Saprolochus lobatus Skelley, 2007

Skelley, Paul E., 2007, New South American taxa of Odontolochini Stebnicka and Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Insecta Mundi 2007 (22), pp. 1-15 : 5-7

Saprolochus lobatus Skelley , new species

( Figure 9 , 12 -14)

Type material. Holotype male, label data: “ GUYANA: Region 8, Iwokrama Forest, Pakatau hills, 220 m, 4 o 43’55"N, 59 o 1’31"W, 26-29 MAY 2001, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, GUY1BF01 062, ex: flight intercept trap / [bar code] SMO552702, KUNHM-ENT/ [red paper] HOLOTYPE Saprolochus lobatus P. E. Skelley 2007 ” [ SEMC].

Diagnosis. A distinct member of Saprolochus , readily distinguished by the lobed posterior portion of the lateral pronotal margin.

Description. Male body length 3.0 mm, width 1.2 mm; elongate, robust, somewhat parallel-sided ( Fig. 12 ); weakly glossy, dark reddish brown. Head broad, convex, surface coarsely punctate across basal half, punctures slightly smaller than those on pronotal base; anterior half of head (clypeus) smooth, widely glossy along anterior margin, minutely punctate, granulate area on each side; clypeal edge smooth, lacking teeth, rounded each side of median emargination. Pronotum widest at posterior lobe, almost quadrate in dorsal view; surface coarsely punctate, interspersed with minute punctures, coarse punctures largest at base, becoming smaller anteriorly; coarse anterior punctures half diameter of basal punctures, all coarse punctures separated by 0.5-1 diameters on disc, nearly coalescing near anterior lateral angle; lateral edge weakly explanate anteriorly, broadly, abruptly explanate from anterior 1/4 to end of posterior lobe; in dorsal view lateral margin concave, abruptly constricted at base; in lateral view, lateral edge straight, broadly rounded anteriorly and at basal lobe; pronotal basal edge evenly convex,

nearly straight; with complete, broad basal groove.

Scutellum small, elongate, narrow, triangular.

Elytra with basal marginal bead and weak humeral

denticle; glossy, minutely alutaceous; intervals

evenly convex at base, becoming strongly convex

at declivity; finely, irregularly punctate along mid-

line; striae deep, sharply defined, punctures longi-

tudinally elongate, separated by less than their

length. Prosternum broad, flat behind procoxa.

Meso- and metasternal juncture straight, flat. Me-

sosternum with shallow acutely V-shaped depres-

sion from base, depression weakly punctate, depres-

sion leading to small group of coarse punctures in

anterior 1/3 of mesocoxae. Metasternum foveately

Figure 14. Saprolochus lobatus , n. sp. 14) Genitalia. punctate laterally, medially minutely punctate ei-

ther side of distinct longitudinal medial groove;

coarse lateral punctures forming transverse lines near meso- and metacoxae which are not present medially. Abdominal sternites 1-5 with large basal punctures forming fluting ( Fig. 13 ); sternites 2-4 with medial transverse row of large punctures laterally, not connecting along midline; apical half of sternite 5 and sternite 6 minutely punctate. Pygidium eroded on apical half, eroded area divided by fine longitudinal medial carina; apical margin on each side of middle with a single seta. Profemur ventral surface moderately, deeply punctate. Protibia with 3 distinct lateral teeth, evenly spaced, apical tooth largest; protibial spur prominent. Meso- and metafemur with complete posterior marginal line; surface finely punctate; posterior margin of metafemur very weakly lobed at middle. Meso- and metatibia narrow, gradually widened to apex, with 2 distinct apical spurs, lacking lateral apical accessory spine; apical fringe of setae short. Meso- and metatarsi elongate, not as long as tibia; basal tarsomere slightly longer than long tibial spur, 3 times longer than second tarsomere. Genitalia with parameres short, as long as basal piece, apex broadly rounded in lateral view (Fig. 14).

Etymology. The species name was selected for the distinctly lobed pronotal margin of this species. Other species are simply dentate.

Figures

Figure 9-11. Saprolochus spp., head and pronotum. 9) Saprolochus lobatus, n. sp. 10) Saprolochus tridentatus, n. sp. 11) Saprolochus tambopatae Stebnicka and Galante, paratype.

Figure 12-13. Saprolochus lobatus, n. sp. 12) Dorsal habitus. 13) Ventral habitus.