Taxonomic review of the Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) agenor species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Santiago Montoya-Molina,Fernando Z Vaz-De-Mello

doi:10.5852/ejt.2021.734.1233

Santiago Montoya-Molina, Fernando Z Vaz-De-Mello

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2021.734.1233

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Abstract

The Neotropical D. agenor species group of the subgenus Luederwaldtinia Martínez, 1951 is taxonomically reviewed. After examination of specimens in collections, the D. agenor species group will consist of seventeen species, a leap from the former nine species: D. agenor (Harold, 1869), D. amplicollis (Harold, 1869), D. belus (Harold, 1880), D. centralis (Harold, 1869), D. deyrollei (Harold, 1869), D. sagittarius (Harold, 1869) stat. rev., D. tristis (Luederwaldt, 1923), D. triquetrus (Luederwaldt, 1923), D. validipilosus (Luederwaldt, 1931), D. fornicatus (Luederwaldt, 1931) [transferred to D. lucasi species group and to which D. bosqi (Pereira, 1941) is considered to be a new synonym], D. inachoides (Felsche, 1901) [transferred from the group fisus (Selenocopris)], D. simplicicornis (Luederwaldt, 1935) [transferred from the group fisus (Selenocopris)], D. subaeneus (Castelnau, 1840) [transferred from the D. carbonarius species group], D. rafanunezi sp. nov. from Mato Grosso, D. henripittieri sp. nov. from Venezuela and D. enioi sp. nov. from Guatemala and Costa Rica. This review was based on external morphology and characters of the male genitalia (aedeagus and internal sac). Descriptions of new species and redescriptions were made after examining the type-specimens of the already described species. Lectotype designations, species revalidations, redescriptions and new species descriptions are provided.

Highlights

Dichotomius Hope, 1838 is one of the most diverse and abundant dung beetle genera in Neotropical ecosystems
The D. agenor ‘section’ included eight species according to Luederwaldt (1929): D. agenor (Harold, 1869), D. amplicollis (Harold, 1869), D. belus (Harold, 1880), D. centralis (Harold, 1869), D. deyrollei (Harold, 1869), D. sagittarius (Harold, 1869) stat. rev., D. tristis (Luederwaldt, 1923) and D. triquetrus (Luederwaldt, 1923)
After a detailed inspection of the lectotype and other specimens, we suggest that this species belongs to the D. agenor species group based on the shape of the cephalic carina

Summary

Introduction

Dichotomius Hope, 1838 is one of the most diverse and abundant dung beetle genera in Neotropical ecosystems. It currently includes around 170 valid species Luederwaldtinia Martínez is a speciose subgenus that includes 62 species distributed in 13 species groups defined by Nunes & Vaz-de-Mello, 2013: Dichotomius agenor, D. assifer, D. batesi, D. calcaratus, D. carbonarius, D. crinicollis, D. inachus, D. interstitialis, D. micans, D. nisus, D. sericeus, D speciosus and D. superbus species groups. Of the twelve species groups listed above, four have so far been taxonomically reviewed: D. assifer (Nunes et al 2016), D. batesi (partially revised in Vaz-de-Mello & Nunes 2016), D. speciosus (Maldaner et al 2015) and recently D. sericeus (Valois et al 2017)

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