Oedichira Burmeister, 1855

Katovich, Kerry, 2008, A generic-level phylogenetic review of the Macrodactylini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (23), pp. 1-78 : 54-56

Oedichira Burmeister, 1855

( Figure 136-140 )

Oedichira Burmeister, 1855: 80 . Type species Oedichira pachydactyla Burmeister, 1855 , by subsequent designation ( Evans 2003: 303).

Taxonomic Notes

The following generic diagnosis is based on a single dissected syntype of Oedichira crassipes Burmeister (MLUH) . The generic type species was located at the MLUH, but it was not dissected because it was a single specimen .

Generic diagnosis

This genus is characterized by its large size, rotund body; antennae with 8 antennomeres, with antennomeres 4-8 forming an elongate club, with lamellae long and thin; prementum trapezoidal, ventral surface flattened; pretarsus of all legs with claws uneven.

Generic redescription

Measurements: Prothorax at widest point of prothorax 8.2 mm, elytra at widest point 11.0 mm, length 18.5 mm.

Color and vestiture: Body reddish brown, ventral surface with a vestiture consisting of dense golden setae.

Head: Clypeus not coplanar with frons; frons slightly bulbous, angled at 45 o; labrum in frontal view oval, small, deeply emarginate, labrum not coplanar with clypeus; labium with prementum trapezoidal, ventral surface flattened ( Fig. 138 ); mandibles in dorsal view rectangular, scissorial area weakly bilobed, moderately sclerotized, molar area strongly produced adorally, well sclerotized; maxillary palpi with apical palpus narrow, oval, with a sensory patch at distal margin; antennae with 8 antennomeres, antennomeres 4-8 forming club, lamellae long and thin, 4 th antennomere shorter than antennomeres 5-8 combined, remaining lamellae subequal in length to antennomeres 1-4 combined ( Fig. 139 ).

Prothorax: Pronotum oblong, widest medially, anterior angle acute, weakly appearing toothed, lateral margin convex, posterior angle obtuse, posterior margin straight, medially lobed; prothoracic legs with coxa elongate; tibia dentate; pretarsus with claws weakly divergent, uneven in length, inner claw slightly smaller than outer claw, both claws narrowly split, upper lobe shorter than lower lobe, narrow, inner lobe long, narrow on individual claw.

Mesothorax: Scutellum triangular; elytron wider than long, widest medially, elytral epipleuron flattened, dorsal surface with three weak striae, intervals flat, surface smooth, scattered transverse rows of declivous fine golden setae humeral umbones slightly produced; pretarsus similar to prothoracic pretarsus.

Metathorax: Metathoracic leg with coxa widely separated; femur narrowly ovate, widest in distal 1/4; tibia rectangular, narrow proximally, widest medially, narrowing to a wide distal margin, posteroventral margin with a single blunt tooth on anteroventral margin, posterior margin with broad, deep U-shaped groove ( Fig. 140 ); pretarsus with claws similar to those of prothoracic and mesothoracic legs.

Abdomen: Ventrites 2-4 subequal in length, 5 th ventrite (= propygidium), equal to length of ventrites 3-4 combined, ventrite and sternite of 5 th abdominal segment with partial suture, spiracle medially at anterior point of suture, 6 th ventrite subequal in length to 4 th ventrite length, crescent-shaped; pygidium triangular, broader than long, posterior margin narrow, rounded.

Diversity and Geographic Distribution

Oedichira comprises two species, known only from Brazil.

Figures

Figure 136-140. Oedichira crassipes Burmeister (male). 136) Dorsal habitus. 137) Left lateral view. 138) Prementum, ligula and labial palpi, ventral view. 139) Antenna. 140) Metathoracic tibia.