Aulacopalpus castaneus ( Laporte, 1840 )

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2002, Revision Of The Southern South American Endemic Genus Aulacopalpus Guérin-Méneville With Phylogenetic And Biogeographic Analyses Of The Subtribe Brachysternina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 56 (3), pp. 379-437 : 403-406

Aulacopalpus castaneus ( Laporte, 1840)

( Figs. 1 , 10 , 16 , Map 1)

Brachysternus castaneus Laporte 1840:127 . Neotype at ZMHB, labeled a) ‘‘ CHILE Santiago,’’ b) ‘‘Ƌ,’’ c) ‘‘ Tribostethes castaneus Cast. m.d. Type vergl. Paris 5.VII. 11.’’ (Ohaus’s handwriting), d) ‘‘ BRACHYSTERNUS CASTANEUS LAPORTE Ƌ DET: A.B.T.SMITH 2001 NEOTYPE,’’ e) ‘‘ Aulacopalpus CASTANEUS (LAPORTE) Ƌ Det :A.B.T.Smith 2001.’’

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neotype for A. castaneus because the original type has been lost. Laporte (1840) did not specify where the type was deposited. All of Laporte’s types are now housed at MNHN or the Museum of Victoria in Abbotsford, Australia (MVMA). I searched for the types at the MNHN and Ken Walker (curator of entomology at the MVMA) searched for the types in the MVMA without success. I can only conclude that the types have been lost. The original type was from Chile. I selected a male neotype from Santiago, Chile that matches the original description by Laporte (1840). Laporte (1840) stated that A. castaneus is ‘‘of a copper, granulous green; (with the) pronotum and sides of the corselet with red reflections,’’ which describes the distinct color of this species. The neotype is a specimen that was supposedly compared with the type by Friedrich Ohaus in Paris on 5 July 1911 (as indicated on the label). Based on the original description and Ohaus’s label, I am confident that the neotype is virtually identical to the original type.

Bembegeneius fulvescens Solier 1851:85 . Lectotype male at MNHN, labeled a) ‘‘15 43’’ (green, round label with handwriting underneath), b) ‘‘ Bembegeneius fulvescens Sol Santiago —­’’ (label sideways on pin), c) ‘‘ B. fulvescens . Solier Chili. M. Gay.’’ (green label), d) ‘‘ BEMBEGENEIUS FULVESCENS SOLIER Ƌ LECTOTYPE A.B.T.SMITH 2001,’’ e) ‘‘ Aulacopalpus CASTANEUS (LAPORTE) Ƌ Det :A.B.T.Smith 2001.’’ LECTOTYPE HERE DESIGNATED. See statement of taxonomic purpose in Methods and Materials section. Solier (1851) had several specimens in the original type series. The lectotype is the only specimen in the MNHN unambiguously labeled as part of Solier’s original type series. Since Solier considered Bembegeneius fulvescens and Tribostethes castaneus as different species, it is impossible to determine, with any certainty, the identity (as Solier would have determined) and type status of the unlabeled specimens in the MNHN. Therefore, the location of the paralectotypes is unknown. Placed in synonymy with A. castaneus by Ohaus (1905).

Tribostethes cupreus Philippi and Philippi 1864:321 . Holotype male at MNNC, labeled a) ‘‘354,’’ b) ‘‘ Tribostethes castaneus ? Carill. Julio 1864,’’ c) ‘‘Coleccion Philippi,’’ d) ‘‘ ♀ ’’ (erroneous), e) ‘‘Holótipo,’’ f) ‘‘TRI­ BOSTETHUS CUPREUS R. y F. PHILIPPI 1864 DET. CAMOUSS­ FIGHT,’’ g) ‘‘ CHILE M. N. H. N. Tipo No 2864,’’ h) ‘‘ TRIBOSTETHES CUPREUS PHILIPPI & PHILIPPI, 1864 HOLOTYPE Ƌ,’’ i) ‘‘ Aulacopalpus CASTANEUS (LAPORTE) Ƌ Det :A.B.T.Smith 1999.’’ Philippi and Philippi (1864) stated that there was only one specimen in the type series and therefore the holotype is fixed by monotypy. They also erroneously stated that the holotype is female, but it is actually a male (with the genitalia point­mounted below the holotype on the same pin). Placed in synonymy with A. castaneus by Ohaus (1909).

Aulacopalpus fulvovirens Ohaus 1909:12 . Lectotype male at ZMHB, labeled a) ‘‘ CHILE,’’ b) ‘‘Typus!,’’ c) ‘‘ Tribostethes fulvovirens Ohs. ,’’ d) ‘‘AU­ LACOPALPUS FULVOVIRENS OHAUS Ƌ DET: A. B. T. SMITH 2000 LECTOTYPE,’’ e) ‘‘Zool. Mus. Berlin,’’ f) ‘‘ Aulacopalpus CAS­ TANEUS (LAPORTE) Ƌ Det:A.B.T.Smith 2000.’’ LECTOTYPE HERE DESIGNATED. See statement of taxonomic purpose in Methods and Materials section. One paralectotype male at MNNC, labeled a)

THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 56(3), 2002 405

[three illegible words] 1505,’’ e) ‘‘ AULACOPALPUS FULVOVIRENS

OHAUS Ƌ DET: A. B. T. SMITH 2000 PARALECTOTYPE,’’ f) ‘‘ Au­

lacopalpus CASTANEUS (LAPORTE) Ƌ Det:A.B.T.Smith 2000.’’ One

paralectotype female at ZMHB, labeled a) ‘‘ ♀,’’ b) ‘‘Typus!,’’ c) ‘‘Tri­

bostethes fulvovirens Ohs. ,’’ d) ‘‘ AULACOPALPUS FULVOVIRENS

OHAUS ♀ DET: A. B. T. SMITH 2000 PARALECTOTYPE,’’ e) ‘‘Zool.

Mus. Berlin,’’ f) Aulacopalpus CASTANEUS (LAPORTE) ♀ Det :

A.B.T.Smith 2000.’’ The location of other possible paralectotypes is un­

known. NEW SYNONYMY.

Description. Male (n = 215): Length 14.9–19.2 mm. Width 7.8–10.2 mm. Color: dorsally brown, head and pronotum often with greenish reflections; ventrally brown. Head: Dorsal surface densely punctate, punctures moderately large. Dorsal surface with margin sparsely setose; setae long, slender, tawny to cream­colored. Frontoclypeal suture complete, weakly bisinuate. Labrum with apex vertically produced with respect to clypeus, moderately produced at middle with triangular tooth. Maxillary palpus with terminal segment longer than basal segments, with deep sulcus. Mentum with surface moderately setose, apex reflexed into oral cavity. Antenna 10­segmented, club greatly elongated (longer than combined basal segments), slightly flattened. Pronotum: Midline weakly depressed. Surface moderately punctate with moderately large punctures, sparsely setose (setae often worn off), lateral edges moderately setose; setae long, slender, tawny to cream­colored. Scutellum: Surface glabrous and moderately punctate with moderately large punctures. Shape parabolic: 1.1 times wider than long medially. Elytron: Surface glabrous, longitudinal striae punctate, moderately impressed; punctures moderately­sized, separated by 1–4 puncture widths. Interval moderately to sparsely punctate with moderately­sized punctures. Epipleuron with row of dense setae medially ventral to bead, absent in apical and basal 1/5 of length. Pygidium: Width 2.3 times length medially. Surface sparsely to moderately punctate, punctures moderately­sized, sparsely to moderately setose, setae tawny. Venter: Thorax densely setose; setae long, tawny. Legs: Protibia with 3 subequally large teeth in apical half. Protarsal claws with modified claw ( Fig. 10 ) slightly thickened when compared to other claw; apex weakly bifurcate (often worn, appearing simple). Meso­ and metatarsal claws simple (similar to Fig. 6 ). Tarsomere 5 without ventromedial tooth (similar to Fig. 6 ). Meso­ and metatibia with apical spurs slender, acute. Mesotibial apex with 12–13 spinules. Metatibial apex with 19–20 spinules. Parameres: Figure 16 . Basally without broad, medial furrow.

Female (n = 9): Length 18.0– 18.8 mm. Width 9.4–9.6 mm. As male except in the following respects. Head: Antennal club not elongated and flattened, equal to or less than length of basal segments. Legs: Protarsal claws simple. Meso­ and metatibia with apical spurs broader, blunter.

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from all other species in the genus Aulacopalpus by the following combination of characters: size large (usually about 18 mm in length), antennal club elongated in males (length equal to or slightly shorter than head), pronotum greenish­brown to green, elytra brown; male protarsal claws with modified claw slightly thickened when compared to other claw and with apex weakly bifurcate (often worn and appearing simple); female protarsal claws simple; meso­ and metatarsal claws simple; and tarsomere 5 without ventromedial tooth; parameres without broad, medial furrow.

Distribution (Map 1). Coquimbo to Malleco, Chile.

Locality Data. Based on 224 specimens examined from AMNH, BCRC, CASC, CMNC, CMNH, CNCI, FMNH, KSUC, MABC, MCZC, MGFT, MNHN, MNNC, PVGH, UMRM, USNM, VMDM, ZMHB .

CHILE (217). ARAUCO (23): Contulmo . COLCHAGUA (4): La Mina, La Rufina, San Fernando . CONCEPCIÓN (42): Chiguayante, Concepción. CO­

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QUIMBO (1): Socos. CURICÓ (2): Curico´, El Coigo. MALLECO (9): Angol, Renaico. ÑUBLE (3): Salto del Laja. O’HIGGINS (5): Rancagua. SANTIAGO

(58): Apoquindo, El Canelo, El Principal, Farellones, La Cisterna, Los Dominicos, Los Leones, Maipu´, Quebrada de Macul, Renca, Santiago. TALCA (2): Molina. VALPARAÍSO (52): Algarrobo, El Quisco, El Salto, La Cruz, Limache, Olmue´, Quillota, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana, Viña del Mar. NO DATA (16).

NO DATA (7).

Temporal Data. January (1), February (1), May (14), June (3), July (37), August (52), September (17), October (3) November (25), December (7).

Remarks. The variability of A. castaneus has resulted in confusion over the identity of this species. The main source of confusion was whether the protarsal claws of the males are simple or with modified claw slightly thickened when compared to the other claw and apex weakly bifurcate. Ohaus (1905, 1909) and Gutiérrez (1949) stated that the male protarsal claws of A. castaneus are simple, and Ohaus (1909) described a new species, A. fulvovirens , with male protarsal claws split and with a green head and pronotum but otherwise similar to A. castaneus . Based on 224 specimens, it is apparent that A. castaneus has a weakly split male protarsal claw that is often worn (or perhaps never develops in some individuals) and appears simple. I have also observed that the coloration of the head and pronotum of this species varies from brown or copper with greenish reflections to green. After careful examination of the types, and in light of the observed variation, I am synonymizing A. fulvovirens with A. castaneus . In fact, the ‘‘ A. fulvovirens ’’ color form is very similar to Solier’s (1851) Bembegeneius fulvescens , of which Ohaus (1905) himself states ‘‘ Bembegeneius fulvescens is nothing different than Tribostethes castaneus with a green head and pronotum.’’ Solier’s (1851) description and figures of Bembegeneius fulvescens are inaccurate, but I agree with Ohaus that, based on the original description and examination of the lectotype, it is a synonym of A. castaneus . I have also examined the holotype of Philippi and Philippi’s (1864) Tribostethes cupreus and have determined that it fits well within my description of A. castaneus . I agree with Ohaus’s (1909) synonymy of this species with A. castaneus .

Figures

Fig. 1. The Brachysternina. First row: Aulacopalpus aconcaguensis (male paratype), A. aconcaguensis (male paratype), A. castaneus (male), A. castaneus (male), A. castaneus (male), A. punctatus (male). Second row: A. ciliatus (male), A. clypealis (male),

Figs. 6–11. 6) Protarsomere 5 and claw of male Aulacopalpus pilicollis, 7) Protarsomere 5 and claw of male Aulacopalpus pygidialis. 8) Protarsomere 5 and claw of female Aulacopalpus ciliatus. 9) Dorsal view of modified proclaw of male Aulacopalpus ciliatus. 10) Dorsal view of modified proclaw of male Aulacopalpus castaneus. 11) Lateral view of Aulacopalpus valdiviensis parameres and phallobase.

Figs. 12–20. Parameres in caudal view. 12) Aulacopalpus aconcaguensis; 13) Aulacopalpus ciliatus; 14) Aulacopalpus clypealis; 15) Aulacopalpus pilicollis; 16) Aulacopalpus castaneus; 17) Aulacopalpus punctatus; 18) Aulacopalpus viridis; 19) Aulacopalpus pygidialis, 20) Aulacopalpus valdiviensis.