Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) assifer ( Eschscholtz, 1822 )

Nunes, Rafael V., Carvalho, Marcela S. G. & Vaz-De-Mello, Fernando Z., 2016, Taxonomic review of the Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) assifer (Eschscholtz) species-group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Zootaxa 4078 (1), pp. 230-244 : 233-234

Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) assifer ( Eschscholtz, 1822)

( Figures 2 A–E)

Copris assifera Eschscholtz, 1822 , p. 28 (original description)

Pinotus assifer Harold, 1869 , p. 142 (new combination); Luederwaldt 1929, p. 100 (redescription and keys) Dichotomius assifer , Vaz-de-Mello 2000, p. 193 (new combination); Silva et al. 2011, p. 338 (regional identification key)

Material examined. Lectotype male (here designed): “ assifera Esch. / Brasilia /St.Cathar.” [♂ ZMMU; examined through photograph]. The specimen is the only one present in the collection with labels relating it to original Eschscholtz specimens (V. Gusakov, pers. comm.) and is here designated as lectotype. Because there is no indication that the original description was based in a single individual, a lectotype is designated in order to fix the species name. Additional specimens. Rio Grande do Sul: Rolante. Rip.for. 29º28’S, 50º09’ W. Humfaec. 19–22- X-2010, G Viegas [1♂ 1♀ CEMT]; Paraná: Londrina. 11-XII-1998. IM Medri [2♀ CEMT]; Londrina. 2-XII- 1999. IM Medri [1♂ CEMT]; Piraquara, I-2012. Fit. FLeivas & PGrossi. [2♂, 1♀ CEMT]; Santa Catarina: São Domingos. 26º26’S, 52º34’ W. 27-VII-2011. Armadilha pitfall isca. A Bugoni [1♂, 1♀ CEMT]; Anitápolis. 27º54’S; 49º07’W. 03-VII-2012. Armadilha pitfall com isca. TRO Simões [3♂, 2♀ CEMT]; Blumenau, RPPN Burguer Kopf. 24-IV-2011. MB Pessoa [1♂, 1♀ CEMT]; Nova Veneza. 28º33’ S, 49º35’ W. EEE-Aguaí. 20-III- 2013. Armadilha pitfall isca. JA Bogoni [1♂ 1♀ CEMT]; Governador Celso Ramos. 27º25’S, 48º34’W. MCorda- A2. 24 -I-2013. Armadilha pitfall isca. PG Silva [1♀ CEMT]; Monte Castelo. 26º43’S, 50º19’W. 6-VIII-2012. Mata Nativa. 881 mosl. Pitfall. AL Brandl [2♂, 1♀ CEMT]; São Paulo: São Paulo, Ipiranga. 6-V-1966. C Costa [1♂ CEMT]; Campos do Jordão. I-2004. GP Almeida-Neto [1♂, 1♀ CEMT]; São Miguel Arcanjo. Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho. 24º03’52”S, 47º59’33”W, 759 mosl. 22-XI-2011. Brachyteles faec4. EBovy [1♂, 2♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’37”S, 47º58’43”W, 798 mosl. 20-XI-2011. Brachyteles faec5. [1♂, 2♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’38”S; 47º58’43”W 799 mosl. 20-XI-2011. Brachyteles faec.3 [2♂ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’35”S, 47º58’43”W, 795 mosl. Brachyteles face.3 [5♂, 3♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’55”S, 47º59’35”W, 763 mosl. 20-XI-2011. Brachyteles face4 [1♂ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’41”S, 47º58’44”W, 809 mosl. 18-X-2011. Brachyteles faec5 [ CEMT]; 1♀ same locality and locality but 24º03’54”S, 47º59’35”W, 760 mosl. 15-X-2011. Brachyteles faec9 [1♂ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’49”S, 47º58’46”W, 819 mosl. 18-X-2011. Brachyteles faec5 [1♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’50”S; 47º59’31”W, 768 mosl. 20-XI-2011. Brachyteles faec4 [1♂ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’47”S, 47º58’45”W, 823 mosl. 20-XI-2011. Brachyteles faec3 [6♂, 4♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’40”S; 47º58’44”, 806 mosl. 20-XI-2011. Brachyteles faec3 [3♂, 2♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’43”S, 47º58’45”W, 812 mosl. 18-X-2011. Brachyteles faec5 [5♂, 2♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’53”S; 47º59’34”W, 762 mosl. Brachyteles faec4 [1♂, 1♀ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º04’01”S, 47º59’40”W, 762 mosl. 23-XI-2011. Tapir faec10 [2♂ CEMT]; São Miguel Arcanjo. Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho. 24º03’58”S, 47º59’53”W, 743 mosl. 09-IV-2012. Tapir faec6. M Boutefeu [2♂ CEMT]; same locality and leg but 24º03’59”S, 47º59’39”W, 580 mosl. 08-IV-2012. Tapir faec7 [2♂, 2♀ CEMT]; Parque Estadual Intervales Sede Carmo. 24º 18’ 41” S, 48º 24’ 21” W. 601mosl. 26-III-2012. Humanfaec31. E Bovy [1♂ CEMT].

Diagnosis. Dichotomius assifer is separated of the other species in the group by the following combination of characters: males cephalic carina straight, width exceeding one-half that of the maximum width of the head ( Figs 2 A, C); binodose lobe delimiting males pronotal disc anteriorly ( Fig. 2 C); pronotal disc shining, lacking deep punctures ( Fig. 1 F) and elytral interstriae shining and bearing fine punctures ( Fig. 1 G).

Males. Length: 15–20 mm. Maximum width (pronotum): 9–12 mm. Dorsal surface black, shining. Dark brown setae on ventral surface. Head: dorsal surface almost smooth, with few indications of lateral striations. Clypeus with a central emargination separating two rounded clypeal teeth. Clypeal margin more distinct at the clypeal teeth. Ventral clypeal process bifurcated. Clypeo-genal junction not angulated, feebly emarginated. Cephalic carina wider than high, width exceeding one-half maximum width of the head, sometimes bearing an acute tubercle at each lateral angle but never emarginate medially. Interocular space shining, smooth and lacking punctures. Clypeo-genal suture distinct. Antennal club with light brown to dark brown tumescence. Pronotum: wider than long, width equal that of elytra. Pronotal disc shining and smooth, lacking deep punctures and having, at most, only a few dispersed, fine punctures (20x). Binodal lobe delimiting the pronotal disc anteriorly. Longitudinal groove (sulcus) weakly impressed and produced by anteromedian lobe bifurcation. Deep, coarse punctures present at the anterior angles and on the anterior declivity. Elliptical, ocellate punctures present near posterior margin. Hypomeron: anterior portion bearing a well-defined excavation delimited by a dense brush of setae. External band of the excavation bearing long setae with almost the same length of the setae on the excavation and that can be seen on dorsal view. Prosternum: bearing equally spaced ocellate setigerous punctures. Setae short, reaching at most 1/5 the length of metasternal pilosity. Mesosternum: strongly narrowed medially and covered by ocellate setigerous punctures. Setae short, reaching at most 1/5 the length of metasternal pilosity. Mesepisternum: fully covered by ocellate setigerous punctures. Pilosity dense, setae with the same length of those of the metasternum. Upper margin of the posterior portion with a triangular projection that almost reaches the pseudoepipleuron. Metasternum: mesometasternal suture distinct. Pilosity dense and covering mainly the metasternal suture. Setigerous punctures restricted mainly to the margins of the mestasternal lobe but enroaching onto middle of this lobe after its midpoint. Longitudinal sulcus present, terminating in posterior concavity which bears small, ocellate setigerous punctures. Elytra: shining, interstriae convex, smooth with fine punctures (8x). Discal striae with ocellate punctures separated by twice diameter of single puncture. Legs: apex of the anterior tibiae bearing a tuft of setae. Anterior calcar spatulate. Anterior tibiae tridendate, teeth confined to apical one-half of lateral margin. Apex of the metatibiae bearing a medial tooth ( Fig 1 D). Ventral surface of the profemur bearing setigerous punctures; similar punctures present marginally on the meso and metafemur. Tarsi densely covered by dark brown pilosity. Abdomen: sixth sternite very narrowed medially. Setigerous punctures present on sides near anterior margin of each sternite. Pygidium: as long as wide, bearing few fine punctures. Paramera: as in Figs 2 D–E.

Morphological variation. body length varies from 15–22 mm and pronotum width from 9–12 mm. Like the others species in the group, the smaller males of D. assifer have less developed pronotal lobe and cephalic carina. Females ( Fig. 2 B) are smaller, bear denser and longer pilosity and are also differentiated as follows: Head: cephalic carina low, bearing an acute tubercle at each apex. Pronotum: anterior declivity and central lobe weakly developed, sometimes absent. Pronotal disc bearing deep punctures. Abdomen: sixth abdominal sternite not shortened medially, bearing a central knob.

Distribution. the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná and São Paulo, mainly in Atlantic Forest habitats, including secondary and disturbed forests ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diagnostics characters of Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) assifer species-group. A – B. excavation of the anterior portion of the hypomeron indicated by the white arrows; C. setae concentrated at the sides of abdominal sternites indicated by the black arrows. The sixth abdominal sternite, wider than the other sternites and bearing a central knob; D. medial tooth at the apex of hind tibiae indicated by the black arrow; E. pronotal disc surface showing well defined punctures typical on D. affinis, D. angeloi sp. nov. and D. machadoi; F. pronotal disc surface generally lacking punctures, smooth and shining, typical of D. assifer and D. louzadai sp. nov.; G. smooth and shining elytral interstriae disc, typical of D. assifer and D. louzadai sp. nov.; H. wrinkled interstriae disc, typical of D. affinis, D. machadoi and D. angeloi sp. nov.

FIGURE 2. Dichotomius assifer (Eschscholtz). A. dorsal habitus of the male; B. dorsal habitus of the female; C. fronto-lateral view of the male head and pronotum; D. dorsal view of the paramera; E. lateral view of the aedeagus.

FIGURE 7. Distribution map of species in the Dichotomius (L uederwaldtinia) assifer species-group.