Phyllophaga (Cnemarachis) bobevelynorum Schnepp 2022, new species
Creators: name: Schnepp, Kyle E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Melolonthidae
Phyllophaga
Phyllophaga bobevelynorum

description: Phyllophaga (Cnemarachis) bobevelynorum Schnepp, new species
Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19
Type material. Holotype ♂ (Fig. 1, 4, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17): “ PUERTO RICO: Luquillo / N.F., El Verde Biol. / Sta. 7–11-IV-1993 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap // [on red] HOLOTYPE / Phyllophaga / bobevelynorum / Schnepp, 2022” (FSCA).
Allotype ♀ (Fig. 2, 5, 7, 8): same data as holotype except “[on red] ALLOTYPE / Phyllophaga / bobevelynorum / Schnepp, 2022” (FSCA).
Paratypes: 17 with the same data as holotype (2 CMNC, 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 13 FSCA, 8 ♂, 5 ♀; 2 KESC, 1 ♂, 1 ♀); “ PUERTO RICO: Caribbean / N.F., El Verde Field / Sta. bl trap, 27 May / 1994, R. Turnbow ” (RHTC, 2 ♂); “ PUERTO RICO: Carb- / bean N.F., El Verde / Field Sta., bl trap, 25 / May 1994, R. Turnbow ” (RHTC, 1 ♂); “ PUERTO RICO: Que- / brada Espiritu Santo / mv + bl, 26 May / 1994, R. Turnbow ” (RHTC, 1 ♂).
All paratypes with an additional label “[on yellow] PARATYPE / Phyllophaga / bobevelynorum / Schnepp, 2022”.
Diagnosis. Head and pronotum dark reddish brown; base of elytra similarly colored but lightening posteriorly (Fig. 1, 4); head and pronotum glabrous, shiny, with moderately sized punctures fairly evenly spaced, well defined; clypeus distinctly but not deeply emarginate, apex moderately upturned (Fig. 1); frontoclypeal suture well defined and impressed; base of the elytra and elytral suture with sparse, erect setae; antennae with 9 antennomeres, antennal club slightly longer than scape.
Description. Holotype: Sex: male. Length: 16 mm; width across base of elytra: 7 mm, width at widest point of elytra: 9 mm. Dorsal surface shiny; head dark reddish brown; pronotum reddish brown, lighter laterally; base of elytra reddish brown, becoming lighter posteriorly (Fig. 1, 4). Head: Surface densely, coarsely punctate. Clypeus with apex reflexed, sinuate medially, densely punctate (Fig. 1); frontoclypeal suture well defined. Antennae with 9 antennomeres, club slightly longer than scape and about as long as pedicel and funicle combined. Pronotum: Glabrous; widest at middle; surface moderately punctate with well-defined punctures (Fig. 1). Lateral margins with erect setae, crenulate anteriorly, entire posteriorly. Posterior marginal bead well defined medially, becoming less distinct laterally. Elytra: Surface moderately to densely punctate, punctures denser basally and along suture, denser than those on pronotum (Fig. 1). Largely glabrous with some conspicuous erect setae basally and a few on disc, basal setae generally longer than discal setae. Striae poorly defined, obscure. Legs: Protibia with 3 teeth, 2nd tooth distinctly closer to apical tooth. Protarsomere 1 same length as apical protibial tooth. Meso- and metatibiae without medial carinae, with spines on lateral margin. Metatibial spurs unmodified, shorter spur 3/4 length of longer spur; first metatarsomere intermediate in length between the two spurs. Claws symmetrical with medial triangular tooth, apex unmodified. Venter: Abdominal sternites shiny with scattered setae. Fifth abdominal sternite with small patch of darkened, sclerotized asperites medially, this patch appearing rough. Sixth abdominal ventrite with transverse carina, carina obsolete medially where a small longitudinal depression passes through it. Pygidium: Surface coarsely punctate with poorly defined punctures, these coalescing and giving a rugose appearance; glabrous, shiny; convex. Male genitalia: Symmetrical, parameres flattened anteriorly, elongate, parallel, creating a longitudinal opening for the median lobe (Fig. 13, 15). Median lobe elongate and curved downward at approximately 90 degrees; on either side of median lobe are two slender, acuminate chitinous processes that also curve downward (Fig. 9, 17).
Variation (n = 22). Male length: 14–16 mm, width across base of elytra: 6–7 mm; female length: 15–17 mm, width across base of elytra: 6–7 mm. Females (Fig. 2, 5) differ from males in having the abdominal segments more inflated; lacking asperites on the fifth abdominal sternite; sixth sternite with carina less pronounced and lacking medial depression; sixth sternite is more elongate and produced medially; pygidium is more elongate and less convex; protarsae are slightly shorter. Female genitalia are fairly standard for the genus, comprised of two sets of sclerotized plates with a series of 5–6 apical hairs each on the superior pair (Fig. 7–8).
Distribution. Phyllophaga bobevelynorum is currently known from the El Verde Field Station and a nearby locality in the El Yunque National Forest in northeastern Puerto Rico (Fig. 19).
Etymology. Before his passing, Robert (Bob) Woodruff came to me asking for assistance in naming a species after his late wife, Nina Evelyn Woodruff. Before we were able to start the project Dr. Woodruff passed away, so I am honoring them both by naming this species after the two of them.
Temporal data. All specimens were collected in April and May.
Remarks. This species can be distinguished from all other Phyllophaga occurring in Puerto Rico, except Phyllophaga adjuntas Saylor, by the anteriorly dark coloration fading posteriorly and differences in the genitalia. This species is most similar to P. adjuntas (Fig. 3, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) but differs externally by having the anterior tarsi slightly shorter and more robust. Although similar to P. adjuntas in being dark anteriorly and becoming lighter posteriorly, P. bobevelynorum is overall darker than P. adjuntas. The two can be easily distinguished using male genitalia.
description: Published as part of Schnepp, Kyle E., 2022, A new species of Phyllophaga Harris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from Puerto Rico, pp. 1-7 in Insecta Mundi 2022 (914) on pages 2-3, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6391923