Revision of the genus Peltonotus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Southeastern Asia

Abstract

The genus Peltonotus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) includes 19 species that are distributed throughout Southeastern Asia. We describe ten new species of Peltonotus: P. adelphosimilis, P. deltomentum, P. fujiokai, P. gracilipodus, P. kyojinus, P. nethis, P. podocrassus, P. silvanus, P. sisyrus, and P. suehirogarus. We synonymize two names: P. morio sawaii Miyake with P. morio Burmeister and P. sakaii Miyake & Yamaya with P. similis Arrow. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: P. malayensis Arrow, P. nasutus Arrow, and P. similis Arrow. A neotype is designated for P. morio Burmeister. The name P. peninsularis Miyake was not validly described and is an unavailable name. The genus Subpeltonotus Ghai et al. is synonymized with the genus Parastasia Westwood (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). We discuss the contentious nomenclatural history of the genus which was historically placed in the Dynastinae (tribe Cyclocephalini) and the Rutelinae (tribe Rutelini or Peltonotini). We discuss characters that support the monophyly of the genus Peltonotus, comment on the natural history and distribution of species in the genus, and provide a key to species.

Synopsis of the cyclocephaline scarab beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae)

“…Morón and Ratcliffe (1996) transferred the genus Coscinocephalus from Cyclocephalini to Pentodontini based on characters of the head, mouthparts, and parameres shared with Orizabus Fairmaire, 1878. The work of Mary Liz Jameson, while focused mainly on the subfamily Rutelinae, has altered the concept of Cyclocephalini (Jameson 1998, Jameson et al 2002, Jameson and Wada 2004, 2009, Jameson and Jákl 2010, Jameson and Drumont 2013). Two genera, Acrobolbia Ohaus, 1912 and Peltonotus , previously classified in Rutelinae were transferred into Cyclocephalini based on morphological phylogenetic analyses (Jameson 1998, Jameson et al 2002, Jameson and Wada 2004).…”

Synopsis of the aroid scarabs in the genus Peltonotus Burmeister (Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae, Cyclocephalini) from Sumatra and description of a new species

“…Morphological characters used for species identifi cation (including puncture size and density, type of setae, form of male protibia, form of female epipleuron) are defi ned in Jameson and Wada (2004). Digital images of specimens and structures were captured using the AutoMontage imaging system by Syncroscopy.…”

“…Formation of specifi c epithets follows conventions in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) and Blackwelder (1967). Th e generic name Peltonotus is considered masculine in gender (Jameson and Wada 2004 Surface of frons and clypeus multisetigerous; male genitalia as in Fig. 21a-b; female epipleuron incised and with elongate-oval emargination at sternite 4 in ventral view (Fig.…”

“…Th e natural history, distribution, identifi cation, and history of classifi cation of species in the genus were reviewed by Jameson and Wada (2009). With the addition of the species that we describe herein, the genus Peltonotus includes 25 species, including the following species that are distributed in Sumatra: P. animus Jameson & Wada 2009, P. cybele Jameson & Wada 2009, P. gracilipodus Jameson & Wada 2004, P. sisyrus Jameson & Wada 2004, and P. talangensis Jameson & Jakl, sp. n. All species that reside in Sumatra are endemic to the island.…”

“…Th is is contrasted with our lack of knowledge for many species of Peltonotus in which identifi cation is complicated by the absence of associated male and female specimens. Overall, fi ve species of Peltonotus lack known males: P. kyojinus Jameson & Wada 2004 Little natural history information is available for the Sumatran species of Peltonotus, and most species are known from very few specimens and localities. Collection localities reveal that species are concentrated on the western side of the island (coinciding with montane habitat) and at elevations from 1000-1500 m. Specimens have been collected from February to April, June to July, and October to November.…”