Gonaphodiellus martinpierai new species

(Fig. 28-32)

Aphodius (Gonaphodiellus) bimaculosus; Galante et al. 2003: 303 nec Schmidt 1909.

Type locality. Acajete, m 2000, Veracruz [Mexico].

Type repository: Dellacasa Collection, Genoa, Italy.

Description. Length 5.5-6.0 mm; oblong, convex, shiny, glabrous. Dark brown; clypeal margin, anterior angles of pronotum, base and preapical declivity of elytra paler; legs brown-reddish; antennal club testaceous. Head with epistome slightly gibbous on disc, finely regularly not densely punctured throughout; clypeus faintly sinuate at middle, obtusely round at sides, lateral margins slightly arcuate, very finely bordered, edge with extremely short and sparse bristles; genae obtuse, very shortly ciliate, feebly protruding from the eyes; frontal suture finely impressed; front finely regularly punctured. Pronotum moderately transverse, convex, finely regularly not densely punctured throughout; sides feebly arcuate, finely bordered, edge glabrous; hind angles widely truncate; truncature faintly sinuate inwardly; base bisinuate. Scutellum elongate, sparsely punctured on basal half. Elytra slightly widened posteriorly, minutely denticulate at shoulder; striae extremely fine and very superficially punctured, not crenulate; interstriae shiny, almost flat, near imperceptibly sparsely punctured. Hind tibiae upper spur longer than the half of first tarsal segment; first tarsal segment longer than following four segments combined. Male: pronotum not narrowed anteriorly; fore tibiae spur relatively stouter and outwardly curved; metasternal plate moderately excavate longitudinally; aedeagus Fig. 31-32. Female: pronotum somewhat narrowed anteriorly; fore tibiae spur relatively slender and almost straight; metasternal plate flat.

Type material. MEXICO: Veracruz: Acajete, m 2000, 09-11.III.1991, leg. Martín-Piera F., bosque mesofilo, excr. vacuno (male holotype and allotype, DCGI) .

Distribution. Known from the type locality only.

Etymology. Named in honor of our friend and colleague, the late Dr. Firmin Martín-Piera, Spanish specialist in Scarabaeoidea.

Bionomics. The specimens of the type series were collected in March, in cow dung in “bosque mesofilo”.