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Scarabaeoidea of Southern South America Links
 

 
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Scarab Guide Links
(goes to the University of Nebraska web site)
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Classification
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Scarabaeoidea
Scarabaeidae
Rutelinae
Anoplognathini
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Brachysternus patagoniensis
Jameson and Smith 2002
Brachysternus patagoniensis Jameson and Smith
2002: 348.
 
 
Figure 32a-c. Form of the male genitalia in Brachysternus patagoniensis (lateral view of parameres and apex of phallobase, caudal view of parameres, and ventral view of ventral and
lateral sclerites).
 
Map showing the distribution of B. angustus.
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Holotype (male). Length: 19.2 mm. Width: 8.9 mm at base of elytra. Color: Dorsally dark shiny apple green to olivaceous shiny green with bluish reflections, elytral margins metallic brassy-green; clypeus castaneous with metallic green; femora, tibiae, sternites, and pygidium shiny testaceous to castaneous, femora with weak green reflections; propygidium castaneous and tergites shiny black. Head: Clypeal apex subovoid, constricted weakly at base; margins and apex broadly reflexed. Frons moderately densely punctate (disc) to densely punctate with some contiguous (base and sides); punctures moderately large (disc) to large (base and sides), some setose; setae hair-like, (moderately dense to dense, moderately long to long, testaceous), thickened posterior to eye (sparse, moderately long, white). Clypeus densely punctate (base) to rugopunctate (mid-disc to apex); punctures moderately large, some setose laterally; setae moderately long, hairlike, sparse to moderately dense. Interocular width 5.0 transverse eye diameters. Terminal segment of maxillary palpus (dorsally) weakly impressed from base to apical one-fourth, segment subequal in length to segments 2-3. Antennal club slightly shorter than segments 1-7. Pronotum: Surface with moderately impressed, median, longitudinal groove; disc with small and moderate punctures; punctures moderately dense; margins, apex, and base with moderately large to large punctures; some punctures with hair-like, moderately long and long (mixed), testaceous to tawny, moderately dense to dense setae. Basal bead complete to near middle. Elytron: Surface with 5-6 weakly impressed, poorly defined, punctate, longitudinal striae between suture and humerus; punctures moderate to small, sparse (disc) and moderately dense (margins and apex), some setose; setae hair-like, long, sparse, testaceous. Intervals with similar sculpturing. Humeral and apical umbone poorly developed. Epipleuron flat, not expanded, with marginal bead poorly developed (from base to metacoxa or sternite 1) or lacking; region from metacoxa to apex setose; setae hair-like, moderately long and long (mixed), dense, testaceous. Sutural angle square. Propygidium: Posterior margin with fringe of setae; setae thickened, short or moderately long, testaceous or white. Supraspiracular ridge well developed. Pygidium:
Surface with hair-like and thickened setae (mixed, moderately long and long, moderately dense to dense, testaceous) and punctures (small, moderately dense to dense, some vertically
confluent). Venter: Sternum setose; densely clothed with testaceous, long, hairlike setae; sternites moderately densely clothed with thickened, tawny, moderately long setae. Prosternal keel broadly triangular; apex projecting anteriorly at about 608 with respect to ventral plane; apex produced to base of protrochanter, apex blunt. Mesometasternum with apex rounded, not produced. Legs: Larger claws thickened and weakly bifurcate at apex. Tarsomere 5 ventromedially swollen, without tooth. Metatibia with inner edge slightly bowed inwardly, outer edge slightly bowed outwardly; outer edge with 1 weak carina in the apical third. Male genitalia: Figure 32a-d.
   

 

Variation. The allotype and paratype specimens vary from the holotype in the following respects. Length: 17.4-20.6 mm. Width: 7.9-8.9 mm (at base of elytra). Color: Dorsally dark shiny apple green to olivaceous shiny green (some other specimens tan) with or without bluish reflections; clypeus castaneous with or without metallic green. Head: Clypeal margins and apex weakly reflexed only at tip (females). Clypeus rugopunctate; punctures moderately large, some setose laterally (females). Interocular width 5.0-6.1 transverse eye diameters. Antennal club subequal in length to segments 2-7 (females) or slightly longer than segments 1-7 (1 male). Pronotum: Surface with weakly or moderately impressed, median, longitudinal groove. Elytron: Lateral margin with setae moderately dense, moderately long (1 male). Pygidium: Disc in female weakly impressed (not bituberculate), moderately densely punctate; punctures small, some confluent vertically, some setose; setae hair-like or thickened (scale-like in some specimens), tawny or white, moderately long and
long, moderately dense and dense. Apex at middle rounded (female). Surface with setae white or testaceous (male). Venter: Sternum moderately densely or densely clothed with tawny or testaceous, long, hair-like setae; sternites with
tawny or white setae (less dense in females). Apex of terminal sternite in females moderately emarginated at middle. Legs: Metatibia of female with inner edge slightly bowed inwardly, outer edge weakly divergent in apical 1/5, with 1 weak carina in apical third. Female claws with ventral tooth on larger claw.
   

 

Etymology. The specific epithet is taken from the latinized adjective meaning ‘‘Patagonian,'' referring to the region in which this species is found. The suffix ‘‘-ensis'' denotes place or locality.
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  Diagnosis. Brachysternus patagoniensis is separated from other species of Brachysternus by the form of the metatibia (inner and outer edges in the male bowed, inner edge in the female bowed), the clypeus that is weakly constricted at the base; the presence of dense, long, testaceous setae on the lateral margin of the elytron and margins of the pronotum and head; the black or castaneous propygidium and sternites; and the form of the ventral and lateral sclerites of the male genitalia (Fig. 32a-d). One male specimen from San Pedro, Chile, differs from the all other specimens in the type series due to its antennal club that is slightly longer than segments 1 to 7 (subequal to segments 1 to 7 in other specimens) and the
setae on the elytral margin that are moderately dense and moderately long (setae dense and long in other specimens). The remainder of characters are consistent with other specimens of B. patagoniensis (bowed form of the metatibia,
constricted base of the clypeus, black sternites and propygidium, and form of the ventral and lateral sclerites of the male genitalia).
   
  Distribution (see map). Recorded from 450-1,400 m elevation from Malleco to Aisén, Chile and nearby areas of western Argentina.
   
  Locality Data. 41 specimens examined from CASC, CMNC, FMNH, JMEC, MNNC, PVGH.

ARGENTINA (8). CHUBUT (2): Lago Fontana. NEUQUEN (6): Parque Nacional Lanı´n, San Martín de los Andes. CHILE (33). AISEN (1): Villa O'Higgins. CAUTIN (11): Volcán Villarrica. CHILOE (1): San Pedro. MALLECO (12): Angol, Cerros de Nahuelbuta, Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta (45 km W Angol). OSORNO (8): Antillanca.
   
  Temporal Data. October (2), November (7), December (22), January (9).
   
  Natural History. Brachysternus patagoniensis has been recorded from forests composed of Nothofagus and Arucaria species; Nothofagus dombeyi (Blume), Saxegothaea sp., and Drimys; and stunted Nothofagus pumilio Krasser. Label data indicate that some specimens were captured using flight intercept traps and as incidental captures in pitfall traps.
   
  Excerpt from:
Jameson, M. L. and A. B. T. Smith. 2002. Revision of the South American genus Brachysternus Guérin-Ménville (Coleoptera: Ruteliinae: Anoplognathini: Brachysternina). Coleopterists Bulletin 56: 321-366.
 

Authors: Mary Liz Jameson (University of Nebraska State Museum) and
Andrew Smith ( Canadian Museum of Nature)
This website is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.0342189.
Generated on: 09/OCT/07.....Last modified: 09/OCT/07

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