Phyllophaga (Phyllophaga) badbunnyi Cano, 2020

Cano, Enio B., 2020, Two new species of Phyllophaga of the Schizorhina species group from cloud forests of Chiapas, México and Guatemala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Insecta Mundi 2020 (827), pp. 1-14 : 2-8

Phyllophaga (Phyllophaga) badbunnyi Cano , new species

( Fig. 1–4 )

Phyllophaga alvareztoroi: Morón and Blas (2006: 39 , in part); Schuster and Cano (2006: 63); Gómez and Morón (2010: 212–213, in part).

Material examined. 35 specimens, plus one not seen (species figured in Morón and Blas 2006: 39).

Type material. Holotype male. GUATEMALA: Suchitepéquez, Santa Bárbara, Fca. Panamá, Reserva UVG, 1500 msnm, 14.546818, −91.193639. Bosque nuboso. 14 VI 2002. Col. E. Cano ( USAC).

Allotype female. GUATEMALA: Suchitepéquez, Santa Bárbara , Res. Refugio Quetzal UVG, 15-18 III 2007. 1600m [1373m]. Latitud 14.5417598494, Longitud −91.1972949818. [Cols.] Camposeco, Pérez, Cortéz ( USAC).

Paratypes (21 ♂, 13 ♀). Same data as holotype (3 ♂, 2 ♀, USAC) ; same data as allotype (9 ♂, 8 ♀, UVGC) ; same data as allotype except VIII 2018 (1 ♂, USAC) ; same data as allotype except 20 II 2007 (1 ♀, UVGC) ; same data as allotype except 11 V 2013, Col. Monzón y Camposeco (1 ♀, UVGC) ; same data as allotype except 20–30 IV 2007 (3 ♂, 1 ♀, USAC). GUATEMALA: Suchitepéquez, Finca Mocá, Volcán Atitlán, 1600m, 5 IV 2000, Colector José Monzón (1 ♂, UVGC). GUATEMALA: San Marcos, San Rafael Pié de la Cuesta , camino Fraternidad a El Bojonal , 1600m, 10 V 2008, 14.9459, −91.8806, Col. Monzón y Camposeco (1 ♂, USAC) ; same data except camino de Fraternidad-Bojonal, 28–31 VIII 2005, 1600m, Colector José Monzón Sierra (1 ♂, UVGC) ; same data except aldea El Bojonal, 14° 57′ N, 91° 53′ W, 1600m, X 2010, bosque nuboso, luz UV + Metalarc 400w, F. Camposeco (1 ♂, UVGC). MÉXICO: Chiapas, Siltepec, Reserva Cordón Pico, Barrio Las Moras [15.557778, −92.428056; 1750m; cloud forest], 20 III 2001, Col. V. Galdamez (1 ♂, figured in Morón and Blas (2006: 39)), officially at MXAL-IEXA but not located .

Type locality. Guatemala, Suchitepéquez Dept., Santa Bárbara, Reserva Refugio del Quetzal, 1500m, coordinates 14.546818, −91.193639, cloud forest on the southern slopes of Atitlán volcano. Some specimens (including holotype) were collected before the territorial changes for the establishment of the Biological Reserve.

Diagnosis. Phyllophaga badbunnyi new species ( Fig. 1–3 ) is similar to Phyllophaga alvareztoroi ( Fig. 7B ) from which it can be separated by dorsal keel of tectum barely marked, tectum separated from basal piece by a strong constriction, parameres (lower projections of phallobase) thinner apically and superior genital plates of females with upper margin markedly dentate. Although genital plates of female are similar to those of Phyllophaga javepacuana , both, males and females of the new species can be separated by absence of a row of setae along sides of abdomen and absence of a strong sulcus on prepygidium, between the posterior spiracles.

Description. Dorsal coloration shiny black with some bluish reflections, epipleuron and adjacent elytral border reddish-brown, ventral coloration of abdomen and metasternum dark reddish-brown; legs reddish-brown. Total length of body: 24.05 mm. Humeral width 10.62 mm.

Head. Clypeus short, 3.75 times wider than long, anterior border deeply and widely emarginate, anterior angles markedly rounded and moderately elevated; clypeal disc glabrous, concave towards lateral sides and slightly convex centrally, with circular dense deep punctures separated by less than a diameter, giving a strong rugose aspect. Frontoclypeal suture marked and bisinuate, less marked medially. Frons 3.55 times wider than long, uniformly convex, with deep circular punctures giving a slightly rugose aspect, more abundant at disc and smaller and sparse toward sides and anterolateral areas, each puncture with a very minute whitish, decumbent seta (visible only at great magnification); vertex smooth. Antennae 10 segmented; segments 3 and 4 subcylindrical of equal length; segments 5 and 6 shorter and wide, with a rounded projection; segment 7 slightly shorter than 6 and very wide, with an acute projection; wide (length in most authors) of antennal club as the length of segments 3–5 combined, with segment 8 wider than 9 or 10. Interocular distance 10.8 mm, width of each eye 2.1 mm. Ocular canthus short and narrow with 8–11 erect setae. Labrum bilobate, with anterior border deeply emarginate, with many erect setae on lateral borders. Labium longitudinally widely and deeply excavate, disc bare, with abundant long setae toward the sides, anterior border emarginate.

Prothorax. Pronotum convex, 1.8 times wider than long. Anterior angles almost straight, slightly acute; posterior angles slightly obtuse. Lateral borders forming a wide angle at the central portion; marginal border narrow and crenulate with scarce sparse setae; posterior border marked by an impression and evanescent at middle in front of scutellum and crenulate at sides. Disc with circular and deep punctures, irregularly distributed giving a rugose aspect, each puncture with a decumbent, whitish setae; punctures denser towards the sides and scarce medially and near the posterior border.

Pterothorax. Scutellum wider than long (1.7:1) with deep punctures toward anterolateral portions, each puncture with a decumbent, whitish seta; middle line barely marked; anterior border declivous. Elytra almost parallel and almost the same width as posterior margin of pronotum (at the level of humeri), slightly wider from anterior 1/3 to apex; moderately rugose-punctured; punctures rounded and each with a minute seta (only visible at great magnification); each elytron 2.6 times longer than wide. A row of minute decumbent white setae is present on punctures at most anterior portion, between epipleuron and humeral callus. Elytral epipleura with scattered short yellow-whitish setae; epipleural keel progressively effacing from middle of third abdominal segment to apex. Sutural costa elevated and well-marked, with scarce and disperse punctures, each puncture with a minute, decumbent seta; two discal costae longitudinally transverse and arising near humeral callus, proximal narrowly marked at anterior 2/3 and more widely marked at posterior 1/3 where fused with apical callus, the second very narrow and barely marked; lateral costa behind humeral callus, narrowly marked. Humeral callus prominent and rounded; apical callus wide, rounded, moderately prominent. Pterosternum densely puncturate-rugose, each puncture with a long, yellowish setae, giving a hairy aspect.

Abdomen. Prepygidium with a small excavation separated from fifth abdominal segment of venter, at level of posterior spiracle. Pygidium convex and shiny, puncturate-rugose, punctures wider at disc, each puncture with a whitish minute seta (only visible at great magnification); disc with a longitudinal, irregular and smooth tumosity; apical border with each puncture containing a long, yellowish seta. Abdominal segments 2–4 widely convex; sides with moderately abundant small and shallow punctures, each containing a minute decumbent whitish seta; setose punctures scarce medially (small setae on segment 2). Abominal segmets 3–4 with a shallow, longitudinal, lateral impression. Abdominal segment 5 widely convex, except at posterior transversal, almost smooth concavity and densely rugose and setose-puncturate posterolateral shallow and rounded concavity; setae of concavity whitish and long, forming a brush when seen laterally; anterior border of posterolateral concavity excavate at level of impression of fourth segment. Medial portion of fifth segment with minute rugose-punctures, denser posteriorly before transverse concavity. Anal plate narrow, medially concave, with minute and shallow rugose-punctures, surface with some long and short setae.

Legs. Protibiae tridentate, shorter than protarsus (1:1.13); protibial spur straight, with acute and slightly downward curved apex; longer than second segment of protarsus (1.2:1). Middle of external face of mesotibiae with a well-marked, crenulate, oblique, transverse keel, with 9 thorny setae arising from base in each crenulation. Proximal 1/3 of mesotibiae with small and incomplete keel, with 2–3 thorny setae. Mesotibial spurs articulate, almost straight and with acute and slightly curved, apex; both spurs almost with the same length. Metatibiae shorter than metatarsus (1:1.26); middle of external face with a well-marked, crenulate, oblique, transverse keel, with 8 thorny setae arising from base in each crenulation. Proximal 1/3 with only two thorny setae and two crenulations marked. Metatibial spurs articulate; superior elongated and slender, slightly curved and with rounded apex, longer than first segment of metatarsus; inferior spur 1/3 length of superior, markedly curved and with apex acute, shorter than first segment of metatarsus. Pro- and meso-tarsal segments 1–4 with small spine on distal border; second protarsal segment shorter than first and same length as the third; first meso-tarsal segment longer and wider than second. Second metatarsal segment longer than first and segments 3–5; meta-tarsal segments 1–4 with row of ventral thorny setae, forming comb. All tarsal claws divided and equal; basal tooth ventrally almost as long as apical tooth; basal tooth closer to basal process than to apical tooth.

Genital capsule. Parameres in lateral view narrow, elongate and free at apex; angulate before thin, apical 1/4; basally fused and with pair of superior projections in lateral view in form of “U”, with expanded apex ( Fig. 2A ). Tectum ( Fig. 2A–B ) separated from basal piece by constriction; dorsally with weakly marked wide keel, not extended over phallobase. Basal 2/3 of aedeagus ventrally membranous and dorsally sclerotized and furrowed; asymmetrical and partially coiled near level of apical 2/3 to apex; apical 1/3 containing a dorsal membranous tubular projection ( Fig. 2C ). Length of genital capsule from apex of parameres to end of basal piece: 6.9 mm.

Allotype. Female. Similar to holotype except as follows: pygidium scarcely convex, puncturate-rugose with longitudinal tumosity scarcely marked; fifth abdominal segment more plain; anal plate long and plain, puncturate-rugose. Metatibial spurs widened with rounded apex. Inferior genital plates rounded and separated, with few scattered minute setae (extreme of right plate broken in allotype); lateral plates present and irregularly oval; superior genital plates united at middle forming a longitudinal keel, apical border roughly dentate and with long setae, latero-basally excavated forming an apical lateral projection ( Fig. 3 ). Total length of body: 24.5 mm. Humeral width: 11.1 mm.

Variation in paratypes. Males similar to holotype except as follows: old specimens without minute seta on frons, pronotum and elytra. Two female, teneral specimens with 10 long, yellowish setae on middle of frons and one female with tumosity of pygidium almost smooth. Males: total body length 23.98–27.74 mm (µ = 26.33, n = 6), humeral width 10.54–12.21 (µ = 11.34, n = 6). Females: total body length 25.98-29 mm (µ = 27.32, n = 6), humeral width 11.05–12.04 (µ = 11.67, n = 6).

Etymology. Named after the Puerto Rican urban singer and composer Benito Antonio Martínez, known as “Bad Bunny”. During the first weeks of the quarantine due to the SARS-CoV-2 I worked on the description of this new species listening to old and new works of the inspirational bunny.

Ecology and distribution. This species is known from cloud forests between 1500 and 1750 meters elevation, located at the southern slopes of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and Guatemalan western volcanoes ( Fig. 4 ). It has been collected at lights in February (1), March (19), April (5), May (2), June (6), August (2) and October (1).

Nomenclatural comments. Although unseen and unlabeled, I included the Siltepec paratype specimen of P. alvareztoroi Morón and Blas , as a paratype of P. badbunnyi new species according to article 72.4.1 of ICZN (1999), because the figures 6–8 are signed by Morón himself, in Morón and Blas (2006: 39), clearly indicate that it belongs to the new species here described.

Figures

Figure 1. Phyllophaga badbunnyi n. sp. A) Dorsal habitus. B) Lateral habitus.

Figure 2. Genital capsule of Phyllophaga badbunnyi, n. sp. A) Lateral view. B) Dorsal view. C) Lateral view of aedeagus. Arrows indicate the finger-like dorsal projections of phallobase (sensu Morón 2003: 231).

Figure 3.Genital plates of Phyllophaga badbunnyi, n. sp. A) Superior and lateral plates. B) Inferior plates (the right broken).

Figure 4.Collecting localities of the new species. Circles: Phyllophaga badbunnyi n. sp. Cano. Square:Phyllophaga sechi n. sp. Cano.

Figure 7. Genital capsule of species of Phyllophaga of Schizorhina subgroup 2, from Chiapas, México and Guatemala. A) P. acacoyahuana, dorsolateral view. B) P. alvareztoroi, dorsal view, redrawn from Morón and Blas (2006). C) P. ginigra, lateral view. D) P. javepacuana, lateral view. Arrows indicate the finger-like dorsal projections of phallobase (sensu Morón 2003: 231).