Pseudonthobium Paulian, 1984

Montreuil, Olivier & Théry, Thomas, 2011, Revision of the New Caledonian genus Pseudonthobium Paulian, 1984 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Epilissini), Zootaxa 2863, pp. 49-62 : 50

Genus Pseudonthobium Paulian, 1984

Pseudonthobium Paulian, 1984: 1114

Type species. Pseudonthobium fracticolloides Paulian, 1984 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Species of small to medium size (3.5–10.5 mm in length); color dark reddish-brown, rarely with bronze or purple reflections on dorsal side; brachypterous wings.

Head. Lacking any horn or carina. Clypeus bidentate. Eye canthus present and well developed, eyes visible from above. Completely covered with fine, dense punctation, punctures separated on disc by their diameters or less. Thorax. Basal margin of pronotum emarginate, strongly sinuate, convex in the middle, producing two lateral paramedian lobes projected backwards ( Figs. 26–27 ), fitting exactly the convexity of the basal border of each elytra. Punctures equal in size to those on head but more densely arranged, slightly larger on the feeble posteriomedial depression, punctures separated by their diameters or less. Elytra. Elytral striae geminate; 8th interstria with longitudinal smooth carina beside 7th stria, not reaching apex of elytra. Disc of 8th tergite completely surrounded by more-or-less deep furrow. Underside of tarsi and apical part of mesotibia and metatibia bearing long, densely distributed, yellowish-gold setae. Protibia truncate at apex, generally tridentate on its outer margin, which is feebly but clearly crenulate at base and between teeth. Male protibia notched and/or sinuate at inner margin before apex. Underside of protarsi more-or-less projected downwards and outwards (more distinct in larger species), bearing brush of setae. Genitalia. Parameres asymmetrical, left side much longer, flattened dorsoventrally, more-or-less enlarged at apex. Right paramere short, straight or feebly curved outward. Sexual dimorphism. Females differ from males by having an unmodified protibia.

This genus includes nine species, which differ in size, shape of elytra, shape of posterior border of pronotum, density of punctures on pronotum and elytra, with tegument shiny or dull, setation of elytra, and shape of parameres. The new species are listed in according to their affinities with the already known species.

Figures

FIGURES 26 – 28. Pronotum of Pseudonthobium, dorsal view. 26, P. g e n i e r i n. sp.; 27, P. fracticolloides Paulian; 28, Male posterior leg of P. sinuatotibiale n. sp., ventral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.