Deltochilum (Deltochilum) scabriusculum Bates, 1887

Génier, François, 2012, A new species and notes on the subgenus Deltochilum (Deltochilum) Eschscholtz, 1822 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Deltochilini), Zootaxa 3357, pp. 25-36 : 32-33

Deltochilum (Deltochilum) scabriusculum Bates, 1887

(Figs. 9–10)

Bates 1887: 38 original description (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum )

Kolbe 1893: 193 diagnosis (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum )

Shipp 1897: 196 mention (combination: Deltochilum Scabriusculum )

Gillet 1911: 36 catalogue (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum )

Leng 1920: 248 catalogue (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum )

Paulian 1938: 247 monograph (combination: Deltochilum (Meghyboma) scabriusculum ) Blackwelder 1944: 203 catalogue (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum )

Vulcano & Pereira 1964: 641 catalogue (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum ) Deloya et al. 1987: 169 faunistic (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum )

Deloya 1992: 22 faunistic (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum scabriusculum ) Deloya et al. 1993: 21 faunistic (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum scabriusculum ) Synonym: Deltochilum (D.) scabriusculum montanum Howden, 1966 , new synonymy Howden 1966: 737 original description (combination: Deltochilum (Deltochilum) scabriusculum montanum ) Woodruff 1973: 33 biology (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum montanum ) Edmonds 2004: 124 natural history (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum montanum ) Smith 2009: 39 checklist (combination: Deltochilum scabriusculum montanum )

Type locality. Jalapa, Mexico.

Distribution. Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States.

Material examined (69 males, 61 females, 1 specimen). BELIZE: 39 mi. W Hwy. at beaver dam, 6- 12.viii.1972, coll. S. & J. Peck - 1 female ( CMNC); CAYO, Caves Branch, (17°8'N, 88°42'W), 23-29.viii.1972, coll. S. & J. Peck - 1 male ( CMNC); COSTA RICA: PUNTARENAS, R. Priv. Karen Morgensen, Send. El Viejo Níspero, 315 m, 23 Jun – 10 Jul 2003, D. Briceño, Tp. de Intersección, L_N_205600_420300 #74609, 9.8670900 N 85.0600000 W - 1 specimen ( INBio); GUATEMALA: BAJA VERAPAZ, 16.5 km N Salama, (15°13'N, 90°18'W), 3.vii.1993, coll. F. Génier - 4 males ( CMNC); PETÉN, Tikal, (17°12'46''N, 89°37'3''W), 23- 26.viii.1972, coll. S. & J. Peck - 1 female ( CMNC); same locality, 28-30.vii.1978, coll. Helava & Kukal - 2 females ( CMNC); same locality, 12-28.v.1991, coll. R. Limoges - 1 female ( CMNC); SUCHITEPÉQUEZ, Cuyotenango, (14°32'N, 91°56'W), v.1902, coll. Riedel - 1 male ( CMNC); MEXICO: CAMPECHE, 87 mi. E Escárcega, elev. 244 m (18°30'55''N, 89°29'49''W), 14.viii.1971, coll. A. Newton (337) - 1 female ( CMNC); Chicaná, 10 km W Xpujil, (18°30'25''N, 89°29'11''W), 12-14.vii.1983, coll. S. & J. Peck - 2 males ( CMNC); CHIAPAS, 11 mi. E Trinitaria, elev. 1585 m (16°8'15''N, 91°53'43''W), 24.viii.1971, coll. A. Newton (349) - 1 female, 1 male ( CMNC); 4 mi. S Palenque, elev. 183 m (17°27'22''N, 91°57'59''W), 15.viii.1971, coll. A. Newton (326) - 1 female ( CMNC); 5 km E Ocozocoautla, (16°44'35''N, 93°19'42''W), 4.vi.1990, coll. H. & A. Howden - 1 male ( CMNC); Mirador La Coyota, Parque Nacional Cañón del Sumidero, elev. 1700 m (16°49'52''N, 93°4'27''W), 21.vi.1989, coll. H. Howden - 1 male ( CMNC); Parque Nacional Cañón del Sumidero, elev. 1000 m (16°51'N, 93°7'W), 25.v.-1.vi.1990, coll. B. Gill, H. & A. Howden - 2 females, 4 males ( CMNC); same locality, 29.v.1990, coll. H. & A. Howden - 1 female, 1 male ( CMNC); same locality, 1.vi.1990, coll. H. & A. Howden - 1 female ( CMNC); same locality, 7.vi.1990, coll. H. & A. Howden & B. Gill - 3 females, 1 male ( CMNC); GUERRERO, 12.0 km SW Xochipala, elev. 1700 m (17°41'N, 99°38'W), 14.vii.1992, coll. R.S. Anderson (1996-06) - 1 female ( CMNC); 9 mi. NE Iguala, elev. 1341 m (18°23'39''N, 99°28'47''W), 29.viii.1971, coll. A. Newton (378) - 1 female, 1 male ( CMNC); JALISCO, 10 mi. SW Autlán, elev. 1280 m (19°41'48''N, 104°23'49''W), 19.ix.1971, coll. A. Newton (422) - 1 male ( CMNC); 16.5 mi. SW Autlán, elev. 701 m (19°40'6''N, 104°25'52''W), 12-20.ix.1971, coll. A. Newton (420) - 1 male ( CNC); 8 mi. W Atenquique, elev. 1798 m (19°31'45''N, 103°31'17''W), 10-18.ix.1971, coll. A. Newton (410) - 4 females, 4 males ( CMNC, CNC); MORELOS, Yautepec, (18°53'N, 99°4'W), 13.vii.1963, coll. F.D. Parker & L.A. Stange - 1 female ( CMNC); NUEVO LEÓN, 10 mi. W Linares, (24°45'51''N, 99°41'58''W), 31.v.1971, coll. A. Newton (224) - 1 male ( CMNC); S. Rosa Can., 29 km W Linares, (24°44'56''N, 99°48'33''W), 3- 5.vi.1983, coll. S. & J. Peck - 1 male ( CMNC); OAXACA, 15 mi. S Sola de Vega, elev. 1829 m (16°23'18''N, 96°58'12''W), 30-31.v.1971, coll. S. Peck - 2 females, 2 males ( CMNC, CNC); 15 mi. S Sola de Vega on route 131, elev. 1829 m (16°23'18''N, 96°58'12''W), 30.v.1971, coll. H.F. Howden - 1 female, 2 males ( CMNC, CNC); 6 mi. S Valle Nacional, elev. 610 m (17°43'14''N, 96°19'2''W), 18-20.v.1971, coll. H. Howden - 1 male ( CMNC); QUIN- TANA ROO, 20 mi. S Felipe Carrillo Puerto, elev. 30 m (19°17'18''N, 88°5'40''W), 13.viii.1971, coll. A. Newton (341) - 1 female, 1 male ( CMNC); Felipe Carrillo Puerto, (19°34'N, 88°3'W), ix.1984, coll. A. Martínez - 8 females, 9 males ( CMNC); Kohunlich, 68 km W Chetumal, (18°25'11''N, 88°47'29''W), 15-17.vii.1982, coll. S. & J. Peck - 1 female ( CMNC); SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, 3 mi. W El Naranjo, (22°31'19''N, 99°21'49''W), 10-18.vi.1971, coll. A. Newton (233) - 1 female, 2 males ( CMNC, CNC); 50 km E Ciudad del Maíz, (22°24'N, 99°23'W), 12.vii.1952, coll. F. Werner - 1 male ( CMNC); 7 mi. W El Naranjo, elev. 732 m (22°29'54''N, 99°22'49''W), 10- 18.vi.1971, coll. A. Newton (235) - 1 female, 1 male ( CMNC, CNC); 8 mi. E Xilitla, (21°20'19''N, 98°51'41''W), 28.vi.1971, coll. A. Newton (252) - 1 female ( CMNC); SINALOA, 15 mi. W El Palmito, elev. 1524 m (23°34'N, 105°57'W), 5.viii.1964, coll. H.F. Howden - 1 female (paratype) ( CNC); 31 mi. NE Concordia, elev. 1433 m (23°28'50''N, 105°50'19''W), 28.ix.1971, coll. A. Newton (438) - 2 females, 2 males ( CMNC); 8 mi. SW Concordia, elev. 91 m (23°13'22''N, 106°8'46''W), 28.ix.1971, coll. A. Newton (430) - 2 females ( CMNC); SONORA, Yécora, (28°22'N, 108°55'W), 20-22.v.1961, coll. Gibson, Howden, Martin - 3 females, 2 males (including 4 paratypes) ( CMNC, CNC); same locality, 12.vii.1961, coll. W.W. Gibson - 2 females, 7 males (including holotype, 8 paratypes) ( CMNC, CNC); TAMAULIPAS, El Abra S of Ciudad Mante, (23°7'N, 98°59'W), 7-9.vii.1969, coll. S. & J. Peck - 2 females, 2 males ( CMNC); El Nacimiento del Río Frío, Gómez Farías, (23°1'49''N, 99°8'52''W), 29.vi.1969, coll. S. Peck - 1 female ( CMNC); VERACRUZ, Lago de Catemaco, elev. 366 m (18°21'27''N, 95°3'36''W), 8-16.viii.1960, coll. H.F. Howden - 2 females ( CNC); same locality, 31.vii.-4.viii.1970, coll. A. Newton - 1 female ( CMNC); Misantla, (19°56'10''N, 96°49'56''W), [nodate], coll. Hoge - 1 male (paralectotype) ( CNC); Palma Sola, (21°22'24''N, 98°17'13''W), vi.1972, coll. G. Halffter & P. Reyes - 1 female ( CMNC); YUCA- TÁN, 3 mi. S Muná, (20°26'50''N, 89°44'6''W), viii.1971, coll. A. Newton (346) - 1 male ( CMNC).

Remarks. After examining nearly 130 specimens from 42 unique localities, it must be concluded that although type specimens of D. scabriusculum montanum Howden vary slightly in the convexity of the elytra and in fine details of the parameres, the separation as a separate entity is hard to maintain. The variation, especially the length of the 7th interstrial carina and the apical shape of the parameres (Figs. 9–10), is found in other populations. For example the length of the 7th interstrial carina is extremely variable and recently examined specimens from a unique locality show a range covering the difference from D. s. scabriusculum and D. s. montanum . Similarly, the apical shape of the parameres is extremely variable, even within specimens from the same locality. All attempts to find a pattern with the variation have been unsuccessful. A much larger sample might be required. For the moment the following synonymy is proposed, the second epithet being valid: D. (Deltochilum) scabriusculum montanum Howden, 1966 = Deltochilum (Deltochilum) scabriusculum Bates, 1887 new synonymy. Externally, D. scabriusculum may be separated from all other species by the reduced 7th interstrial carina, which covers the apical half to eight of the elytral length combined with the absence of the sternite 3 bulge in the male. The characteristic shape of the parameres (Figs. 9–10) and distinctly carinate 6th interstria apically will separate it from D. tumidum Howden.