Cyclocephala hielkemaorum Ratcliffe, 2008

Ratcliffe, Brett C., 1821, More New Species ofCyclocephalaDejean, 1821 from South America (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 62 (2), pp. 221-241 : 221-241

Cyclocephala hielkemaorum Ratcliffe , new species

( Figs. 21–24 )

Type Material. Holotype male, labeled ‘‘FR. Guyana, Roura : Cacao, 3-7-2005,

A. J. Hielkema//On mercury-light// Cyclocephala spec. G . det. M. A. Hielkema.’’

232 Allotype female, labeled ‘‘FR GUYANA, Roura : 300 m W of Chateau Cacao, 25/ 27-6-2005, A. J. Hielkema //flying at light.’’ Single male paratype labeled ‘‘FR GUYANA, Roura : Cacao, 23-7-2005, A. J. Hielkema //on mercury-light in forest// Cyclocephala species L, det. M. A. Hielkema. ’’

Holotype and allotype deposited at the University of Nebraska State Museum , Lincoln, NE . Paratype deposited in the Meindert Hielkema collection (Gouda, Netherlands) .

Holotype. Male. Length 14.0 mm; width across humeri 6.7 mm. Color testaceous except for 3 small black spots on each elytron (post-humeral, postscutellar, center of disc behind middle), and apices of femora, tibiae, protibial teeth, and tarsomeres black. Head: Surface finely shagreened, completely, densely punctate; punctures small, those on frons slightly larger than those on clypeus. Frontoclypeal suture biarcuate, weak. Clypeus with apex narrowly parabolic, with thin bead on margin. Interocular width equals 3.0 transverse eye diameters. Antenna 10-segmented, club subequal in length to segments 2–7. Pronotum: Surface minutely shagreened, completely, densely punctate, punctures similar in size to those of frons. Base with complete marginal bead. Posterior angles broadly rounded. Elytra: Surface finely shagreened, punctate; punctures moderately large, dense; double rows of punctate striae distinct, punctures in those rows setigerous, setae short and tawny. Pygidium: Surface vaguely shagreened, punctate; punctures moderately large, moderately dense, setigerous; setae moderately dense, long, tawny. In lateral view, surface evenly convex. Legs: Protibia bidentate, with slight swelling where basal, 3rd tooth would be. Protarsus strongly enlarged; tarsomeres 2–4 each slightly larger than preceding; 4th with large, ventral lobe ( Fig. 24 ), 5th subequal in length to tarsomeres 2–4, nearly flat on ventral surface; median claw enlarged, strongly bent, apex entire. Metatarsus twice as long as metatibia. Venter: Prosternal process slender, conical. Parameres: Figs. 22–23 .

Allotype. Female. Length 12.6 mm; width across humeri 6.1 mm. As holotype except in the following respects: Color and pattern similar except elytra with postmedian, small, black spot absent, and swelling of elytral margin darkened. Elytra: Surface with setae minute or abraded away. Epipleuron (in ventral view) gradually tapering towards apex. Lateral margin slightly swollen at level of sternites 1–2. Pygidium: Surface glabrous, densely punctate, punctures small. In lateral view, surface nearly flat. Legs: Protibia tridentate, teeth subequally spaced. Protarsus simple, not enlarged. Metatarsus slightly longer than metatibia.

Variation. Males (1 paratype). Length 13.9 mm; width across humeri 6.6 mm. The paratype does not differ significantly from the holotype.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Meindert Hielkema and his son, Auke, who were responsible for collecting this species in French Guiana and for generously sending me the specimens for study.

Distribution. Cyclocephala hielkemaorum is known only from the lowland rainforest near Cacao in French Guiana.

Diagnosis. Cyclocephala hielkemaorum will key to couplets 240/ 241 in Endrödi (1985), which end with C. quadripunctata Höhne and C. peruana Endrödi , respectively. Both of these species have a black frons, different parameres, and are smaller in size. Cyclocephala hielkemaorum is most similar, including the parameres, to C. longitarsis Dechambre from Ecuador. However, the protarsus of the males is significantly different: in C. hielkemaorum , the 4th tarsomere has a large, ventral lobe, and the 5th tarsomere is nearly flat on its venter ( Fig. 24 ), whereas in C. longitarsis the 4th tarsomere is not expanded into a large lobe, and the 5th tarsomere is concave on its venter with the ventrolateral edge strongly toothed ( Fig. 25 ). In addition, these two species are broadly separated geographically. Cyclocephala hielkemaorum is known from northeastern South America on the east side of the Andes, and C. longitarsis is known from western South America on the west side of the Andes.

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Figures

Figs. 21–25. Cyclocephala hielkemaorum: 21) dorsal view of holotype; 22–23) parameres (caudal and lateral views); 24–25) right protarsus, median view, of 24) C. hielkemaorum and 25) C. longitarsis.