Type specimens and names assigned to Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) d’Olsoufieff, 1924, the largest New World dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Phanaeini)

Abstract

Currently 13 species-group names assigned to the subgenus Megaphanaeus of Coprophanaeus are deemed available (or 'potentially available'), four of which denote valid species. In the present work we review the nomenclatural history of those names and conclude that two of them, Scarabaeus satelles Lichtenstein, 1796 and Copris ajax Sturm, 1826, are unavailable. For the other 11 names, we found type specimens of five, Scarabaeus bellicosus Olivier, 1789, Copris ensifer Germar, 1821, Phanaeus septentrionalis Pêssoa, 1934, P. vicinus Martínez, 1944, and P. vicinus var. argentinus Martínez, 1944. Two lectotypes are designated, one for Copris ensifer and other for Phanaeus septentrionalis. We were unable to locate the type series of the four names described by Castelnau (1840), i.e. Phanaeus ducalis, P. sylvanus, P. heros and P. miles, and of P. bonariensis Gory, 1844 and Scarabaeus lancifer Linné, 1767. For the latter, based on some iconotypes, we found that its type series was composite, including specimens of two different Megaphanaeus species, and, in addition, it was mixed with Copris ensifer type series. In order to fix the name to a sole species, a neotype is designated for Scarabaeus lancifer. The history of the names are presented in detail, and the application of these names to species is briefly re-discussed.

A revision of the subgenera Euhyboma Kolbe, 1893, Parahyboma Paulian, 1938, and Rubrohyboma Paulian, 1939 of Deltochilum Eschscholtz, 1822 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

“…According to Cambefort (2006), Gory's personal collection was scattered throughout different museums in Europe. Specimens from Gory's collection can be generally recognized by the presence of a small red square label handwritten 'G' attached to them (Maldaner et al, 2017). A specimen bearing such a 'G' label and that, at the same time, matches the definition of Hyboma brasiliense given by Castelnau (1840) in the original description ("Long.…”

“…The application of the name furcatum to this Deltochilum species from southeastern of Brazil and northeastern of Paraguay and Argentina has long been well established (Paulian, 1938;Vulcano and Pereira, 1964;Vaz-de-Mello et al, 2011) Remarks. As already mentioned, specimens from Gory's collection can be generally recognized by the presence of a small red square label handwritten 'G' attached to them (Cambefort, 2006;Maldaner et al, 2017). A specimen with a Gory's label handwritten 'G' and that, at the same time, largely matches the description of Hyboma rubripenne given by Gory (1831) ("corpore nigro-caerulescenti, capite thoraceque fusco-rubescenti; elytris sulcatis, rubris, posteriùs denticulatis, pedibus nigro-caerulescentibus, tibis arcuatis.…”

“…Castelnau (1840) also said that the material examined of D. furcatum was from Gory's collection. As already mentioned in remarks section of D. brasiliense, Gory's collection was scattered throughout different museums in Europe, its specimens being generally recognized by the presence of a small red square label handwritten 'G' attached to them (Cambefort 2006;Maldaner et al, 2017). Unfortunately, Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello did not find specimens of D. furcatum with a label handwritten 'G' during his visits to several European museums between 2013 and 2014, including at OUMNH or at any other museum examined.…”

“…; élytres avec une carène oblique, et partagée en cinq petites côtes, placée prés de l'extrémité"), and from the original type locality (Brazil) was found in OUMNH collection (Fig. 8A), one of the main museums where Gory's specimens can be found (Maldaner et al, 2017). Therefore, we are confident in considering this specimen a syntype and designate it as the lectotype of D. brasiliense in accordance with Article 74 (specifically 74.1.1 and 74.7) of the ICZN (1999), with the purpose of maintaining nomenclatural stability.…”

Nesting strategies and disease risk in necrophagous beetles

“…A previous report showed this fragment of Atlantic Forest to have a high diversity of Scarabaeinae (Louzada & Lopes, 1997). Some of these beetle species are geographically limited to few localities, but are present in this fragment, such as the necrophagous tunnellers Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) louzadai Nunes, Carvalho, & Vaz-de-Mello, 2016(Nunes et al, 2016, and Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) bellicosus (Olivier 1789) (Edmonds & Zidek, 2010;Maldaner et al, 2017); as well as the rollers Deltochilum (Hybomidium) louzadai González-Alvarado & Vaz-de-Mello, 2014(González-Alvarado & Vaz-de-Mello, 2014 and De. (Parahyboma) furcatum (Castelnau 1840) (Almeida, Corrêa, & Grossi, 2015), the latter of which was reported as the most abundant of these necrophagous Scarabaeinae in the first study of this community (Louzada & Lopes, 1997) and remains so to this day (VSF pers.…”