Eschatomoxys paco Aalbu and Thomas, 2007

López-Guerrero, Irma, 2007, Figs. 30 – 33. Attavicinus monstrosus. 30 in Comparison of Mouthpart Morphology of Three Species of Mexican Oniticellini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in Relation to Their Trophic Habits, The Coleopterists Bulletin 61 (4), pp. 519-540 : 519-540

Eschatomoxys paco Aalbu and Thomas , new species

( Fig. 7 )

Form elongate, fiddle-shaped, apterous. Color uniformly castaneous to piceous, shining. Males: length, 8.5–10.9 mm; width 4.0– 4.8 mm. Females: length, 9.0– 11.1 mm; width, 3.9–5.1 mm.

Head. Prognathous, slightly deflexed, dorso-ventrally compressed; subquadrate in dorsal view, cranium slightly wider (1.7–2.4 mm) than long (1.4–2.0 mm), greatest width across epistoma. Lateral epistomal margins rounded and converging toward eyes. Median epistomal lobe produced, angularly arcuate, margin denticulate. Epistomal sutures obsolescent. Supraorbital carina prominent anteriorly, beginning at middle of lateral epistomal lobe and fading above middle of eye. Cranial surface dense with shallow punctures on dorsum, each separated from one another by about one diameter of a puncture on disc, becoming denser to contiguous on sides of head at base, degenerating to wrinkles on venter. Eyes small, oval, not bulging, anteriorly indented to accommodate epistomal canthus; facets in nine horizontal rows, median rows longest with 7–8 facets. Posterior margin of eye separated from cervix by 528 distance equal to about twice the diameter of eye. Labrum retractile, apex broadly emarginated, emargination bristling with marginal setae. Mandibles thick, robust, left side dominant (overlapping right), apex bifid; superior margin with stout angular cusp, somewhat larger on right mandible than left. Maxillary palpus approximately equal in length to first two antennomeres, basal segment longest (apical segment more elongate, slender in male, subsecuriform in female). Mentum hexagonal, surface coarsely punctate. Submentum with large ovoid fossa at middle. Gula weak to obsolescent, surface strigose. Tentorial pits weak to obsolete. Antennae filiform, antennomeres slender except basal segment broadened apically and last segment spindle-shaped, acuminate. Third segment longest; fourth to seventh subequal; eighth to tenth successively shorter until penultimate segment, which is about twice as long as wide; last segment about 1 K length of penultimate. Last two and apical third of the third to last segment set with short pale pubescence imparting a contrasting golden-yellow color to end of antennae.

Thorax. Pronotum cylindrical, shorter than head, wider (2.0– 2.6 mm) than long (1.5–1.9 mm), widest at middle; surface set with shallow punctures dorsally, the latter becoming less defined and more widely spaced laterally, inconspicuous ventrally. Complete lateral margin present. Anterolateral angle produced forward as an acute, angular cusp. Base of pronotum constricted with thick, marginal bead demarcating posterior edge. Femora long, clavate; tibiae and tarsi long, slender. Elytra inflated, embracing abdominal venter; surface glabrous, obscurely punctate at base. Epipleura widest basally, about as wide as metepisternum, gradually narrowing to about third abdominal segment, parallel thereafter, apex about half width at base.

Abdomen. Ovoid in form, widest at middle (3.9–5.1 mm), length 5.9–7.6 mm, base slightly wider than apposing pronotal base. Surface of abdominal sternites smooth, impunctate. Length of first abdominal sternite from metacoxa to posterior margin subequal to length of second or slightly shorter; third about twothirds length of second; fourth about half length of third; fifth about twice length of fourth at midline. Males with elongate, ovoid, pubescent fovea at middle of first abdominal sternite. Genitalia as in E. pholeter .

Holotype. Male , MEXICO: Baja Calif. Isla Calaveras, V-27-99 , Oatmeal / Peanut butter pitfall trap, F. Sanchez-Piñero col. Paratypes: 2 males, 4 females, labeled same data as holotype ; 2 males, 9 females, MEXICO, Baja Calif. , Isla Calavera, VII-17-97, F. Sanchez-Piñero col. 1 female, MEXICO, Baja Calif. Isla Mitlan , VII-18-97, F. Sanchez-Piñero col. ; 1 male, MEXICO, Baja Calif. Isla Mitlan PCPT VI-25 /27-1999 A. Boulton #D00750-1502 ; 1 male, 1 female, MEXICO, Baja Calif. , Isla Bota, VI-23-98 , F. Sanchez-Piñero col. ; 1 male, MEXICO, Baja Calif. Isla Smith PGPT V-13-14 /VII-8-99 Area H: arroyo near sand area F. Piñero #D00750-1502 ; 1 male, MEXICO, Baja Calif. Isla Ventana VII-17-97, F. Sanchez-Piñero col. ; 3 females, MEX: Gulf of Baja Calif. Pond Is. V- 26-1962, R.& A. Ryckman, C. Christianson collectors .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and honors our colleague Francisco ‘‘Paco’’ Sanchez-Piñero, who collected most of the specimens.

Diagnosis. The acutely produced anterior angles of the pronotum and the complete lateral bead on the thorax distinguish this species.

Figures

Figs. 6–7. Eshatomoxys spp., head and pronotum. 6) E. rosei, lateral view, with complete marginal bead; 7) E. paco, dorsal view, showing produced anterior pronotal angles.