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Scarabaeoidea of Southern South America Links
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Scarab Guide Links
(goes to the University of Nebraska
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Classification |
Superfamily...
Family...........
Subfamily .....
Tribe............
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Scarabaeoidea
Lucanidae
Aesalinae
Ceratognathini |
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Hilophyllus argentinensis (Martínez, 1981)
Ceratognathus argentinensis Martínez, 1981: 13. |
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Hilophyllus argentinensis (Martínez). |
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Figure 20. Ventral view of male genitalia,
H. argentinensis. |
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Figure 25. Localities from which Hilophyllus specimens were examined: H. penai (asterisks), H.
argentinensis (squares), and H. martinezi (triangle). |
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Type specimens.
Holotype male lost. Both the holotype and allotype of C. argentinensis were present
in the Martínez collection in 1994 as evidenced by a photograph taken at that time by
Gerardo Arriagada (Las Cruces, Chile). Approximately one week after the photo was
taken, Henry Howden purchased the Martínez collection, including non-primary types.
The specimens purchased by Howden were subsequently donated to the CMNC, including
the allotype of C. argentinensis. The holotype was deposited in the collection of Museo
Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, the depository of the majority of Martínez
primary types. The first of three boxes of Martínez types was later stolen from the MACN
(F. Ocampo, UNSM, personal communication). The specimens in each box were arranged
alphabetically by genus, and as the second box begins with “Chaetodus”, the holotype of
Ceratognathus argentinensis was in the box that was stolen and is lost. We designate a
neotype to maintain stability in the nomenclature. Because the allotype is in poor
condition with the abdomen missing we are choosing a recently collected male as the
neotype. The specimen chosen matches the original description of the holotype in all
characters and is from approximately 45 km northeast of the type locality in similar
habitat. NEOTYPE: deposited at MNNC, labeled: a) “CHILE:
Región IX (Araucania) / P.N. Villarrica; Puesco, 732 m / S 39º31’59.6” W 71º33’19.6” /
BL/MV light; M.J. Paulsen / & J. Mondaca; 8 DEC 2004”; b) on red paper
“Ceratognathus / argentinensis Martínez / NEOTYPE / det. Paulsen & Mondaca 2006”; c)
“Hilophyllus / argentinensis (Martínez) / det. M.J. Paulsen 2005”. Allotype (CMNC)
labeled: a) “ARGENTINA / NEUQUEN / Lago Curruhe / Grande, s/tronco / J.P.R., H., A.
y A. Martínez / Coll. Martínez / Ene. “967”; b) on pink paper, “ALLOTYPUS”; c) on red
paper: “Ceratognathus / argentinensis (female symbol) / sp. nov.” / (typeset) “A. MARTÍNEZ–DET. 19__” (handwritten year illegible); d) “H. & A. HOWDEN / COLLE
CTION / ex. A. Martinez coll”; e) “Hilophyllus / argentinensis (Martínez) / det. M.J. Paulsen 2005”. |
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Redescription.
Male (n = 9). Length: 8.1–8.5 mm. Width: 3.2–3.4 mm. Color/Surface: Reddishbrown,
weakly shining. Dorsum almost uniformly covered with large punctures;
most with a single elongate, apically acute scale. Head: Eyes large, width of eyes together
in dorsal view greater than narrowest interocular width. Mandibles small, abruptly
curved inward at middle; dorsal tooth acute; ventral tooth of right mandible acute or
reduced to angulation. Antennal club segments elongate, longer than 1.5 times length of
head. Pronotum: Sides strongly explanate, explanate margin subequal to eye in
width. Anterior angle not produced anteriorly, broadly rounded, appearing
nearly contiguous and parallel with anterior margin. Lateral margin broadly rounded,
widest at middle. Elytra: Shape elongate. Surface almost uniformly punctate, most
punctures with scales, punctures without scales forming longitudinal rows (not patches).
Scales usually of two colors, brown and light testaceous (scales of greased specimens
appearing unicolored). Sutural interval and lateral margin elevated at apex. Surface
between punctures smooth, notably shining at 40x. Legs: Mesotibiae lacking
external tooth. Abdomen: Apex of last ventrite truncate. Male genitalia: Parameres with
exteriorly curved tooth at apex (Fig. 20).
Female (n = 5). Differing from male in following characters: Length: 8.9–9.1 mm.
Width: 3.6–3.9 mm. Head: Width of eyes together in dorsal view subequal to 1/3
interocular width. Mandibles small, not strongly curved inward at middle; dorsal tooth of
each mandible reduced, ventral tooth of right mandible acute. Antennal club segments
short, as long as 1/2 length of head. Pronotum: Sides more narrowly explanate. Anterior
angles constricted toward head. Lateral margin not uniformly rounded, pinched inward
anteriorly. |
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Diagnosis.
This species is distinguished from H. penai by the unarmed mesotibiae. Also, it
differs from H. penai by the elytral scale pattern (H. argentinensis with patches of
contrasting lighter and darker scales, whereas H. penai has patches of light-colored scales
contrasting with glabrous areas). Males of H. argentinensis can be distinguished from
either of the remaining species because they possess exceptionally long antennal club
segments that are much longer than the head and mandibles together. In addition, they
have a distinct genitalic form with hooked parameres and a laterally compressed median
lobe. |
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Distribution.
Argentina, Chile. The species is distributed widely in central Chile and extends into
neighboring areas with similar habitats in Argentina. |
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Locality data: 14 specimens examined.
ARGENTINA (1). Neuquén (1): Lago Curruhué Grande.
CHILE (13). VIII Región (1): W. of P.N. Nahuelbuta. IX Región (2): P.N. Villarrica
(Puesco, Vol. Villarrica). X Región (10): Cordillera Pelada, M. N. Alerce Costero, P. N.
Mocho-Choshuenco, R. N. Valdiviana. |
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Temporal distribution. December (2), January (8), February (4). |
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Remarks.
Martínez (1981) indicated that the type series was collected on a tree trunk, possibly of
Nothofagus sp., in an advanced state of decomposition in the province of Neuquén,
Argentina. More recently, adult and immature specimens of H. argentinensis were found in the lower branches of a decomposing coigüe, Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirbel) Blume
(Mondaca & Paulsen 2005). However, if this species is termitophilous, it is probable that
its distribution is limited more by the presence or absence of termites than the range of a
specific host tree. In 2006, MJP collected an additional specimen flying in late afternoon
at a height of approximately three meters around the trunk of a partially decomposed
lenga, N. pumilio (Poeppig & Endlicher) Krasser. Furthermore, one specimen was
collected by Dr. Elizabeth Arias (University of California–Berkeley) during insecticidal
fogging of Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch (Araucariaceae) west of Parque
Nacional Nahuelbuta, suggesting that the species may not be restricted to Nothofagus.
In 2004, we collected a single male specimen of H. argentinensis at mercury vapor
light in Parque Nacional Villarrica. In 2006, we collected three male specimens at Reserva
Nacional Valdiviana and one male specimen at Parque Nacional Mocho-Choshuenco, all
at mercury vapor lights. Previously, there was only anecdotal evidence that this species
was attracted to light. It may be relevant that males of this species possess proportionately
the largest eyes in the genus; large eyes suggest nocturnal activity, making collection at
light traps less surprising although still infrequent. |
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Excerpt from:
Paulsen, M. J. & J. Mondaca E. 2006. Revision of the South American Ceratognathini (Coleoptera:
Lucanidae: Aesalinae) with the description of a new genus and
a new species. Zootaxa 1191: 1–19. |
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