Rhinotragus dorsiger Germar, 1823 .

(Figs 7–18)

Rhinotragus dorsiger Germar, 1823: 513 .

Rhinotragus marginatus Perty, 1832: 94 . Syn. nov.

Rhinotragus anceps Newman, 1838: 495 .

Rhinotragus dorsiger var. collaris Melzer, 1930: 193 . Syn. nov.

Rhinotragus dorsiger var. vittatus Melzer, 1930: 194 . Syn. nov.

Rhinotragus dorsiger var. amparensis Melzer, 1930: 194 . Syn. nov.

Rhinotragus apicalis Guérin-Méneville, 1844: 236 . Syn. nov.

Rhinotragus dorsiger was originally described from Brazil, but the sex and amount of specimens were not included. Monné & Monné (2015) designated a male as lectotype and one male and two females as paralectotypes. Perty (1832) described R. marginatus from Brazil (São Paulo). Subsequently, Newman (1838) described R. anceps based on a single specimen from Brazil. Lacordaire (1868) considered R. marginatus as a variety of R. dorsiger, and R. anceps as a synonym of R. dorsiger . Tavakilian & Chevillotte (2018) mistakenly considered the latter synonym as being by Bates (1873), and Monné (2018a) did not list who made the synonymy. Gemminger (1872), without explanation, listed R. anceps as a variety of R. dorsiger . We are considering this citation only as a mistake. Thus, R. anceps is a synonym of R. dorsiger since Lacordaire (1868). However, R. marginatus was never formally synonymized and, currently, is a subspecies of R. dorsiger .

Melzer (1930) described three varieties: R. dorsiger var. collaris (Fig 17), from Brazil (Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, São Paulo), whose pronotun has a testaceous color, with elongated blackened maculae at the suture; R. dorsiger var. vittatus (Fig 18), from Brazil (São Paulo), similar to R. dorsiger var. collaris, but the elytra do not have the elongated black maculae; and R. dorsiger var. amparensis (Fig 15), from Brazil (São Paulo), which has the pronotum entirely black, with testaceous sides and elytra without elongated black maculae at the suture.

These three varieties have been listed under synonymy of R. dorsiger (e.g. Monné 2018a). However, as R. marginatus, they were never formally synonymized (ICZN 1999: Article 45.6.4). Here we are considering R. dorsiger collaris, R. dorsiger vittatus, R. dorsiger amparensis, and R. dorsiger marginatus as synonyms of R. dorsiger, because they are all only chromatic variations of a single species.

Guérin-Méneville (1844) described Rhinotragus apicalis based on several specimens from Bolivia. According to him (translated): “A little smaller and quite similar to the R. dorsiger of Germar, but having no black spot in the elytra. It is elongate, black, with the elytra yellow except the blackish apex.” We studied several specimens agreeing perfectly with this description and with a photograph of one syntype. Comparing them with the several varieties of R. dorsiger, it was not possible to find morphological differences, except the absence of the dark macula on the central area of the elytra. However, the shape of this macula is very variable in R. dorsiger, and is absent in the holotypes of R. dorsiger var. amparensis and R. dorsiger var. vittatus . Furthermore, we also examined a specimen without the black central macula on the elytra, but with the sides of the prothorax reddish. Thus, we believe there is no doubt that R. dorsiger and R. apicalis belong to a single species with very variable color patterns, and consider the latter as a junior synonym of the former.

Currently, the species is known from Bolivia, Brazil (Mato Grosso, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul), Paraguay, Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes), and Uruguay (Monné 2018a).

Material examined (all belonging to MZSP, except the specimen from Mato Grosso do Sul). ARGENTINA, Misiones: Campo Grande, 1 female, I.1974, no collector indicated . BRAZIL, Mato Grosso do Sul (new state record): Selvíria (Unesp Farm; window-trap; “cerradão” fragment in advanced stage of regeneration; 20°23′22.5″S / 51°24′18.0″W), 1 female, 25.XI.2017, G. Paiola col. (UNESP) . Minas Gerais: Cabo Verde, 1 female, 1920, Dias col. (Fig. 12) ; Mar de Espanha, 1 male, 12.XII.1909, Zikán col.; Passa Quatro, 1 female, XI.1915, no collector indicated ; 1 female, XI.1916, no collector indicated. Espírito Santo: Baixo Guandu, 1 female, X.1971, P.C. Elias col. ; Fazenda Jerusalém, 1 female, 3.XII.1911, J.F. Zikán col. ; Rio Itabopoana, Lectotype female of R. d. var. collaris, 19.XI.1908, J.F. Zikán col. (Fig. 17) . Rio de Janeiro: Nova Friburgo, 1 male, 1–15.I.1978, Gred & Guimarães col. ; Santa Teresa, 1 male, 30.XII.1928, Conte col. (Fig. 16) , Itatiaia (Faz. Penedo), 1 male, 2.XI.1942, P. Wygodzinsky col. (Wygod.) (Fig. 10) . São Paulo: Amparo, 1 male, 1 female, no date and collector indicated ; 1 male, 1931, Rutz col.; 1 male, no date indicated, Torres col.; holotype female of R. d. var. vittatus, no date and collector indicated (Fig. 18) ; holotype male of R. d. var. amparensis, no date and collector indicated (Fig. 15) ; Angatuba, 2 females, I.1922, A. Marques col. ; Itapira, 1 female, 5.XI.1962, E. Dente col. ; Osasco, 1 female, XII.1955, A. Martinez col. ; Piracicaba, 1 male, 1915, Bondar col. ; Santo Amaro, 1 male, X.1960, Lane col. (Fig. 8) ; São Paulo, 1 female, 13.XII.1932, Spitz col.; 1 female, 31.XII.1916, no collector indicated; 1 male, 6.I.1925, no collector indicated; 2 males, 6.I.1925, no collector indicated; 4 males, 4.I.1925, no collector indicated; 1 male, XI.1931, P. Wygodzinsky col. (Fig. 13); ( Ipiranga), 1 male, XI.1910, Luederwaldt col. ; 5 males, XII.1907, Luederwaldt col.; ( Jabaquara), 1 female, 12.XII.1940, Nick col. ; 1 female, XII.1940, former Dirings collection (Fig. 11) . Paraná: Curitiba (Mato Grego), 1 female, 25.XI.1937, no collector indicated ; 2 females, 16.XII.1937, no collector indicated; 1 female, 23.XI.1935, no collector indicated; 1 female, I.1940, no collector indicated; 1 female, XII.1942, Pohl col.; 1 male, 1 female, XII.1937, no collector indicated; 1 male, 12.XII.1938, no collector indicated; 2 females, 9.XII.1937, no collector indicated; 6 males, 1 female, XII.1937, Pereira col. (Fig. 9); ( Ponte Ahú), 1 male, XII.1938, no collector indicated ; Rolândia, 1 female, IX.1952, former Dirings collection (Fig. 7) . Santa Catarina: Rio Vermelho [currently, São Bento do Sul], 1 female, XII.1956, former Dirings collection ; São Bento do Sul, 1 female, XII.1951, former Dirings collection . Rio Grande do Sul: Pelotas, 1 female, XII.1954, C. Biezanko col. 1 male (Fig. 14) no date and collector indicated.