Cyclocephala ukuku Paz & Ratcliffe, 2022

Paz, Fernando, Ratcliffe, Brett C. & Figueroa, Luis, 2022, Three new species of Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Amazonian Peru and a checklist of Cyclocephala species in Peru, Zootaxa 5087 (3), pp. 427-440 : 428-430

Cyclocephala ukuku Paz & Ratcliffe , new species

( Figs. 1–6, 20–21)

Type material: Holotype male labeled: “ PERU, CU, RC / Machiguenga , Campto / Mapi , 35.5 Km O de Nuevo / Mundo, 741 m. 73° / 28'30,46"/ 11°31'30,24", 13- / 18.i.2010 J. Grados ” and with our red holotype label . Allotype female labeled: “ PERU, CU. Zona de / amortiguamiento / Megantoni 12°34'18.6"S / 73°5'13.18"W 1708 m. / 27.ix.2010 M. Alvarado y / J. Peralta ” and with our red allotype label. Two paratype males with same data as allotype . Holotype, allotype, and 1 paratype deposited in MUSM , and 1 paratype in BCRC .

Description. Holotype, male. ( Fig. 1). Length 18.5 mm; width 9.1 mm. Color dark reddish brown, shiny, except for black tarsomeres and black on posterior half of frons. Head: Frons and clypeus with punctures moderate in size and density, setigerous; setae minute, tawny. Clypeal apex broadly subtruncate, slightly reflexed. Interocular width equals 3.1 transverse eye diameters. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club subequal in length to antennomeres 2–7. Pronotum: Surface similar to that of frons; setae short, tawny. Base lacking marginal bead. Elytra: Surface weakly punctate-striate, transversely wrinkled, punctures slightly larger and denser than those of pronotum, setigerous; setae short, tawny. Pygidium: Surface with large, dense, setigerous punctures; setae long, tawny. In lateral view, surface weakly convex. Legs: Protibia slender, tridentate, basal tooth reduced to a rounded prominence. Protarsomere 5 enlarged, slightly bent, venter concave; medial claw large, strongly bent, apex split ( Fig. 5). Metatarsus slightly shorter than metatibia. Venter: Prosternal process long, columnar, apex obliquely flattened into transversely oval disc with transverse, elevated “button” on anterior half. Parameres: In caudal view, form elongate, subparallel, apices rounded ( Fig. 3). In lateral view, basal piece subequal in length to parameres ( Fig. 4).

Allotype, female ( Fig. 2). Length 19.3 mm; width across humeri 9.0 mm. As holotype except in the following respects: Elytra: Epipleuron (ventral view) gradually tapering beginning at level of abdominal sternite 2 ( Fig. 6). In dorsal view, lateral margin simple, evenly rounded. Pygidium: In lateral view, surface weakly convex. Legs: Protibia distinctly tridentate. Protarsus simple, not enlarged.

Variation. Males (2 paratypes). Length 18.0– 19.5 mm; width 8.5–9.0 mm. The paratypes do not differ from the holotype except in size.

Etymology. Cyclocephala ukuku is from Peruvian mythology and refers to a being from the mountains that is half bear and half human. The creature is known for being a dancer and guardian of the snowy mountains. This name should be treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution. 4 specimens examined ( Fig. 20). PERU (4): CUSCO (4): Reserva Comunal Machiguenga, Campamento Mapi, 35.5 km W Nuevo Mundo (1); Zona de Amortiguamiento Megantoni (3).

Temporal distribution. January (1), September (3).

Diagnosis. Cyclocephala ukuku is characterized by a distinctive, shiny, dark reddish-brown color ( Figs. 1–2); presence of small, abundant setae on the head, pronotum, and elytra; broadly subtruncate clypeus with a weakly emarginate apex; basal bead of the pronotum lacking; tridentate protibia; male large protarsal claw split at its apex ( Fig. 5); and uniquely shaped parameres ( Figs. 3–4). The female epipleuron is simple and gradually tapering ( Fig. 6).

Natural history. Specimens were collected at elevations of 741 m and 1708 m in pristine forest ( Fig. 21), but nothing else is known of their life history.