Ulata argentina Saylor, 1945

Smith, Andrew B. T. & Evans, Arthur V., 2018, Taxonomic review of Athliini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), a new tribe of scarab beetles endemic to South America, Zootaxa 4471 (2), pp. 279-308 : 297-299

Ulata argentina Saylor, 1945

Figs. 61–65 , 74 .

Original combination. Ulata argentina Saylor, 1945: 442 .

Type locality. Pucará , Lago Lacar, Neuquén, Argentina (approximately 40.16°S, 71.63°W) . The original type locality was “ Bariloche , Rio Negro, Argentina ” ( Saylor 1945).

Type series. Neotype at CMNC labeled a) “ARGENTINA / NEUQUEN / Lago Lacar / Pucará / Shajovskogleg. / Coll. Martínez.- / NOV.-964” (handwritten), b) “H. & A. HOWDEN / COLLECTION / ex. A.Martinez coll.” (typeset with black border), c) “ Ulata ♂ / argentina / Saylor / A. MARTINEZ-DET. 1965” (handwritten and

typeset), d) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2615414 / Ulata argentina / Saylor, 1945 ♂ / DET: A.B.T. SMITH 2 008” (typeset with black border), e) “ ULATA / ARGENTINA SAYLOR, 1945 ♂ / NEOTYPE ” (handwritten and typeset with black border on red paper). Neotype here designated. Saylor (1945) stated that this species was described using only the holotype, which was presumably deposited in his personal collection (although no collection deposition was explicitly stated it was Saylor’s common practice to keep holotypes in his personal collection). Saylor’s personal collection was donated to the CASC in 1963 ( Ratcliffe 2016), but this institution has no record of the Ulata argentina holotype (the rest of Saylor’s primary types are catalogued and kept in the type collection). The first author carefully searched the entire CASC scarab collection for the holotype, but found nothing. Therefore, we conclude that the holotype has been lost. Due to the historic instability of the classification of this taxon, the neotype is designated with the express purpose of clarifying the taxonomic status of this species and genus. The neotype is consistent with the original description and originated from relatively close to the original type locality (less than 80 km distance).

Distribution. Fig. 74 . Argentina: Neuquén, Río Negro; Chile: V Región de Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, VIII Región del Biobío, IX Región de la Araucanía (based on the original type locality and specimens from AMNH, BMNH, CMNC, FMNH, TMSA, UMCE, VMDM).

Figures

FIGURE 74. Distribution map of Ulata argentina Saylor, 1945 (black circles).

FIGURES 61–65. Ulata argentina Saylor, 1945 neotype. 61, dorsal habitus; 62, oblique habitus; 63, lateral male genitalia; 64, head and pronotum; 65, parameres.