Schizochelus ursulus Philippi, 1864: 446

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2008, South American Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) classification and nomenclature: some problems and solutions, Insecta Mundi 2008 (60), pp. 1-28 : 14

Synonym. Schizochelus ursulus Philippi, 1864: 446 (new synonym).

Type locality. “Valdivia.”

Type series. Neotype male at MNNC, same specimen as the lectotype for Schizochelus longipes (see label data above). Neotype here designated.

Distribution (Fig. 25). Chile: VIII Región del Biobío, IX Región de la Araucania, X Región de Los Lagos.

Remark. Since the type specimen of Schizochelus ursulus Philippi has been lost and the original description ( Philippi 1864) falls within the intraspecific variation of Pristerophora longipes , I am designating the lectotype of the latter as the neotype of the former. This makes the two names objective synonyms and will eliminate any further use of Schizochelus ursulus .

Martínez (1957) created the genus Astaenosiagum for this species when he correctly determined that it belonged in another genus than Brazilian Schizochelus . Martínez (1957) did not mention the other two species here placed in Pristerophora . Both species share many characteristics with Pristerophora longipes that warrant their inclusion in the same genus. Notably, the structure of the male genitalia in all three species is very similar (Figs. 15-17).