Manodactylus Moser, 1919

Katovich, Kerry, 2008, A generic-level phylogenetic review of the Macrodactylini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (23), pp. 1-78 : 52

Manodactylus Moser, 1919

( Figure 125-129 )

Manodactylus Moser, 1919: 43 . Type species Manodactylus gaujoni Moser, 1919 , by monotypy.

Taxonomic Notes

The following generic diagnosis is based on a single dissected syntype of the type species, M. gaujoni (ZMHB) .

Generic diagnosis

This monotypic genus closely resembles Macrodactylus , but is characterized by its black, glabrous color and the cordate pronotum, widest medially.

Generic redescription

Measurements: Prothorax at widest point 3.0 mm, elytra at widest point 3.6 mm, length 8.7 mm.

Color and vestiture: Body black, glabrous, lacking vestiture.

Head: Clypeus coplanar with frons; angled at 30 o; labrum in frontal view narrowly ovate, weakly emarginate; labrum coplanar with clypeus; labium with prementum elongate, ventral surface with a deep medial groove ( Fig. 127 ); mandibles in dorsal view triangular, scissorial area rounded, membranous, molar area weakly produced adorally, well sclerotized; maxillary palpi missing; antennae with 9 antennomeres, antennomeres 7-9 forming the elongate club, club length equal to antennomeres 3-6 combined.

Prothorax: Pronotum cordiform, widest medially, anterior angle obtuse, lateral margin strongly convex, posterior angle obtuse, posterior margin weakly convex ( Fig. 128 ); prothoracic leg with coxa elongate; tibia weakly dentate; pretarsus with claws not divergent, equal in length, both claws narrowly split, upper lobe narrow, longer than lower lobe, lower lobe broad on individual claw; pretarsus similar to prothoracic pretarsus.

Mesothorax: Scutellum subtriangular; elytra longer than wide, width uniform, in lateral profile epipleuron narrow, rounded, dorsal surface with five weak striae, anterior umbone moderately produced, posterior umbone absent.

Metathorax: Metathoracic leg with coxae narrowly separated; femur narrowly ovate, narrow proximally, width uniform; tibia clavate, narrow proximally, widest in distal 1/4, posteroventral margin lined with short and long setae, lacking spurs, posterior margin lacking a U-shaped groove; pretarsus with claws similar to claws of prothoracic and mesothoracic claws.

Abdomen: Ventrites 2-4 equal in length, margins deflexed dorsally, 4 th ventrite equal to 1/4 length of 5 th ventrite, 5 th ventrite (= propygidium) 4X length of 4 th ventrite length, posterior 1/3 membrane-like, distinctly margined giving the appearance of a separate ventrite, membrane-like region deflexed ventrally, ventrite and sternite of 5 th abdominal segment separated with a partial suture, spiracle placed medially at anterior of suture, 6 th ventrite triangular, length equal to 5 th ventrite length, posterior 1/2 membranous; propygidium broadly subtriangular, slightly wider than long, posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 129 ).

Diversity and Geographic Distribution

Manodactylus is monotypic, with M. gaujoni known only from Ecuador.

Figures

Figure 125-129. Manodactylus gaujoni Moser. 125) Dorsal habitus. 126) Left lateral view. 127) Prementum, ligula and labial palpi, ventral view. 128) Pronotum, dorsal view. 129) Pygidium, dorsal view.