Aphodius (Liothorax) rodrigoi, Angus & Maté & Angus & Král, 2024

Angus, Robert B., Maté, Jason F., Angus, Elizabeth M. & Král, David, 2024, Towards a revision of the Palaearctic species of Aphodius Hellwig, 1798, subgenus Liothorax Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae), ZooKeys 1207, pp. 205-299 : 205-299

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.3897/zookeys.1207.117225
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:94F18819-5AF5-4100-AB35-AA3C3976EE80
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12796883
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/ABCB9508-F963-4C3D-ACDA-CEB4642AC551
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:ABCB9508-F963-4C3D-ACDA-CEB4642AC551
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Aphodius (Liothorax) rodrigoi
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Aphodius (Liothorax) rodrigoi sp. nov.

Figs 2 d View Figure 2 , 7 g View Figure 7 , 11 f View Figure 11 , 20 j View Figure 20 , 22 m, m ’, m ”, 25 k View Figure 22

Type material examined.

Holotype ♂: Spain: Madrid Aranjuez F. Morüder // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990 ( MNCN) . Paratypes: 4 ex ♀ Aranjuez F. Morüder // DA 251 F. J. Cabrero // DG 251 F. J. Cabrero // AP Bucal 206 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990; 1 ex; ♂ Quero Prov Toledo Lauffer // DG 178 F. J. Cabrero // DA 249 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990; 1 ex; ♀ Quero v. 1908 Molina // AP Bucal 56 F. J. Cabrero // DG 174 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990; 1 ex; ♂ Villacañas ( TOLEDO) C. Bolívar // Hoyer C. M. Veiga // AP Bucal 205 F. J. Cabrero // DA 250 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990 1 ex. ( MNCN).

Differential diagnosis.

Aphodius (L.) rodrigoi resembles a small highly-polished somewhat rounded A. (L.) plagiatus . The metaventrite is slightly less strongly punctate and with the median diamond-shaped area depressed to mid-line. Aedeagus: (Fig. 22 m, m View Figure 22 ’, m ”) general size and shape of parameres similar to A. plagiatus , not turned downwards apically, but with the following differences: apices of parameres less produced laterally, parameres narrower and more converging towards apex, in lateral view parameres gradually curved towards apex and narrowest towards apex compared to L. plagiatus which is narrowest 1 / 3 rd towards apex.

The apical segment of the maxillary palpi is slightly longer (10 %) than the 2 nd segment: terminal segment slightly longer (10 %) than 2 nd segment (Fig. 11 f View Figure 11 ), as against 15–20 % longer in A. plagiatus (Fig. 11 d, e View Figure 11 ).

Description.

General appearance (Fig. 2 d View Figure 2 ). Length: 3.5–4.0 mm (♂) (HT 3.75 mm), 4.0– 4.23 mm (♀); width: 1.4–1.6 mm (♂ and ♀).

Glossy black throughout except clypeal and elytral apical edges which are fuscous red. Legs and maxillary palps reddish yellow to maroon, antennae tan except for last three segments which are darker and clothed in off-white setae.

Head: frons strongly convex, clypeus flat to slightly concave. Frontoclypeal suture weak, widely interrupted in the middle. Clypeal edge truncated to slightly emarginate, impressed medially; side angles rounded with edge widely elevated. Sides of head almost straight and continuously merging with genae. Genae produced beyond eyes, rounded, strongly bordered and with some short yellowish setae.

Surface shiny with residual reticulation and strongly punctured. Punctation double, the larger punctures regularly dispersed on the clypeal sides and frons, absent from genae and anterior clypeus. Larger punctures 2–3 × diameter of the smaller ones and strongly impressed, particularly on the sides where the surface almost appears wrinkled and closely spaced (1–1.5 × their diameter). Anterior edge of clypeus very finely and regularly punctured, completely devoid of larger punctures.

Maxillary palp: terminal segment slightly longer (10 %) than 2 nd segment (Fig. 11 f View Figure 11 ) (in A. plagiatus the terminal segment is longer, 15–20 % longer than the 2 nd segment) (Fig. 11 d, e View Figure 11 ). Galeal patch armed with five or six strong galeal chaetae (7–9 in A. plagiatus ). Galea smaller, similar in dimensions to the Tibetan ssp. of A. plagiatus but not to European populations in which it is larger.

Epipharynx (Fig. 7 g View Figure 7 ) corypha small and only slightly produced (somewhat similar to the Tibetan populations of A. plagiatus ), with the chaetae (celtes) much reduced in size. Fenestrae on zygum (angustofenestrae) and chaetae (heli) less numerous than in A. plagiatus and limited to the edge against pedia. Chaetopaedia as in A. plagiatus . Chaetopariae noticeably stronger than in A. plagiatus .

Pronotum subquadrate, sides slightly rounded, subparallel, and widest towards base. Regularly convex longitudinally and transversely. Base completely and distinctly bordered, border strong but fine. Anterior edge not bordered at all. Lateral margins visible dorsally in the apical 1 / 3 only. Sides strongly bordered throughout, anteriorly going around corner up to the middle of the eye. Lateral margins with short yellowish hairs barely visible dorsally in apical 1 / 2.

Surface of pronotum black and shiny, not at all alutaceous with only some residual superficial shagreen. Punctation double, larger punctures regularly distributed throughout but densest on the sides and anterolateral corners. Large punctures flat bottomed and umbilicated. Diameter 4–5 × that of the smaller ones and spaced 1–3 × their diameter.

Scutellum elongate, sides rounded, convergent throughout (only slightly pentagonal), length 1 / 11 elytral length. Glossy black, unpunctured, basally impressed, disk convex.

Elytra black, intervals convex, surface strongly glossy and slightly alutaceous under high magnification. Intervals with double row of very fine and faint punctures. Striae fine, 1 / 8 × width of intervals, with sides crisp and right-angled. Regularly punctured, punctures wider than the striae and separated by 2 × diameter (first 2 striae) or 3–4 × (remainder). Elytral epipleura strong, gradually convergent towards apex, and at humeri forming a small but distinct tooth.

Underside black with yellowish pubescence on the abdomen.

Metaventrite (Fig. 20 j View Figure 20 ): median diamond-shaped area rather strongly punctate, glabrous, its mid-line distinctly impressed. Surface regularly heavily punctate, the punctures with one end somewhat pointed, shiny, and not alutaceous. Sexual dimorphism subtle, female flatter than male.

Legs reddish to dark brown, tarsi and tibial spurs red to tan, rather long and slender. Protarsal spur regularly acuminate and curved in both sexes, reaching to apex of second tarsal segment. Metatarsal segments short. Basotarsomere slightly shorter than upper metatibial spine as long as segments 2 + 3. Fimbrial setae short and of unequal length. Longer spur of mid tibiae as long as first two tarsal segments.

Aedeagus: (Fig. 22 m, m View Figure 22 ’, m ”) general size and shape of parameres similar to A. plagiatus , not turned downwards apically, but with the following differences: apices of parameres less produced laterally, parameres narrower and more convergent towards apex, in lateral view parameres gradually curved towards apex and narrowest nearer apex (ca ¼ of the paramere length as against ca 1 / 3 in L. plagiatus ).

Endophallus typical of other members of the A. plagiatus species group, with two patches of elongate triangular scales or bristles. Those in basal patch longer and more elongate than any member of the plagiatus group (19–26 µm in A. rodrigoi vs 14 – 21 µm), similar to those of A. wilsonae (22–32 µm), those in the apical patch like A. plagiatus .

Etymology.

The name is derived from the surname of the name Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, a Spanish composer whose most famous work, “ Concierto de Aranjuez ”, refers to the geographical area from which the species hails.

Remarks.

All the known specimens are from the south of Madrid (Aranjuez) and the adjacent areas of Toledo (Fig. 29 b View Figure 29 ) The localities are associated with temporary endorheic saline lagoons and lakes (Fig. 28 b View Figure 28 ) One of the authors ( JFM) made repeated visits to several of the localities during late winter over several years (January and April of 2015–2017), but no specimens were found. Although it is possible that the species was missed due to its ecology or time of emergence, it is also possible that the species is very rare or has been extirpated from much of its former distribution. The known localities are part of an extensive system of aquifer-fed saline lagoons encompassing much of La Mancha and collectively known as “ La Mancha Húmeda ” (Wet La Mancha). Many of these lagoons are degraded or lost to agriculture but almost 1 / 2, including several visited for this study, are protected and in apparently good ecological condition ( Florín-Beltrán 2001). Hence, it would be hasty to declare this interesting Iberian endemic extinct without carrying out extensive sampling across the area and in particular within the protected lagoons which might still host it.

References

Figures

Figure 22. Aphodius plagiatus group aedeagi a – c A. plagiatus plagiatus, GB, Studland, Dorset, aedeagus with extruded endophallus a, b SEM images a whole aedeagus b endophallus in more detail c stacked photograph of endophallus d – g A. discoides, neotype (Aphodius bytinskisalzi, holotype, IS, Kuneitra) d, e, e ’ SEM images f, g stacked photographs h – n cleared preparations mounted on slides h A. p. plagiatus, GB, Norfolk i A. p. sinoplagiatus? “ China, Pekin ”, Fry collection i ’ teeth on neck of endophallus in the region marked with an arrow in i j, k A. plagiatus sinoplagiatus ssp. nov., paratypes j CH, Gangca k CH, Tsaidam l Aphodius jakutorum Balthasar, lectotype, RU, East Siberia m A. rodrigoi sp. nov., holotype, SP, Aranjuez, dissected aedeagus m ’ endophallus m ” endophallic teeth in area indicated by arrow in m ’ at higher magnification n A. discoides, TR, Karacadag n ’ teeth on neck of endophallus, in area indicated by arrow in n at higher magnification o A. discoides, black specimen from TR, Karakurt, o ’ teeth on neck of endophallus, in area indicated by arrow in o at higher magnification p, p ’ A. rusakovi p paratype, RU, Orenburg p ’ RU Volgograd obl. Fastov, paramere, lateral q – v SEM images and stacked photographs q, r A. rutilipennis, CY, with endophallus inflated q SEM image q ’ (bottom right of plate) dorsal surface of endophallus in area indicated by arrow in q at higher magnification, to show the hair-like setae r stacked photograph of the same specimen s, s ’ A. chellala sp. nov., paratype with endophallus extruded s stacked photograph s ’, s ”, s ” ’ SEMs of the same specimen s ”, s ” ’ at higher magnifications t, u L. chellala sp. nov., holotype with the endophallus extruded t stacked photograph u SEM image v – z photographs of cleared specimens mounted in DMHF on slides v, w A. rutilipennis v CY w TR w ’ teeth on neck of endophallus, in area indicated by arrow in w at higher magnification x A. chellala sp. nov., paratype, AG, Taguin (La Smala) x ’ teeth on neck of endophallus, in area indicated by arrow in x at higher magnification y, z A. kraatzi y KZ, Syr Darya z AF, Kabul z ’ teeth on neck of endophallus, in area indicated by arrow in z at higher magnification Scale bar 1: 1 mm (a, d, f – t, v – z); 0.4 mm (n ’, o ’, s ”, w ’, x ’, z ’); 0.17 mm (e ’, m ”, q’ s ” ’). Scale bar 2: 1 mm (b, c, e, g and s ”).