Hieritis Burmeister, 1855

Katovich, Kerry, 2008, A generic-level phylogenetic review of the Macrodactylini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (23), pp. 1-78 : 46-47

Hieritis Burmeister, 1855

( Figure 105-109 )

Hieritis Burmeister, 1855: 41 . Type species Hieritis macrocera Burmeister, 1855 , by monotypy.

Taxonomic Notes

The following generic diagnosis is based on a single dissected syntype of the generic type species, H.

macrocera (MLUH) .

Generic diagnosis

This genus is characterized by its very small size; quadrate prementum, ventral surface raise; oblong, transverse pronotum; pygidium subtriangular, wider than long.

Generic redescription

Measurements: Prothorax at widest point 2.2 mm, elytra at widest point 3.0 mm, length 7.2 mm.

Color and vestiture: Body brown, surface with vestiture consisting of fine yellow setae.

Head: Clypeus not coplanar with frons; frons angled at 60 o; labrum in frontal very narrowly ovate, slightly emarginate medially, labrum not coplanar with clypeus; labium with prementum quadrate, ventral surface raised medially ( Fig. 107 ); mandibles in dorsal view broadly rectangular, scissorial area bluntly produced, medially emarginate, molar region flush with adoral lateral margin, not bluntly produced; maxillary palpi with apical palpus conical, elongate, equal to 1 st and 2 nd segments combined, apex acute; antennae with 10 antennomeres, antennomeres 8-10 forming the elongate club, club length equal to length of antennomeres 2-7 combined.

Prothorax: Pronotum oblong, transverse, widest medially, anterior angles acute, lateral margins convex, posterior angle obtuse, posterior margin straight, medially lobed ( Fig. 108 ); prothoracic leg with coxa transverse; tibia dentate, ventral with a small spur present in distal 1/4; pretarsus with claws divergent, equal in length, both claws narrowly split, upper lobe narrow, lower lobe broad on individual claw.

Mesothorax: Scutellum cordate; elytra longer than wide, width uniform, elytral epipleuron flattened, grooved in lateral view, dorsal surface with three weak striae, surface covered with fine setae, anterior and posterior umbones weakly produced.

Metathorax: Metathoracic leg with coxa clearly separated; femur narrowly ovate, narrow proximally, widest medially; tibia rectangular, narrowed proximally, widest medially, posteroventral margin with a pair of long, stout spurs, spurs subequal in length, arising at same plane as tarsal articulation joint, posterior margin with a deep, U-shaped grooved; pretarsus with claws similar to claws of prothoracic and mesothoracic legs.

Abdomen: Ventrites 2-4 equal in length, ventrite 5 (= propygidium) equal to length of ventrites 3-4 combined, ventrite and sternite of 5 th abdominal segment not separated by a suture, spiracle located medially, length of ventrite six equal to 4 th ventrite length; pygidium subtriangular, wider than long, posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 109 ).

Diversity and Geographic Distribution

Hieritis is currently monotypic, with Hieritis macrocera know only from Brazil.

Figures

Figure 105-109. Hieritis macrocera Burmeister. 105) Dorsal habitus. 106) Left lateral view. 107) Prementum, ligula and labial palpi, ventral view. 108) Pronotum, dorsal view. 109) Pygidium, dorsal view.