Phyllophaga (Cnemarachis) manibota Smith and Paulsen, 2015

Smith, Andrew B. T. & Paulsen, M. J., 2015, Ten New Species of Phyllophaga Harris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from Cuba, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (3), pp. 435-452 : 446-447

Phyllophaga (Cnemarachis) manibota Smith and Paulsen , new species

( Figs. 32–35 )

Type Series. Holotype and 2 paratypes. 3 males (2 CMNC [including holotype], 1 UNSM) labeled: “ CUBA: Camagüey Prov. / Reserva Ecológica Limones- / Tuabaquey ; canyon trail / 21.59214°N, 77.78833°W / 98 m; MV lights; 16-V-2013 / A.B.T. Smith, A.Deler-Hernández ”.

Diagnosis. Dorsal surface pruinose ( Fig. 32 ); clypeus strongly bilobed; antennal club approximately equal in length to funicle and scape; pronotal lateral margin entire; prosternum with two spines basal to procoxae; metasternum setose laterally, glabrous and shiny medially; abdominal sternites opaque/pruinose laterally, glabrous medially; pygidium disc moderately setose; male genitalia distinct as in Figs. 33–34 .

Holotype Description. Length 11.5 mm, width 5.5 mm. Dorsal surface light brown with purplish gray, pruinose reflections. Clypeus and humeral and apical umbones of elytra shiny, without pruinosity. Head: Surface moderately (laterally) to strongly (medially) punctate with deep, well-defined punctures; glabrous. Clypeus with apex reflexed, deeply sinuate (bilobed) with middle approximately half length of lobes. Frontoclypeal suture well-defined, clypeus and frons in same plane. Antennae with 9 antennomeres; club dull with strong microsculpture, approximately equal in length to funicle and scape; funicle and scape shiny. Pronotum: Surface moderately to strongly punctate with deep, well-defined punctures; glabrous. Apical angles moderately acute; lateral margins entire (not crenulate), widest medially. Elytra: Surface moderately to strongly punctate with deep, well-defined punctures; some punctures with single seta. Striae poorly defined, obscure. Legs: Protibia with 3 teeth, 2 nd tooth distinctly closer to apical tooth. Meso- and metatibia without medial carinae, mesotibia with small spines on lateral margin. Metatibial spurs unmodified, shorter spur approximately half length of longer spur. Claws symmetrical with medial triangular tooth, apex unmodified. Venter: Prosternum with 2 weak spines behind procoxae. Metasternum moderately setose except for shiny medial patch. Abdominal sternites with opaque/pruinose coating except medially where surface is shiny. Pygidium: Surface pruinose except on center disc, strongly punctate with large, well-defined punctures; punctures with single seta. Male genitalia: As in Figs. 33–34 (figure shows paratype but it is essentially identical to holotype).

Variation. Length 12 mm, width 6 mm.

Etymology. Named for the appearance of the parameres, which looks similar to the worm aliens (very infrequently referred to as the manibota) in the Men In Black universe. This Latinized name should be treated as an adjective in the nominative singular, i.e., the manibotian Phyllophaga .

Distribution ( Fig. 35 ). CUBA: Camagüey: Reserva Ecológica Limones-Tuabaquey, canyon trail, 21.59214°N, 77.78833°W (3).

Temporal Data. May (3).

Remarks. This species keys to couplet 23 in Chapin (1932) but does not match the description or genitalic illustrations of Phyllophaga cardini Chapin or Phyllophaga speculifera (Chevrolat) .

Figures

Figs. 32–35. Phyllophaga manibota. 32) Holotype, habitus; 33) Paratype, male genitalia, lateral view; 34) Paratype, male genitalia, dorsal view; 35) Distribution map.