Paraplesiataenius tremolerasi (Schmidt)

Stebnicka, Zdzislawa Teresa, 2003, The Genus Paraplesiataenius Chalumeau, With Descriptions of two New Species from Brazil (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Eupariini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (4), pp. 444-450 : 446-448

Paraplesiataenius tremolerasi (Schmidt)

( Figs. 1 , 7 )

Ataenius tremolerasi Schmidt 1911:33 ; 1922:437–438; Dellacasa 1988:282 (catalogued); Chalumeau 1992:194–195, fig. 1.

Description. Length 4.0–5.0 mm, greatest width 1.9–2.1 mm. Body shining, reddish black to black, in some specimens anterior angles of pronotum and apical declivity of elytra yellowish brown. Head ( Fig. 1 ) and pronotum with evenly distributed, equal in size, fine punctures separated by about two diameters, lateral pronotal margins fringed with hair-like setae, base margined by line, not fimbriate. Elytra convex on disc, apical declivity and lateral intervals with moderate in length, erect pale setae. Penultimate abdominal sternite and pygidium setaceous. Mesocoxal surface finely wrinkled; meso- and metafemora with short and weak postfemoral lines; apical fringe of metatibia with 18–20 short setae; basal segment of metatarsus shorter than upper tibial spur and slightly longer than following three tarsal segments combined.

In males, the pronotum is slightly wider than in females and penultimate sternite shorter, parallel-sided. Epipharyngeal structures are similar to those in Paraplesiataenius catarinaensis n. sp. ( Fig. 3 ).

Affinity. The species is most similar to P. catarinaensis n. sp. (see Affinity under that species).

Type Material. Lectotype designated by Chalumeau (1992). Deposited in Naturhistoriska Rijksmuseet ( NRS), Stockholm, Sweden. Type locality: Montevideo, Uruguay.

448 Material Examined. Lectotype and 30 specimens with the following label data: ARGENTINA —Prov. Cordoba, Dep. Punilla, Tanti, III.1950, coll. Martinez ( CMN); Prov. Buenos Aires, Puan, F. Sola, XI.1962, coll. Martinez ( CMN); Prov. Salta, Viñaco, 15 km S El Carril, 12.II.1982, H. & A. Howden ( HAHC, ISEA); Prov. Misiones, Iguazu Nat. Park , Cantera, 8. XII.1990 – 6.I.1991, S. & J. Peck ( HAHC, ISEA). URUGUAY — Montevideo, Cerro Ruffinelli, 12.XI.1954, coll. Martinez ( CMN).

Biological Data. As indicated on the labels, specimens of Paraplesiataenius tremolerasi were collected at forest edges, in ant refuse deposit and near or in the nests of Acromyrmex lobicornis and A. lundi .

Paraplesiataenius catarinaensis Stebnicka , new species ( Figs. 1 , 3, 4 , 7 )

Description. Length 4.2–5.5 mm, greatest width 1.9–2.1 mm. Body ( Fig. 1 ) strongly shining, reddish black to black, in some specimens anterior angles of pronotum, apex and basal area of elytra lightened; antennal club yellow. Clypeal margin rounded on each side of narrow, rather deep median emargination, sides arcuate, gena prominent, right-angled, setaceous; surface transversely concave just above median emargination, punctures from anterior margin to vertex very fine, everywhere separated by 3–4 diameters. Pronotum about 2.5 times as wide as long, anterior angle rounded, side weakly arcuate to widely truncate posterior angle; sides and base margined, margin slightly grooved, lateral edge from anterior angles to base finely crenate, fringed with moderate in length, palisade setae; pronotal punctures same size and distribution as those on head with intermixed larger punctures, the latter not close, irregularly spaced, concentrated on sides and along base, lacking in anterior median area. Scutellum shining, impunctate. Elytra widest at middle, convex along suture, slightly lobed apically with fine, short setae at extreme apex and with fringe of longer setae along lateral margin; humeral denticles small, directed laterad; discal elytral striae very fine with traces of shallow, isolated punctures, striae on apical declivity deeper and wider; intervals flat on disc, subcarinate apically, surface punctures minute, scattered. Ventral sclerites shining; mesosternum scabrous in anterior half, subgranulate on each side of fine mesometasternal carina; mesocoxal surface with fine transverse wrinkles; metasternal midline impressed, punctures on disc same size as those of head; lateral metasternal triangle broad, shining, minutely granulate inside; abdominal sternites with group of punctures laterally, sternites 1–3 with short fluting along sutures, fluting of sternite 4 longest laterally, sternite 5 with long fluting in anterior half, posteriorly with row of punctures bearing erect setae, pygidial setae same length as those of penultimate sternite. Legs moderate in length; profemur shining, punctate and finely setigerous in posterior half; meso- and metafemora with row of punctures bearing short pale setae; posterior femoral lines very weak, incomplete; meso- and metatibiae as long as femora, posterior tibial fringe of 14–16 short setae; basal segment of metatarsus shorter than upper tibial spur and subequal in length to following three tarsal segments combined. Epipharyngeal structures as in Figure 3 .

In males, the penultimate abdominal sternite is parallel-sided, shorter than in females; genitalia as in Figure 4 .

Type Series. Holotype male ( CMN). ‘‘ Brazil (SC), Nova Teutonia , Santa Catarina, X.1972, F. Plaumann. ’’ Paratypes (65): 61—same data as holotype ; 2— same locality , 1. V, 7.XI.1961; 2— ( RS) Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre , XII.1958, K.E. Hudepohl . Paratypes are in CMN, HAHC, ISEA, MHNG, USNM .

Affinity. Paraplesiataenius catarinaensis n. sp. is closely related to P. tremolerasi , as the two species share the same size, color, similar sculpture of the ventral sclerites and general shape of the male genitalia. The new species differs from P. tremolerasi by having the pronotum with mixed punctures and the elytral setae significantly shorter and scarcer.

Biological Data. As indicated on the labels, specimens were collected in the detritus from the nests of Acromyrmex sp.

Etymology. Derived from the name of type locality ‘‘Catarina.’’

Figures

Fig. 1. Paraplesiataenius catarinaensis n. sp., habitus.

Fig. 7. Known distribution of Paraplesiataenius spp.

Figs. 2–6. 2) Paraplesiataenius tremolerasi Schmidt, head; 3–4) P. catarinaensis n. sp.; 3) epipharynx, 4) male genitalia in lateral view; 5–6) P. genieri n. sp.; 5) male genitalia in lateral view; 6) habitus of male.