Tomarus pullus (Prell, 1937)

(Figs. 1J, 9J, 11J, 14E, 16M, 20D, 22A, 28D; 48)

Ligyrus pullus Prell 1937: 89 . Original combination.

Male lectotype designated by Endrödi (1969: 64) (ZMHB) “ Venezuela / San Fernando de Apure / L. Laglaize 5-10 1897 // Ligyrus / pullus Prell / ♂ -Type // Lectotypus / Ligyrus / pullus / Prell / Endrody”. Female paralectotype (ZMHB) “ Venezuela / San Fernando de Apure / L. Laglaize 5-10 1897 // Ligyrus / pullus Prell / ♀ -Type // Paratypus / Ligyrus / pullus / Prell”. Type locality: San Fernando de Apuré, Apuré, Venezuela.

Description. Habitus as in Fig. 28D. Length 13.6–23.3 mm; humeral width 9.0– 15.6 mm. Color dark reddish brown to black. Head: Frons coarsely rugose. Frontoclypeal region with 2 transverse, inconspicuous tubercles (Fig. 1J). Clypeus short (3.2 times wider than long) and narrowed towards apex (base 3.8 times wider than apex). Clypeal teeth transverse separated by 1.5 tooth diameters. Mandible with incisor longer than second tooth, lateral tooth not well developed. Mentum subtriangular. Galea of maxilla with vestigial teeth, teeth 3 and 5 absent. Interocular distance 3.0–3.5 times an eye width. Pronotum: Surface with dense, large punctures. Apical tubercle absent. Fovea shallow, punctate, narrow (about 1/10 as wide as interocular distance) (Fig 1J). Scutellum: Surface with small, sparse punctures. Elytra: First interval punctate, punctures similar in size to other intervals; sutural stria complete. Inner surface of apex with rounded, small tubercles forming parallel lines. Abdomen: Apex of tergite IV with a triangular wide area with large, elongate tubercles forming diagonal parallel lines. Pygidial surface coarsely and densely rugose on basal half, apical half with sparse, deep punctures (Fig. 9J), apex regularly rounded. Venter: Apex of prosternal process flat, rounded. Metasternum with long, sparse setae on anterior angles. Legs: Protibia tridentate, without basal denticles (Fig. 11J). Metatibia not narrowed before apex, sides nearly parallel. Apex of metatibia slightly crenulate, with 26–29 spinules. Male genitalia: Spiculum gastrale without basal plates (Fig. 14E). Phallobase 1.25 times longer than parameres. Parameres with lateral teeth short, widely triangular; apical 4th narrowed, apices rectangularly expanded (Figs. 16M, 20D). Internal sac with copulatory lamella and long lamellar spiny belt; with a complex of 26 spine-like, accessory lamellae, without dense granules at base (Fig. 22A).

Diagnosis. Tomarus pullus can be recognized by the following character combination: pronotal fovea elongate (Fig. 1J); pronotum without tubercle, deeply and densely punctate (Fig. 1J); clypeus short (3.2 times wider than long); mandible with incisor longer than second tooth, lateral tooth not well developed (Fig. 1J); mentum subtriangular; galea of maxilla with vestigial teeth, teeth 3 and 5 absent; metasternum with sparse, long setae on anterior angles; parameres with lateral teeth short, widely triangular; apical 4th narrowed, apices rectangularly expanded (Figs. 16M, 20D); and internal sac with lamellar spiny belt long and a complex of 26 spine-like accessory lamellae, without granules at base (Fig. 22A).

Distribution. The species is restricted to the Orinoquia region of Colombia and Venezuela.

Locality records (Fig. 48). 9 examined specimens from MPUJ, UPN, USNM, ZMHB. Some data from Escalona & Joly (2006). COLOMBIA (2). Meta (1): Remolinos, Cafam Llanos. Vichada (1): Puerto Carreño. VENEZUELA (11). Amazonas (3): Puerto. Ayacucho; Samariapo. Apuré (2): San Fernando de Apuré. Aragua (2): Maracay. Bolívar (3): La Urbana, Río Orinoco; Pararuma. Monagas (1): Uverito .

Natural history. Some specimens were collected at lights.