Nothochodaeus Nikolajev, 2005

Huchet, Jean-Bernard, 2019, New data on the taxonomy and distribution of Philippine Ochodaeidae and description of a new species from Central Visayas (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea), Insecta Mundi 722 (722), pp. 1-10 : 2

Ceratochodaeus Huchet, 2017, new status

Ceratochodaeus Huchet, 2017, described as a subgenus of Nothochodaeus Nikolajev, 2005

Type species. Nothochodaeus eliotti Huchet, 2014 , by original designation ( Huchet 2017).

Etymology. From the Greek keratos, genitive of ΚΈρας (horn), combined with the root Ochodaeus , in view of the strong frontal horn in males.

Diagnosis. This genus, endemic to the Philippines, differs from the genus Nothochodaeus , to which it was previously considered as a subgenus, by the following characters: large size, greater than 10 mm, a strong and curved cephalic horn, truncated and excavated at the top in males, the apical truncation of variable shape depending on the species (see Fig. 1, 3 , 6 ), pronotum very convex, strongly declivous forward, protibiae invariably quadridentate externally. As unique feature within the family, males of the genus Ceratochodaeus have a strong median spiniform process originating on the sternite IV and ending in a protruding “keel” at the sternite VII (depending on the species, this process is sometimes placed asymmetrically (generally on the left side, in ventral view), and flanked on either side by a strong hollow depression (see Fig. 8 ).

Unlike other Asian genera, such as Nothochodaeus Nikolajev, 2005 or Mimochodaeus Nikolajev, 2009 , whose endophallus copulatory pieces consist of one to several tightly curved toothed sclerites or sclerotized setae, species of the genus Ceratochodaeus possess one or two strong main sclerites (ScP), tubular or not, always smooth, frequently associated with 2 to 3 accessory sclerites (ScA) of variable shape, without toothed or serrated edges.

The conformation of the trapezoidal interlocking mechanism located on the tergite VII (propygidium), the mesocoxae widely separated by the metasternal process, and finally the hind wing venation places this new genus within the Nothochodaeini Nikolajev, 2015.

Figures

Figures 1–3. Ceratochodaeus darlingi Huchet, new species, male holotype. 1) Habitus, dorsal view. 2) Labels. 3) Habitus, latero-dorsal view.

Figures 6–7. Ceratochodaeus darlingi Huchet, new species, male holotype. 6) Head, dorsal view. 7) Head, ventral view.

Figures 8–9. Ceratochodaeus darlingi Huchet, new species, male holotype. 8) Abdomen in ventral view, the median acuminate process located on the ventrites indicated by an arrow, the median dotted line emphasizing the asymmetric location of the process. 9) Male genitalia. a) Aedeagus in lateral-dorsal view, the inner sac not everted (Scl: endophallic sclerite). b) Close-up view of the two main sclerites of the endophallus.