Phyllophaga (Cnemarachis) falcata Smith and Paulsen 2015, new species
Creators: name: Smith, Andrew B. T.
name: Paulsen, M. J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy

description: Phyllophaga (Cnemarachis) falcata Smith and Paulsen, new species
(Figs. 11–14)
Type Series. Holotype, allotype, 16 paratypes. 3 males (2 CMNC [including holotype], 1 USNM), 6 females (2 CMNC [including allotype], 1 MNHC, 3 UNSM) labeled: “ CUBA: Holguín Prov. / Parque Nacional La Mensura / 20.48275°N, 75.80745°W / 716 m; MV lights; 10-V-2013 / A.B.T.Smith, F.Cala-Riquelme ”. 4 males (1 CMNC, 1 MNHC, 2 UNSM), 3 females (2 CMNC, 1 UNSM) labeled: “ CUBA: Holguín Prov. / Parque Nacional La Mensura / mixed pine forest, 716 m / 20.48275°N, 75.80745°W / 12-V-2013; A.B.T.Smith, / A.Deler- Hernández, G.Zhang”. 1 male (UNSM) labeled: “ CUBA: Holguín Prov. / Estación Ecológica / 20.48613°N, 75.79152°W / 656 m; MV lights / 9-V-2013; A.B.T.Smith ”. 1 female (USNM) labeled: “ CUBA: Holguín Prov. / Estación Ecológica, 656 m / 20.48613°N, 75.79152°W / 11-V-2013; A.B.T.Smith, / R.Anderson, G.Zhang ”.
Diagnosis. Dorsal surface shiny, without pruinosity (Fig. 11); clypeus sinuate; antennal club much shorter than funicle and scape; pronotal lateral margin entire; prosternum with obtuse projection basal to procoxae; metasternum setose; abdominal sternites shiny, without pruinosity, with some scattered setae; pygidium disc sparsely setose; male genitalia distinct as in Figs. 12–13.
Holotype Description. Length 22 mm, width 11 mm. Dorsal surface shiny, without pruinosity; head black, pronotum and elytra tan; pronotum with reddish brown band covering medial half apically and tapering significantly towards base. Head: Surface densely punctate with deep, welldefined punctures; glabrous. Clypeus with apex reflexed, sinuate with middle distinctly shorter than sides. Frontoclypeal suture well-defined, clypeus on slightly reflexed plane compared to frons. Frons densely punctate. Antennae with 9 antennomeres; club approximately 1/3 length of funicle and scape; club dull and funicle and scape shiny. Pronotum: Surface moderately punctate with deep, well-defined punctures; glabrous. Apical angles weakly acute; lateral margins entire (not crenulate), widest at medial point. Elytra: Surface moderately to densely punctate with shallow, well-defined punctures; appearing largely glabrous but with some scattered setae. Striae poorly defined, obscure. Legs: Protibia with 3 teeth, 2 nd tooth slightly closer to apical tooth. Meso- and metatibia without medial carinae, with spines on lateral margin. Metatibial spurs unmodified, shorter spur at least 3/4 length of longer spur. Claws symmetrical with medial triangular tooth, apex unmodified. Venter: Prosternum with small, obtuse projection behind procoxae. Metasternum setose with long setae, without pruinosity. Abdominal sternites shiny without pruinosity, surface with scattered setae. Pygidium: Surface convex; moderately punctate with large, well-defined punctures; sparsely setose; shiny without pruinosity; color tan. Male genitalia: As in Figs. 12–13.
Variation. Male length 19–22 mm, width 9–11 mm; female length 21–22 mm, width 11 mm. Terminal abdominal segment longer and more inflated in females than in males. Pronotal band generally darker and thicker in females.
Etymology. This species is named for the bladelike appearance of the aedeagal process: falcatus is Latin for “armed with scythes”. This name is an adjective in the nominative singular.
Distribution (Fig. 14). C U B A: H o l g u í n: Estación Ecológica, 20.48613°N, 75.79152°W (16); Parque Nacional Mensura-Piloto, 20.48275°N, 75.80745°W (2).
Temporal Data. May (18).
Remarks. This species keys to couplet 10 in Chapin (1932) but does not match the description
or genitalic illustrations of P. baracoana or any species resolved after this point in the key.
description: Published as part of Smith, Andrew B. T. & Paulsen, M. J., 2015, Ten New Species of Phyllophaga Harris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from Cuba, pp. 435-452 in The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (3) on pages 439-440, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065x-69.3.435, http://zenodo.org/record/10105922