Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) bonariensis ( Gory, 1844 )

Edmonds, W. D. & Zidek, J., 2010, A taxonomic review of the neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (129), pp. 1-111 : 19

Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) bonariensis ( Gory, 1844)

Fig. 15 , 28 , 40-44

Phanaeus bonariensis Gory, 1844: 79

Megaphanaeus bonariensis (Gory) (recomb. by Blackwelder 1944: 209)

Phanaeus vicinus Martínez, 1944: 187 (syn. by Martínez and Pereira 1967: 61)

Phanaeus vicinus argentinus Martínez, 1944: 187 (syn. by Martínez and Pereira 1967: 61) Coprophanaeus bonariensis (Gory) (recomb. by Edmonds 1972: 841)

Type. P. bonariensis – unknown to us; P. vicinus s. st r. holotype male, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernadino Rivadavia,” Buenos Aires; P. vicinus argentinus , holotype male, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernadino Rivadavia,” Buenos Aires.

Diagnosis. General – Pronotum strongly granulate posteromedially. Posterolateral pronotal ridge ( Fig. 40 , cf. Fig. 37 ) short, not extending to lateral pronotal fossa. Metasternal shield completely coarsely punctured (as in Fig. 19 ); anterior portion of metasternum finely granulate laterally, smooth medially. Carinulate margins of striae 2-4 gently undulate such that width of stria at narrowings is at least threefourths of that at widest points ( Fig. 15 ); carinulae simple, rarely tuberculate. Interstriae completely covered by large, round granules. Dorsal color usually shade of green or yellowish green. Length 21-35 mm.

Male ( Fig. 42-44 ) – Pronotal concavity with dorsally inclined spiniform process on each side below prominence ( Fig. 43 ). Dorsal prominence narrow, scoop-shaped, width of saddle less than length ( Fig. 42 ). Apical process of parameres acute in profile.

Female ( Fig. 40-41 ) – Pronotal concavity lacking lateral spines. Protarsi lacking.

Specimens examined – 222.

Distribution. Cerrado and Chaco provinces of Chacoan subregion ( Fig. 28 ).

Collection Records. ARGENTINA: Catamarca – Catamarca (Feb) . Chaco – Miraflores (Apr). Córdoba – San Javier, Las Rosas (Jan); Quilino (Dec). Corrientes – Bella Vista (Feb); Ituzaingo (Jan, Nov); Ituzaingo [Alto Paraná] (Sep). Formosa – Gran Guardia (Jan). Jujuy – 6 km W Yuto (Feb) ; El Quemado (Apr). Misiones – Ayolas (Oct). Santiago del Estero – Termas de Río Hondo (Dec) ; Santiago del Estero (Feb) ; Río Salado ; Campo Gallo (Mar). Tucuman – Trancas (Jan); Benjamin Araoz (Mar); Gobernador Garmendia (Jan). BOLIVIA: Beni – Magdalena (Feb) . Santa Cruz – San Matias, 16 o 34’S 59 o 09’W ; Santa Cruz de la Sierra ; Ichila , 400 m ; Charagua, 20 o 14’11”S 63 o 13’52”W, 960 m (Apr); Urubigua, 20 o 14’11”S 63 o 13’52”W; Buena Vista (Jan); La Peña (Nov); Cabezas (Jan); Santiago de Chiquitos , 18 o 20’S 59 o 36’W (Feb) ; Santa Elena El Pantanal, 17 o 57’53”S 59 o 01’33”W (Apr); 1.6 km ESE Santiago de Chiquitos , 18 o 20.103’S 59 o 35.007’W, 622 m (Nov) ; 20 km NE Santiago de Chiquitos ( Tucavaca River ), 18 o 14.590’S 59 o 27.907’W, 215 m (Nov) . Tarija – between Caiza and Creveaux , 21 o 50’19”S 63 o 24’58”W, 490 m (Jan) . BRAZIL: Mato Grosso – 5 km S Cuiabá [Várzea Grande] (Dec) ; Rosario Oeste (Feb). PARAGUAY: Boquerón – Estación La Patria [trans-Chaco highway] (Mar, Dec) ; Nueva Asunción, 20 o 48’S 61 o 55’W; Mariscal Estigarribia (Feb, May). Central – Aregua (Dec); Altos; Colonia Nueva Italia (Feb); Asunción (Nov); Puerto Villeta (Jan). Concepción – Horqueta (Nov). Cordillera – Altos (Apr); Compañia Narajo (Nov). Misiones – Ayolas (Oct); Paraguari – Sapucay (Jan- Apr, Oct-Dec). Presidente Hays – Laguna Capitán (Jan).

Comments. This species largely replaces C. ensifer in the chiquitano, cerrado and chacoan habitats of eastern Bolivia and surrounding portions of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

We here correct the record concerning female protarsi in C. bonariensis ; contrary to Edmonds (1972), they are absent in this species. Consequently, medium-sized females and smaller males are virtually indistinguishable externally.

Figures

Figure 28. Approximate geographic distribution of Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) species.

Figure 13-27. Characters of the Coprophanaeus subgenus Megaphanaeus. 13) Elytral surface of C. lancifer. 14) Same, C. ensifer. 15) Same, C. bonariensis. 16) Same, C. bellicosus. 17) Mesosternum and anterior portion of metasternum of C. lancifer (arrow indicates smooth area of metasternum). 18) Metasternum of C.lancifer. 19) Same, C. ensifer. 20) Dorsal view of posteromedian pronotal prominence of female C. ensifer (broad form). 21) Same (narrow form). 22) Partial lateral view of pronotum male C. ensifer (arrow indicates lateral spine). 23) Same, C. lancifer (arrow indicates vertical ridge). 24) Dorsal view of posteromedian pronotal prominence of male C. lancifer. 25) Same, female (broad form). 26) Same (narrow form). 27) Anterior view of cephalic process of female C. bellicosus.

Figure 40-44. Coprophanaeus bonariensis. 40-41) Female habitus. 42-43) Male habitus. 44) Aedeagus (dorsal view on left; lateral view on right).

Figure 35-39. Coprophanaeus lancifer. 35-36) Female habitus. 37-38) Male habitus (arrow in 37 indicates posterolateral pronotal ridge). 39) Aedeagus (lateral view on left; dorsal view on right).