Maechidius ciliatus, Telnov, 2020

Telnov, Dmitry, 2020, A revision of the Maechidiini Burmeister, 1855 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indo-Australian transition zone, and the first record of the tribe west of Wallace’s Line, European Journal of Taxonomy 721, pp. 1-210 : 36-38

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2020.721.1127
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89E62EF8-2E45-4C59-94B7-6A5603E8939B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4344319
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E8521538-4460-4652-8EFC-0ACD2949C012
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:E8521538-4460-4652-8EFC-0ACD2949C012
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Maechidius ciliatus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Maechidius ciliatus View in CoL sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E8521538-4460-4652-8EFC-0ACD2949C012

Figs 31 View Figs 31–34 , 111 View Figs 109–120 , 209 View Figs 208–225 , 298 View Figs 286–301 , 370, 464, 595–597

Differential diagnosis

This species is primarily peculiar among all congeners with paired longitudinal rows of elytral punctures due to the shape of the male aedeagus.

Etymology

The name of this species is derived from the Latin ‘ cilium ’ (‘cilia’), referring to its apically ciliate parameres.

Type material

Holotype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • ♂; “PNG, Madang, Baitabag vill. 50m a.s.l. 145°47’E 5°08’S M. Janda coll., hand collecting 20.iii.2002 // coll. IECA České Bud ě jovice, Czech Republic”; IECA.

GoogleMaps

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Holotype, total body length 6.00 mm. Head 1.20 mm long, across eyes 1.50 mm wide. Pronotum 1.50 mm long, maximum width 2.25 mm. Elytral length 3.30 mm, maximum combined width 2.54 mm.

Dorsum uniformly black-brown with brown labroclypeus, antennae, legs and venter. Head transverse, subopaque dorsally and ventrally, slightly convex dorsally. Compound eye large, occupying half side of head. Male labroclypeus broadly V-shaped emarginate on anterior margin. Lateral margins of male labroclypeus strongly sinuous in both dorsal and lateral views, anterolateral angles rather strongly protruding anteriad ( Fig. 111 View Figs 109–120 ). Upper- and underside of labroclypeus with long setae along anterior and lateral margins. Canthus obtuse angulate in dorsal view. Anterior and lateral margins of labroclypeus smooth. Head dorsal punctures circular, moderately deep and dense, filled or not with microscopical velvety pubescence. Intervening spaces glossy to delicately microreticulate, variably large, in part covered with microscopical velvety pubescence. Inconspicuous appressed narrow scale-like seta rises from each puncture, slightly surpassing length of corresponding puncture. Antenna 9-segmented, club 3-lamellate. Scape large, with bulbous predistal projection on dorsal side, provided with two very long setae near distal margin. Antennomere 2 ovoid, transverse. Pronotum strongly transverse, glossy medially, subopaque on lateral sides. Anterior margin of pronotum slightly sinuous, anterolateral angles slightly protruding anteriad. Basal and lateral margins broadly rounded in dorsal view. Crenulae of lateral margin moderately strong; a short suberect curved seta present between every two crenulae ( Fig. 209 View Figs 208–225 ). Lateral margin of pronotum nearly straight in lateral view. Pronotal punctures ovoid, deep and dense, variably large (generally larger along lateral margins and on base); inner margin of some punctures on lateral sides encircled with microscopical velvety pubescence. Intervening spaces in part glossy and glabrous, in part microreticulate, generally smaller than punctures except in some areas. Setae similar to those on head, generally shorter and not surpassing length of corresponding punctures. Lateral and basal margins, antero- and posterolateral angles covered with microscopical velvety pubescence. Hypomeron separated from prosternum by moderately high straight carina which is moderately long setose opposite to compound eye. Antennal pocket moderately deep. Median anterior process of prosternum long brushy setose, short, moderately raised. Scutellar shield narrowly rounded apically. Elytra cylindrical, maximum width across midlength, glossy dorsally, with distinct humeri and vague tracks of two longitudinal carinae (sutural carina not raised). Each elytron between suture and 2 nd (outer) track of longitudinal carina with 4 paired rows of moderately deep ovoid punctures (some rows are partly confused). Lateral sides of elytra confusedly punctate. Microscopical velvety pubescence partly or completely encircles perimeter of some punctures ( Fig. 298 View Figs 286–301 ). Intervening spaces glossy, in part microreticulate, about as large as punctures. Elytral setae minute; seta rises from anterior margin of each puncture, not surpassing its length. Apex of elytron covered with microscopical velvety pubescence. Long subhumeral lateral seta not present (due to condition of specimen?). Male pygidium flattened dorsally, with large circular annular punctures ( Fig. 464 View Figs 451–468 ). Intervening spaces glossy, variably large, in part covered with microscopical velvety pubescence. Male protibia with two distal teeth (Fig. 370), crenulate on external margin. Male protibial terminal spur large, strongly curved. Male metatibia somewhat flattened and glabrous on inner margin. Tarsal claws with pulvilli (in male only?). Male aedeagus as in Figs 595–597 View Figs 586–600 .

Sexual dimorphism

Female is unknown.

Ecology

Occurs in lowland rainforests.

Distribution

Hitherto only known from the surroundings of Madang in East New Guinea.