Chiron, MacLeay, 1819

Huchet, Jean-Bernard, 2025, New taxonomic data on African Chironidae: Description of Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov. from Tanzania (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea), Zootaxa 5693 (2), pp. 261-271 : 269

Identification key to the Tanzanian species of Chiron with a quadridentate labrum

1. Ferruginous red habitus. Elytral interstriae strongly convex; striae deeply impressed, markedly incising the interstriae. Head and pronotum with coarse and irregular punctuation. ♂: mandibles asymmetrical with left mandible vertically upturned. Eyes relatively reduced ( Fig. 13 ). Medium to large size (5.5– 9 mm). Aedeagus: Figs. 24, 25 ; endophallites: Fig. 26 .......................................................................................... Chiron volvulus Klug, 1855

- Habitus reddish to blackish brown. Elytral interstriae flat or weakly convex; mandibles subequal in both sexes; cephalic and pronotal punctuation less marked; other combinations of characters............................................. 2

2. Small to medium size (6.0–7.5 mm), slender habitus. Elytra very elongate (almost twice as long as the pronotum). Labrum transverse, with distinct basal fovea ( Fig. 16 ). Eyes markedly prominent, subspherical ( Fig. 12 ). Aedeagus: Fig. 21, 22 ; endophallites: Fig. 23 ......................................................... Chiron massaicus Huchet, 2009

- Large size (total length often> 8 mm), less slender, robust habitus. Elytra moderately elongate (ca. 1.7× pronotal length). Labrum transverse, without basal fovea ( Fig. 15 ). Eyes medium-sized, subspherical ( Fig. 11 ). Aedeagus: Fig. 18, 19 ; endophallites: Fig. 20 ......................................................................... Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 8–13. Chiron spp., heads. 8–10, dorsal view; 11–13, ventral view. 8, 11, Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov.; 9, 12, Chiron massaicus Huchet, 2009; 10, 13, Chiron volvulus Klug, 1855 (photos J.-B. Huchet).

FIGURES 18–26. Male genitalia of Chiron spp. 18–20: Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov.; 21–23: C. massaicus Huchet, 2009; 24– 26: C. volvulus Klug, 1855; 18, 21, 24: Aedeagus, lateral view; 19, 22, 25: Parameres, frontal view; 20, 23, 26: Endophallites, dorsal view. (Photos: J.-B. Huchet).

FIGURES 14–17. Chiron sp., comparative view of male mentum. 14, mentum, schematic view with legend; 15, Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov.; 16, C. massaicus Huchet, 2009; 17, C. volvulus Klug, 1855. Abbreviations: Lp—Lapial palps; Me—Mentum; Plg—Palpiger (Drawing and photos: J.-B. Huchet).