Canthochilum nebulonemi Philips & Ivie

Philips, Keith & Ivie, Michael A., 2008, Seven new species of Canthochilum Chapin from Hispaniola (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Zootaxa 1730, pp. 27-42 : 34-35

Canthochilum nebulonemi Philips & Ivie , new species

Figs. 5 , 11, 17, 23, 29, 38, 44

Diagnosis. The four clypeal teeth, eyes separated dorsally by a relatively large distance equal to 6 times their transverse width, a total body length usually greater than 6 mm, and the elytra with a lateral carina or relatively abruptly angulate margin between seventh and eighth striae will diagnose this species.

Description (male). Body ovoid, deep purplish-black, legs and anterior edge of clypeus dark reddishbrown ( Fig. 38 ); dorsal surface of head with fine, ill-defined punctures separated by approximately 3X their diameter, surface distinctly shagreened throughout; clypeus with 4 teeth anteriorly, mesal teeth acute, tips blunt, laterad teeth obtusely pointed, clypeal-genal suture projections much smaller (Fig. 11); dorsal ocular area small, eyes separated by a distance equal to 6X their transverse width (Fig. 11); elytral striae obsolete, barely visible as faint depression, punctures absent; elytral intervals very slightly convex, fine scattered punctures visible under high magnification, surface finely shagreened; elytron with lateral carina or relatively abruptly angulate margin between seventh and eighth striae, punctures in eighth stria continuous, decreasing in size posteriorly; protibiae with 3 teeth, distally truncate; protibial spur broad, moderately hooked, reaching 4th tarsomere ( Fig. 23 ); metatibiae strongly arcuate; mesosternal suture anteriorly rounded ( Fig. 17); pygidium completely margined, lower margin distinct but weak, slightly convex, surface with very fine barely perceptable punctures and faintly shagreened; aedeagus with basal piece apex projecting ventrally in an acute point, parameres reduced and cresent-shaped ( Fig. 29 ). Length: 4.6 – 5.8 mm, measured along midline from anterior margin of pronotum to tip of elytra.

Female. Differs from the male in having the protibial spurs smaller, straight apically; and in having the metatibiae much less curved.

TYPES. HOLOTYPE MALE: DOM:REP.: Independencia; 32 km NW La Descubierta; Sabana Real, 1800m, cloud; forest carrion tps, 26.XI –; 5.XII.91, S & J Peck, 91-333 [CMNC]. ALLOTYPE FEMALE: DOM:REP.: Independencia; 30 km NW La Descubierta; Sabana Real, 1646m, cloud; forest carrion, 25XI –; 5.XII.91, S & J Peck, 91-331 [CMNC]. PARATYPES.

8 MALES, 6 FEMALES — same data as holotype [CMNH, MNHD, TKPC, WIBF]. 9 MALES, 7 FEMALES — same data as allotype [CMNH, TKPC, WIBF]. 2 MALES, 3 FEMALES — DOM:REP.: Independencia; 30 km NW La Descubierta; Sabana Real, 1646m, cloud; forest dung tps, 25.XI –; 5.XII.91, S & J Peck, 91-332 [CMNC]. 4 MALES, 1 FEMALE — DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:; Independencia. Sierra; de Neiba just south; of crest, 5 km NNW; Angel Feliz, 1780m./ 18-41N, 71-47W; 13-15 October 1991; J.Rawlins, R.Davidson; C. Young, S.Thomson; Cloud forest [CMNH, WIBF]. 1 MALE, 2 FEMALES — DOMINI- CAN REPUBLIC: Inde-; pendencia, Sierra de Neiba; south slope near summit.; 4.0 km N Angel Feliz;18-40- 21N 71-46-05W/ 1825m, 1-2 Apr 2004, J.; Rawlins, C. Young, R.;Davidson, broadleaf cloud; forest without pine, hand; collected, sample 34243 [CMNH, WIBF].

Etymology. The specific epithet of this species is derived from the Latin nebula (cloud) and nemus (patchy forest and pasture), in reference to the remnant patches of cloud forest that make up its habitat.

Notes. This species is the largest in the genus, and seems to be endemic to a high elevation cloud forest in the Sierra de Neiba.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Labia. 1. Canthochilum brodzinskyorum; 2. Canthochilum magnum; 3. Canthochilum matthewsi; 4. Canthochilum mimicum; 5. Canthochilum nebulonemi; 6. Canthochilum platycnemis.

FIGURES 38 – 40. Dorsal habiti. 38. Canthochilum nebulonemi; 39. Canthochilum ciboney; 40. Canthochilum xericum.

FIGURES 19 – 24. Protibia, dorsal view. 19. Canthochilum brodzinskyorum; 20. Canthochilum magnum; 21. Canthochilum matthewsi; 22. Canthochilum mimicum; 23. Canthochilum nebulonemi; 24. Canthochilum platycnemis.

FIGURES 25 – 30. Male genitalia, lateral view. 25. Canthochilum brodzinskyorum; 26. Canthochilum magnum; 27. Canthochilum matthewsi; 28. Canthochilum mimicum; 29. Canthochilum nebulonemi; 30. Canthochilum platycnemis.