Aphodius (Liothorax) rodrigoi Angus, Maté, Angus & Král, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Angus, Robert B.
name: Maté, Jason F.
name: Angus, Elizabeth M.
name: Král, David
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Aphodius
Aphodius rodrigoi

description: Aphodius (Liothorax) rodrigoi sp. nov.
Figs 2 d, 7 g, 11 f, 20 j, 22 m, m ’, m ”, 25 k
Type material examined.
Holotype ♂: Spain: Madrid Aranjuez F. Morüder // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990 (MNCN). Paratypes: 4 ex ♀ Aranjuez F. Morüder // DA 251 F. J. Cabrero // DG 251 F. J. Cabrero // AP Bucal 206 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990; 1 ex; ♂ Quero Prov Toledo Lauffer // DG 178 F. J. Cabrero // DA 249 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990; 1 ex; ♀ Quero v. 1908 Molina // AP Bucal 56 F. J. Cabrero // DG 174 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990; 1 ex; ♂ Villacañas (TOLEDO) C. Bolívar // Hoyer C. M. Veiga // AP Bucal 205 F. J. Cabrero // DA 250 F. J. Cabrero // Aphodius plagiatus det C. M. Veiga 1990 1 ex. (MNCN).
Differential diagnosis.
Aphodius (L.) rodrigoi resembles a small highly-polished somewhat rounded A. (L.) plagiatus. The metaventrite is slightly less strongly punctate and with the median diamond-shaped area depressed to mid-line. Aedeagus: (Fig. 22 m, m ’, m ”) general size and shape of parameres similar to A. plagiatus, not turned downwards apically, but with the following differences: apices of parameres less produced laterally, parameres narrower and more converging towards apex, in lateral view parameres gradually curved towards apex and narrowest towards apex compared to L. plagiatus which is narrowest 1 / 3 rd towards apex.
The apical segment of the maxillary palpi is slightly longer (10 %) than the 2 nd segment: terminal segment slightly longer (10 %) than 2 nd segment (Fig. 11 f), as against 15–20 % longer in A. plagiatus (Fig. 11 d, e).
Description.
General appearance (Fig. 2 d). Length: 3.5–4.0 mm (♂) (HT 3.75 mm), 4.0– 4.23 mm (♀); width: 1.4–1.6 mm (♂ and ♀).
Glossy black throughout except clypeal and elytral apical edges which are fuscous red. Legs and maxillary palps reddish yellow to maroon, antennae tan except for last three segments which are darker and clothed in off-white setae.
Head: frons strongly convex, clypeus flat to slightly concave. Frontoclypeal suture weak, widely interrupted in the middle. Clypeal edge truncated to slightly emarginate, impressed medially; side angles rounded with edge widely elevated. Sides of head almost straight and continuously merging with genae. Genae produced beyond eyes, rounded, strongly bordered and with some short yellowish setae.
Surface shiny with residual reticulation and strongly punctured. Punctation double, the larger punctures regularly dispersed on the clypeal sides and frons, absent from genae and anterior clypeus. Larger punctures 2–3 × diameter of the smaller ones and strongly impressed, particularly on the sides where the surface almost appears wrinkled and closely spaced (1–1.5 × their diameter). Anterior edge of clypeus very finely and regularly punctured, completely devoid of larger punctures.
Maxillary palp: terminal segment slightly longer (10 %) than 2 nd segment (Fig. 11 f) (in A. plagiatus the terminal segment is longer, 15–20 % longer than the 2 nd segment) (Fig. 11 d, e). Galeal patch armed with five or six strong galeal chaetae (7–9 in A. plagiatus). Galea smaller, similar in dimensions to the Tibetan ssp. of A. plagiatus but not to European populations in which it is larger.
Epipharynx (Fig. 7 g) corypha small and only slightly produced (somewhat similar to the Tibetan populations of A. plagiatus), with the chaetae (celtes) much reduced in size. Fenestrae on zygum (angustofenestrae) and chaetae (heli) less numerous than in A. plagiatus and limited to the edge against pedia. Chaetopaedia as in A. plagiatus. Chaetopariae noticeably stronger than in A. plagiatus.
Pronotum subquadrate, sides slightly rounded, subparallel, and widest towards base. Regularly convex longitudinally and transversely. Base completely and distinctly bordered, border strong but fine. Anterior edge not bordered at all. Lateral margins visible dorsally in the apical 1 / 3 only. Sides strongly bordered throughout, anteriorly going around corner up to the middle of the eye. Lateral margins with short yellowish hairs barely visible dorsally in apical 1 / 2.
Surface of pronotum black and shiny, not at all alutaceous with only some residual superficial shagreen. Punctation double, larger punctures regularly distributed throughout but densest on the sides and anterolateral corners. Large punctures flat bottomed and umbilicated. Diameter 4–5 × that of the smaller ones and spaced 1–3 × their diameter.
Scutellum elongate, sides rounded, convergent throughout (only slightly pentagonal), length 1 / 11 elytral length. Glossy black, unpunctured, basally impressed, disk convex.
Elytra black, intervals convex, surface strongly glossy and slightly alutaceous under high magnification. Intervals with double row of very fine and faint punctures. Striae fine, 1 / 8 × width of intervals, with sides crisp and right-angled. Regularly punctured, punctures wider than the striae and separated by 2 × diameter (first 2 striae) or 3–4 × (remainder). Elytral epipleura strong, gradually convergent towards apex, and at humeri forming a small but distinct tooth.
Underside black with yellowish pubescence on the abdomen.
Metaventrite (Fig. 20 j): median diamond-shaped area rather strongly punctate, glabrous, its mid-line distinctly impressed. Surface regularly heavily punctate, the punctures with one end somewhat pointed, shiny, and not alutaceous. Sexual dimorphism subtle, female flatter than male.
Legs reddish to dark brown, tarsi and tibial spurs red to tan, rather long and slender. Protarsal spur regularly acuminate and curved in both sexes, reaching to apex of second tarsal segment. Metatarsal segments short. Basotarsomere slightly shorter than upper metatibial spine as long as segments 2 + 3. Fimbrial setae short and of unequal length. Longer spur of mid tibiae as long as first two tarsal segments.
Aedeagus: (Fig. 22 m, m ’, m ”) general size and shape of parameres similar to A. plagiatus, not turned downwards apically, but with the following differences: apices of parameres less produced laterally, parameres narrower and more convergent towards apex, in lateral view parameres gradually curved towards apex and narrowest nearer apex (ca ¼ of the paramere length as against ca 1 / 3 in L. plagiatus).
Endophallus typical of other members of the A. plagiatus species group, with two patches of elongate triangular scales or bristles. Those in basal patch longer and more elongate than any member of the plagiatus group (19–26 µm in A. rodrigoi vs 14 – 21 µm), similar to those of A. wilsonae (22–32 µm), those in the apical patch like A. plagiatus.
Etymology.
The name is derived from the surname of the name Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, a Spanish composer whose most famous work, “ Concierto de Aranjuez ”, refers to the geographical area from which the species hails.
Remarks.
All the known specimens are from the south of Madrid (Aranjuez) and the adjacent areas of Toledo (Fig. 29 b) The localities are associated with temporary endorheic saline lagoons and lakes (Fig. 28 b) One of the authors (JFM) made repeated visits to several of the localities during late winter over several years (January and April of 2015–2017), but no specimens were found. Although it is possible that the species was missed due to its ecology or time of emergence, it is also possible that the species is very rare or has been extirpated from much of its former distribution. The known localities are part of an extensive system of aquifer-fed saline lagoons encompassing much of La Mancha and collectively known as “ La Mancha Húmeda ” (Wet La Mancha). Many of these lagoons are degraded or lost to agriculture but almost 1 / 2, including several visited for this study, are protected and in apparently good ecological condition (Florín-Beltrán 2001). Hence, it would be hasty to declare this interesting Iberian endemic extinct without carrying out extensive sampling across the area and in particular within the protected lagoons which might still host it.
description: Published as part of Angus, Robert B., Maté, Jason F., Angus, Elizabeth M. & Král, David, 2024, Towards a revision of the Palaearctic species of Aphodius Hellwig, 1798, subgenus Liothorax Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae), pp. 205-299 in ZooKeys 1207 on pages 205-299, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1207.117225