Parochodaeus pudu Paulsen & Ocampo

Paulsen, M. J. & Ocampo, Federico C., 2012, The Ochodaeidae of Argentina (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea), ZooKeys 174, pp. 7-30 : 19-21

Parochodaeus pudu Paulsen & Ocampo sp. n. Figs 115Map 3

Type material.

Holotype male (IAZA), pinned. Original labels: a) "ARGENTINA: La Pampa / General Acha. / 15-III-2008. at light / Col. D. Carpintero"; b) red paper "Parochodaeus / pudu / ♂ / Paulsen & Ocampo / HOLOTYPE". Allotype female (IAZA) with a) as holotype; b) "Parochodaeus / pudu / ♀ / Paulsen & Ocampo / ALLOTYPE" (red label). Twenty-one paratypes (IAZA, MJPC, UNSM) labeled a) as holotype. Four paratypes (CMNC) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / Córdoba”; "Ao. TEGUA / 5, 9 -Abril-1967"; b) Coll: L.E. Peña / y G. Barriga"; c) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll.". One paratype (FSCA) labeled: "ARGENTINA: LA RIOJA / Castro Barros: Santa Vera / Cruz; -28.67 -66.96; 1600m / 30-II-2004; L. Stange". One paratype (MJPC) labeled: "ARGENTINA: LA RIOJA / Castro Barros: Santa Vera / Cruz; -28.67 -66.96; 1600m / 15-II-2005; L. Stange". Three paratypes (CMNC) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / Jujuy / CIUDAD / Patología / Prosen - legit / Coll. Martínez / May 948"; b) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll." One paratype (CMNC) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / Jujuy / S.S. de Jujuy / Prosen - legit / Coll. Martínez”; b) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll." One paratype (CMNC) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / SALTA / D° G. San Martín / Pocitos / Coll. Martínez”; b) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll." One paratype (IFML) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / TUCUMÁN / 11 km. cerca / de Las Cejas"; b) "Trampa malaise". Two paratypes (CMNC) a) labeled: "ARGENTINA / Buenos Aires / D° de Puán / Felipe Solá / Coll. Martínez / Ene. 949"; b) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll." One paratype (CMNC) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / Buenos Aires / D° de Puán / Felipe Solá / Coll. Martínez / Ene. 949"; b) "Ochodaeus / campsognathus / Arr. G. J. Arrow. det."; c) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll." Four paratypes (FMNH) labeled: "Argent. Fama - / balastro: 10. / 3.22. Weiser"; FIELD MUS / (F. Psota Coll.)". Three paratypes (CMNC) labeled: a) "ARGENTINA / Prov. Córdoba / Abril-1967"; "Coll. L.E. Peña / y G. Barriga"; b) "H. & A. Howden / Collection / ex. A. Martínez coll." One paratype (UCCC) labeled: a) "Argentina / Los Ángeles / Catamarca / II-46 / Bosq."; b) “5751”. One paratype (IAZA) labeled: "ARGENTINA: San Luis / San Gerónimo (500 m NW) / 33°45'52"S, 66°31'31"W. / 546m. 6/IV/10. / F.C. Ocampo, S. Roig". Three paratypes (MLP) labeled: "Caspinchango / Catam. 10-III-921". One paratype (MLP) labeled: "La Rioja / Huanchín / 1925". All paratypes labeled: "Parochodaeus / pudu /Paulsen & Ocampo / PARATYPE" on yellow paper.

Type locality.

Argentina: La Pampa: General Acha.

Diagnosis.

Parochodaeus pudu (Fig. 15) is the only species of Parochodaeus with two small horns on the vertex of the head (Fig. 1). Because of this, the species is immediately recognizable. In Parochodaeus bituberculatus (Erichson) of Peru the frontal structures are not horn-like, being instead two short, transverse carinae.

Description, holotype male.

Length:7.2 mm. Width:3.8mm. Head: Surface shiny, roughened near eyes, punctate; punctures small. Frons with two horn-like tubercles on vertex. Clypeus long (length equal to 1/2 width), depressed basally, almost foveate; anterior margin semicircular, not thickened, often indistinct. Labrum subtruncate. Mandibles externally rounded. Mentum tumid, eroded anteriorly, lacking longitudinal furrow. Pronotum: Form strongly convex, not declivous anteriorly. Surface densely tiled with tubercles; tubercles small, setose; surface between tubercles punctate; punctures small. Elytra: Setae of interstrial tubercles short, erect. Legs: Protibia with apical spur curved; internal apical tooth absent. Metatrochanter simple. Metafemur with posterior margin simple. Metatibia straight, slender (width approximately 1/5 length), gradually expanding to apex. Metatarsomere 1 not greatly enlarged. Abdomen:Stridulatory peg absent.

Description, allotype female.Length:6.7 mm. Width:3.4 mm. Differs from male holotype in the following external characters: Pronotum:Form not as strongly convex.

Description, paratypes(n=50). Length:5.1 -– 8.8 mm. Width:2.5-4.5 mm. Not differing significantly from the holotype and allotype in external characters.

Etymology.

The frontal horns are reminiscent of those found on pudú, the small South American deer, Pudu puda (Molina). The name ‘pudu’ is used as a masculine noun in the nominative singular.

Distribution

(Map 3). 52 specimens examined.

ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: Felipe Solá (3); CATAMARCA: Caspichango (6), Famabalasto (1); Los Ángeles (1); CÓRDOBA: No locality (3); JUJUY: San Salvador de Jujuy (1), "Ciudad Patología” (3); LA PAMPA: General Acha (23); LA RIOJA: Huanchín (1), Santa Vera Cruz (2), Tegua (4); SALTA: Pocitos (1); SAN LUIS: Arizona- 18 Km S (1), San Gerónimo (1); TUCUMÁN: Las Cejas (1).

Temporal distribution.

January (1), February (6), March (26), April (8), May (4). No data (1).

Remarks.

This species is relatively well represented in collections. It is surprising that such a distinctive species remained undescribed for so long. With the two small horns on the head it is immediately recognizable and cannot be confused with any other species in the genus. The life history of the species is mostly unknown. Label data indicate that many specimens were collected at light traps, which at the very least infers a nocturnal habit for the species.