teeth between the first main denticle and the femoral joint; ventral surface of femur with well-defined, oval, scattered spots with a small seta. Metasternum: With sparse, midsize, oval punctures laterally, each puncture with a short seta, with very small secondary spots scattered throughout, without setae medially. Pygidium: With a well-marked carina separating pygidium and prepygidium, with sparse, welldefined, medium size punctures and shagreened microsculpture.

Material Examined. México: Estado de Oaxaca, San José del Pac´ıfico , Miahuatlán , Oaxaca. 1♀, 31- VIII-2017 Coprotrampa 96.51173° W, 16.16972° N Bosque mesófilo 2,316m.; Zempoaltépetl, Sta. Mar´ıa Yacochi, 1♀ 30- VII-2017 Coprotrampa 96.1’ 52.35’’W, 17°8’59.01’’N, Acahual 2,316m. Arriaga J. A. Col; Reserva Comunitaria San Pablo Etla. 1♀, 23-Vi-2017 coprotrampa 96| 41’40.51’’W, 17°10’53.83’’N, bosque de pino/encino, 2,795m Arriaga J. A. Col .

Figures

Fig. 5. Onthophagus howdeni. A) Illustration of female, B) Illustration of male, C) Female, dorsal habitus, D) Male, dorsal habitus.

Fig. 9. Known distribution of Onthophagus species in Oaxaca, Mexico.