Cyclocephala ukuku Paz & Ratcliffe, 2022

Paz, Fernando, Ratcliffe, Brett C. & Figueroa, Luis, 2022, Three new species of Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Amazonian Peru and a checklist of Cyclocephala species in Peru, Zootaxa 5087 (3), pp. 427-440 : 428-430

Cyclocephala ukuku Paz & Ratcliffe , new species

( Figs. 1–6 , 20–21 )

Type material: Holotype male labeled: “ PERU, CU, RC / Machiguenga , Campto / Mapi , 35.5 Km O de Nuevo / Mundo, 741 m. 73° / 28'30,46"/ 11°31'30,24", 13- / 18.i.2010 J. Grados ” and with our red holotype label . Allotype female labeled: “ PERU, CU. Zona de / amortiguamiento / Megantoni 12°34'18.6"S / 73°5'13.18"W 1708 m. / 27.ix.2010 M. Alvarado y / J. Peralta ” and with our red allotype label. Two paratype males with same data as allotype . Holotype, allotype, and 1 paratype deposited in MUSM , and 1 paratype in BCRC .

Description. Holotype, male. ( Fig. 1 ). Length 18.5 mm; width 9.1 mm. Color dark reddish brown, shiny, except for black tarsomeres and black on posterior half of frons. Head: Frons and clypeus with punctures moderate in size and density, setigerous; setae minute, tawny. Clypeal apex broadly subtruncate, slightly reflexed. Interocular width equals 3.1 transverse eye diameters. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club subequal in length to antennomeres 2–7. Pronotum: Surface similar to that of frons; setae short, tawny. Base lacking marginal bead. Elytra: Surface weakly punctate-striate, transversely wrinkled, punctures slightly larger and denser than those of pronotum, setigerous; setae short, tawny. Pygidium: Surface with large, dense, setigerous punctures; setae long, tawny. In lateral view, surface weakly convex. Legs: Protibia slender, tridentate, basal tooth reduced to a rounded prominence. Protarsomere 5 enlarged, slightly bent, venter concave; medial claw large, strongly bent, apex split ( Fig. 5 ). Metatarsus slightly shorter than metatibia. Venter: Prosternal process long, columnar, apex obliquely flattened into transversely oval disc with transverse, elevated “button” on anterior half. Parameres: In caudal view, form elongate, subparallel, apices rounded ( Fig. 3 ). In lateral view, basal piece subequal in length to parameres ( Fig. 4 ).

Allotype, female ( Fig. 2 ). Length 19.3 mm; width across humeri 9.0 mm. As holotype except in the following respects: Elytra: Epipleuron (ventral view) gradually tapering beginning at level of abdominal sternite 2 ( Fig. 6 ). In dorsal view, lateral margin simple, evenly rounded. Pygidium: In lateral view, surface weakly convex. Legs: Protibia distinctly tridentate. Protarsus simple, not enlarged.

Variation. Males (2 paratypes). Length 18.0– 19.5 mm; width 8.5–9.0 mm. The paratypes do not differ from the holotype except in size.

Etymology. Cyclocephala ukuku is from Peruvian mythology and refers to a being from the mountains that is half bear and half human. The creature is known for being a dancer and guardian of the snowy mountains. This name should be treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution. 4 specimens examined ( Fig. 20 ). PERU (4): CUSCO (4): Reserva Comunal Machiguenga, Campamento Mapi, 35.5 km W Nuevo Mundo (1); Zona de Amortiguamiento Megantoni (3).

Temporal distribution. January (1), September (3).

Diagnosis. Cyclocephala ukuku is characterized by a distinctive, shiny, dark reddish-brown color ( Figs. 1–2 ); presence of small, abundant setae on the head, pronotum, and elytra; broadly subtruncate clypeus with a weakly emarginate apex; basal bead of the pronotum lacking; tridentate protibia; male large protarsal claw split at its apex ( Fig. 5 ); and uniquely shaped parameres ( Figs. 3–4 ). The female epipleuron is simple and gradually tapering ( Fig. 6 ).

Natural history. Specimens were collected at elevations of 741 m and 1708 m in pristine forest ( Fig. 21 ), but nothing else is known of their life history.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Distribution map of the new species of Peruvian Cyclocephala.

FIGURE 21. Aerial view of the habitat of the holotype of Cyclocephala ukuku at Reserva Comunal Machiguenga, Cusco, Peru. Photograph by Juan Grados.

FIGURES 1–6. Cyclocephala ukuku. 1, Male holotype; 2, female allotype; 3–4, parameres of holotype; 5, protarsal claw of holotype; 6, epipleuron (ventral view) of allotype. Scale bar = 5 mm.