Anoplosiagum Blanchard, 1850

Katovich, Kerry, 2008, A generic-level phylogenetic review of the Macrodactylini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (23), pp. 1-78 : 21-22

Anoplosiagum Blanchard, 1850

( Figure 22-26 )

Anoplosiagum Blanchard, 1850: 119 . Type species Anoplosiagum rufipenne (Fabricius), 1801 , by subsequent designation ( Lacordaire 1856: 264).

Taxonomic Notes

The following generic diagnosis is based on a dissected homeotype of the presumptive syntype of A. sulcatum Blanchard located at the MNHC , and identified with a Blanchard label. Type specimens of the type species, A. rufipenne (Fabricius) , were not located at the MNHC.

Generic diagnosis

This genus is characterized by its elongate shape, flattened lateral profile, often rounded clypeus in dorsal view, small, ovate or semicircular labrum in frontal view, subtriangular prementum.

Generic redescription

Measurements: Prothorax at widest point 5.3 mm, elytra at widest point 6.7 mm, length 14.0 mm.

Color and vestiture: Pronotum black, glabrous, elytra black to dark reddish-brown, ventral surface

reddish-brown, vestiture consisting of scattered long reddish setae.

Head: Clypeus not coplanar with frons; frons angled at 30 o; labrum in frontal view small, ovate to semicircular, medially with a shallow emargination ( Fig. 24 ); labium with prementum trapezoidal, elongate, ventral surface flattened ( Fig. 25 ); mandibles in dorsal view rectangular, scissorial region sinuate, weakly lobed distally, molar area well sclerotized; maxillary palpi with apical palpus narrowly elongate, ovate, weakly flattened on ventral margin; antennae with 9 antennomeres, antennomeres 7-9 forming the elongate club, equal to length of antennomeres 2-6 combined.

Prothorax: Pronotum oblong, transverse, anterior angles strongly acute, appearing toothed, lateral margin convex, beaded, posterior angle obtuse, posterior margin straight, medially lobed, beaded, dorsal surface rounded; prothoracic leg with coxa transverse; tibia distal 1/4 with a tooth, distal 1/4 with an acute spur; pretarsus with tarsal claws divergent, equal in length, both claws broadly split, upper and lower lobes narrow on each claw.

Mesothorax: Scutellum subtriangular; elytra longer than wide, width fairly even, in lateral profile elytral epipleuron flattened, dorsal surface distinctly striate, strial margins raised, smooth, anterior umbone slightly produced, posterior umbone weak; pretarsus similar to prothoracic pretarsus.

Metathorax: Coxa widely separated; femur ovate, widest medially; tibia triangular, narrow proximally, widest medially, posteroventral margin with pair of equal, long spurs, spurs at same level as tarsal articulation joint, posterior margin with a deep, U-shaped groove; pretarsus with tarsal claws similar to prothoracic claws.

Abdomen: With ventrites 2-4 equal in length, sutures distinct, 5 th ventrite equal to length of 3 rd and 4 th ventrites combined, margin membranous, ventrite and sternite of 5 th abdominal segment lacking suture, spiracle situated in posterior 1/4, at apex of a weak groove, 6 th ventrite semicircular in ventral view, posterior margin lower than remaining ventrite; pygidium subtriangular, wider than long, posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 26 ).

Diversity and Geographic distribution

Anoplosiagum comprises 31 species, recorded from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Paraguay. Keys to

the Cuban species are available ( Chapin 1932).

Figures

Figure 22-26. Anoplosiagum sulcatum Blanchard. 22) Dorsal habitus. 23) Left lateral view. 24) Clypeus and labrum, frontal view. 25) Prementum, ligula and labial palpi, ventral view. 26) Pygidium, dorsal view.