Cyclocephala melolonthida Ratcliffe and Cave, 2002

Cyclocephala melolonthida Ratcliffe and Cave View in CoL , new species

Figs. 1 –2 View Figs , 5–6, 8

Type Material. Holotype labeled ‘‘ EL SALVADOR, Dpto. La Paz, Costa del Sol, XI­28–1976, V. Hellebuyck. ’’ Allotype and 9 male and 8 female paratypes with same data .

Holotype, allotype, and two paratypes deposited at the University of Nebraska State Museum ( UNSM). Remaining paratypes placed in the collections of the Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador ( MHNE) (San Salvador), Escuela Agrícola Panamericana ( EAPZ) (Zamorano, Honduras), U. S. National Museum ( USNM) (Washington, D.C., currently at University of Nebraska), Leonardo Delgado collection (Xalapa, Mexico), Ronald D. Cave collection ( RDCC) (Bakersfield, CA), and Brett C. Ratcliffe collection ( BCRC) (Lincoln, NE).

Holotype. Male. Length 10.2 mm; width 4.6 mm. Color completely testaceous. Head: Surface punctate, punctures moderate in density and size. Frontoclypeal suture weakly impressed. Clypeus ( Fig. 8 View Figs ) with apex parabolic, with marginal bead, weakly reflexed; surface with punctures slightly denser than on frons, vaguely rugopunctate, setigerous; setae short, tawny, moderate in density. Interocular width equals 2.0 transverse eye diameters. Antenna with 10 segments, club subequal in length to segments 2–7. Pronotum: Surface finely alutaceous, moderately densely punctate; punctures moderately large, setigerous in anterior angles and on sides; setae short, tawny, sparse. Base with complete marginal bead. Elytra : Surface finely alutaceous, punctate; punctures moderately large, shallow, most in discrete lines, some with setae (mostly on posterior half of elytra); setae short, tawny, sparse. Pygidium: Surface finely scabrous, setigerous; setae long, tawny, moderate in density. In lateral view, surface regularly convex. Legs: Foretibia (Fig. 5) tridentate, basal tooth reduced to an angulation, basal tooth slightly closer to middle tooth than middle tooth is to apical tooth. Foretarsus (Fig. 5) weakly enlarged: tarsomeres 2–4 each slightly larger than preceding and with small, ventral tooth at apex; 5 th weakly curved, about 5 times longer than 4 th, ventral lobe or teeth absent; median claw enlarged (about twice thickness of lateral claw), apex finely cleft, base with large, rounded lobe. Posterior tarsus (Fig. 6) twice as long as posterior tibia. Posterior tibia short, stout. Claws on meso­ and metatarsi long, slender, about 3/4 length of tarsomere 5. Venter : Prosternal process very short, narrowly conical, with long, dense setae. Parameres: Figs. 1–2 View Figs .

Allotype. Female. Length 8.3 mm; width 4.0 mm. As holotype except in the following respects: Head: Clypeus a little shorter, apex semicircular. Pygidium: In lateral view, surface nearly flat. Legs: Foretibia with basal tooth distinctly closer to middle tooth than middle tooth is to apical tooth; apical 2 teeth longer, more slender. Foretarsus simple, not enlarged. Posterior tarsus only a little longer than posterior tibia. Claws of meso­ and metatarsi slightly shorter than those in male.

Variation. Males (9 paratypes). Length 7.9–9.4 mm; width 3.5–5.0 mm. The male paratypes do not differ significantly from the holotype.

Females (8 paratypes). Length 7.7–9.1 mm; width 3.5–5.0 mm. The female paratypes do not differ appreciably from the allotype except that the setae on the pygidium are abraded away in two specimens.

Diagnosis. Cyclocephala melolonthida appears superficially melolonthinelike because of its slender legs and long tarsomeres (Figs. 5–6) combined with an elongate body form. This species is recognized by the presence of a marginal line at the base of the pronotum, small antennal club, parabolic to semicircular clypeus, presence of dorsal setae (especially on the clypeus, anterior angles of the pronotum, elytra, and pygidium ), slender and elongate claws of the meso­ and metatarsi, small prosternal process, lack of any dorsal pattern, simple epipleuron in the female, and form of the parameres in the male.

In Endrödi’s (1985) key to Cyclocephala species , C. melolonthida will go only so far as either couplets 143 or 151, depending on how you characterize the elytral setae (absent or sparse versus abundantly present).

Remarks. The habitat where C. melolonthida was collected is a mixture of sandy beaches dominated by sea grape ( Coccoloba uvifera (L.) Jacquelin; Polygonaceae ) and coconuts and small estuaries bordered by mangroves. The specimens were collected at the end of the rainy season.

Etymology. The body form and long, slender legs of this species are similar to those of many Melolonthinae , hence the specific epithet melolonthida .