Cyclocephala everardoi, Grossi, Paschoal C., Santos, Mariana D. & Almeida, Lúcia M., 2016

Grossi, Paschoal C., Santos, Mariana D. & Almeida, Lúcia M., 2016, Two new species of Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Melolonthidae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil, Zootaxa 4078 (1), pp. 245-251 : 249-250

Cyclocephala everardoi sp. nov.

( Figures 1 G, 2A–E)

Material examined. Holotype male labeled: “ Brasil, MG, 8 km ao N de/Cristália, 16.ii.2010, luz/ 16o39'S, 42o53'W, 720m,/Grossi, Parizotto & Melo/ao amanhecer (5–6: a.m.)” ( CERPE).

Holotype male. Total length: 9.01 mm. Total pronotal width: 3.59 mm. Body: Dorsal surface glabrous, ventrally densely setose, setae distinctly elongate. Color brownish red, with lighter areas on clypeal apex, pronotum, scutellum ( Fig. 2 A), legs, and venter. Head: Shape transverse with abrupt narrowing to clypeus, sparsely punctate; punctures larger on clypeus and on sides; clypeus narrowly parabolic, ⅓ of head width, with elongated punctures, anteriorly concave, and with C–shaped punctures, apex reflexed and bordered ( Fig. 2 B). Frontoclypeal suture obsolete at middle, with 2 lateral, transverse impressions. Antennae with lamellae extremely developed, almost 3x longer than antennomeres 3–7 together, and strongly and densely punctate with a spongiose aspect, and with scattered setae ( Fig. 2 C); first lamella externally with longitudinal row of dense setae; eyes large, wider than clypeal width ( Figs 1 G–2B). Mouthparts: Mandibles slender, apices upturned and externally curved and with elongated setae, basal half laterally crenulated; last maxillar palpomere slightly longer than the preceding 2 together. Pronotum: Surface weakly and sparsely punctate, punctures stronger posteriorly; posterior margin slightly projected backward, rounded, with no bead; sides with long setae, weakly crenulated. Scutellum punctate; punctures small to large, some elongate. Elytra: Surface distinctly and irregularly punctate; striae not well defined, slightly wrinkled near suture. Legs: Protibiae with 3 distinct teeth, teeth decreasing in size from apex to base; apical tooth twice as long as middle tooth, middle tooth more than 3x longer than basal tooth ( Figs 2 A–B); inner claw widely bifid, forming a right angle ( Fig. 2 D). Venter: Anterior prosternal margin sinuous and crenulated by setae insertion, distinctly trilobed at middle, with lateral lobes more prominent than middle lobe, conspicuous ( Fig. 1 G). Prosternal process high, exceeding coxal height. Genitalia: Parameres symmetrical with elongated parameres, with 2 lateral projections, one basal and one at middle; basal larger, middle one projecting backwards; apices diverging internally, externally with small serrations; subapex with a slightly diverging, rounded tooth at external angle ( Fig. 2 E).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of the dedicated entomologist, Everardo José Grossi, father of the first author, a doctor with a passion for beetles and an expert in rhinoceros beetles.

The specimens were collected with UV light. Cyclocephala everardoi sp. nov. was taken at dawn in February 2010, between 5:00 and 6:00 A.M., in an area of sandy and rupestrian Cerrado fields ( Fig. 3 A). Cyclocephala machadoi sp. nov. lacks other information. Both holotypes are pinned; in C. everardoi sp. nov. part of the middle tooth of left protibia is missing, while in C. machadoi sp. nov. part of the right first and second antennal lamellae are missing. They were initially confused with Cyclocephala macrophylla Erichson 1847 . Cyclocephala machadoi sp. nov. is similar to C. everardoi sp. nov. and was also confused with this. In comparing them, we concluded that they were similar but distinct species and they are diagnosed in the Table 1 . We also believe that they compose a new species group within Cyclocephala , being diagnosed by the short body length, extremely elongate antennal lamellae, eyes very developed, clypeus elongate and truncate, somewhat quadrate and inner claw of anterior tarsi with a wide incision.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Males of Cyclocephala. A – F. holotype male of C. machadoi sp. nov.; G. C. everardoi sp. nov. holotype male; A. dorsal habitus; B. head, pronotum, and protibiae; C. antennal lamellae; D. anteriorprotarsus; E. parameres in caudal view; F. anterior margin of prosternum (arrows indicating the anterior projected margin); G. anterior margin of prosternum (arrows indicate the projected margin). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Cyclocephala everardoi sp. nov. A. holotype male, dorsal habitus; B. head pronotum, and protibiae in detail; C. antennal lamellae; D. anterior protarsus; E. parameres in caudal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. General aspect of the region of Cristália municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, where the holotype of C. everardoi sp. nov. was collected.

Tables

TABLE 1. Main characters to differentiate the two new species of Cyclocephala described here.

Character	C. machadoi sp. nov.	C. everardoi sp. nov.
Color	Testaceous with black head	Brownish red
Clypeus	Almost impunctate, strongly reflexed.	With elongated and C–shaped punctures, slightly reflexed
Frontoclypeal suture	Obsolete, lacking impression	Obsolete at middle and with two transverse impressions
Pronotum	Surface moderately and uniformly punctate, smooth at center line	Surface weakly and sparsely punctate, punctures posteriorly stronger
Elytra	Striae distinct, marked by lines of punctures; interstriae almost impunctate	Striae indistinct and surface nearly totally, uniformly punctate
Protibiae	Basal tooth weak, and more than 3x smaller than middle tooth	Basal tooth more developed, and distinctly projected, three times smaller than middle tooth
Aedeagi	Parameres with apices parallel; middle tooth small, projecting laterally	Parameres with apices diverging; middle tooth more developed, projecting backwards
Discussion