Parochodaeus stupendus Paulsen & Ocampo

Paulsen, M. J. & Ocampo, Federico C., 2012, The Ochodaeidae of Argentina (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea), ZooKeys 174, pp. 7-30 : 22

Parochodaeus stupendus Paulsen & Ocampo sp. n. Figs 716Map 3

Type material.

Holotype male (CMNC), pinned. Original labels: a) "ARGENTINA / SALTA / D° San Martín / Hito 1 / Coll. Martínez / Dic 971"; b) red label "Parochodaeus / stupendus /Paulsen & Ocampo / HOLOTYPE".

Type locality.

Argentina: Salta: San Martín, Hito 1.

Diagnosis.

Parochodaeus stupendus (Fig. 17) is the only species of Parochodaeus to exhibit a doubly-toothed posterior margin on the metafemur. The tooth on the ventral surface is fairly common in ochodaeids, but the second tooth on the dorsal surface is unique. The toothed metatrochanter and strongly curved metatibiae (Fig. 7) are not found in any other species in Argentina , or elsewhere. The strongly produced ‘thumb’ (internal apical tooth) is also species specific. The female is unknown.

Description, Holotype.

Length:7.5 mm. Width:4.1 mm. Head: Surface tuberculate, tubercles moderately large, setose. Frons unarmed but indistinctly tumid medially. Clypeus evenly rounded, long (length equal to 1/2 width), margin thickened, produced anteriorly, declivous. Labrum emarginate. Mandibles rounded externally. Mentum tumid, not deeply furrowed. Antennal club strongly globose (Fig. 12). Pronotum: Form convex. Surface with moderately large, setose tubercles mixed with glabrous punctures; punctures moderate in size, sparse. Elytra: Setae of interstrial tubercles moderately long, erect, somewhat abraded. Legs: Protibia with apical spur strongly curved externally; internal apical tooth distinctly produced, subequal to basal protibial tooth in size. Metatrochanter with acute tooth. Metafemur with posterior margin acutely toothed on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. Metatibia strongly curved, slender, abruptly widening in distal third. Metatarsomere 1 not greatly enlarged. Abdomen:Stridulatory peg absent.

Etymology.

The specific epithet ‘stupendus’ is Latin meaning "causing astonishment or wonder". With several autapomorphies not seen in other species of the genus, Parochodaeus stupendus is arguably the most wondrous ochodaeid in the New World. The name is used a masculine adjective in the nominative singular.

Distribution

(Map 3).The species is known from a locality near the Bolivian border. 1 specimen examined.

ARGENTINA: SALTA: San Martín, Hito 1 (1).

Temporal distribution

.December (1).

Remarks.

This species is known only from the holotype. Like Parochodaeus jujuyus , it is from the far north of Argentina. It is probable that Parochodaeus stupendus will be discovered in Bolivia as well, especially because the name of the locality "Hito 1" is in reference to the “hito” or boundary post that indicates the border between Argentina and Bolivia.