Polynoncus chilensis (Harold, 1872)

(Figures 5h, 10, 21)

Trox chilensis Harold, 1872: 137, 189 (original description); Preudhomme de Borre 1886: 70 (checklist); Arrow 1912: 54 (catalogue); Blackwelder 1944: 218 (checklist); Vaurie 1962: 137 (redescription)

Trox (Polynoncus) chilensis: Scholtz 1982: 16 (catalogue)

Polynoncus chilensis: Scholtz 1986a: 362 (systematics); Scholtz 1990: 1452 (redescription); Diéguez 2008: 16 (redescription); Gómez 2008: 517 (key to Argentinean species); Zidek 2013: 8 (checklist); Zidek 2017: 99 (checklist); Smith 2017: 92 (lectotype designated); Costa-Silva and Diéguez 2020: 271 (records from Argentina); Mondaca 2023: 209 (checklist from Chile)

Type specimen examined. LECTOTYPE. (♂ MNHN – Figure 21) First label [white, aged, Edgar von Harold’s handwriting]: ‘Chile’. Second label [white, aged, Edgar von Harold’s handwriting]: ‘chilensis / 25 Harold’. Third label [white, aged, with black frame, typeset]: ‘Ex Musaeo / E.Steinheil’. Fourth label [red, Patricia Vaurie’s handwriting]: ‘TYPE / Vaurie ‘61’. Fifth label [red with black frame, Andrew Smith’s handwriting]: ‘ TROX / CHILENSIS / Harold 1872 / LECTOTYPE / A.B.T. SMITH’. Sixth label [white with black frame, Andrew Smith’s handwriting]: ‘ POLYNONCUS / CHILENSIS / (HAROLD) ♂ / Det:A.B.T.Smith 2016’. Seventh label [white with black frame, printed]: ‘[QR code] / SCARABS OF / SOUTHERN / SOUTH AMERICA / SSSA3001567’ (Figure 21e). Type locality: ‘ Chile’, specific locality unknown. For additional details, see Smith (2017, p. 92).

Differential diagnosis. Polynoncus chilensis is very similar to Polynoncus mirabilis . It can be distinguished from the latter by the presence of a prominent humeral callus, covering the lateral margin of anterior angles of elytra (Figure 5h). The male genitalia of the two species are clearly distinct. For details of description and a complete differential diagnosis, see Pittino (1987, p. 391); Scholtz (1990, p. 1452) and Diéguez (2008, p. 16).

Geographic distribution. Polynoncus chilensis is known from central and southern Chile, and western Argentina (Figure 10). These records match with the map presented by Scholtz (1990). Costa-Silva and Diéguez (2020) provide additional records from Argentina.

Examined non-type material (38 specimens). ARGENTINA: Neuquén, Isla Victoria, 40.950°S, 71.550°W, 29 January 2001, J . Paritsis leg . (1 MNNC). Rio Negro, Arroyo Torrontegui, Lago Gutiérrez, 840 m, 23–31 January 2000, V .M . Diéguez leg . (1♀ CVMD) . CHILE: Araucanía (IX Region), Curacautin, Cuesta Las Raíces, December 1999, Alfredo Ugarte leg . (1 CVMD); Malleco, Laguna María Jesús, January 1980, J . Philippi leg . (2 MNNC); without specific locality, date or collector (1 MNNC). Bío-Bío (VIII Region), Alto Cayucupil, Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, 23–31 January 1997, V .M . Diéguez leg . (1 CVMD); Alto Cayucupil, Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, 25–31 January 1997, V .M . Diéguez leg . (2 CVMD); Chillan, Las Trancas, December 1987, P . Gerlach leg . (1♀ CVMD); Pemuco, Fundo Santa Amelia, 15 February 2009, S . Anguita leg . (1♂ and 1 unsexed CVMD); Alto Cayucupil, Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, 8–13 March 1998, Danilo Escobar leg . (1♂ CVMD) . Los Lagos (X Region), Maullin 5 km N, 41.616°S, 73.600°W, 23 November 1990, ground traps, Endrödy-Younga leg . (2 TMSA); Osorno, Fundo Porvenir, 13 March 1982, D . Jackson leg . (2♂ CVMD) . Los Rios (XIV Region), Puyehue Vulcón, 260 m, 40.633°S, 72.200°W, 18 November 1990, Endrödy-Younga leg . (8 SAMC); Valdivia, 10 September 1986, Ernesto Krahmer G leg . (1♂ CVMD); Valdivia, September 1986, E . Krammer leg . (1♂ CEMT); Valdivia, September 1986, Ernesto Krahmer G leg . (2 CVMD); Valdivia, September 1986,L . Peña leg . (1♂ JZPC); Valdivia, no date or collector (1 MNNC); Valdivia, Punta Galera (near to Corral), 10 July 1995, José Mondaca leg . (1 CVMD); Valdivia, Santo Domingo, 23 September 1990, E . Krahmer leg . (1♀ CEMT) . O’Higgins (VI Region), Navidad, El Maitén, 4 September 2010, C . Fortino leg . (1♀ CVMD) . Santiago (Metropolitan region), Melipilla, 15 July 2009, ultraviolet light trap, P . Vera leg . (1♂ CVMD) . without specific locality, date or collector (1 MZSP);without specific locality, date or collector (1♂ and 1♀ MNHN) .