Piscoperus Ratcliffe and Giraldo, 2014

Ratcliffe, Brett C. & Mendoza, Alfredo E. Giraldo, 2014, Piscoperus paracanicolaRatcliffe and Giraldo, a New Genus and New Species of Pentodontini from Peru, with a Revised Key to the New World Genera of Pentodontini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (1), pp. 103-110 : 103-110

Piscoperus Ratcliffe and Giraldo , new genus

Type Species. Piscoperus paracanicola Ratcliffe and Giraldo , new species, here designated.

Description. Body form elongate, suboval ( Figs. 1–2 ). Length 16–19 mm. Color black, shiny. Frontoclypeal region with a strong, erect, broadly rounded tubercle, tubercle slightly concave on anterior surface. Clypeus attenuate to a narrowly subtruncate apex, apex reflexed, dorsal surface slightly concave. Interocular distance equals 5 transverse eye diameters. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club large, broadly suboval, distinctly longer than antennomeres 2–7. Mandibles exposed, longitudinally suboval, dorsal surface concave. Pronotum evenly convex, lacking fovea or tubercles, with sparse punctures on basal half and moderately dense punctures on apical half. Basal bead present. Lateral margins and base on venter with long, dense, tawny setae. Elytra with indistinct, punctate striae, punctures small. Pygidium completely rugulopunctate to concentrically rugulose. Thoracic sternites completely

1) Dorsal view; 2) Fronto-lateral view.

obscured by long, dense, tawny setae. Protibia strongly quadridentate, a distinct gap between teeth 2–3. Metatibia at apex with 3 indistinct lobes and with small teeth. Parameres simple, subrectangular in caudal view ( Fig. 4 ).

Distribution. Peru.

Diagnosis. The combination of characters states unique to Piscoperus are the large, suboval form of the antennal club; erect, broadly rounded tubercle on the frontoclypeal region; clypeal apex narrowly subtruncate and weakly emarginate at middle; mandibles exposed, longitudinally suboval and lacking teeth; pronotum evenly convex with basal bead; pygidium rugulopuncatate; protibia quadridentate; apex of metatibia vaguely trilobed and with small accessory teeth; thoracic sternites obscured by long, dense, tawny setae; and simple form (in caudal view) of the subrectangular parameres. The parameres loosely resemble those of Hiekeianus tuberculatus Endrödi from Paraguay, but in that species the parameres are strongly tapering to narrow apices, whereas in P. paracanicola they are significantly more broadly rounded ( Fig. 4 ). Moreover, H. tuberculatus (32 mm) is almost twice as large as P. paracanicola (16–19 mm).

Etymology. The generic name is derived from Pisco and Peru, referring to the province and country, respectively, where this species lives. The name is masculine in gender.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Piscoperus paracanicola, holotype.

Fig. 4. Piscoperus paracanicola, parameres of holotype.