Coprophanaeus (Coprophanaeus) acrisius ( Macleay, 1819 )

Gillett, Conrad P. D. T., Gillett, P. T., E. D. T, James & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2010, Diversity and distribution of the scarab beetle tribe Phanaeini in the northern states of the Brazilian Northeast (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (118), pp. 1-19 : 8

Coprophanaeus (Coprophanaeus) acrisius ( Macleay, 1819)

Figure 8

Collection data. Ceará: Fortaleza , campus do PICI, 25. vi. 2001 ( FVMC) ; Pindoretama , 16. ix. 2000 ( FVMC). NEW STATE RECORDS .

Maranhão: Santa Quiteria de Maranhão, Fazenda Rodiador , 42 o 40’46"W ; 03 o 24’50"S, 47 m palm forest, carrion traps, 23. ii. 2008: 1 m; idem, 120 m chapada, carrion traps, 18. v. 2008: 1m + 1f ; idem, carrion traps, 24. ii. 2008: 1 m ; idem, 17. v. 2008: 1f ; idem, open cerrado area, sandy soil, carrion traps 06- 07. i. 2010: 5m + 2f ; idem, dung traps: 2f ; idem, palm forest, carrion traps 06-07. i. 2010: 2m + 2f.

Pernambuco: Recife, campus of Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, no date: 1m + 1f. NEW STATE RECORD.

Results. 2008 data: 5 specimens; 3 males and 2 females. Male: Female sex ratio 1.50. Bait preference (2008 data): Carrion (5). Temporal distribution (all data): January (13), February (2), May (3), July, September

Distribution. This species has been recorded from Brazil (Pará), Bolivia (Santa Cruz) and Argentina by Arnaud (2002). The species was first recorded from MA by Sampaio et al. (2009). It is associated with cerrado habitats in Brazil, occurring in both forested and open areas.

Remarks. Coprophanaeus acrisius was preferentially attracted to carrion traps but can be observed in smaller numbers attracted to dung traps (records from MA, January 2010) in cerrado-type habitat (locally called ‘chapada’), which corresponds to slightly elevated regions of open dry woodland with grass. It was also present in an area of dry forest thickets within palm forest. It appears to be an uncommon and patchily distributed species that is sympatric with the more abundant C. cyanescens . Sampaio et al. (2009) recorded a single individual of this species from an area of coastal cerrado habitat in MA. In MA, it has been recorded only on sandy soils. The specimens from MA match the holotype, and other specimens housed in the BMNH, closely in color. The dorsal surface of the elytra and the pronotum (except for the lateral basal areas) are bright greenish, with copper-green colored elytral intervals.

Figures

Figure 7-13. Habitus images. 7) Coprophanaeus cyanescens (Olsoufieff, 1924) male specimen from Maranguape, São Benedito, Sanctuario da Nossa Senhora de Penha (CE). 8) Coprophanaeus acrisius (Macleay, 1819) male specimen from Santa Quiteria de Maranhão, Fazenda Rodiador (MA). 9) Coprophanaeus dardanus (Macleay, 1819) male specimen from Baturité, Uirapuru (CE). 10) Coprophanaeus (Metallophanaeus) pertyi (Olsoufieff, 1924) male specimen from Maranguape, Tabatinga (CE). 11) Diabroctis mimas (Linnaeus, 1767) male specimen from Maranguape, Piraponga (CE). 12-13) Phanaeus melibaeus Blanchard, 1843 male specimen from Santa Quiteria de Maranhão, Fazenda Rodiador (MA). Photographs by M.P.T. Gillett.