Bolborhinum laesicolle ( Fairmaire, 1856 )

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 : 12-13

Bolborhinum laesicolle ( Fairmaire, 1856)

(Figs. 3, 19, 20)

Original combination. Bolboceras laesicolle Fairmaire, 1856: 483 (emended from Bolboceras laesicollis ). Type locality: “Chilensia.” Type series: lectotype at MNHN labeled a) “488” (handwritten), b) “ Bolboceras / laesicollis / n. sp. Chili ” (handwritten by Fairmaire), c) “ TYPE ” (red label, typeset), d) “ BOLBOCERAS / LAESICOLLE / FAIRMAIRE / LECTOTYPE / A.B.T. SMITH” (red label, handwritten and typeset), e) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2609501 / Bolborhinum laesicolle / ( Fairmaire, 1856) / DET: A.B.T.SMITH 2007” (typeset). Lectotype here designated.

Synonym. Bolboceras excavatum R. A. Philippi in F. Philippi, 1859: 660 (emended from Bolboceras excavatus ). Type locality: “ CHILE: Valdivia, 34 km WNW La Union” (original type locality: “cerca de Corral”). Type series: neotype at CMNC labeled: “ CHILE: Valdivia / 34kmWNWLaUnion / 17.XII.84 – 7.II.85 / S&JPeck, 700m, FIT / mixedevergr. forest” (typeset), b) “H.&A. HOWDEN / COLLECTION / Ottawa, Canada ” (typeset with black border), c) “ BOLBOCERAS / EXCAVATUM / PHILIPPI ɗ / NEOTYPE / A.B.T. SMITH” (red label, handwritten and typeset), d) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2607337 / Bolborhinum laesicolle / ( Fairmaire, 1856) / 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. Philippi (1859) did not specify where the type series was deposited. The vast majority of Philippi type specimens are housed in the MNNC. We have unsuccessfully searched for type material at the MNNC on several occasions for type material of this taxon. We can only conclude that the type material has been lost. The specimen selected as the neotype matches the original description of Philippi (1859) and was collected reasonably close to original type locality.

Synonym. Bolboceras mundum Redtenbacher, 1868: 60 . Type locality: “ Chili.” Type series: holotype at NMWH labeled a) “Zelebor / Novara” (typeset), b) “Z” (typeset), c) “Mundus / Chili. Redt.” (handwritten), d) “ laesicolle / det. Felsche” (handwritten and typeset), e) “ laesicollis / Fairm / Ψ / mundus.” (handwritten), f) “ Bolboceras / mundus / Typ. Redtb.” (handwritten), g) “ BOLBOCERAS / MUNDUM / REDTENBACHER / HOLOTYPE ” (handwritten and typeset), h) “Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2607073 / Bolborhinum laesicolle / ( Fairmaire, 1856) / DET: A.B.T. SMITH 2006” (typeset). Redtenbacher’s (1868) statement “Ein Männchen ebenfalls von Chile ” indicates that the original description was based on a single specimen. This specimen is therefore the holotype.

Specimens examined. 305 specimens were examined from ABTS, AUPC, CDFA, CMNC, CNCI, FMNH, GACC, HAHC, JEBC, JMEC, MEUC, MGAC, MNHN, MNNC, SRTC, UCCC, UMCE, VMDC.

Diagnosis. Length 7.5–14.0 mm. Color usually brown dark or black. This species exhibits some sexual dimorphism but much overlap in characters making it difficult to distinguish males from females externally. This species is separated from other Bolborhinum by the shape and placement of the clypeal armature. Head dorsally without horns, but with a large trapezoid formed by 4 tubercles at the corners joined laterally, apically, and basally by carina; larger specimens with longitudinal carinae between head trapezoid and the clypeal apex; frons with deep and wide depression (Figs. 19–20). Pronotum with central anterior excavation deep, narrow, located immediately behind of the anterior border of the pronotum; pronotal declivity widened superiorly, and depressed laterally under of the anterior margin of the pronotum; dorsal surface divided occasionally by a furrow; posterosuperior ridge transverse, arcuate posteriorly.

Distribution ( Fig. 57 ): ARGENTINA (24). Neuquén (23): San Martín de Los Andes (1); Lago Hermoso (1); Pucará (21). Río Negro (1): El Bolsón (1). CHILE (281). VIII Región del Biobío (23): Chillán (2); Contulmo (1); Hualqui (1); Monumento Natural Contulmo (18); Recinto (1). IX Región de La Araucanía (125): Bellavista (7); Carillanca (1); Cherquenco (2); Cunco (5); Curacautín (1); Flor del Lago (46); Lago Caburgua (41); Loncoche, Catrimaiten (1); Malalcahuello (1); Molco (6); Nahuelbuta, Tolpán (1); Parque Nacional Huerquehue (2); Pemehue (2); Pucón, Fundo El Volcán (1); Río Blanco (2); Termas de Río Blanco (1); Victoria (3); Villarrica (2). X Región de Los Lagos (66): Dalcahue (1); Lago Puyehue (5); Lago Chapo (6); Maullín (1); Mehuin (3); Osorno (1); Parque Nacional Puyehue (36); Puaucho (3); Pucatrihue (3); Puntra (1); Puyehue (4); Todos Los Santos (1); Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales (1). XIV Región de Los Ríos (61): Calafquen (6); Coñaripe (17); La Unión (10); Llancahue (16); Pancul (2); Panguipulli (3); Rincón de la Piedra Turnoff, SE Valdivia (3); Riñihue (1); Santo Domingo (1); Valdivia (2). Country record only (6).

Temporal data. January (54), February (16), March (6), April (1), May (4), September (2), October (5), November (33), December (173).

Remarks: This is the smallest known species of Bolborhinum and the only known species in the genus where the males and females are difficult to distinguish externally. It is notable that Howden (1985) made the same general observations on sexual dimorphism for the smaller species of Bolborhachium and other Australian Bolboceratini. These Australian taxa and Bolborhinum were hypothesized to be close relatives ( Howden & Cooper 1977).

Primary types for B. laesicolle and its two synonyms were examined and found to be conspecific according to our concept of this species. These synonymies are here confirmed.

Figures

FIGURE 57. Bolborhinum laesicolle distribution.