Saprolochus tridentatus Skelley, 2007

Skelley, Paul E., 2007, New South American taxa of Odontolochini Stebnicka and Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Insecta Mundi 2007 (22), pp. 1-15 : 7-9

Saprolochus tridentatus Skelley , new species

( Figure 10 , 15-16 )

Type material. Holotype female, label data: “ PERU: Madre de Dios, Dept. Tambopata, 28-X-1982, L. E. Watrous & G. Mazurek; ex rotten palm flowers, FMHD #82-401/ Saprolochus sp. Stebnicka, singleton [placed on specimen by Z. T. Stebnicka]/ [red paper] HOLOTYPE Saprolochus tridentatus P. E. Skelley 2007 ” [ FMNH]. One paratype female, label data: “ BOLIVIA: Cochabamba Dept., Villa Tunari, Hotel El Puerta, S16 o 59.02' - W65 o 24.50', 15-27-XII- 2005, 357m, rainforest FIT, S. & J. Peck, 05-45/ [yellow paper] PARATYPE Saprolochus tridentatus P. E. Skelley 2007 ” [ MNKN].

Diagnosis. This is the only known Saprolochus with 3 teeth on the lateral pronotal margin.

Description. Female body length 3.5-3.7 mm, width 1.5-1.6 mm; elongate, robust, somewhat parallelsided ( Fig. 15 ); surface dulled, dark reddish brown, nearly black. Head broad, convex, surface coarsely punctate across basal half, punctures as large as those on pronotal base; anterior half of head (clypeus) smooth, widely glossy along anterior margin, minutely punctate, granulate area on each side; clypeal edge smooth, lacking teeth, rounded each side of median emargination. Pronotum widest at middle, almost quadrate in dorsal view in dorsal view; surface coarsely punctate, interspersed with minute punctures, coarse punctures largest at base, becoming smaller anteriorly, coarse anterior punctures half diameter of basal punctures, all coarse punctures separated by 0.5-1 diameters on disc, nearly coalescing near anterior lateral angle; in lateral view, lateral edge emarginate near base, emargination bounded by teeth with third tooth between; pronotal basal edge evenly convex, nearly straight; with complete, broad basal groove. Scutellum small, elongate, narrow, triangular. Elytra with basal marginal bead and humeral denticle; surface dulled, alutaceous; intervals evenly convex at base, becoming weakly tectiform on declivity; finely, irregularly punctate along midline; striae deep, sharply defined, punctures longitudinally elongate, separated by less than their length. Prosternum broad, flat behind procoxa. Meso- and metasternal juncture straight, flat. Mesosternum with shallow acutely V-shaped depression from base, leading to small group of coarse punctures on each side near anterior part of mesocoxae; anterior mesosternal margin with band of coarse punctures. Metasternum foveately punctate laterally, medially minutely punctate either side of distinct longitudinal medial groove ( Fig. 16 ); coarse lateral punctures forming transverse lines near meso- and metacoxae which are not present medially. Abdominal sternites 1-5 with large basal punctures forming fluting; sternites 2-4 with medial transverse row of large punctures laterally, not connecting along midline; apical half of sternite 5 and sternite 6 minutely punctate. Pygidium eroded on apical half, eroded area divided by fine longitudinal medial carina; apical margin on each side of middle with single seta. Profemur ventral surface finely, sparsely punctate. Protibia with 3 distinct lateral teeth, evenly spaced, apical tooth largest; protibial spur prominent. Meso- and metafemur with complete posterior marginal line; surface finely punctate; posterior margin of metafemur very weakly lobed at middle. Meso- and metatibia narrow, gradually widened to apex, with 2 distinct apical spurs, lacking lateral apical accessory spine; apical fringe of setae short. Meso- and metatarsi elongate, not as long as tibia; basal tarsomere same length as long tibial spur, 3 times longer than second tarsomere. Male unknown.

Etymology. The name was selected for the unique tridentate pronotal margin present on this species.

Figures

Figure 9-11. Saprolochus spp., head and pronotum. 9) Saprolochus lobatus, n. sp. 10) Saprolochus tridentatus, n. sp. 11) Saprolochus tambopatae Stebnicka and Galante, paratype.

Figure 15-16. Saprolochus tridentatus, n. sp. 15) Dorsal habitus. 16) Ventral habitus.