Macrodactylus sericinus Bates, 1887

Arce-Pérez, Roberto & Morón, Miguel-Angel, 2005, New species and new records of species of Macrodactylus Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Macrodactyini) from Honduras and Nicaragua, Zootaxa 1012 (1012), pp. 23-37 : 27

Macrodactylus sericinus Bates, 1887

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: antennal club entirely reddish­brown; pronotum black with sparse, scale­like setae near the borders of disc; scutellum with abundant, yellow, scale­like setae; elytra glabrous with strong sericeous shine, basal half reddish­brown and apical half black or dark brown ( Fig. 3); pygidium black or dark brown with scattered scale­like setae near the center of disc; abdomen black; femora reddish­brown, tibiae and tarsi black, without white setae; parameres with lanceolate apex, without setae on the external borders; female vestiture and color similar to male.

Material examined (12 males, 10 females) NICARAGUA: Granada, Volcán Mombacho, El Progreso , malaise trap, 2 June 1998, Col. J. M. Maes, 7 males, 4 females ( MELN, MXAL); Volcán Mombacho, Santa Ana, 30 June 1998, Cols. J. M. Maes, 5 males, 6 females ( MELN, MXAL) .

Biology. This species inhabits cloud forests and coffee plantations located at altitudes from 800 to 1500 m. Month of collection: June (22).

Distribution. Southern Nicaragua (12° 10'– 13° 05' N, 84° 40' – 86° 10' W).

Remarks. This species was originally described with specimens from “ Nicaragua ” and Chontales, Nicaragua. The specimens studied do not present major differences with the description of Bates. We predict that this species occurs in northwestern Costa Rica.