Bolborhinum geotrupoides ( Laporte, 1840 )

Mondaca, José & Smith, Andrew B. T., 2008, A revision of the southern South American genus Bolborhinum Boucomont (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae), Zootaxa 1794, pp. 1-48 : 10-11

Bolborhinum geotrupoides ( Laporte, 1840)

( Figs. 1 , 2, 15–18)

Original combination. Bolboceras geotrupoides Laporte, 1840: 104 . Type locality: “ CHILE, Talca Prov., Alto Vilches, 1100 m ” (original type locality: “ Chili ”). Type series: neotype at CMNC labeled: “ CHILE, Talca Prov. / AltoVilches, 1100m. / 10–12.XII.1976 / H. F. Howden” (typeset), b) “H.&A. HOWDEN / COLLEC- TION / Ottawa, Canada ” (typeset with black border), c) “ BOLBOCERAS / GEOTRUPOIDES / LAPORTE ɗ / NEOTYPE / A.B.T. SMITH” (red label, handwritten and typeset), d) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2607270 / Bolborhinum geotrupoides / ( Laporte, 1840) ɗ / DET: A.B.T.SMITH 2006” (typeset). Neotype here designated. See “Designation of lectotypes and neotypes ” section for further statements of qualifying conditions for the designation of this neotype. All reasonable steps were exhausted to trace the original type material of this taxon. Many Laporte type specimens have been lost, but some are currently housed in the MNHN and in the Museum of Victoria in Abbotsford, Australia (MVMA). The second author searched for type material at the MNHN in May 2005 and Ken Walker (curator of entomology at the MVMA) searched for type material in the MVMA, both without success. We can only conclude that the type material has been lost. The specimen selected as the neotype matches the original description of Laporte (1840) and falls within the original type locality.

Synonym. Bolboceras binasutum Fairmaire and Germain, 1861: 2 (emended from Bolboceras binasutus ). New Synonymy. Type locality: “Chilensia.” Type series: lectotype at MNHN labeled a) “1683” (handwritten), b) “ Bolboceras / binasutus ” (handwritten by Fairmaire), c) “MUSEUM PARIS / Collection Léon Fairmaire / 1906” (typeset), d) “ TYPE ” (red label, typeset), e) “ BOLBOCERAS / BINASUTUM / FAIRMAIRE & GERMAIN / LECTOTYPE ɗ / A.B.T. SMITH” (red label, handwritten and typeset), f) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2609492 / Bolborhinum geotrupoides / ( Laporte, 1840) / DET: A.B.T.SMITH 2007” (typeset). Lectotype here designated.

Synonym: Bolboceras distinguendum Fairmaire and Germain, 1861: 2 (emended from Bolboceras distinguendus ). Type locality: “Chilensia.” Type series: lectotype male at MNHN labeled a) “1622” (handwritten), b) “ Bolboceras / distinguendus ” (handwritten by Fairmaire), c) “MUSEUM PARIS / Collection Léon Fairmaire / 1906” (typeset), d) “ TYPE ” (red label, typeset), e) “ BOLBOCERAS / DISTINGUENDUM / FAIRMAIRE & GERMAIN / LECTOTYPE ɗ / A.B.T. SMITH” (red label, handwritten and typeset), f) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2609493 / Bolborhinum geotrupoides / ( Laporte, 1840) / DET: A.B.T.SMITH 2007” (typeset). Lectotype here designated.

Specimens examined. 343 specimens were examined from AUPC, CMNC, CNCI, FMNH, GACC, HAHC, INHS, JEBC, JMEC, MEUC, MGAC, MNHN, MNNC, SRTC, UCCC, UMCE, VMDC.

Diagnosis. Length 14.5–22.0 mm. Color generally reddish-brown. The number, shape, and placement of the male clypeal horns are diagnostic as follows: head dorsally with two medial horns that are connected by an elevated carina ( Fig. 15 ); the apical horn is more robust and located at the clypeal apex, the basal horn is smaller and located immediately behind the first. The two horns could be interpreted as a single bifid horn (in small individuals the second clypeal horn is replaced by a pair of small tubercles located on each side of the midline). Male pronotum with deep and wide anterior excavation occupying almost two thirds of pronotum; surface smooth, generally impunctate; posterosuperior ridge transverse, slightly arcuate anteriorly, sometimes with lateral edge anteriorly projected in larger specimens.

Female similar to male, except in the trapezoidal shape and smaller length of the head in comparison with the male; dorsal surface medially with a small, weakly elevated tubercle and a pair of short lateral carinae that are convergent distally. Clypeus anteriorly truncate, elevated. Pronotum with weak depression located immediately behind the apical margin; disc with fine furrow and sparse punctures on the dorsal surface; laterally with punctures dense to sparse, distributed irregularly across the surface.

Distribution ( Fig. 56 ): ARGENTINA (2). Neuquén (1): Lago Tromén (1). Río Negro (1): Pilcaniyeu (1). CHILE (341). Región Metropolitana de Santiago (3): El Monte (1); Naltagua (2). VI Región del General Bernardo O’Higgins (1): Alto Huemul, San Fernando (1). VII Región del Maule (84): Curicó Maritimo (1); El Coigo (1); Fundo El Radal (2); Fundo Malcho (5); La Balsa (4); La Mina (17); Laguna del Maule (2); Lara Bullileo (4); Linares (7); Parque Inglés (2); Parral (1); Potrero Grande (2); Reserva Nacional Radal 7 Tazas (3); Vilches Alto (33). VIII Región del Biobío (190): Abanico (2); Antuco (1); Atacalco (12); Chiguayante (50); Coihueco (1); Cordillera de Chillán (8); Fundo El Castillo (1); Fundo El Roble (1); La Invernada (10); Las Trancas (54); Los Angeles (5); Los Lleuques (10); Nonquén (1); Piedras Comadres (10); Puente Marchant (8); Puente Torrealba (1); Ralco (1); Recinto (4); Río Ñuble (1); Shangri-la (7); Yungai (1); region record only (1). IX Región de La Araucanía (59): Angol (7); Cunco (1); Laguna Galletue (3); Liucura (1); Lonquimay (15); Malalcahuello (1); Marimenuco (7); Molco (1); Nahuelbuta (2); Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, Pehuenco (1); Parque Nacional Villarrica, Puesco (5); Temuco (3); Traiguen (1); Villa Portales (10); Volcán Lonquimay (1). XIV Región de Los Ríos (1): Valdivia (1). Country record only (3).

Temporal data: January (60), February (26), March (8), April (5), September (5), October (24), November (89), December (123).

Remarks: Identification of this species is complicated because of the variable head armature of males. The second clypeal horn can be either prominent or absent, and when present, this horn is either bifurcate or simple. In individuals where the second clypeal horn is absent, there is in its place a pair of distinctly separated tubercles behind the first clypeal horn (Figs. 17–18). This variation is not as extreme as the male dimorphism recognized by Howden (1979) in some species of the Australian genus Blackburnium Boucomont , but it is enough to cause confusion and probably lead to the failure to recognize B. geotrupoides and B. binasutum as synonyms until now. We examined over 200 male specimens of this species and found the male armature of B. geotrupoides , B. binasutum , and B. distinguendum to fall within our concept of this somewhat variable species. Therefore the latter two names are here synonymized under B. geotrupoides .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Bolborhinum geotrupoides male in lateral view. FIGURE 2. Bolborhinum geotrupoides female in lateral view. FIGURE 3. Bolborhinum laesicolle in lateral view.

FIGURE 15. Bolborhinum geotrupoides male in dorsal view. FIGURE 16. Bolborhinum geotrupoides female in dorsal view. FIGURE 17. Bolborhinum geotrupoides male head.

FIGURE 56. Bolborhinum geotrupoides distribution.