Aphotaenius elegans Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello, 2020

Skelley, Paul E. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2020, Review of Aphotaenius Cartwright, 1952 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 74 (2), pp. 389-403 : 397-398

Aphotaenius elegans Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs. 5 , 8, 32–37

Diagnosis. Length 1.6–2.7 mm ( Figs. 32–34 ). This species is distinguished by the head with a band of coarse punctures posteriorly, clypeal margin thin and strongly dentate on each side ( Fig. 8 ), epipharynx with projecting tylus ( Fig. 35 ), pronotal punctures evenly distributed, metaventrite finely punctate, and elytral intervals with row of fine punctures on each side, giving carinate appearance ( Figs. 5 ). It is known from Bolivia ( Santa Cruz) and Brazil ( Minas Gerais).

Description. Body oblong, glossy, dark brown to piceous black. Clypeal apex strongly dentate on each side of wide but shallow median emargination, median edge between angles triangularly flattened upward, margin thin in antero-ventral view, genae small; clypeal surface alutaceous, almost impunctate, vertex (posterior part of head) with band of coarse punctures. Epipharynx with tylus projecting. Pronotum convex, posteriorly slightly lobed at middle, bisinuate, with fine marginal line; side margin finely reflexed, lateral and posterior border with row of moderate punctures in marginal line; surface with mixed very fine and moderately coarse punctures throughout, coarse punctures more widely spaced on lateral tumosity. Elytra widest at posterior third, striae strongly punctate-crenate; intervals with row of close fine punctures on each side, giving a carinate appearance. Ventral sclerites glossy, metaventrite smooth with widely scattered fine punctures; abdominal sternites coarsely fluted along sutures and finely punctate; disc of pygidium concave, weakly eroded, lacking distinct median longitudinal carina. Legs moderate in length, metafemur with trace of posterior line, meso- and metatibiae with fine transverse ridges; basal metatarsomere equal in length to upper tibial spur and to next 3 tarsomeres combined. Parameres thick to a somewhat narrowly truncate apex ( Figs. 36–37 ).

Material Examined. Holotype (gender undetermined) of Aphotaenius elegans : “ BRASIL: Minas Gerais / Santana do Riacho PN / Serra do Cipó, Mazama / dung, XII-2003, G. Schiffler ”. Deposited in CEMT .

Paratypes (n = 5): BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 430 m, 5-15- XI-2001, M. C. Thomas and B. K. Dozier, tropical transition forest, BLT ( 1 FSCA) ; El Cairo, 5 km W Buena Vista , 16-18-X-2004, J. E. Eger, UV light ( 1 FSCA, 1 MNKM) ; Potrerillos del Guenda, 40 km NW Santa Cruz , 17° 400 S, 63° 270 W, 22-24-IX-2012, P. Skelley, 12w UV light trap ( 1 MNKM) . BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: same data as holotype ( 1 DCGI) .

Etymology. The specific epithet, elegans, refers to the elegant sculpturing of the elytra and clypeal teeth.

Remarks. Aphotaenius elegans is sympatric with A.cambeforti , which has been collected at lights and in cow dung. Aphotaenius elegans has only been collected at lights and from deer (Mazama sp.) dung. The apparent host dung preference is supported by the strong clypeal teeth of A. elegans , which indicates it may feed on pelletized mammal dung, like the North American A. carolinus , which prefers deer dung.

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Representative mesotibiae and elytra. 1) Ataenius erratus Fall; 2) Ataenius strigicauda Bates; 3–4) Aphotaenius carolinus; 5) Aphotaenius elegans, new species. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Figs. 32–37. Aphotaenius elegans, new species. 32) Dorsal habitus; 33) Ventral habitus; 34) Lateral habitus; 35) Epipharynx; 36–37) Male genitalia, lateral and dorsal views, respectively, scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figs. 6–9. Aphotaenius species, head to elytral base, oblique frontal view. 6) A. carolinus; 7) A. howdeni; 8) A. elegans, new species; 9) A. convexus.