Eremophygus Ohaus, 1910

Moore, Matthew R., Jameson, Mary L., Garner, Beulah H., Audibert, Cedric, Smith, Andrew B. T. & Seidel, Matthias, 2017, Synopsis of the pelidnotine scarabs (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Rutelini) and annotated catalog of the species and subspecies, ZooKeys 666, pp. 1-349 : 1

Eremophygus Ohaus, 1910 Figs 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24

Type species.

Eremophygus philippii Ohaus, 1910.

Species.

6 species; length 14-15 mm.

Rarity of specimens in collections as well as possible paraphyly with the genera Oogenius , Microogenius , Peruquime , and Lasiocala hampers our understanding of the biodiversity of this group. Species in the genus Eremophygus are distributed in the altiplano of Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, and Chile. Gutiérrez described two species in the genus ( Gutiérrez 1951, 1952), discussed the genus ( Gutiérrez 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952), and provided the most recent key to species ( Gutiérrez 1952), yet he did not discuss the group’s relationships or context within the Rutelinae .

Some species in the genus lack the independently movable claws that are diagnostic of Rutelinae (that is, the apex of meso- and metatarsomere 5 lack a longitudinal slit, a character suite shared with cyclocephaline rhinoceros beetles [ Dynastinae : Cyclocephalini ]). One species, Eremophygus pereirai Martínez (from Jujuy, Argentina), was transferred to the dynastine tribe Cyclocephalini and the genus Cyclocephala by Martínez (1975b) who compared the toothless maxillary galea of E. pereirai to the similar maxilla in Cyclocephala zischkai Martínez from Bolivia ( Martínez 1960, 1965). Endrödi (1977) agreed with the tribal transfer and also compared E. pereirai to C. zischkai , considering these species distinctive enough so that, together, they could warrant subgeneric status within Cyclocephala . Eremophygus pereirai (as C. pereirai ) was later included in the key to world Dynastinae and Cyclocephalini ( Endrödi 1985). Krajcik (2012) included E. pereirai under Cyclocephala following Endrödi. Cyclocephala zischkai and C. pereirai have male parameres that are formed from two, laterally articulated plates, a character associated with Cyclocephalini and not Rutelini (male parameres are fused into a single plate that is not laterally articulating). This represents another example of genera historically considered to be part of Rutelini (e.g., Peltonotus and Acrobolbia Ohaus) that were later transferred to Cyclocephalini . This highlights the need for phylogenetic analyses including Eremophygus to broadly sample taxa from Cyclocephalini and Rutelini to resolve the tribal, and thus the subfamilial, placement of this genus.

Diagnostic characters have greatly diminished reliability because of overlap with Lasiocala , Oogenius , Peruquime , Microogenius , and Cyclocephala and should be used with great caution: dorsal surface often with long, tawny setae; apex of labrum extends beyond clypeal apex, visible in dorsal view; antenna 9- or 10-segmented (9-segmented according to Mondaca and Valencia [2016]); lateral edge of mandibles rounded and without reflexed teeth; apex of clypeus varies from rounded to subtrapezoidal; pronotum with apical bead complete medially, laterally, and basally; lateral edge of protibia with three rounded teeth; apex of fourth metatarsomere lacking spiniform attenuation; base of metatibia nearly straight, lacking distinct notch; apex of meso- and metatibia with many spinules, and; mesosternum not appreciably produced beyond the mesometasternal suture. In some species (e.g., E. lasiocalinus Ohaus), the protarsal claw is enlarged and deeply split; the meso- and metatarsal claws may be deeply split or simple; the unguitractor plate of meso- and metatarsus is subcylindrical with 2 or 3 setae; and the apex of tarsomere 5 (meso- and metatarsus) with 2 weak, longitudinal slits at apex (a character that is not shared by most other Rutelini ; instead it is more common in the Melolonthinae and Dynastinae ). Larvae, natural history, and sister-group relationships are not known.

Figures

Figure 20. Holotype female of Eremophygus calvus Gutierrez from UCCC. A Dorsal habitus B Specimen labels.

Figure 21. Eremophygus lasiocalinus Ohaus holotype male from ZMHB. A Dorsal habitus B Lateral habitus C Specimen labels, mouthparts, and male genitalia D Male genitalia, lateral view E Parameres, dorsal view.

Figure 22. Holotype male of Eremophygus leo Gutierrez from UCCC. A Dorsal habitus B Specimen labels, mouthparts, and male genitalia.

Figure 23. Eremophygus pachyloides Ohaus holotype female from ZMHB. A Dorsal habitus B Lateral habitus C Specimen labels, mouthparts, and egg.

Figure 24. Eremophygus philippii Ohaus holotype male from ZMHB. A Dorsal habitus B Lateral habitus C Parameres, dorsal view D Male genitalia, lateral view E Specimen labels.