Ochicanthon nitidus (Paulian)

Latha, Mathews, Cuccodoro, Giulio & Sabu, Thomas K., 2011, Taxonomy of the dung beetle genus Ochicanthon Vaz-de-Mello (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of the Indian subcontinent, with notes on distribution patterns and flightlessness, Zootaxa 2745, pp. 1-29 : 18-21

Ochicanthon nitidus (Paulian)

( Figs. 46–50 )

Phacosoma nitidum Paulian, 1980: 58 .

Description. Body ( Fig. 46 ) predominantly black with one marked orange-yellow humeral spot on each elytron. Annular punctation on dorsal surface of head separated by intervals of nearly two times their diameter. Pronotum in lateral view weakly convex, outline at base almost in line with that of elytral suture; laterobasal paramarginal ridge absent. Pronotal punctation ( Fig. 47 ) consisting of annular setiferous punctures similar to that on head becoming finer anteromedially; setae almost indistinct, straight and recumbent. Elytra in lateral view weakly convex; suture not raised; striae rather deep, narrow, consisting of chains of small oval depressions joined by long straight sulci ( Fig. 47 ); interstriae weakly convex, fairly even, finely punctate, irregularly; background microsculpture smooth; setae fine, straight and recumbent; lateral ridge posteriorly extended to level of apex of fourth stria. Mesosternum smooth; metasternal shield with fine punctures separated by distance that exceeds their diameter ( Fig. 48 ). Pygidium smooth, except a few marked punctures along dorsal margin. Protrochanter with outer margin arcuate. Hind wings present.

Male lacking obvious secondary sexual characters. Aedeagus as in Figs 49–50 .

Measurements (mm; n = 12): TL = 4,4–4,7; BW = 2,6–2,7; PL = 1,1–1,2; PW = 2,1–2,2; EL = 2,5–2,6.

Material examined (12 specimens). Holotype (male, in MHNG): “ India, Madras, Anaimalai Hills, 18 km N of Valparai, 1250m, 18.xi.1972, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard, #35” [sifting in forest].

Paratype: same data as holotype, 1 female in MHNG.

Additional material: “ India, Kerala”, 1 male in MHNG; “ India, Kerala, Idikki District, Thekkadi, 1000 m, montane evergreen forest, dung baited pit fall trap, 10.v.2006, leg. Shiju, T.R.”, 1 female in SJC; same data, but 800 m, 1 female in SJC; “Idikki District, Mannavan shola, 1600 m, montane evergreen forest, dung baited pit fall trap, 1.xii.2006, leg. Shiju, T.R.”, 3 female in NPC; “Kerala, Palghat District, Nelliampathi, Hill Top, 1400 m, montane evergreen forest, dung baited pit fall trap, 12.v.2007, leg. Shiju, T.R.”, 1 male in NPC; same data, but 16. xii. 2007, 1 female in ZSI-Ca; “Kerala, Wayanad District, Panamaram, 600 m, moist deciduous forests, dung baited pit fall trap, 10.V. 2006, leg. Vinod, K.V.”, 2 females in ZSI-Ca.

Distribution and natural history. South India (Valparai, Mannavan shola, Thekkadi, Nelliampathi and Panamaram in the South Western Ghats montane rain forest ecoregion). Wide distribution across the moist forests on either side of Palghat gap in Western Ghats is of apparent significance while analysing dispersal patterns.

Diagnosis. Ochicanthon nitidus can be easily distinguished from the very similar species O. laetus and O. mussardi by the sparser pronotal punctation and almost impunctate pygidium. See discussions under O. laetus and O. mussardi .

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 50. Ochicanthon nitidus (holotype). Dorsal habitus (46); base of pronotum and elytra (holotype) (47); mesosternum and metasternum (holotype) (48); aedeagus, ventral view (49); aedeagus, lateral left view (50). Scale bars = 1 mm.