Peruquime Mondaca & Valencia, 2016

Moore, Matthew R., Jameson, Mary L., Garner, Beulah H., Audibert, Cedric, Smith, Andrew B. T. & Seidel, Matthias, 2017, Synopsis of the pelidnotine scarabs (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Rutelini) and annotated catalog of the species and subspecies, ZooKeys 666, pp. 1-349 : 1

Peruquime Mondaca & Valencia, 2016 Fig. 98

Type species.

Peruquime arequipensis Mondaca & Valencia, 2016.

Species.

1 species; length 8.3-10.5 mm.

Peruquime arequipensis is a small, setose scarab that inhabits high elevation (3,800-4,000 m), arid regions in southern Peru. The monotypic taxon possesses several unusual characters that are not typically observed in the Rutelinae : labrum projects anteriorly beyond the clypeal apex and fused to the clypeus (similar to some Melolonthinae : Tanyproctini or “pachydemine” scarabs), labrum horizontally produced with respect to the clypeus, antennal club is greatly enlarged ( Mondaca and Valencia 2016). The taxon was classified in the tribe Rutelini based on the independently movable claws and laterally flattened unguitractor plate. The taxon was compared with Eremophygus , but it differs based on the pyriform mentum (form oval in Eremophygus ) and antenna with 10 segments and enlarged club (antenna 9- or 10-segmented and lacking enlarged club in Eremophygus ). It was postulated that Peruquime , together with Neogutierrezia , possess convergent characters that allow for adaptions to arid habitats ( Mondaca and Valencia 2016).

Peruquime arequipensis is endemic to the Puna biogeographic region of the Andes, an area known for high endemism. Adult Peruquime arequipensis are diurnal and are active during the rainy season where they were collected in traps (flight intercept, pan, and pitfall). Larvae and sister-group relationships are not known.

Figures

Figure 98. Peruquime arequipensis Mondaca and Valencia male paratype specimen from JMEC. A Dorsal habitus B Lateral habitus. Photographs courtesy of Jose Mondaca, Santiago, Chile.