Polynoncus bullatus ( Curtis, 1844 )

Costa-Silva, Vinícius, Strümpher, Werner P., Thyssen, Patricia J. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2024, Taxonomic revision of the South American genus Polynoncus Burmeister, 1876 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Trogidae), Journal of Natural History 58 (1 - 4), pp. 14-166 : 56-58

Polynoncus bullatus ( Curtis, 1844)

( Figures 4e , 18–19 )

Trox bullatus Curtis, 1844: 444 (original description); Solier 1851: 74 (redescription); Lacordaire 1856: 152 (checklist – as synonym of T. brevicollis ); Harold 1869: 1087 (checklist); Harold 1872: 54, 189 (redescription); Preudhomme de Borre 1886: 70 (checklist); Felsche 1901: 154 (new senior synonym of P. patagonicus ); Bruch 1911: 193 (checklist); Arrow 1912: 54 (catalogue); Blackwelder 1944: 218 (checklist – as ‘ bullata ’); Gutiérrez 1947: 311 (catalogue from Chile and Argentina); Vaurie 1962: 139 (redescription)

Trox (Polynoncus) bullatus : Scholtz 1982: 16 (catalogue)

Polynoncus bullatus : Scholtz 1986a: 362 (systematics); Scholtz 1990: 1419 (redescription); Arias 2000: 70 (coleopteran list from Chile); Diéguez 2008: 15 (redescription); Gómez 2008: 515 (key to Argentinean species); Zidek 2013: 8 (checklist); Ratcliffe et al. 2015: 189 (checklist from Peru); Zidek 2017: 98 (checklist); Smith 2017: 91 (lectotype designated); Costa-Silva and Diéguez 2020: 271 (records from Argentina); Muñoz et al. 2021: 5 (beetles of forest and plantations from Chile); Jackson and Diéguez 2023, p. 145 –148 (notes of natural history); Mondaca 2023: 209 (checklist from Chile)

Type specimen examined. LECTOTYPE. ( BMNH – Figure 18 ) First label [round with orange border, typeset]: ‘Type’. Second label [white, aged]: ‘ Valparaiso / 63.49’. Third label [white, aged, handwritten]: ‘Valp’. [Valparaíso, Chile]. Fourth label [white, aged, handwritten]: ‘ Trox / bullatus Curt’. Fifth label [white, Patricia Vaurie’s handwriting]: ‘ Trox / bullatus / Curt / Vaurie ‘61’. Sixth label [orange, Andrew Smith’s handwriting]: ‘ TROX / BULLATUS / Curtis 1844 / LECTOTYPE’. Seventh label [white with black border, Andrew Smith’s handwriting]: ‘ POLYNONCUS / BULLATUS / (CURTIS) / Det: A.B.T. Smith 2011’. Eighth label [white with black border, typeset with QR code in the upper left corner]: ‘SCARABS OF / SOUTHERN / SOUTH AMERICA / SSSA3000437’. Ninth label [white, typeset]: ‘[QR code] / NHMUK010364099’ ( Figure 18c ). Type locality: ‘Valp’ [Valparaíso] ( Chile), collected by the Australian explorer Philip Parker King (1791–1856) around 1829 (see Smith 2017).

Differential diagnosis. Polynoncus bullatus have an external morphology similar to P. patriciae , and the two species are likely to be confused. In collections they have certainly been confused. However, they can easily be separated by the shape of the clypeus. Polynoncus bullatus has the clypeal margin emarginate in dorsal view ( Figure 4e ), while it is truncated in P. patriciae (similar to that of P. patagonicus ; Figure 4f ).

Polynoncus bullatus also resembles another wingless species, P. patagonicus ( Figure 52a ) but differs externally from the latter by the absence of the ridges connecting the median ridge of pronotum and the anterolateral tubercles, which is clearly visible in P. patagonicus . Polynoncus patagonicus is generally larger and more elongate than P. bullatus . Male genitalia of the three species are distinctive.

Geographic distribution. Polynoncus bullatus is common and widely distributed in the central part of Chile, with a few records from Argentina, mainly in the Argentinean Andes (see Smith 2017) ( Figure 19 ).

Both Vaurie (1962) and Scholtz (1982) cited this species from Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay without specific locality data or information about where these specimens are deposited. Of those countries mentioned by the last two authors, we studied just two specimens from Peru housed in MNHN: one specimen collected in Lima by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré (1789– 1854) during his second expedition to South America aboard the frigate L’Herminie between 1831 and 1833 (see Papavero 1971); and another specimen with an old handwritten label citing ‘Peru’ and without further information.

During this study, we have not examined or encountered any specimens of Polynoncus bullatus in any of the aforementioned collections originating from Bolivia and/or Uruguay during the study. On this basis,we treat the records from these countries (including Peru) with some caution until such time as more material becomes available.

Remarks. Polynoncus bullatus is one of the largest species of the genus, ranging in length from 15 to 18 mm. However, during this study we have seen specimens markedly smaller than previously recorded for this species. We examined 23 specimens measuring 11 mm in length. These specimens are from Chile (Coquimbo [six]; Bío-Bío [eight] and Santiago [six]) and Argentina (one specimen from San Juan), and housed in the MNNC and CVMD, respectively. Apart from their smaller size,the external characters and male genitalia appear to be identical to those of the much larger specimens.

Examined non-type material (273 specimens). ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires, La Plata, 1897, Rafinesque leg. (1 MNHN) ; without specific locality, date or collector (1 MNHN). Chubut, Valle del Lago Blanco , 1903, no collector (1 BMNH). Córdoba , 17 August 1987, José L. Brito leg. (2 CVMD). San Juan, San José de Jachal , 5 January 2004, G. Castillo leg. (1♂ CVMD). Tucumán, without specific locality, date or collector (1 MNHN). Without specific locality, 1863, Duhamel [?] leg. (2 MNHN). CHILE: Araucanía (IX Region), Cautín, Cunco , January 1934,R. Gutiérrez leg. (1 MNHN) ; Copiapó, 5 km S. Incahuasi , 12 September 1976, Guilermo González leg. (1 CVMD) ; Malleco, Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta , 13 February 2001, B. Guinéz leg. (1 CVMD) ; Malleco, Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta , 25–30 January 2005, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Pucón , Fundo El Volcán Villarrica, March 1969, no collector (1 CVMD). Bío-Bío (VIII Region), Chillan , Pre-Cordillera , December 1970,no collector (1 CVMD) ; Concepción, San Pedro de la Paz,no date or collector (1 MNNC) ; Ñuble , Chillan , Piedras Comadres , 10 January 1992, Manuel Galvez leg.(1♀ CVMD) ; Ñuble, Chillan, Piedras Comadres , 10 January 2006, S. Roitman leg. (1 CVMD) ; Ñuble, Chillan, Piedras Comadres , 6–8 December 1998, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Ñuble, Los Lleuques , 10 January 1999, S. Figueroa leg. (1♂ and 2 unsexed CVMD) ; Ñuble, Los Lleuques , 8 December 1997, S. Roitman leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Ñuble, Los Lleuques , October 1998, Segundo Ocare leg. (2 CVMD) ; Ñuble, Los Lleuques , December 1999, S. Ocare leg. (6 MNNC) ; Ñuble, Perales , 12 April 2016, Lycalopex culpaeus faeces, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Ñuble, Perales, no date or collector (1 MNNC) ; Ñuble , Perales , July 1925, no collector (1 MNNC) ; Ñuble, Puente Marchant , 17 January 1995, S. Roitman leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Ñuble, Puente Marchant , 6–8 December 1997, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Ñuble, Puente Marchant , January 1998, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 EMAC) ; Ñuble, Puente Marchant , January 1998, V.M. Diéguez leg. (2♂ and 5 unsexed CEMT) ; Ñuble, Recinto , December 1953, L. Peña leg. (2 MNNC). Coquimbo (IV Region), Choapa, Agua Dulce , km 272 Paramericana Norte , 18 July 1985, M. Elgueta leg. (2 MNNC) ; Choapa, Cordillera de Talinay, 20 November 1947, no collector (1 MNNC) ; Choapa, Cordillera de Talinay , 23 September 2000, A. Ugarte leg. (1 CVMD) ; Choapa, Cordillera de Talinay , 3 July 1975,J. Solervicens leg.(1 MNNC) ; Choapa, Huentelauquén , June 1995,A. Ugarte leg. (1♂ and unsexed JZPC) ; Choapa, Illapel, October 1942,no collector (2 MNNC) ; Choapa, Los Vilos , 11 July 1990 (2 CVMD) ; Choapa, Los Vilos , 11 October 1982, C. Carrasco leg. (1 CVMD) ; Choapa, Los Vilos , 16 September 1983, G. Carrasco leg. (1 MNNC) ; Choapa, Los Vilos , 28 May–3 June 1984 (1 CVMD) ; Choapa, Los Vilos, 31.883°S, 71.483°W, 3 October 1990, pitfall trap with meat as bait, Endrödy-Younga leg. (2♀ TMSA) ; Coquimbo, Tongoy , Quebrada El Almendro, 3 June 1999, Franscisco Ramirez leg. (6 CVMD) ; Elqui, 10 km S. La Serena , June 2004, G. Castillo leg. (12 IADIZA) ; Elqui, Las Barrancas , 3 April 2004, Solange Veja leg. (1 MNNC) ; Elqui, Tongoy , 3 June 1999, no collector (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; Elqui, Tongoy, Quebrada El Almendro, 65 m, 16 August 1996, F. Ramirez leg. (1 MNNC) ; Limarí, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge , 1 May 1999, Jaime Pizarro leg. (1 MNNC) ; Limarí, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge , 11 October 1992, M. Beeche leg. (1 CVMD) ; imarí, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge, 14 September 1947, no collector (1 MNNC) ; Limarí, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge , 15 January 1999, Lycalopex culpaeus faeces, Solange Veja leg. (1 MNNC) ; Limarí, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge , 7 October 1995, José Mondaca leg. (1 CVMD) ; Limarí, Quebrada Las Vacas, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge , 16 July 1997, Lycalopex culpaeus faeces, Jaime Pizarro leg. (2 MNNC) ; Limarí, Socos , 12 September 1997, José Mondaca leg. (1 CVMD) ; Puerto Velero , 60 m, 22 May 1999, Franscisco Ramirez leg. (2 CVMD) ; Tongoy , 3 June 1999,sheep carcass,F. Ramirez leg. (1 IFML) ; Tongoy , Quebrada El Almendro, 15–20 September 1999, V.M. Diéguez leg. (2 CVMD) ; Tongoy , Quebrada El Almendro, 15–20 September 1999, V. M. Diéguez leg. (2 IADIZA) ; Tongoy , Quebrada El Almendro, 15–20 September 1999, V.M. Diéguez leg. (2 MUSM) ; Tongoy , November 1999, no collector (1 CVMD) ; without specific locality or date, C. Darwin [Beagle voyage] leg. (2 BMNH) ; without specific locality or no date, F. Walker leg. (3 BMNH) ; without specific locality, 20 September 1964, P. Ramirez leg. (1 CVMD). Los Rios (XIV Region), Valdivia , no date or collector (1 MNHN). Maule (VII Region), Cauquenes , Reserva Nacional Los Queules , 25–28 January 2003, Manuel Galvez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Curicó, 29 April 1943, no collector (4 MNNC) ; Curicó, March 1943, no collector (2 MNNC) ; Linares, Parral , October 1956, Dirings leg. (14 MZSP) ; Talca, Altos de Vilches , 15 November 1991, E.Arias T. leg. (2 MNNC) ; Talca, Vilche Alto , 18 September 1971,P. Ramirez leg. (1 CVMD). O’Higgins (VI Region), Colchagua , NE de Lo Moscoso, 872 m, 34.570°S, 71.077°W, 2–27 September 2016, M. Elgueta leg. (1 MNNC). Santiago (Metropolitan Region), Cerro Manquehue , 15 August 1984,S. Roitman leg.(1 CVMD) ; Cerro Manquehue , 6 June 1985,L. Peña leg. (3 INPA) ; Cerro Manquehue , 7 October 1982,S. Roitman leg. (1 CVMD) ; Chacabuco , Colina, El Portezuelo , 2 November 2004, Manuel Galvez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Chacabuco, Cuesta La Dormida , 18 May 1996, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1♂ and 5 unsexed CVMD) ; Cordillera, Cajon del Maipo, Melocotón , November 1954, no collector (1 MNNC) ; La Obra, 8 January 1994, A. Fierro leg. (1 CVMD) ; Lo Barnechea , 2 September 1967 (2 BMNH) ; Maipo, Laguna Aculeo, Cuesta El Cepillo, 13 July 1994, A. Fierro leg. (2 CVMD) ; Melipilla, El Pangue – E. de Tapihue, 670 m, 33.256°S, 71.212°W, 26 October–22 November 2016, no collector (4 MNNC) ; Melipilla, Pallocabe , 350 m, 30 July 2001,V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Melipilla, Rapel , 1 July 1968,C. Gaultier leg.(5 MNNC) ; Mina Lo Aguirre , 26 December 1988, Alexis López leg.(6 CVMD) ; Mina Lo Aguirre , 28 December 1988, Alexis López leg. (1 CVMD) ; Peñalolén , May 1953, Olave leg. (2 CVMD) ; Peñanolén , 20 June 1953, L.E. Peña leg. (2 CVMD) ; Pudahuel, Laguna Caren, 15.12 .1989, V.M. Diéguez leg. (3 CVMD) ; Quebrada de Macul Natural Park , 27 July 1975, J. Valencia leg. (1 CVMD) ; Quebrada de Macul Natural Park , 29 July 1995,V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; Quebrada de Macul Natural Park , 3 August 1995, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; San Carlos de Apoquindo , 26 May 1996, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; without specific locality, September 1983, L. Peña leg. (4 MNNC). Valparaíso (V Region), Coleman [?], 1903, Crawford Exp. leg. (1 BMNH) ; El Plateado , 14 July 1962,J. Solervicens leg. (3 MNNC) ; Los Perales,1947,no collector (1 BMNH) ; Maitencillo , 150 m, 17 April 2005, A. Ramirez leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Marga Marga , El Belloto, 1 May 1962, J. Solervicens leg. (1 MNNC) ; Marga Marga, Reserva Nacional Lago Peñuelas , 364 m, 33.191°S, 71.449°W, 24 December–14 November 2017, pitfall trap, M. Elgueta and J. Solervicens leg. (3 MNNC) ; Petorca, Cachagua , April 1998, A. Ugarte leg. (1♂ and 1 unsexed BMNH) ; uillota, 5 August 1994,no collector (4 MNNC) ; Quillota, Túnel El Melón, 432 m, 32.613°S, 71.230°W, 29 August–26 September 2016, M. Elgueta leg. (4 MNNC) ; Quillota, August 1894, no collector (1 MNNC) ; Quillota, October 1995, no collector (1 MNNC) ; San Antonio, Aguas Buenas , 13 July 1999, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; San Antonio, Aguas Buenas , 23 May 1999,V.M.Diéguez leg.(3♀ CVMD) ; San Antonio, Aguas Buenas , 5 April 2000, V.M. Diéguez leg. (1 CVMD) ; San Antonio, Llolleo , January 1960, P. Ramirez leg. (3 CVMD) ; Viña del Mar, Tanque Recreo , 15 August 1961, J. Solervicens leg. (1 MNNC) ; Viña del Mar, Tanque Recreo , 23 July 1966, J. Solervicens leg. (7 MNNC) ; without specific data, no date or collector (1 MNNC) ; without specific locality, 1833, C. Gaudichaud-Beaupré [Exp. L’Herminie] leg. (1 MNHN) ; without specific locality, 1879, no collector (1 MNHN) ; without specific locality, 1901, H.R.P. Carter leg. (1 BMNH) ; without specific locality, 1905, C.E. Porter leg. (1 MNHN) ; without specific locality, date or collector (2 MNHN) ; without specific locality or date, C. Darwin [Beagle voyage] leg. (2 BMNH) ; without specific locality, June 1836, C. Gaudichaud-Beaupré [Exp. La Bonite] leg. (1 MNHN). Without specific locality, no date, T. Tatum leg. (1 BMNH) ; without specific locality or date, E.C. Reed leg. (1 BMNH) ; without specific locality or date, E.C. Reed leg. (3 MNHN) ; without specific locality or date, P. Germain leg. (2 MNHN) ; without specific locality, 1833, C. Gaudichaud-Beaupré [Exp. L’Herminie]leg.(1 MNHN) ; without specific locality, 1833,C. Gay leg. (1 MNHN) ; without specific locality, 1834, Fontaine [?] leg. (2 MNHN) ; without specific locality, 1843, C. Gay leg. (2 MNHN) ; without specific locality,date or collector (18 MNHN) ; without specific locality,date or collector (8 BMNH). PERU: Lima, Lima , 1833, C. Gaudichaud-Beaupré [Exp. L’Herminie] leg. (1 MNHN). Without specific locality, date or collector (1 MNHN).

Figures

Figure 4. Differential morphology in Polynoncus spp.: a, without humeral callus [P. hemisphaericus]; b, with humeral callus [P. longitarsis]. Apex of mesotibia c, with tooth [P. peruanus] and d, without tooth (white arrow) [P. crypticus]. Posterior margin of clypeus e, emarginate [P. bullatus] and f, truncate (white arrow) [P. hemisphaericus]; pronotal ridges of pronotum in g, Polynoncus argentinus and h, Polynoncus pseudogemmifer sp. n. (paratype). Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 18. Lectotype of Trox bullatus Curtis,1844 (now Polynoncus bullatus): habitus in a, dorsal and b, lateral view; c, labels. Photos by Keita Matsumoto (BMNH). Length of specimen: 15.87 mm.

Figure 19. Distribution map of Polynoncus bullatus (red circles) and P. burmeisteri (green triangles) in South America.

Figure 52. Lectotype of Trox patagonicus Blanchard, 1847 (now Polynoncus patagonicus): habitus in a, dorsal and b, lateral view; c, labels. Scale bar: 1 mm.