Desertaclopus marcosi Ocampo & Mondaca

Ocampo, Federico C. & Mondaca, José, 2012, Revision of the scarab subfamily Aclopinae Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Argentina and Chile, Zootaxa 3409, pp. 1-29 : 24-25

Desertaclopus marcosi Ocampo & Mondaca , new species

( Figs. 38, 39 , 41 , 43 )

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: distance between clypeal and frontal carinae (at middle) more than twice as the distance between clypeal apical margin and clypeal carina; size 5.2–8.0 mm; male genitalia as in Fig. 41 .

Description. Holotype male. Length 5.58 mm, width 2.11 mm. Color: Head, pronotum dark-brown; head progressively darker from clypeus to frons; elytra brown; legs, antennae, and mouthparts brown; ventral surface brown. Head ( Fig. 38 ): Eye canthus well developed, apex slightly reflexed, bearing 3–5 setae, setae short; frontocanthal carina present. Eyes well developed, rounded, not divided by eye canthus. Frons flat on apical half, convex at base with well developed transversal carina; surface sparsely punctate, glabrous. Clypeus strongly transverse; lateral margins rounded; anterior margin rounded; clypeal disc and with well-developed carina, carina with fringe of setae on basal margin; frontoclypeal suture obsolete; clypeal surface punctate. Distance between clypeal and frontal carinae (at middle) more than twice as the distance between clypeal apical margin and clypeal carina. Labral shape semicircular in dorsal view apex rounded, strongly reflexed, glabrous. Mandibular outer margin broadly sinuate externally, concave dorsoventrally, lacking incisory teeth, molar area poorly developed, ventral surface moderately setose, setae long. Labium as long as wide, strongly reduced, labial palps with three palpomeres, palpomere 3 as long as 1–2 combined; labial surface setose, setae dense to moderately dense, long and slender. Maxillae poorly developed, maxillary palp with four palpomeres. Antennae with eight antennomeres. Pronotum ( Fig. 39 ): Convex, wider than long. Surface sparsely punctate, glabrous, except for margins. Marginal bead present in all margins; anterior margin concave, with deep furrow, membrane well developed; lateral and posterior margins broadly rounded. Anterior angle nearly right-angled; posterior angles broadly rounded. Scutellum: Triangular , apex rounded, surface punctate at base, smooth at apex. Elytra: Convex, longer than wide, lateral margins rounded. Surface punctate, punctures sparse, setose, setae moderately long. Elytral striae absent, except for sutural striae; pseudoepipleura not developed. Ve n te r: Surface setose, setae long; ventrites 3–5 membranous on apical margin.

Pygidium not exposed beyond clypeal margin, triangular, surface sparsely setose; setae long, slender. Legs: Protibiae with two teeth, protibial spurs not developed. Mesotibiae and metatibiae each with one transverse carina. Mesotibial and metatibial apices with fringe of thick setae/spines. Mesotibial spurs contiguous, metatibial spurs apart. Metatibial tarsal insertion with notch, notch associated with tibial process. Tarsus longer than tibiae. Protarsomeres, mesotarsomeres, and metatarsomeres 1, 5 longer than 2, 3, 4 individually; all tarsi with long, apical setae. Protarsal claws curved, simple, symmetrical. Male genitalia ( Fig. 41 ): Parameres longer than phallobase, slightly curved, narrowed at apical third (on lateral view), simple, symmetrical, apex rounded.

Remarks. Only males are known and they vary only slightly in length (5.0–8.0 mm).

Type material. Holotype male at IAZA labeled: “R.A. San Juan / Río Usno 10 km / 10 km N Valle Fértil / 10/ I /198 / Col. Willink”; “ Desertaclopus / marcosi / Ocampo & Mondaca / HOLOTYPE ” (red label). Paratypes (all male). Three paratypes (2 FSCA, 1 IAZA) labeled: “ ARGENTINA: La Rioja / Tambillos. 1750m / 12-XII-2003, L. Stange / At light.” One paratype ( FSCA) labeled: “ ARGENTINA: La Rioja / Malligasta. 1000m / 14-XII-2003. P. Fidalgo / & L. Stange. At light At / base of mts”. One paratype ( FSCA) labeled: “ ARGENTINA: prov of / Catamarca. Ca. Agua / de las Palomas / 19-XII-1971 / C. Porter, L. Stange”. One paratype ( VMDC) labeled: “ARGEN- TINA: LA RIOJA / Cuesta Lo Miranda / 16 Febrero 1999 / Leg. Gerardo Arriagada”; One paratype ( IAZA) labeled: “ ARGENTINA / San Juan / Valle Fértil / El Baldecito / Coll. Martínez / Dec. 1964 ”. One paratype ( IAZA) labeled: “RA La Rioja / Londres / 7/XI/95 / Roig/ Flores / IADIZA. All paratypes labeled: “ Desertaclopus / marcosi / Ocampo & Mondaca / PARATYPE ” (yellow label).

Etymology. This species is named after FCO’s nephew, Marcos Salemme, to encourage his love for nature and fascination for the world’s insect diversity.

Distribution ( Fig. 43 ). ARGENTINA: Catamarca: Agua de las Palomas (1), Londres (1) [the paratype label incorrectly indicates La Rioja for this locality]. La Rioja: Cuesta de Miranda (1), Tambillos (3), Malligasta (1). San Juan: El Baldecito (1), Río Usno (10 km N Valle Fértil) (1).

Temporal distribution. January (1), February (1), November (1), December (6).

Figures

FIGURE 43. Distribution map of Desertaclopus atacamensis, D. lucasi, and D. marcosi.

FIGURES 38 – 39. Desertaclopus marcosi, male.

FIGURES 40 – 42. 40 a – c) Male genitalia of Desertaclopus lucasi, a – b) aedeagus lateral and frontal views, c) ventral plate of the genital segment; 41 a – b) D. marcosi, aedeagus lateral and frontal views; 42 a – b) D. atacamensis, lateral and frontal views.