Luispenaia paposo Mondaca, Pizarro-Araya

Mondaca, José, Pizarro-Araya, Jaime & Alfaro, Fermín M., 2019, Revision of the genus Luispenaia Martínez (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Tanyproctini), with description of three new species from the Atacama Desert, Chile, Zootaxa 4615 (3), pp. 549-562 : 554-557

Luispenaia paposo Mondaca, Pizarro-Araya , & Alfaro new species

( Figs. 11 , 15 , 21–23 )

Type locality. Chile, Región de Antofagasta, Paposo .

Type material. Holotype male at MNNC labeled: a) “ CHILE ANTOFAGASTA / Paposo Norte Natural Monument (costa), 24°51’ / 05.2’’S - 70°31’37.1’’O / 43 m, 27/ 30-X-2015 / col. J. Pizarro-F. Alfaro ” b) “ Luispenaia / paposo sp. nov. / Mondaca, Pizarro-Araya & Alfaro / HOLOTYPE” (red label, typeset) . Two male paratypes (1 JMEC, 1 LEULS) labeled as holotype except: b) “ Luispenaia / paposo sp. nov. / Mondaca, Pizarro-Araya & Alfaro / PARATYPE ” (yellow label, typeset).

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from all other species in the genus Luispenaia by the following combination of characters: body dorsally black shiny, covered with white and yellowish-white setae ( Fig. 21 ). Clypeus distal and laterally rounded, reflexed upturned; lateral margin between clypeal base and ocular canthus rounded, slightly projected externally ( Fig. 11 ). Antennae with 8 antennomeres; club with 4 antennomeres ( Fig. 15 ). Pronotum suboval, broadest in middle, laterally arcuate ( Fig. 11 ).

Description of male holotype. Length 6.0 mm, wide 2.3. Body: Slightly convex, dorsally black shiny, with white and yellowish-white setae; setae long, moderately dense on head, pronotum, and elytra ( Fig. 21 ). Head: Clypeus distal and laterally rounded, reflexed upturned; dorsal surface moderately punctate and setose; punctures large; frontoclypeal suture well defined, frontal width equal to 7 times eye widths, with surface densely punctate, punc- tures large; eye canthus short and wide, rounded externally ( Fig. 11 ). Antennae with 8 antennomeres; antennomere 1 robust, claviform; antennomere 2 submonoliform; antennomere 3 subcylindrical; antennomere 4 flattened; antennal club with 4 antennomeres glabrous, subequal in length, arched in dorsal view ( Fig. 15 ). Pronotum: Slightly convex, approximately suboval, broadest in middle, laterally arcuate; surface densely punctate and setose; setae recumbent, directed posteriorly; longitudinal midline impunctate, lateral margin with long, dense, laterally directed setae ( Fig. 11 ). Scutellum: Triangular, longer than wide; sides broadly arcuate. Elytra: Slightly convex, surface moderately setose; setae recumbent, directed posteriorly, with striae poorly defined; lateral margin with long, moderately dense, laterally directed setae. Legs: Moderately setose and shiny, with white and yellowish-white, long setae. Protibiae tridentate, with teeth acute distally; protarsomere 5 longer than protarsomeres 3–4 combined; mesotibiae and metati- biae widened medial and apically, with one oblique spinose carina externally, apical edge of the mesotibiae with row of long equal macrosetae, metatibiae with row of very small equal macrosetae barely perceptible; mesotarsomere 5 subequal in length to mesotarsomeres 3–4 combined. Genitalia: Parameres moderately long, wider at base (frontal view), laterally cuneiform, slightly curved ventrally, distally attenuate and rounded at apex; phallobase 1.04 times longer than parameres ( Figs. 22–23 ).

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Length 5.9–6.0 mm. Dorsal color light brown, dark brown or black shiny. Not differing significantly from the holotype in external characters.

Etymology. Derived from Paposo, origin locality of the new species located in northern Chile.

Distribution. Paposo Norte Natural Monument, Antofagasta Region, Chile ( Fig. 8 ).

Habitat and ecology. Luispenaia paposo has been collected during spring by using pitfall trap in the coastal dunes in Paposo Natural Monument (northern Chile), in the few places of the area that harbor some vegetation, which is reduced to some scattered plants adapted to psammophilous environments ( Fig. 30C ). In this area there are two relatively abundant species that correspond to the dominant association; Skytanthus acutus Meyen and Tetragonia maritima Barnéoud. The vegetational floor that takes place in this area is the coastal Mediterranean desert scrub of Gypothamnium pinifolium Phil. and Heliotropium pycnophyllum Phil. ( Luebert & Pliscoff 2006) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Distribution of Luispenaia species in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile.

FIGURES 30. Type locality of Luispenaia species. A, Llanos de Challe National Park (Atacama Region, Chile), habitat of L. paradoxa; B, Boqueron Chañar (Atacama Region, Chile), habitat of L. atacamensis; C, Paposo Norte Natural Monument (Antofagasta Region, Chile), habitat of L. paposo; D, Quebrada Los Yales (Antofagasta Region, Chile), habitat of L. paulseni.

FIGURES 10–13. Head and pronotum of Luispenaia species. 10, Luispenaia atacamensis; 11, L. paposo; 12, L. paulseni; 13, L. paradoxa. Scale: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 14–17. Antennal club of Luispenaia species. 14, Luispenaia paradoxa Martínez; 15, L. paposo; 16, L. paulseni; 17, L. atacamensis. Scale: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 18–29. Luispenaia species. 18–20, Luispenaia atacamensis; 21–23, L. paposo; 24–26, L. paulseni; 27–29, L. paradoxa. Scale: 1 mm.