Maechidius helleri ( Frey, 1969 ) Telnov, 2020

Telnov, Dmitry, 2020, A revision of the Maechidiini Burmeister, 1855 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indo-Australian transition zone, and the first record of the tribe west of Wallace’s Line, European Journal of Taxonomy 721, pp. 1-210 : 51-52

Maechidius helleri ( Frey, 1969) comb. nov.

Figs 40 , 122

Paramaechidius helleri Frey, 1969: 506 .

Type material

Holotype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • ♂; “ NEW BRITAIN Sio, N. Coast 600m. VII-24 -’56 [p] // Light Trap E. J. Ford,Jr. [p] // TYPE [p, red label]// Type Paramaechidius helleri n. sp. [h] det. G.Frey,1967/68 [p]”; BPBM. Studied from photographs.

Remarks

Frey (1969: 506) described this species from two females, but at least the holotype specimen appears to be amale taking into account the curved protibial terminal spur (paratype in NHMB not studied).

Description

Dorsum covered with dense dirty yellow fur-like pubescence. Male labroclypeus ( Fig. 122 ) broadly deeply emarginate anteriorly, its lateral margins sinuous in both dorsal and lateral views. Anterolateral angles acute, strongly protruding.Punctures circular to ovoid, deep and dense.Setae very dense, appressed to erect, in part scale-like and broad, in part brush- or fur-like. Anterior margin sinuous with protruding anterolateral angles (stronger) and mesal portion (less strong). Basal margin broadly rounded. Lateral margin broadly rounded and shallowly emarginate prebasally, delicately crenulated all along. Punctures of pronotal disc circular to ovoid, moderately deep, dense. Setae brush- or fur-like, particularly dense along anterior and lateral margins, here completely hiding sculpture of dorsal surface. Hypomeron slightly curved and very long setose on anterior margin which is flange-like protruding. Antennal pocket deep. Elytra with maximum width in postmedian third, with no tracks of longitudinal carinae. Elytral punctures elongate, irregularly shaped, moderately dense. Setae clavate, curved, suberect, of variable length and size. Intervening spaces densely covered by velvety pubescence. Male protibia with almost complete dorsal carina and two rather small distal external teeth and curved protibial terminal spur.

Remark

This species’ male genital organs were not studied.

Figures

Figs 38–41. Papuan Maechidius Macleay, 1819, habitus, dorsal view. 38. M. fraterculus Moser, 1920, lectotype, ♀ (ZMHB). 39. M. hamatus sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (IECA). 40. M. helleri (Frey, 1969) comb. nov., holotype, ♂ (BPBM) (photograph courtesy BPBM). 41. M. gressitti Frey, 1969, holotype, ♂ (photograph courtesy BPBM) (BPBM). Not to scale.

Figs 121–132. Papuan, Wallacean and Oriental Maechidius Macleay, 1819, head, dorsal (121, 123–124, 126–132) and frontal (122, 125) views. 121. M. hamatus sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (IECA). 122. M. helleri (Frey, 1969) comb. nov., holotype, ♂ (photograph courtesy BPBM) (BPBM). 123. M. hirtipes Arrow, 1941, lectotype, ♂ (BMNH). 124. M. heterosquamosus Heller, 1910 comb. rest., lectotype, ♀ (SNSD). 125. Same, ♂, holotype of M. clypeatus (Frey, 1969) comb. nov. (BMNH). 126. M. interruptocarinulatus Heller, 1914, holotype, ♀ (SNSD). 127. M. humeralis Heller, 1914, lectotype, ♂ (SNSD). 128. Same, paralectotype, ♀ (SNSD). 129. M. kazantsevi sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (BMNH). 130. M. jobiensis Moser, 1920, lectotype, ♂ (ZMHB). 131. M. konjo sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NMPC). 132. M. leucopsar sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (IECA). Not to scale.