Eschatomoxys rosei 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 rosei Aalbu and Thomas , new species

( Fig. 6 )

Form elongate, fiddle-shaped, apterous. Color uniformly castaneous to piceous, shining. Length: 10.1–10.7 mm, width: 4.6–4.8 mm.

Head. Prognathous, slightly deflexed, dorso-ventrally compressed; subquadrate in dorsal view, cranium somewhat wider (2.0– 2.3 mm) than long (1.7– 2.0 mm), greatest width across epistoma. Lateral epistomal margins rounded and converging toward eyes. Median epistomal lobe produced, arcuate, margin feebly serrulate. Epistomal sutures obsolescent. Supraorbital carina feeble and short, beginning at middle of lateral epistomal lobe and fading above middle of eye; oval area of cuticle immediately behind eye impunctate. Cranial surface set with shallow punctures on dorsum separated from one another by about two diameters of a puncture, becoming denser to contiguous on sides of head at base; coarsest punctures on cranium posterior to mandibular insertion. Eyes small, oval, not bulging, anteriorly indented to accommodate epistomal canthus; facets in eight horizontal rows, median row longest with seven facets. Posterior margin of eye separated from cervix by distance equal to twice 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 roundly hexagonal, surface rugosely punctate. Submentum with large ovoid fossa at middle. Gula ill-defined; tentorial pits obsolescent. 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 times length of penultimate. Last two segments, and apical third of third to last segment, clothed in short golden setae.

Thorax. Pronotum cylindrical, shorter than head, wider (2.5–2.6 mm) than long (1.7–1.9 mm), widest at middle; surface set with shallow punctures anterodorsally, becoming larger and more closely set postero-laterally, deeper but more widely spaced ventrally. Weak lateral margin present from acute antero-lateral angle to about mid-thorax. Base of pronotum constricted with thick, marginal bead demarcating posterior edge. 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. Femora long, clavate; tibiae and tarsi long, slender.

Abdomen. Ovoid in form, widest at middle (4.6–4.8 mm), length: 6.7–6.8 mm, base slightly wider than apposing pronotal base. Sternal surface smooth, glabrous. Length of second sternite subequal to length of first sternite from coxae to posterior margin; third sternite about two-thirds 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 described for E. pholeter .

Holotype. Female ; MEXICO: Baja Calif. Isla Cabeza PGP V-15 /VII-5-99. Area B. SW slope near light. F. Piñero #D00750-1502 . Paratypes: 1 Male: MEXICO: Baja Calif. Isla San Lorenzo Norte, VII-26-2001, Carrion trap, F. Sanchez-Piñero col. 1 Female: MEXICO: Baja Calif. San Lorenzo Is. 4-vii-1996, F.S. Piniero. [ OSU] . 1 Female: MEXICO, B. Cal. Isla San Esteban , IV-3-1953, Col. By J.P. Figg Hobiya. [ CAS] 2 Females, 1 male: MEXICO: Baja Calif. Bahia de Los Angeles , Vermilion Sea Field Station, VII-25-2005 F. Sánchez Piñero & D. Talley cols .

Etymology. The species is named to honor Mike Rose, a dedicated, enthusiastic scientist, who among others, lost his life in the tragic sinking of their research vessel near Isla Cabeza in March 2000.

Diagnosis. The anterior angles of the pronotum are not produced as in E. paco , and the lateral bead of the pronotum is incomplete.

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.