Pattalinus Bates 1881

Pattalinus Bates, 1881

(Figs. 74–75)

Pattalinus Bates, 1881: 165.

Type species — Pattalinus charis Bates, 1881 (subsequent designation, Monné, 1995a: 118).

Lepturguncus Gilmour, 1961: 347. Syn. nov.

Type species — Leptuguncus (L.) mirificus Gilmour (1961) (original designation).

Lepturguncus (Lepturguncus) Gilmour, 1961 a: 347.

Patallinus (Lepturguncus); Gilmour, 1965: 587.

Diagnosis. Lateral tubercles of the prothorax coincident with the lateroposteiror angles or nearly so; antennae of males with internal spiniform projection in the extremity of antennomere V or VI; elytra without centrobasal crest or carinae. Number of species currently included: 3.

Remarks. Bates (1881) described Pattalinus for P. charis Bates, 1881 and P. cultus Bates, 1881 and commented: “The minute dentiform projection existing, in one species at the apex of the sixth, and in another of the fifth, antennal joint is of similar nature to that of the sixth joint in the males of Lagochirus [sic, Lagocheirus].” Still according to him, Pattalinus differs from Lagocheirus, Coenopoeus Horn, 1880, and Amniscus Dejean, 1825 by the “spined thorax and smooth surface of the body.” Curiously, he did not compare Pattalinus with Paroecus Bates, 1863. Paroecus was described for two species, P. ellipticus Bates, 1863, and P. rigidus Bates, 1863. Bates (1863c) did not indicate the presence of a protuberance at apex of some antennomeres as a generic feature, but indicated that in P. ellipticus the “tips of most of the joints [are] slightly thickened.” The presence of this protuberance at the apex of some antennomeres was not mentioned in P. rigidus, and it is not present in the specimens examined.

Thomson (1857) described Astynomus celebensis from Celebes. Thomson (1864) described Hysterotarsus and reported: “ Type: H. Batesii Thomson. / Syn.: Astynomus celebensis Thomson, Arch. Ent. I, p. 289 (Nomen propter patriae errorem mutatum.)”. He also indicated “Amaz.”, probably meaning that the species was from Amazonas or Amazonian region. The species-group name “ batesii ” is an unnecessary substitute name (ICZN 1999: Article 18), but available.

Paroecus ellipticus is a junior synonym of Paroecus celebensis (Thomson, 1857) (Lacordaire 1872). The syntypes of both has setae on elytral margins. Pattalinus charis, P. cultus, and apparently Paroecus rigidus also has no erect setae on elytral margins.

Gilmour (1961) described Lepturguncus and commented: “This new genus appears to be most closely allied to Lepturges Bates but differs at first glance through the fifth antennal segment bearing a strong broad hooked projecting process internally (in male at least), and, whilst being very like Lepturges in appearance, the elytra are a little noticeably swollen centro-basally, although very broadly and obtusely. The antennal process is similar to that in Alcathous Thomson and Xenocona Gilmour, but in both these genera it is present on the third, not fifth, antennal segment, apart from several other conspicuous differences.” Gilmour (1961) divided Lepturguncus into two subgenera, L. (Lepturguncus), with only L. (L.) mirificus Gilmour, 1961, and L. (Chaeturguncus), with only L. (C.) vittulatus Gilmour, 1961: “This new subgenus [L. (Chaeturguncus] forms a similar parallel in the genus Lepturguncus Gilmour, as does the subgenus Chaeturges Gilmour in the genus Lepturges Bates. It may be immediately separated from the typical genus, through the elytral margin bearing numerous short, stiff, distinct setae.” Gilmour (1965) synonymized Lepturguncus (Chaeturguncus) with Pattalinus, and considered Lepturguncus as a subgenus of Pattalinus. However, this was a mistake because, as seen above, the type species of Pattalinus has no erect setae on margins of the elytra. Accordingly, Lepturguncus (Chaeturguncus) is a new junior synonym of Paroecus (belonging to the group of genera with erect setae on elytra—see Monné et al. 2020), and Lepturguncus (Lepturguncus) is a junior synonym of Pattalinus. See new combinations in Parocecus below.