Zootaxa 4457 (4): 595–599 http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Copyright © 2018 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) Correspondence ZOOTAXA ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4457.4.10 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6E360D2D-C969-4593-B25A-56B7F6086479 A new species and new records of the genus Bolboceras Kirby, 1819 (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae) from India APARNA KALAWATE1 & OLIVER HILLERT2 1 Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Vidya Nagar, Sector-29, P.C.N.T. (PO), Rawet Road, Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra 411044, India. E-mail: aparna_ent@yahoo.co.in 2 Kieferndamm 10, D-15566 Schöneiche bei Berlin, Germany. E-mail: ohillert@yahoo.de The genus Bolboceras Kirby, 1819 (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae: Bolboceratini) currently contains more than 20 species, which are distributed from Lebanon in the Palaearctic region and eastern Africa through Pakistan, India, and Myanmar in the Oriental Region (Král et al. 2006; Krikken 2011, 2013a, 2013b; Nikolajev et al. 2016; Gupta & Chandra 2016a, 2016b). Krikken (2013a, 2013b) and Gupta & Chandra (2016a, 2016b) conducted recent taxonomic studies on the Oriental members of the genus. Species groups can be identified using the following characters: the shape of laterally rounded eye canthus with anterior protrusion, presence of interocular ridge, quadrituberculate pronotum, medially marginate pronotal base, elytral stria 1 not reaching the base, mesocoxae separated by a simple (non-hooked) meso-metaventral process, lack of grooves on outer side of last lamella of antennal club and limited sexual dimorphism (Krikken 2013a). Bolboceras species of the Oriental Region are divided into five species groups: B. inaequale species group, B. nigricans species group, B. perpunctatum species group, B. quadridens species group, and B. transversale species group. Krikken (2013a) based these species groups on the characteristics of the clypeus, pronotum, and male genitalia. In the B. nigricans species group, the perimarginal ridges of the clypeal surface are x-shaped or k-shaped in full-face view forming an anteromedian tubercle (Krikken 2013a). We described herein Bolboceras sahyadriensis new species, which is classified in the B. nigricans species group and is most similar to B. malabaricum Krikken, 2013 and B. bilaspuricans Gupta & Chandra, 2016. The specimens were collected in the northwestern Ghats at Bhosgaon Village, Satara District, Maharashtra, India using a light trap at night. The specimens were killed by ethyl acetate vapors, preserved dry, and later deposited in the National Zoological Collections of the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune, India. The specimens were examined under Leica EZ 4HD stereomicroscope, with photography facility. The male genitalia was carefully removed from the abdomen and slightly boiled in 10 % KOH up to 5–10 minutes in order to remove the adhered tissues and soft muscles. The removed genitalia were kept in separate vials (with same catalogue number) containing 70% ethyl alcohol. The terminology followed herein is after Krikken (2013a). The following acronyms are used for museum collections: OHCB, Oliver Hillert collection, Schöneiche bei Berlin, Germany; SJCP, Stanislav Jákl collection, Prague, Czech Republic; ZSI-WRC, Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune, India. Bolboceras sahyadriensis Kalawate & Hillert, new species (Figs. 2A–H) Type locality. Bhosgaon, Satara District, Maharashtra, India [17.229ºN, 73.952ºE, 731 m]. Type material. Holotype, male, labeled: “India, Forest Rest House, near Bhosgaon, Patan taluk, Satara district, Maharashtra (17.229ºN, 73.952ºE; altitude 731 m), 15 July 2017, Aparna Kalawate lgt.” (deposited in ZSI-WRC, catalogue number ENT-1/2916); paratype male, same data as holotype (deposited in ZSI-WRC, catalogue number ENT1/2952). Description of holotype male. Body distinctly convex, surface brown, elytra light brown and shiny; pronotum microsculptured basally, punctation distinct but sparse in anterior half; elytron microsculptured (Figs. 2A–B). Head (Fig. 2C). Labrum with slightly concave anterior margin; transverse ridge indistinct; lateral perimarginal ridge Accepted by A. Bezděk: 9 Jul. 2018; published: 10 Aug. 2018 595 of clypeus convergent to a single, anteromedian, weakly transverse tubercle. Perimarginal clypeal ridge distinct, kshaped; frons densely punctate; vertex distinctly but sparsely punctate; transversal interocular ridge straight, long (approximately 0.75 times of interocular distance), non-tuberculate, not reaching paraocular ridges, occupying approximately basal third of eyes, lateral slope distinct, crest equally developed. Surface behind transverse interocular ridge smooth with few irregular punctures; anterior edge of eye canthus regularly convex, surface rugopunctate, with distinctly pointed tubercle; paraocular ridge fine, almost straight, reaching beyond level of interocular elevation, but not reaching base of head. Pronotum (Fig. 2D). Slightly depressed anteromedially in lateral view; discoparamedian protrusions conically pointed; discolateral protrusions distinctly elevated; discomedian impressions distinct, deeply impressed, posteriorly evenly rounded; discolateral impressions distinct, shallow, rounded; finely punctate midline impression at basomedian surface. Base of pronotum finely micropunctate; pronotal punctures are of two types; first type of punctures larger, abundant laterally, anteriorly, and along margins, a clusters of 20–25 distinct punctures formed from edge of lateral (punctate) fovea on basomedian surface; second type of punctures are sparse and small; margin of base of pronotum distinct. FIGURE 1. Map of collection sites of Bolboceras sahyadriensis Kalawate & Hillert, new species (square), Bolboceras bilaspuricans Gupta & Chandra, 2016 (triangles), and Bolboceras insulare Krikken, 2013 (circles). 596 · Zootaxa 4457 (4) © 2018 Magnolia Press KALAWATE & HILLERT Scutellum (Fig. 2E). Triangulate, sparsely punctate. Elytra (Fig. 2F). With weakly impressed, finely punctate striae; intervals smooth. Legs. Protibia with 6 distinct external denticles, diminishing in size from apex to base; apex of terminal spur robust, tapering and sharp apically. Mesotibiae and metatibiae with distinctly elevated, transverse carina. FIGURE 2. Holotype of Bolboceras sahyadriensis Kalawate & Hillert, new species. A, dorsal habitus; B, lateral habitus; C, head, dorsal view; D, pronotum, dorsal view; E, scutellum; F, elytron; G, H, aedeagus. Scale bars = 2 mm (A–D, F); 1 mm (E); 0.5 mm (G, H). NEW SPECIES AND NEW RECORDS OF BOLBOCERAS FROM INDIA Zootaxa 4457 (4) © 2018 Magnolia Press · 597 Aedeagus (Figs. 2G–H). Parameres thin, strongly acuminate, divergent laterally, overlapped in basal part of aedeagus, reaching beyond paramedian aedeagal struts. Lateral aedeagal stalks robust, strongly sclerotized, finely hooked, recurved at apex; median aedeagal apparatus (upper lobe) plain, rounded anteriorly. Measurements. Body length: 12.3 mm, width: 7.6 mm. Head, length in dorsal view excluding labrum and mandibles: 2.2 mm, width: 3.7 mm; interocular ridge: 1.8 mm; ocular distance: 2.6 mm. Pronotum length: 4.5 mm, width: 7.4 mm. Scutellar shield length: 1.4 mm, width: 1.5 mm. Elytra, sutural length: 4.0 mm, maximum width combined: 7.8 mm. Genital capsule width 0.9 mm. Etymology. This species is named after “Sahyadri”, the Sanskrit and Marathi name for the Western Ghats where it occurs. Distribution. Known only from the type locality: Bhosgaon, Satara District (Western Ghats), Maharashtra, India. Differential diagnosis and remarks. The species of the B. nigricans species group are separated on the basis of characteristic perimarginal clypeal ridges. The clypeal ridges in males are convergent to a single anteromedian tubercle. The clypeal ridges are k-shaped or x-shaped in dorsal view. According to Krikken (2013a), the species in B. nigricans species group can be separated by characteristic x-shaped clypeal ridge (B. extraneum Krikken, 2013 and B. insulare Krikken, 2013) and k-shaped clypeal ridge (B. nigricans Westwood, 1848, B. malabaricum Krikken, 2013, B. mimicans Krikken, 2013, B. schulzei Krikken, 2013, B. bilaspuricans Gupta & Chandra, 2016 and B. darjeelicans Gupta & Chandra, 2016). The discomedian and discolateral impressions of pronotum are more or less deeply impressed (see Krikken 2013a). The pronotal impressions probably depend on body size. The allometric specimens show often only weakly developed characters. Among the species of B. nigricans species group, B. sahyadriensis is unique mainly due to its structure of aedeagus. The new species has a thin, strongly acuminate, and laterally divergent parameres that overlap the basal part of the aedeagus. The parameres extend beyond the paramedian aedeagal struts. The lateral aedeagal stalks are robust, strongly sclerotized, finely hooked, and recurved at the apex. The median aedeagal apparatus (upper lobe) is plain anteriorly. The basal genitalic capsule is broad. The closely related species, B. bilaspuricans and B. malabaricum have a similar structure of the aedeagus. The new species is, however, differentiated from them by the presence of strongly acuminate paramere tip that extends beyond the paramedian aedeagal struts; basal genitalic capsule broad. In B. bilaspuricans the tip of parameres are subangular, reaching just beyond the lateral aedeagal stalks, basal genitalic capsule not broad; whereas, in B. malabaricum, the parameres are acuminate and extended to the lateral aedeagal stalks; the basal genitalic capsule smaller. Bolboceras sahyadriensis is morphologically distinct from its close relatives by the presence of the long and non-tuberculate transverse interocular ridge, the evenly developed crest, the greater height of the interocular ridge; the slightly concave anterior margin of the labrum, and the indistinct transverse ridge. Conversely, the transverse interocular ridge of B. malabaricum is very short and tuberculate (medially raised), unevenly crested, height of the interocular ridge high; the labrum has a slightly concave anterior margin and the transverse ridge is distinct. The transverse interocular ridge of B. bilaspuricans is long and non-tuberculate, evenly crested, height of the interocular ridge is low; the labrum with slightly concave anterior margin and the transverse ridge is distinct. For differentiation of B. sahyadriensis from B. malabaricum and B. bilaspuricans see Table 1. New records of Bolboceras from India Bolboceras bilaspuricans Gupta & Chandra, 2016 Material examined. “India, Maharasthra, Wai, env. 3.–6.10.2005, 70 km S of Pune, L. Kantnerova lgt.”, 1 male (SJCP); “Dehra Dun, Juli [19]46”, 1 male (OHCB). Remarks. The species was previously known only from the Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh, India. The species is recorded for the first time from Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. Bolboceras insulare Krikken, 2013 Material examined. “India, Tamil Nadu Distr., Viluppuram Auroville, 12º0[0]’N 79º48’E, leg. F. Burger, 01.viii.–05.x.2012”, 1 male (OHCB). Remarks. The species was previously only known from Sri Lanka. The specimen cited here represents a new country record for India. 598 · Zootaxa 4457 (4) © 2018 Magnolia Press KALAWATE & HILLERT TABLE 1. Character matrix for the separation of males of B. sahyadriensis Kalawate & Hillert, new species and similar species in the B. nigricans species group Characters B. bilaspuricans Gupta & Chandra, 2016 B. malabaricum Krikken, 2013 B. sahyadriensis new species Clypeal tubercle Distinct, weakly transverse apically Distinct, angular apically Distinct, weakly transverse apically Transverse interocular ridge ~ 0.5 x the interocular distance Slightly more than 0.5 x the interocular distance ~ 0.75 x the interocular distance Position of transversal interocular ridge At middle of eyes approximately Between basal part of eyes Between basal third approximately Transversal ridge of labrum Distinct, well elevated Distinct, well elevated Indistinct, enclosed in punctures Discomedian impression of pronotum Deeply impressed Shallowly impressed Deeply impressed Discoparamedian protrusion of pronotum High developed Low developed High developed Discolateral impression of pronotum Deeply impressed Shallowly impressed Deeply impressed Tip of lateral stalks on median apparatus of aedeagus Hooked tips Hooked, recurved Finely hooked, recurved Body length Less than 9 mm More than 9 mm More than 9 mm Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to the Director of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata and the Officer-in-Charge (ZSI-WRC) for encouragement and research facilities. We are thankful to Dr. J. Krikken (National Museum of Natural History, Leiden, Netherlands) for providing relevant literature. The authors acknowledge Dr. S.K. Pati (ZSI-WRC) for critically going through the manuscript, photo-editing, and preparing a map. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Andrew B.T. Smith (Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada) for final editing and further improvement. The authors are thankful to the anonymous reviewers and Dr. Aleš Bezděk (Subject Editor, Zootaxa) for their valuable suggestions and constructive criticism on the manuscript. References Gupta, D. & Chandra, K. (2016a) Bolboceras bilaspuricans (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae), a new species from Chhattisgrah, India. Zootaxa, 4103 (3), 295–300. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4103.3.9 Gupta, D. & Chandra, K. (2016b) Bolboceras darjeelicans sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae) from Darjeeling, West Bengal, India with a key to its relatives. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 19 (2), 671–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2016.04.019 Král, D., Löbl, I. & Nikolajev, G.V. (2006) Family Bolboceratidae Mulsant, 1842. In: Löbl I. & Smetana A. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea—Scirtoidea—Dascilloidea—Buprestoidea—Byrrhoidea. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, pp. 82–84. Krikken, J. (2011) A new Kenyan species of Bolboceras Kirby (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae). Koleopterologische Rundschau, 81, 237–242. Krikken, J. (2013a) Oriental Bolboceras: introduction to the genus and taxonomy of the nigricans group of species (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 156, 35–56. https://doi.org/10.1163/22119434-00002018 Krikken, J. (2013b) Distinguishing Bolboceras inaequale Westwood, 1848 and two new relatives from India. ZooKeys, 276, 55–66. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.276.4786 Nikolajev, G.V., Král, D. & Bezděk, A. (2016) Family Geotrupidae. In: Löbl, I. & Löbl, D. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea—Scirtoidea—Dasciloidea—Buprestoidea—Byrrhoidea. Revised and Updated Edition. E.J. Brill, Leiden, pp. 33–52. NEW SPECIES AND NEW RECORDS OF BOLBOCERAS FROM INDIA Zootaxa 4457 (4) © 2018 Magnolia Press · 599