Hercitis Burmeister, 1855

Katovich, Kerry, 2008, A generic-level phylogenetic review of the Macrodactylini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (23), pp. 1-78 : 44-45

Hercitis Burmeister, 1855

( Figure 100-104 )

Hercitis Burmeister, 1855: 79 . Type species Hercitis pygmaea Burmeister, 1855 , by monotypy.

Taxonomic Notes

The following generic diagnosis is based on a single dissected syntype of the generic type species, H.

pygmaea (MLUH) .

Generic diagnosis

This genus is characterized by its elongate, body and very small size; prementum elongate, ventral surface flattened; pronotum oblong, widest in anterior 1/4, posterior angles acute; anterior and posterior umbones prominent; 6 th ventrite with posterior margin medially bidentate, raised dorsally; pygidium tear-shaped, posterior margin blunt, concave.

Generic redescription

Measurements: Prothorax at widest point 2.3 mm, elytra at widest point 2.6 mm, length 5.5 mm.

Color and vestiture: Body dark brown, dorsally with a vestiture consisting of scattered white setae.

Head: Clypeus coplanar with frons, angled at 45 o; labrum in frontal view very narrow, rectangular, with a slight, broad groove medially, labrum coplanar with clypeus; labium with prementum elongate, ventral surface flattened in posterior 3/4, apically with small medial groove ( Fig. 102 ); mandibles in dorsal view semicircular, scissorial area narrow, concave, posterior angle of region toothed, molar area prominent, weakly sclerotized; maxillary palpi with apical palpus elongate, ovate, equal to length of segments 1-3 combined; antennae with 8 antennomeres, antennomeres 6-8 forming the club, equal to length of antennomeres 3-5 combined, club rounded.

Prothorax: Pronotum oblong, transverse, widest medially, anterior angle obtuse, lateral margin convex in anterior 1/2, concave in posterior 1/2, posterior angle acute, appearing toothed, posterior margin concave, medially lobed ( Fig.103 ); prothoracic leg with coxa elongate; tibia dentate, ventral margin with a large spur in distal 1/4; pretarsus with claws divergent, equal in length, both claws narrowly split, upper and lower lobes narrow on individual claw.

Mesothorax: Scutellum subtriangular; elytra longer than wide, widest in posterior 3/4, epipleuron narrow, smooth, appearing membranous, dorsal surface weakly striate, interstrial areas smooth, anterior and posterior umbones prominent; pretarsus similar to prothoracic pretarsus.

Metathorax: Metathoracic leg with coxa narrowly separated; femur ovate, widest in proximal 1/3; tibia vase shaped, narrow proximally, widest medially, posteroventral margin with pair of spurs, ventral spur broad, short, slightly raised above tarsal articulation joint, posterior spur long, narrow, arising from same plane as tarsal articulation joint, posterior margin with a deep, U-shaped groove; pretarsus with claws similar to claws of prothoracic and mesothoracic claws.

Abdomen: Ventrites 2-4 equal in length, 5 th ventrite (= propygidium) slightly longer than 4 th ventrite length, posterior margin membrane-like, ventrite and sternite of 5 th abdominal segment lacking a suture, spiracle placed medially, 6 th ventrite length equal to 5 th ventrite length, posterior margin sinuate, medially bidentate, raised dorsally; pygidium tear-shaped, longer than wide, posterior margin blunt, concave ( Fig. 104 ).

Diversity and Geographic Distribution

Hercitis comprises four species, all known only from Brazil. There is currently no key to species.

Figures

Figure 100-104. Hercitis pygmaea Burmeister. 100) Dorsal habitus. 101) Left lateral view. 102) Prementum, ligula and labial palpi, ventral view. 103) Pronotum, dorsal view. 104) Pygidium, dorsal view.