Neoathyreus moraguesi, Howden, Henry F., 2006

Howden, Henry F., 2006, New species and a new subgenus of South American Neoathyreus Howden and Martínez (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Athyreini), Zootaxa 1137, pp. 37-52 : 44-45

Neoathyreus moraguesi , new species ( Figs. 4–6 )

Holotype. Male, length 10.1 mm, greatest width 6.5 mm. Dorsally reddish brown. Clypeus trituberculate, median tubercle only very slightly larger than lateral tubercles, anterior in position, face slanted posteriorly; anterior carina on each side complete, slanted upward to merge with median tubercle; posterior carina on each side distinct, joining posterior edge of median tubercle. Vertex nearly flat between eyes, surface coarsely, closely granular. Gena wider than long, outer edge narrowly reflexed. Antennal club elongate­oval, not dorsoventrally thickened. Pronotum on each side behind eye with small circular fossa contiguous with marginal bead, diameter of fossa approximately equal to width of bead; between fossae, margin gradually elevated to small median tubercle just posterior to and contiguous with bead. Inner pronotal carina ( Fig. 4 ) on each side with anterior end arising about 0.6 mm posterior to anterior margin; carina briefly sinuate, curved laterally, then broadly, inwardly arcuate to posterior third, then almost parallel, slightly converging posteriorly to end about 0.5 mm from posterior margin. Each inner carina about 0.5 mm from anterior end with poorly defined side branch directed toward lateral fovea, branch vague, lateral end indicated by slight ridge just anterior to fovea, ridge not extended to margin; lateral margin not indented below fovea, marginal bead complete, unbroken. Pronotal concavity between inner carinae broad and relatively shallow, midline impressed, surface on both sides of carinae closely granular with short, pale setae; carinae and small area between posterior fourths of inner carinae glabrous. Outer carina on each side arcuate, 1.0 mm long, slightly closer to posterior angle than to inner carina; anterior half relatively broad, tapering in posterior half to narrow end. Elytral disc with four slightly impressed striae and two vaguely elevated intervals; surface punctate­rugose, most punctures each with moderately short, semi­erect, tan seta. Metasternum very slightly convex, midline very shallowly indented, surface moderately punctate, punctures distinctly separated, many each with short, upright seta; apical end of metasternum broadly oblique. Foretibia with four teeth on outer margin. Genitalia as in Figs. 5, 6 .

Allotype. Female, length 12.0 mm, greatest width 8.0 mm. Similar to male, differing slightly as follows: inner pronotal carinae more widely separated anteriorly, more arcuate, slightly higher (all a function of larger size), anterior side branch as in male; outer carina on each side more developed, distinctly higher and wider in anterior half; pygidium apically broadly rounded, surface slightly more convex.

Type Series. Holotype, male, [ Brazil], Goias, Monjolin P. O, XI.1945, Barreto leg., Howden coll. ex A. Martínez coll. ( CMNC). Allotype, female, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Uberaba, XI.1951, Howden coll. ( CMNC). Paratypes, 9 males, 14 females; Bresil, (Mato Grosso), 14 15' 50.80" S, 59 14' 02.05" W, Chapada dos Parecis, 30 km N. Uirapuru Usine Alcomat, A. Foucart leg.: 2 males 1–15.XII.2000; 4 males, 12 females 1– 15.XII.2001; 3 males, 2 females 1–15.XII.2002. Paratypes are in: HAHC, GMC, MZSP.

Remarks. Length in the series varies from 8.8 to 12.0 mm, and greatest width from 5.4 to 7.9 mm. In most small specimens the inner pronotal carina on each side is only slightly arcuate in the anterior half and the slightly developed anterior branch extending toward the lateral fovea may be absent. In larger specimens, 10 mm or over, the lateral branch ( Fig. 4 ) is indicated and the inner carina is distinctly arcuate. The outer carina in specimens over 10 mm is distinctly wider and higher in the anterior half, becoming lower and tapering to end in the posterior half. The four teeth on the outer margin of the foretibia are constant.

Neoathyreus moraguesi will not easily key out in my 1985 revision as it does not readily key through either couplet 20 or 24. Neoathyreus moraguesi has a well­developed oblique clypeal carina as mentioned in couplet 20, but the median tubercle is only slightly higher than the lateral ones. However, it should key to couplet 21 and thence to couplet 24. Since all of the series at hand measure 12 mm or less, specimens should key to couplet 25; however the anterior median pronotal tubercle is more developed than in the other small species and could cause a problem if some specimen should measure over 12 mm. In couplet 25 (the most likely couplet the species will key to), there are two species listed as choices: N. corinthius (Klug) and N. bidentatus (MacLeay) . The former has five teeth on the foretibia and is black or bicolored, whereas in the latter the median clypeal tubercle is higher and the outer carinae are poorly developed, low and have relatively uniform width or, often, obsolete. These characters will separate both species from N. moraguesi ; also, all three species differ in the shape of the male genitalia. The combination in N. moraguesi of the following characters should distinguish the species from any other in the genus: low median clypeal tubercle with pronounced oblique carina on each side; moderately developed anterior median pronotal tubercle; outer pronotal carina tapering posteriorly; anterior branch of the inner carina in specimens over 9 mm, and the carina bowed in anterior half; four teeth on the outer margin of the foretibia and, in males, the shape of the male genitalia.

Etymology. Neoathyreus moraguesi is named for Gérard Moragues, who kindly furnished me with most of the specimens belonging to this species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Neoathyreus spp. Figs. 1 – 3. N. julietae, n. sp.: 1, Head and pronotum; 2, Male genitalia, dorsal view; 3, Male genitalia, lateral view. Figs. 4 – 6, N. moraguesi, n. sp.: 4, Head and pronotum; 5, Male genitalia, dorsal view; 6, Male genitalia, lateral view. Scale lines for genitalia = 0.2 mm.