Aegognathus similis Arnaud and Bomans, 2006

Cáceres, Juan Sebastián D. & Grossi, Paschoal Coelho, 2023, Taxonomic revision of Aegognathus Leuthner, 1883 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), Journal of Natural History 57 (9 - 12), pp. 557-595 : 578-580

Aegognathus similis Arnaud and Bomans, 2006

( Figure 4f–g : 1J, 1♀)

Aegognathus similis Arnaud and Bomans, 2006a: 5 (original combination and description)

Examined material

Holotype J and allotype ♀: Peru, Huánuco, Chinchao , 1800 m, i.2006, in coll. CPFA . Paratypes 2J, 1♀, Peru, same data as holotype, in CPFA.

Additional material

Peru, Huánuco, Bella Vista – Carpish, 3.000 m, vi .2006 . – 1J ( UNSM); Peru, Huánuco, Chinchao, S 09.634̍; W76.067, 1500–2000 m, vii .2005, coll . M . Büche . 1♀; Peru, 44 Huánuco, Chinchao, 1500–2000 m; iii .2006, M. Büche . 1♀ 1J ( UNSM); Peru, Huánuco, Carpish, ii .2007, 2700 m, R . Koike leg . – 2♀ 4J ( EPGC); same data but v .2006 2♀ 4J( CERPE) .

Diagnosis

Body dorsally dark red to carmine red with blackish areas, also with two orange spots at pronotum, darker in some specimens, present in those cases as brownish regions. Mandibles with truncate apex and in some specimens with a preapical tooth. Elytral surface with coarse, contiguous punctation, also with yellowish dendritic setae. Abdominal ventrites with coarse to large punctures, moderate to sparse along whole ventrites except V which present a denser punctation. Dorsal cross bar at genitalia poorly lobed. Females same as males except for showing darker tones along body, also differing in the presence of coarse, dense to contiguous punctures along the body. Mandibles asymmetrical with laminar teeth, showing three tooth-like projections, more distinct at left mandible. Female genitalia similar to those of Aegognathus soulai females except for presenting an antero-posterior fine compression.

Description – male

Size: Total length. 17.2–23 mm. Total width. 3.8–9 mm. Colour: In dorsal view mainly with dark red to carmine red tones, also with somewhat orange tones. Head dark red mainly over the anterior region, becoming darker posteriorly, showing an almost black tone. Pronotum dark orange with two darker spots, somewhat black. Elytra mainly black, with dark red longitudinal interleaved regions. Legs black with some dark reddish tones. In ventral view mainly black with dark red tones. Head: Shape transverse; surface shagreened, with minute yellowish setae distributed along lateral and posterior margins. Temporal process weak, rounded. Mandibles as long as head and the anterior portion of pronotum; bend inwards with truncate apex, sometimes with a preapical transverse tooth; medially with an upwardly directed rounded tooth. Pronotum: Surface shagreened, with dense, large to coarse punctures along lateral and posterior margins; anterior angles rounded and somewhat convex; posterior angles rounded. Elytra: Surface with coarse to somewhat contiguous punctures, with small yellowish dendritic setae. Epipleuron with large, densely distributed punctures, with minute yellowish setae. Legs: Protibiae externally serrate with variable number of teeth but with at least two strong ones distally, one internal tooth at the apex and one apical spur. Mesotibiae with one to two median teeth, four apical teeth and two apical spurs. Metatibiae with one median tooth, apically as described for mesotibiae. Venter: Mentum trapezoidal with a transverse groove, punctate, punctures large and moderate with yellowish appressed setae. Gena with coarse punctures, moderately distributed, almost sparse, with a curved carina over the posterior region. Prosternum with coarse to large, densely distributed punctures, with small yellowish appressed setae. Mesoventrite punctate mainly over the median region and sides, punctures large to coarse, dense, with yellowish appressed setae. Metaventrite with large to coarse punctures, moderate, with yellowish appressed setae; discrimen present as a continuous suture from the mesosternal process to the posterior margin of the metaventrite. Abdominal ventrites punctate, punctures large to somewhat coarse, moderate to sparse, dense at ventrite V, with yellowish appressed setae; all ventrites with a somewhat continuous weak longitudinal carina along lateral margins. Genitalia ( Figure 7f ): Aedeagus symmetrical, subtriangular and rounded at the anterior margin. Basal piece subtriangular, slightly convex at sides, with a larger and clearer translucent area over the disc compared with other Aegognathus species; 2.4 times longer than the parameres. Median lobe almost cylindrical, dorsally presenting an ′X̍-shaped cross bar strut poorly lobed over the posterior and anterior margins. Parameres almost straight in lateral view; rounded distally; setose. Internal sac about the same length as the basal piece and parameres together, with two strap-like sclerites that end at the beginning of the last third; darkened apically showing an almost cylindrical apex, with a minute emargination along sides and ending in the gonopore.

Description – female

Size: Total length. 11–12.1 mm. Total width. 3–4 mm. Colour: In dorsal view with dark red and brownish tones, darker at head, with two blackish spots at pronotum. Elytra showing darker tones, close to carmine red. Ventrally mostly carmine. Head: Smaller than male heads, about a half, not including mandibles; surface highly punctate, punctures coarse, somewhat contiguous with small yellowish erect setae; shape somewhat rectangular, emarginated at anterior margin; temporal process minute; mandibles asymmetrical, reduced, being as large as the first half of head, with acuminate apex and a median laminar tooth that shows three tooth-like projections, being more distinct at left laminar tooth. Pronotum: Surface strongly punctate, punctures coarse and contiguous with yellowish dendritic setae; bordered all around and presenting the same band of yellowish setae along the anterior and posterior margins; lateral margins somewhat convergent anteriorly, posterior margin as wide as elytra. Elytra: Surface highly punctate, punctures coarse, dense to contiguous, with small yellowish dendritic setae; one to two weak irregular longitudinal costae present over each elytron. Legs: As in males except for presenting two to three median teeth at mesotibiae. Venter: Strongly punctate, punctures coarse to large, densely distributed along whole venter, with yellowish appressed setae; discrimen more distinct than in males, present as a suture or a weak groove. Abdominal ventrites with a somewhat continuous weak longitudinal carina along lateral margins. Genitalia ( Figure 7g ): Styli flattened, with conspicuous setae. External margins of distal coxite slightly concave. Proximal coxite elongate, with almost straight margins. Distal portion of lateral paraproct extended laterally.

Distribution

Central Peru, Central Cordillera. Yungas-Ucayali provinces ( Morrone et al. 2022).

Remarks

This species is remarkably more convex and shiny than all the other Aegognathus species.

Figures

Figure 4. Dorsal habitus of paratypes (3J) of Aegognathus soulai Arnaud and Bomans, 2004: (a) major male; (b) medium-size male; (c) minor male; and (d) one female from CERPE. Aegognathus confusus Arnaud and Bomans, 2006: (e) paratype male (CERPE). Aegognathus similis Arnaud and Bomans, 2006: (f) male and (g) female (CERPE). Scale bars: 5 mm.

Figure 7. Ventral view of A. waterhousei: (a) male aedeagus. Aegognathus leuthneri: (b) male aedeagus and (c) female genitalia. Aegognathus soulai: (d) male aedeagus and (e) female genitalia. Aegognathus similis: (f) male genitalia and (g) female genitalia. Scale bars: 1 mm.