taxonID	type	description	language	source
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFEC4FBB7FB2A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Antecessorirhyparus is distinguished from other genera of Rhyparini by the combination of the following: Body elongate, parallel sided; length 3.4 – 5.0 mm. Pronotal lateral margin sinuate, anterior and intermediate lobes weak; costae low. Elytral costal intervals convex, elytral costae only weakly higher than intervals; discomedial costa with postcostal bulb bearing a dorsal tuft of setae; with caudal bulb entire (not deeply notch dorsally in caudal view). Metaventrite lacking lateral depressions on disc. Abdominal ventrite 2 – 5 strongly crenate along broad anterior groove; with large triangular fovea on each side.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFEC4FBB7FB2A.taxon	discussion	Comments. Prior to this work, Antecessorirhyparus contained two species: A. octovirgatus (Schmidt, 1916) from Fiji (Minkina 2020 a), and A. papuanus Minkina & Jákl, 2024, that was recently described from Papua New Guinea (Minkina & Jákl 2024). With the new species described here, we can better define the generic limits of Antecessorirhyparus. The diagnosis above lists characters shared between A. octovirgatus and A. samoaensis, new species. However, several of these characters are not shared with A. papuanus, whose character states are shared with some species of Rhyparus. Based on this refined generic definition, A. papuanus is here transferred to the genus Rhyparus, becoming Rhyparus papuanus (Minkina & Jákl, 2024), new combination. However, R. papuanus remains an unusual species whose affinities within the broadly defined genus Rhyparus remain unclear. In several characters (larger body size, abdominal ventrites having smooth and narrow anterior furrow, abdominal ventrites lacking lateral fossae, dense pronotal punctation, low elytral costae, etc.), R. papuanus is similar to species with a modified female pygidium (Minkina et al. 2022, 2023, 2025). A female of this species may help resolve its relationships. As discussed by Minkina (2020 a), A. octovirgatus and now A. samoaensis, new species, share some characters with Leptorhyparus Howden, 2003 (Howden 2003; Minkina 2020 b; Skelley 2021), and Lioglyptoxenus Pittino, 2006 (Pittino 2006). While some characters (abdominal ventrite crenulation and lateral fossa) would indicate closer relationship to other regional taxa like R. guadalcanalensis or R. helophoroides.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFADEFF50F87B.taxon	description	Figures 1 – 4	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFADEFF50F87B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Antecessorirhyparus octovirgatus is distinguished by its small, parallel-sided body, length 3.7 – 5.0 mm (Figs. 1 – 3). Pronotum with paramedian costae straight and weakly converging anteriorly (Fig. 4); all intercostal areas flattened, dull, with only minute punctures; lateral margin weakly sinuate, lobes small. Elytron length two times pronotal length; discomedian costa with a caudal tuft of setae long; intercostal areas convex, almost same height as costae; and caudal bulb interrupting juxtasutural costa, which does not attain elytral apex.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFADEFF50F87B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Fiji (Viti Levu).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFADEFF50F87B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype female from Fiji, Viti Levu, is deposited in Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, labeled NHRS-GULI 000070205, and illustrated by Minkina (2020 a). A second female was examined: Fiji: Viti Levu, Mount Victoria, W. M. Mann (1 FSCA). There is no date of collection on the second specimen, but likely 1915 – 1916 (Mann 1921).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2DB478FF0FFADEFF50F87B.taxon	discussion	Comment. As expected, there is variation between the two specimens of A. octovirgatus, including the body size (holotype being larger), body color (holotype being nearly black), as well as subtle differences in prominence of costae, puncture sizes, curvature of caudal bulbs, etc. (compare Figs. 1 – 4 with illustrations in Minkina 2020 a). More materials are needed to evaluate these variations. They are within acceptable limits to consider these the same species.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	description	Figures 5 – 9	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Antecessorirhyparus samoaensis is distinguished by its small, parallel-sided body, length 3.4 mm (Figs. 5 – 7). Pronotal paramedian costae constricted on anterior third; anterior and posterior parts of paramedian costae parallel with each other (Fig. 8); median intercostal area with large punctures on most of surface and distinct lateral pits at basal third; lateral intercostal areas convex and shiny in posterior half, with only minute punctures; lateral margin almost straight, lobes indistinct. Elytron with length two times pronotal length; discomedian costa with a caudal tuft of setae short (Fig. 9); intercostal areas convex, almost same height as costae; and caudal bulb not interrupting juxtasutural costa, which attains elytral apex.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	description	Description. Holotype female. Body length 3.4 mm, width 1.2 mm. Elongate-oval, flattened, dark brown, glossy, appearing almost glabrous, partly clothed with fine, pale yellow setae on head and all longitudinal costae on pronotum and elytra. Head. Surface glossy, transversely sub-hexagonal. Clypeus trapezoidal in outline, anteriorly truncate, anterior margin upturned with obtuse, distinct tooth on each side of medial third, lateral thirds sinuous. Genae distinctly excavated anterior of eyes. Clypeocentral disc distinctly convex with two short and wide costae; peridiscal impression visible on basal half. Frons with four frontodiscal costate. Head covered by very irregularly spaced, fine to moderate punctures; all punctures with short, pale yellow setae. Pronotum. Surface glossy, widest in middle, with paramedian, discolateral, posthumeral, and submarginal costae evident. Costae on each side with very small punctures bearing very small setae. Paramedian costae constricted at anterior third, anterior and posterior parts parallel with each other. Discomedian costa distinctly interrupted by fovea on anterior third. Submarginal costa complete. Costal intervals 1 – 3 with large puncture near anterior margin, convex and costate in posterior half; interval 1 (median) between paramedian pronotal costae with numerous large punctures and distinct pores at basal third; interval between submarginal costa and lateral margin convex medially only. Lateral margin nearly straight, with indistinct anterior and intermediate lobes. Elytra. Surface glossy; each elytron with nine elevated costae and nine striae. Costae on each side with a row of very small punctures bearing very short setae. Odd numbered costae slightly higher than even numbered costae, corresponding to juxtasutural, discomedian, discolateral, and posthumeral costae. Elytral humerus at base of posthumeral costa bearing short macrosetae. Striae with large punctures, which weakly indents costal margins. Postdiscal bulbs at caudal apex of discomedian and discolateral moderately developed; apex of discomedian costa with short setal tuft. Caudal bulbs large, laterally truncate, not interrupting juxtasutural costa, which attains elytral apex. Caudal trichomes small. Venter. Surface weakly glossy. Metaventrite flattened, in the middle with distinct deep longitudinal median impression in posterior half, impression narrowing anteriorly; disc on either side with punctation large and regularly spaced, decreasing in size anteriorly and laterally, all punctures bearing short setae. Abdominal ventrites 2 – 5 with transverse anterior groove in which are large deep large punctures; laterally ventrites with 1 – 2 large punctures in shallow depression, rest of surface with scattered fine punctures bearing short setae. Abdominal ventrite 5 (last) with two large medial punctures, weakly longer in middle, with rather shallow furrows laterally. Pygidium with triangular fovea on each side of median carina. Legs. All femora weakly glossy, with moderately deep, distinct punctures; all punctures bearing very short setae. Mesotibia and metatibia weakly widened to narrow truncate apex. Mesotarsus and metatarsus with first tarsomere elongate, as long as next three tarsomeres combined.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Samoa.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. The holotype female deposited at NZAC: “ Aleisa Cave 1800 ’ / Upolu, W. Samoa / 2. IV. 69 A. K. Walker / cave entrance // Damp leaf litter / under large / tree roots // Aleisa Cave / # 183 // [yellow paper] N. Z. Arthropod / Collection, NZAC / Private Bag 92170 / AUCKLAND / New Zealand // [red paper] HOLOTYPE ♀ / Antecessorirhyparus / samoaensis Skelley / & Minkina 2025 ”.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Toponymic. Named for the country where it occurs.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F2AB47DFF0FF8F8FAA3FB59.taxon	discussion	Comments. Antecessorirhyparus samoaensis in western Polynesia, is presently the only known species of Rhyparini that is endemic and suspected to be native to Samoa. Two other species, R. helophoroides and R. rugatus, are widespread and suspected to have recently arrived in Samoa (see comments under those species).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F28B47CFF0FFACFFCE7FCA5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Hadrorhyparus shares many characters with Termitodiellus Nakane, 1961: body not parallel sided, posteriorly convergent. Pronotum relatively large, broadest anteriorly, distinctly wider than long; lateral margin explanate, lobes notably dorsoventrally flattened. Elytra appearing short, notably narrowing caudally; widest near base humerus; posthumeral costa prominent at base, often reduced or absent by mid length; caudal trichome reduced or absent. Mesotibia flattened, variably triangular, gradually dilated toward apex; blade-like male mesotibial inner apical spur projecting along the axis of tibia, not perpendicular to tibia (Termitodiellus - type: see Skelley 2007). The most notable derived characters that readily distinguish Hadrorhyparus from the morphologically diverse Termitodiellus are the greatly enlarged metathoracic legs, with modified and broadly triangular metatibia, and a reduction of the caudal bulb and trichome on the elytra.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F28B47CFF0FFACFFCE7FCA5.taxon	discussion	Comments. The derivation of the name Hadrorhyparus was not stated by Howden (1995). “ Hadros ” is Greek for well developed or bulky. The type species is large and bulky in appearance, when compared to more typical Rhyparus or Termitodiellus. Because of their smaller size and more elongate body, this bulky condition is not obvious in other species now placed in the genus. Termitodiellus has many diverse species, probably many are still undescribed, and is widespread from southeastern Asia and Indonesia into Oceania (Krikken & Huijbregts 1987; Jiang & Wang 2020; Minkina & Kakizoe 2020; Anichtchenko & Vasiljeva 2021), but none are known east of New Guinea. It seems highly possible that the geographically isolated Hadrorhyparus and Monteitheolus are part of a broader Termitodiellus lineage with more modified metathoracic legs. The most unusual character for Monteitheolus stated by Howden & Storey (2000) is a deep pit on each side of the central discal area of the head in which there “ appears to be a number of eye facets ”. These pits are present in all rhyparines but do not possess ocular facets. Studying the new photographs of the holotype (Fig. 15), the pits are obvious in the peridiscal groove, being similar to those of H. pecki, but no facets are visible. We feel this is simply a misinterpretation by the authors, and all other potential generic characters are shared with Hadrorhyparus. Hadrorhyparus vitiensis, new species has a mix of characters previously distinguishing Hadrorhyparus from Monteitheolus, as well as possessing unique characters (e. g., elytral trichome present). Upon studying the type of M. fijiensis, we find its metathoracic leg development to be intermediate between Hadrorhyparus and Termitodiellus. Instead of adding additional generic names to a highly derived tribe needing more detailed study at a generic level, our present conclusion is that Hadrorhyparus and Monteitheolus are similarly modified members of a broadly distributed and diverse Termitodiellus lineage. There are many undescribed new species of Termitodiellus known from scattered regions of Indonesia. Generic and species relationships within Termitodiellus need further study, after its known diversity is better described. For now, we consider these Fijian species, all with modified metatibiae and small to reduced caudal bulbs of the elytra, to be a single genus. Thus, we synonymize Monteitheolus under Hadrorhyparus and place our new species in Hadrorhyparus.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B47CFF0FFC53FDE1F92B.taxon	description	Figures 10 – 16	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B47CFF0FFC53FDE1F92B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Hadrorhyparus fijiensis is distinguished by its length 2.6 mm and width 1.3 mm (Figs. 10 – 12). Clypeal margin with weak fringe of setae; surface with deep peridiscal groove and pits (Fig. 15). Pronotal lateral margin with deep emarginations, with two distinct lobes (Fig. 13); submarginal costa lobe like, not reaching posterior angle. Elytron with dorsal intercostal surfaces medially smooth, glabrous and glossy, setae only near costae; submarginal costa distinct posteriorly, distinctly curving upward into small but distinct caudal bulb; trichome not visible in groove between discomedian costa and caudal bulb (Fig. 14). Metaventrite short, distance between mesocoxa and metacoxa less than or equal to width (long axis) of metacoxal; median groove is a rounded depression. Metafemur with posterior margin sinuate, with strong posterior marginal face entire length. Metatibia enlarged, dorsal (posterior margin) sinuate, not lobed, appearing simply twisted (Figs. 10 – 11).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B47CFF0FFC53FDE1F92B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Fiji (Vanua Levu).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B47CFF0FFC53FDE1F92B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype female (QMA, photo examined, Fig. 10 – 15, gender based on mesotibia lacking apical tooth): “ FIJI: VANUA LEVU: / Mt Delaikoro / 21 July 1987 / G. Monteith // Q. M. Berlesate No. 785 / 16.35 ’ S. 179.20 ’ E. / Rainforest 700 m / Sieved litter // [red paper] HOLOTYPE / [handwritten] Monteitheolus / fijiensis / Howden + Storey // [yellow paper] QM Reg. No. / T 46169 // [handwritten] Illustrated / G. Thompson / March, 1997 // [lavender paper] Photographed / Specimen ” (Fig. 16).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B47CFF0FFC53FDE1F92B.taxon	discussion	Comments. Of the three species here considered be Hadrorhyparus, H. fijiensis is most similar to Termitodiellus in body shape, with a broad pronotum having large pronotal lateral marginal lobes, and with metatibia slightly enlarged and only twisted (not lobed).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B471FF0FF8D0FCDBFD19.taxon	description	Figures 17 – 22	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B471FF0FF8D0FCDBFD19.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Fiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B471FF0FF8D0FCDBFD19.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype female (CNC): “ FIJI: Viti Levu, Navai / base of Mt. Tomanivi, / 1000 m., 22. VIII. [19] 78 / S. Peck, moss on logs // [red paper, handwritten] HOLOTYPE / Hadrorhyparus / pecki / H. Howden // [red paper, printed] HOLOTYPE / Hadrorhyparus / pecki / H. Howden, 1995 / CNC No. 22943 // [white paper, with blue border] CNC / 312433 ”. Two additional specimens were studied: FIJI: Viti Levu: Nadarivatu, 1000 m, 17. X. 1977, G. Kuschel, litter and wood, 77 / 120 (1 ♀ NZAC). FIJI: Vanua Levu: Savusavu Saddle, 500 m, 26. X. 1977, G. Kuschel, litter and wood, 77 / 129 (1 ♂ NZAC).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F29B471FF0FF8D0FCDBFD19.taxon	discussion	Comments. The mesotibial inner apical tooth of the male is not much larger than on the females. Observed subtle variations are based on a few specimens from different islands. More materials are needed to better understand the variations within the species, sexual dimorphism, and between the populations on different islands. For now, all are within the range of variation to be considered a single species.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	description	Figures 23 – 27	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Hadrorhyparus vitiensis is recognized by the more parallel-sided body (when compared with other species in the genus), length 3.4 mm (Figs. 23 – 25). Pronotal lateral margin explanate and weakly sinuate, nearly straight, without sharply defined anterior and median lobes; submarginal costa straight posteriorly reaching sharp posterior angle. Elytron with dorsal intercostal surfaces medially smooth, glabrous and glossy, long setae only near costae; submarginal costa distinct posteriorly, distinctly curving upward into distinct caudal bulb; trichome present (Fig. 27). Metaventrite long, distance between mesocoxa and metacoxa nearly equal to width (long axis) of metacoxal; median groove evident as deep longitudinal groove. Metafemur with posterior margin straight, with weak posterior surface visible only medially (Fig. 26). Metatibia enlarged, dorsal (posterior margin) with large median notch with large basal and apical lobes.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	description	Description. Holotype male. Body length 3.4 mm, width 1.3 mm; generally elongate, tapering posteriorly; dorsally glossy, ventrally weakly glossy; color red-brown. Head. Surface dulled, covered by rather regularly spaced, coarse punctures bearing short setae. Clypeus anterior margin gently, widely rounded to shallow emargination before gena, lateral angles indistinct; anterior margin lacking medial setal fringe; gena gently rounded, weakly protruding. Clypeocentral disc distinctly convex, ringed by a strong peridiscal impression, with weakly evident pair of anteriorly convergent costae. Frons with four weak longitudinal costae. Prothorax. Pronotum shiny, with six distinct convex costae and seven longitudinal intercostae, and prominent lateral margin. All costae on each side with row of minute punctures bearing short, fine setae. Paramedian costa reduced in anterior third, but not interrupted; converging anteriorly. Discolateral costae interrupted near middle. Submarginal costa reduced in anterior third, but not interrupted; straight, continuous sharply angled posterior lateral angle. Median intercostal (between paramedian costa) coarsely punctate, fewer punctures posteriorly. Other intercostae with two rows of coarse punctures anteriorly, lacking punctures and glossy posteriorly. Lateral margin sinuate; anterior and medial lobes weakly distinguished by shallow emargination, similarly weakly rounded; pronotum widest at anterior lobe. Elytron. Each elytron with six elevated costae (including lateral margin) and five flat intervals. All costae on each side with row of minute punctures bearing short, fine setae. Discomedian costa straight, similar development to slight caudal swelling (postdiscal bulb), which has patch of short setae, swollen end projects posteriorly to cover part of caudal bulb. Discolateral costa straight, similar development but gradually reducing in size to caudal end; costa with a small patch of short setae at apex, not apically swollen. Posthumeral costa prominent basally, reducing to fine carina at middle; fine carina continues to apex. Submarginal costa straight, evenly developed to apex, where it turns upward into caudal bulb. Caudal bulb almost circular in dorsal view, vertically elongate in caudal view; projecting to nearly reach apex of discomedian costa; with distinct trichome present between caudal bulb and discomedian costa. All elytral intervals medially flattened, highly glossy, lacking punctures; each side of intervals are rows of small setal bearing punctures. Venter (Fig. 24) moderately shiny, with microreticulation. Prosternal process well developed, posteriorly hastate. Mesoventrite with evenly distributed coarse puncture. Metaventrite flattened in middle, surface with evenly distributed coarse punctures bearing short setae, with distinct shallow median longitudinal groove; sides of median impression with flattened surface and rows of small punctures; anterolateral juxtacostal impression small, groove like; length between mesocoxa and metacoxa nearly equal with width of metacoxae. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites shiny, with weak microreticulation, with single transverse row of fine punctures, laterally with small depression; ventrites 2 – 3 very short, ventrite 4 longer, not a long as ventrite 5, ventrites 4 – 5 appear to be fused, surface of ventrite 5 with evenly distributed coarse punctures bearing fine setae. Pygidium in middle with weak Y-shaped ridge separating transverse depression on each side. Profemur ventral surface with large, dense, welldefined puncture bearing short setae. Legs. Protibia narrow with three small apical teeth. Mesofemur ventral surface with large, dense, weakly-defined puncture bearing short setae; posterior face broad, distinct from base to apex. Mesotibia somewhat flattened, triangular, expanding to broad flattened apex; distinct inner apical spur projecting in same axis with tibia, length almost equal to apical tibial width. Metafemur ventral surface with large, dense, weakly-defined puncture bearing short setae; elongate, swollen at apical third; posterior margin straight, with posterior face present only medially. Metatibia greatly enlarged; inner surface smooth, strongly concave; ventral (anterior) margin evenly curved, broad; dorsal (posterior) margin strongly sinuate, with large median notch separating large basal and apical lobes; outer surface with evenly scattered coarse punctures bearing fine setae, punctures become less distinct on apical half; apex broadly truncate and flattened. Male genitalia. Aedeagus was not dissected from holotype. Variation. Only the holotype male is known. Females are expected to have the mesotibial spur smaller than the male.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Fiji (Viti Levu).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. The holotype male (USNM): “ Nadarivatu, / Viti Levu, Fiji / W. M. Mann // [handwritten] with Triglyphothrix pacificum Mann. // Collection / W M Mann // [cursive handwriting in red ink] Aphodiinae / allied to Termi. / todius Wasm.? / (Krit. Verz. 1894) [referring to the publication describing Termitodius Wasmann, 1894] // [red paper] HOLOTYPE ♂ / Hadrorhyparus / vitiensis / Skelley & Minkina ”. There is no date of collection on the specimen, but W. M. Mann was a Sheldon Traveling Fellow of Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America) in 1915 – 1916, collecting insects that lived with ants in Fiji (Mann 1921).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Toponymic. According to historians (e. g., Schultz 1974), Fiji, is a spelling based on the pronunciation of island name by residents of Tonga. However, the indigenous people of “ Fiji ” call the islands, Viti, as in Viti Levu. We honor their name for the islands and name this species, “ viti - ensis ”, meaning “ from Viti ”, and by extension “ from Fiji ”.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F24B477FF0FFD0FFB10FC1D.taxon	discussion	Comments. The holotype of this species was collected with “ Triglyphothrix pacifica Mann, 1921 ” (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), which now goes by the name Tetramorium manni Bolton, 1985. The genus Tetramorium Mayr, 1855, is reported to be mostly predatory, but can live in cavities in logs, twigs, or in the soil. Such habitats are also occupied by termites, which might have been prey for the ant. Present information indicates Termitodiellus and possibly other genera are associated with termites. However, enlarged metatibiae are seen in some ant associated Histeridae (e. g., Terapus Marseul, 1863). These tibial modifications may be benefits that allow them to live with ant hosts. Since most rhyparine habits and hosts are unknown, different taxa may associate with differing social insects. Field work and appropriate observations will confirm if the hosts are ants or termites, or potentially both.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B477FF0FFC0BFC99F99F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Member of Rhyparini, with pronotal costae, hastate posterior prosternal process and distinctly modified elytra apex with bulbs and trichome. Body elongate, weakly to more distinctly parallel-sided body Pronotal lateral margin with anterior and median lobes present. Elytral costae raised and intervals flattened (distinctly different); caudal bulb present, if divided into small lobes, trichome not divided. Metaventrite surface smooth, lacking distinct discal fovea on either side of midline. Male mesotibia and metatibia with inwardly directed apical spine (Rhyparus - type tibia: see Skelley 2007).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B477FF0FFC0BFC99F99F.taxon	discussion	Comments. Rhyparus, as presently understood, is a diverse pantropical genus. Many members can be collected at light, others from leaf litter. Those that come to light can be common in collections because of this behavior. Their habits are poorly known and new, localized species are being discovered frequently (e. g., Skelley & Smith 2024; Minkina et al. 2025), especially in these remote, under sampled, island nations, and when more focused sampling techniques are used, e. g., litter extractions. The Rhyparus species discussed in this paper belong to more widespread complexes of species that require detailed revisionary work.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B476FF0FF98CFA36F87C.taxon	description	Figures 28 – 29	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B476FF0FF98CFA36F87C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. A member of the genus Rhyparus, distinguished by the length 7.0 – 7.9 mm (Fig. 28). Pronotum with triangularly prominent anterior and intermediate lobes; prominent pronotal carina; median intercostal punctation coarse. Elytral intercostae smooth; first elytral intercostal with two rows of punctures; large trichome on caudal bulb (Fig. 29); caudal bulb with lobes triangularly rounded. Abdominal ventrites 2 – 4 not (or weakly) crenate anteriorly with triangular fovea on each side. Mesotarsus and metatarsus with ventral surface densely pilose, obscuring surface.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B476FF0FF98CFA36F87C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. New Guinea (Stebnicka 1998), Solomon Islands (Minkina et al. 2025), and American Samoa.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B476FF0FF98CFA36F87C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (3 total). Holotype deposited in MHNG from Papua New Guinea and the following from the study region: American Samoa: Tuitula, Fagatoga, 10. I. 1964, N. R. Spencer (2 BPBM, 1 FSCA).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F22B476FF0FF98CFA36F87C.taxon	discussion	Comments. While similar to R. rugatus in many ways, R. breviceps is easily distinguished from other regional species by the obtuse clypeal tooth on each side of anterior margin, distinct lateral lobes on pronotum, smooth elytral intercostae; and large elytral trichome. See comments under R. rugatus. The presence of R. breviceps on American Samoa represents a very distant and potentially isolated population for this group of Rhyparus. However, these specimens are not distinguishable from R. breviceps, falling within a range of variation seen in materials from New Guinea and the Solomons. For now, they are considered R. breviceps, as there is a possibility the species may have recently migrated to the islands. See comments under R. helophoroides.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B475FF0FFF4EFBE4FD38.taxon	description	Figures 30 – 31	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B475FF0FFF4EFBE4FD38.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. A member of the genus Rhyparus distinguished from other species by the larger body size, length 5.9 – 7.8 mm (Fig. 30). Head with clypeal margin sharply toothed. Pronotal lateral margin strongly sinuate and lobed; costa low and straight; surface evenly coarsely punctate with punctures separated by a one or more puncture diameter. Elytral costae low, straight; discomedian costa with postdiscal swelling abrupt, bulbous; intercostae glossy, with opalescent sheen. Abdomen of female with apical ventrite shortened medially; female pygidium depressed into last ventrite, surface weakly carinate medially with truncate apex (Fig. 31).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B475FF0FFF4EFBE4FD38.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Fiji (Vanua Levu, Viti Levu).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B475FF0FFF4EFBE4FD38.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. A total of 28 specimens as cited in Minkina et al. (2022).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B475FF0FFF4EFBE4FD38.taxon	discussion	Comments. This is one of the species having modified female apical abdominal ventrite and pygidium (Minkina et al. 2022, 2023, 2025). See discussion under Rhyparus vanuatuensis, new species.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B474FF0FFD2CFDF3F8D1.taxon	description	Figures 32 – 33	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B474FF0FFD2CFDF3F8D1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. A member of the genus Rhyparus distinguished by the length 3.2 – 4.5 mm (Fig. 32). Body elongate, elytra laterally rounded, surface weakly glossy, dark reddish brown to black; pronotal and elytral costa well defined. Head surface with small, scattered punctures; anterior clypeal margin with obtuse tooth on each side. Pronotum with median intercostal area bearing scattered coarse punctures on entire surface; posterior half of lateral intercostae impunctate or with minute punctures; costa distinct along anterior margin; anterior and medial lobes on lateral margin distinctly triangular, prominent, anterior lobe slightly less prominent than median lobe. Elytra with intercostae flattened, each with two rows of large, deep, circular punctures, distance between rows of punctures narrow; trichome between caudal swellings of costae and caudal bulb small; caudal bulb rounded dorsally, with shallow depression separating weak internal and external lobes. Metaventrite with scattered coarse punctures on surface, distinct median groove and post mesocoxal pits present, lateral surfaces lacking fovea. Abdominal ventrites 2 – 5 with deep, strongly crenate anterior groove, ventrites with triangular fovea on each side; surface of ventrites 2 – 4 with fine punctures, ventrite 5 with scattered coarse punctures; ventrite 5 of male with strong median carina from anterior to posterior margin (Fig. 33), female with remnant carina on anterior half. Mesotibia of male with inner margin curved to prominent apical tooth; mesotibia of female with inner margin nearly straight, lacking apical tooth. Metatibia of male with inner margin swollen at basal third, then flattened or concave to apex, which lacks an inner apical tooth; metatibia of female with similar curvature, but much less pronounced. Mesotarsus and metatarsus setose ventrally, not dense, surface visible.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B474FF0FFD2CFDF3F8D1.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu (Stebnicka 1998; Ochi 2001; Théry & Bordat 2012; Ochi et al. 2021; Choi & Lim 2022; Anichtchenko et al. 2022; Minkina et al. 2025). To this list we add American Samoa and Samoa, and several islands from Vanuatu. This species was initially reported in Vanuatu [New Hebrides] as “ R. risbeci Paulian, 1934 ”, without a specific locality or island being named.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B474FF0FFD2CFDF3F8D1.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (95 Total). The following from the study region: NEW CALEDONIA: Northern Province: Aoupinie, top camp, 21 ° 10 ’ 44 ” S, 165 ° 18 ’ 10 ” E, 750 m, 3. XI. 2001, G. Monteith, mercury vapor lamp (1 QMA); Tiakan Beach, 21 ° 2 ’ 20 ” S, 165 ° 24 ’ 13 ” E, 5 m, 30. IV. 2005, G. Monteith, mercury vapor lamp (6 QMA); Southern Province: Pocquereux, near La Foa, 23 – 29. I. 2005, P. Jolivet, at light (3 FSCA); Pocquereux, near La Foa, 350 m, 27. I. 2005, P. Jolivet, night gleaning (1 FSCA); Farino Refuge, 21 ° 38 ’ 56 ” S, 165 ° 46 ’ 54 ” E, 220 m, 3. V. 2005, G. Monteith, mercury vapor lamp (1 QMA). VANUATU: Ambrym Island: 22. VIII- 4. IX. 1967, J. & M. Sedlacek (19 BPBM, 2 FSCA); Efate Island: Villa, VIII. 1950, N. L. H. Krauss (1 BPBM); Espiritus Santo Island: [no further locality] 2. III. 1945, R. W. Alrutz, INHS 850,485 (1 INHS); [no further locality] 6. III. 1945, R. W. Alrutz, INHS 850,478 (1 INHS); Cumberland Peninsula, low Penaoru River at 14.9611 ° S, 166.6331 ° E, 100 m, 27. XI. 2006, R. Kitching, ultraviolet light IS 100 B (sub) (1 FSCA); Cumberland Peninsula, low Penaoru River at 14.9611 ° S, 166.6331 ° E, 100 m, 25. XI – 1. XII. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 784, lights at camp, (1 CSCA, 1 FSCA); Tanna Island: Lenakel, 0 – 200 m, I. 1981, N. L. H. Krauss (1 BPBM); Pentecost Island: 4 – 5. IV. 1964, R. Straatman, light trap (1 BPBM). AMERICAN SAMOA: Tutuila Island: Fagatoga, 1. XI. 1963, N. R. Spencer (2 BPBM); Fagatoga, 4. XI. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 FSCA); Fagatoga, 30. XII. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Fagatoga, 10. I. 1964, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Pago Pago, 11. X. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Tafuna, 6. VII. 1964, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Tafuna, 22. IX. 1964, N. R. Spencer (2 BPBM); Tafuna, 13. X. 1964, N. R. Spencer (2 BPBM); Taputimu, 29. X. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 7. XI. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 5. XI. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 8. XI. 1963, N. R. Spencer (2 BPBM); Taputimu, 26. XI. 1963, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 4. II. 1964, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 13. II. 1964, N. R. Spencer, light trap (1 FSCA); Taputimu, 4. III. 1964, N. R. Spencer, light trap (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 23. III. 1964, N. R. Spencer, light trap (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 25. III. 1964, N. R. Spencer, light trap (2 BPBM); Taputimu, 24. VI. 1964, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 25. VI. 1964, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 29. VI. 1964, N. R. Spencer (1 BPBM); Taputimu, 13. X. 1964, N. R. Spencer (3 BPBM). SAMOA: Upolu: Afiamalu, III. 1962, R. W. Taylor, at light trap (1 MCZ); [Apia], Alafua, 6. I. 1970, P. A. Maddison, at light (1 NZAC); [Apia], Moto’otua, 11 – 12. XI. 1975, P. A. Maddison, mercury vapor light (2 NZAC); [Apia], Nafanua, 20. II. 1975, P. A. Maddison, mercury vapor light (1 NZAC); [Apia], Utumapu [road near Fagali’i Airport], 16. VII. 1971, P. A. Maddison, mercury vapor lamp (2 NZAC); Utumapu, 26. VII. 1971, P. A. Maddison, mercury-cadmium-zinc lamp (1 FSCA); Utumapu, 20. IX. 1971, P. A. Maddison, super actinic lamp (2 FSCA, 1 NZAC); [Apia], Viavase [road near Fagali’i Airport], 1. II. 1971, P. A. Maddison, at light (1 FSCA); Viavase, 10. IV. 1973, P. A. Maddison, super actinic lamp (6 NZAC); Viavase, 10. VI. 1973, P. A. Maddison, mercury vapor 500 w lamp (3 NZAC); Faleanniu [handwritten, Faleasiu?], 12. V. 1973, P. A. Maddison, super actinic lamp (4 NZAC).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F20B474FF0FFD2CFDF3F8D1.taxon	discussion	Comments. The three species here recorded from Samoa (A. samoaensis, R. breviceps, and R. helophoroides) extend the Rhyparini over 1000 km east from the nearest endemic members of the tribe in Fiji. Notably, the Samoan record for R. helophoroides is over 2200 km east of the previous record in Vanuatu, while R. breviceps is over 3000 km east from its report in the Solomon Islands (Minkina et al. 2025). Rhyparus breviceps and R. helophoroides are known from multiple island groups, that are widely separated from Samoa. Considering the collection dates in Samoa of both species, with none prior to 1960 and so many after that, it seems likely that one of two things may have happen: 1) a lack of collecting efforts in the region prior to the 1960 s, or 2) the species recently immigrated to the islands and established. During and after World War II, there was a strong allied presence and movement between islands in the lower Pacific Theatre. This included activities between the Solomon Islands, Samoa, and many island nations between. Being described four times in various regions may illustrate the movement of R. helophoroides and its recognition after arrival. Most species of Rhyparus are usually more regionally restricted. Other inquilines with social insects are known to have followed their hosts or to possibly shift to native hosts after arrival. Two examples of inquiline Coleoptera immigrations into the North America are Martineziana dutertrei (Chalumeau, 1983) (Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae; Woodruff 1973) and Trichoideus desjardinsi Guérin-Méneville, 1838 (Endomychidae: Pleganophorinae; Skelley & Burgess 1995). These facts would indicate that R. breviceps and R. helophoroides could have recently migrated with human help and are not native to Samoa. Although not presently known from Fiji, R. helophoroides is expected to be found there and on other islands in the region.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3EB46AFF0FFF4EFDB1FE6E.taxon	description	Figures 34 – 39	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3EB46AFF0FFF4EFDB1FE6E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. A member of the genus Rhyparus, distinguished by the larger body size, length 6.0 – 7.5 mm (Figs. 34 – 38). Pronotum with triangularly prominent lateral anterior and intermediate lobes; costa prominent, carinate; median intercostal punctation coarse. Elytra with intercostae strongly rugose; first elytral intercosta with three rows of punctures (rarely two, often obscured by rugosity); small trichome on prominent caudal bulb which has two sharply defined external lobes (Figs. 34 – 35, 37). Mesotarsus and metatarsus with ventral surface densely pilose, hiding surface. Male genitalia with basal piece about four times longer than parameres (Fig. 38). Known only from Vanuatu.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3EB46AFF0FFF4EFDB1FE6E.taxon	description	Redescription. Body large, length 6.0 – 7.5 mm, width 2.3 – 2.7 mm; black, dulled. Head with clypeal anterior margin on each side obtusely angled; gena distinct; centroclypeal disc with indistinct punctures, bearing two short, weak longitudinal ridge at middle; frontal costa distinct. Pronotal and elytral costae distinctly raised, sharply defined; in lateral view, slightly undulating. Pronotum with paramedian costae convergent and less distinct at mid-length; median intercostae with large irregular punctures occupying most of surface; more lateral intercostal lacking distinct punctures on posterior half; lateral margin bearing distinct triangular anterior and medial lobes. Elytra with intercostae somewhat flattened, strongly rugose; first intercosta usually with three (rarely two) rows of punctures; second, third and fourth intercostae with two rows of punctures; third (humeral) intercostal lacking costal remnant at base); discomedial costa weakly swollen at caudal end, which has a small patch of short setae; caudal bulb with two distinct, conical prominent lobes, one at posterior end of submarginal costa and one posterior of discomedian costa; caudal trichome small, trichome on anterior margin of caudal bulb notably smaller than bulb; surface posterior to caudal bulb with single row of very large punctures, separate by distinct longitudinal carinae. Venter. Metaventrite smooth, surface with coarse punctures; median longitudinal groove narrow, with weak longitudinal ridges on each side. Abdomen with ventrites coarsely punctate, each with distinct triangular fovea on each side. Abdominal ventrites 2 – 3 smooth or weakly crenate along anterior groove; ventrite 4 moderately crenate; ventrite 5 with anterior groove very deep, slightly widest medially, strongly crenate deep in groove, surface of male with short weak median carina anteriorly. Pygidium of male and female, with strong median carina and deep triangular fossae on each side. Legs. Profemur with ventral surfaced coarsely deeply punctate, mesofemur and metafemur each less coarsely punctate; mesofemur with two teeth on posterior margin. Mesotibia of male with inner margin distinctly sinuate, with distinct inner apical tooth; tooth lacking in female. Metatibia of male with small inner apical tooth. Mesotarsus and metatarsus with ventral surface densely pilose, hiding surface. Genitalia of male with long tubular basal section, paramere length less than ¼ length of basal section. Variation. The series available shows a lot of variation in the strength of the elytral surface rugosity. A few have the surface nearly smooth, most have the rugosity obscuring the coarse punctures. Some are so rugose that the coarse punctures are obscured. There is also variation in the number of puncture rows in the first costal interval, the majority having three rows. The lectotype shows an intermediate state between smooth and strongly rugose, and two or three rows of punctures. Other variation is notable in the shape of the lobes on the caudal bulb. Most are somewhat conical, some are more flattened, others (like on the lectotype) they are nearly cylindrical.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3EB46AFF0FFF4EFDB1FE6E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Vanuatu (Malekula, Pentecost, Tanna islands).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3EB46AFF0FFF4EFDB1FE6E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. The lectotype male (NHML, here designated): “ New Hebrides: [with orange underline] / Malekula, / Ounua. / Mar. & Apl. 1929. / Miss L. E. Cheesman. / B. M. 1929 — 343. // ♂ // [handwritten, cursive] Rhyparus / rugatus / Type Arrow // [handwritten] 238 // [QR Code label] NHMUK 013906235 // [circular label with blue outline] SYN- / TYPE // [red label] LECTOTYPE ♂ / Rhyparus rugatus / Arrow, des. Skelley / & Minkina 2024 ” (Fig. 39). Paralectotypes, two female specimens (NHML), both similarly labeled: “ New Hebrides: [with orange underline] / Malekula, / Ounua. / Feb. 1929. / Miss L. E. Cheesman. / B. M. 1929 — 234. // [handwritten] 232 // [circular label with blue outline] SYN- / TYPE // [yellow label] PARALECTOTYPE / Rhyparus rugatus / Arrow, des. Skelley / & Minkina 2024 ”. They have QR Code labels “ NHMUK 016194810 ” and “ NHMUK 016194811 ”. Other materials (61 total). Vanuatu [New Hebrides]: Tanna Island, Lenakel, 0 – 150 m, I. 1977, N. L. H. Krauss, Coll., Bishop Museum, Acc. # 1977.81 (1 BPBM); Tanna Island, Lenakel, 0 – 200 m, III. 1980, N. L. H. Krauss, Coll., Bishop Museum, Acc. # 1980.128 (6 BPBM, 2 FSCA); Pentecost Island, 4 – 5. IV. 1964, R. Straatman, light trap (37 BPBM, 4 CMNC, 7 FSCA, 4 ISEA).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3EB46AFF0FFF4EFDB1FE6E.taxon	discussion	Comments. Arrow (1935) stated studying three specimens when he described R. rugatus, but did not designate a holotype. To stabilize nomenclature to a single specimen, we here designate the illustrated syntype (Figs. 34 – 38) as the lectotype of R. rugatus. There are two paralectotypes from the same collection. Rhyparus rugatus belongs to a complex of species that needs revision. To help with this future work, we redescribe, illustrate, and designate a lectotype for R. rugatus. Stebnicka (1998) stated R. rugatus might by a synonym of R. breviceps from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (Minkina et al. 2025). However, she had a limited number of specimens available for study. With the available series of specimens, we see that some individuals have variations where certain characters are similar to R. breviceps. However, none has the combination of all characters at the same time as seen in normal R. breviceps. These consistent differences and their isolated distributions warrant retaining them as distinct species.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	description	Figures 40 – 45	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Rhyparus vanuatuensis is distinguished from other species in the genus by its larger body size, length 5.7 – 6.6 mm (Figs. 40 – 42). Head with clypeal margin sharply toothed. Pronotum with lateral margin sinuate and weakly lobed; costa low and straight; surface evenly coarsely and densely punctate. Elytra with costae low, somewhat flattened, straight; costae with rows of long setae on each side (rubbed off on a few); intercostal 3 with a basal remnant of a costa; intercostal 3 with reduced third, medial row of punctures; discomedial costa gradually widening at caudal apex, not bulbous; juxtasutural costa in lateral view angled at apex. Abdominal ventrites lacking triangular fossa on each side; female last abdominal ventrite shortened medially; female pygidium depressed into last ventrite, surface weakly carinate medially with acute apex (Fig. 43).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	description	Description. Holotype female. Length 5.7 mm, width 1.8 mm. Elongate, parallel sided, flattened, dark brown, surface generally dulled, partly clothed with fine, pale yellow setae on head and all longitudinal costae on pronotum and elytra. Head. Surface glossy, transversely sub-hexagonal. Clypeus trapezoidal in outline, anteriorly truncate in anterior view, concave between teeth in dorsal view; anterior margin upturned with sharp tooth on each side of medial third, lateral thirds concave to obtuse tooth anterior of clypeogenal junction. Gena prominent lobe laterally, distinctly excavated anterior of eyes. Clypeocentral disc convex with two short costae evident only as small tubercles visible in dorsal view; peridiscal impression strong basally, weak anteriorly. Frons with four short, distinct frontodiscal costae. Head covered with moderate to coarse punctures; coarse punctures at base of head, smaller punctures on clypeocentral disc; punctures with short, pale yellow setae. Pronotum. Surface dulled, costae glossy, widest in middle, with paramedian, discolateral, posthumeral, and submarginal costae distinct. Costae on each side with very small punctures bearing very small setae. Paramedian costae complete, most prominent at anterior margin, slightly reducing in prominence at weak constriction near anterior third, distinct and weakly diverging to posterior margin. Discomedian costa nearly straight, distinctly interrupted by fovea on anterior third, present at anterior margin. Submarginal costa complete, sinuate. All costal intervals equally, coarsely, densely punctured; puncture separated by half a diameter or less, rarely with flattened area in between. Lateral margin complete, sinuate with weakly produced anterior and intermediate lobes. Elytra. Surface with costae somewhat glossy, flattened intervals dulled; each elytron with five elevated costae separated by five flattened intervals. Costae moderately convex, low, not sharply convex; on each side with a row of very small punctures bearing long setae. Juxtasutural costa complete from base to apex, prominent behind caudal bulbs, angled ventrally. Discomedian costa straight from base to apex; gradually swelling at apex to small postdiscal bulb that has a weak tuft of setae at dorsal apex. Discolateral and posthumeral costae narrow entire length, curving inward at apex into trichome; basally a short accessory costa over humerus between discolateral and posthumeral costae. Submarginal costa narrow entire length turning inward to caudal bulb. Elytral humerus at base of posthumeral costa bearing punctures with short setae. Striae with large punctures, within a strial punctures separated from each other by a diameter or less, between striae in the flattened interval separated by a puncture diameter or slightly more; punctures weakly crenating costal margins. Costal intervals flattened, dulled, with large strial puncture appearing somewhat rugose; first and second costa interval with two strial puncture rows and few randomly scattered smaller punctures on interval; third costal interval between discolateral and posthumeral costae with two strial puncture rows and a third smaller row on interval, third row begins basally at the remnant accessory costa with punctures becoming gradually smaller as progressing posteriorly nearly to caudal trichomes; fourth costal interval with two strial puncture rows and randomly scattered puncture on interval basally, punctures becoming smaller and stop at apical quarter where interval becomes glossy to trichome. Caudal trichomes small, narrowed. Caudal bulbs large, laterally truncate, transverse, in dorsal view strongly rounded laterally and curving posteriorly to blunt point medially, broadly rounded dorsally in posterior view; upper part of bulb glossy with minute puncture, posteriorly with coarse punctures, surface between bulb and caudal margin strongly alutaceous with large punctures. Venter. Surface weakly glossy, with abdomen dulled. Metaventrite flattened, in the middle with distinct deep longitudinal median impression in posterior third, impression narrowing anteriorly; disc on either side with punctation large and regularly spaced more than one diameter apart, decreasing in size anteriorly and laterally, all punctures bearing short setae. Abdominal ventrites 2 – 4 with narrow transverse anterior groove that is smoothly margined and lacking large punctures; laterally ventrites lacking triangular depression on each side, rest of surface with scattered moderate punctures bearing short setae. Terminal abdominal ventrite shortened medially, with large anterior groove narrowed medially. Pygidium depressed, held on longitudinal axis with body; with complete central carina, ending with acute, triangular apex. Legs. All femora weakly glossy, with moderately deep, distinct punctures; all punctures bearing very short setae. Mesofemur robust, with posterior margin bearing a single blunt angulation at middle. Metafemur narrow, moderately widened at apical third. Protibial with inner apical tooth not projecting medially. Mesotibia and metatibia lacking inner apical tooth and concave inner margin. Allotype male. Body length 6.5 mm, width 2.1 mm. Abdominal ventrite 5 (last) as long as preceding two ventrites medially; surface evenly coarsely punctured, punctures separated by one diameter; medially with small carina on anterior half, ending at anterior margin which has a narrow, puncture filled groove extending to lateral margin. Pygidium with central carina weak, but complete, basally with ridges extending laterally to form base of transversely elongate fovea on each side of median carina. Protibia with tridentate apex; inner apical tooth projecting medially; medial margin concave in apical third. Mesotibia with apex truncate; large medially projecting tooth on inner apical angle; inner margin concave in apical third. Metatibia weakly widened to truncate apex; large medially projecting tooth on inner apical angle; inner margin weakly concave in apical third. Mesotarsomere 1 as long as mesotarsomeres 2 – 4 combined. Metatarsomere 1 as long as metatarsomeres 2 – 5 combined. Male genitalia with basal piece long (Figs. 44 – 45); parameres short, rounded in caudal view, length a fifth of basal piece length. Variation. Length 5.7 – 6.6 mm, width 1.8 – 2.1 mm. The accessory costa over humerus is obsolete in some, hidden in coarse punctation. The dorsal punctation varies a little in size and number. The pronotal punctation is always dense, coalescing in some.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Vanuatu (Espiritus Santo Island).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype female and allotype male (FSCA): “ VANUATU: Espiritus Santo I. / Cumberland Peninsula, / Saratsi Range at 14.9657 ° S / 166.6521 ° E. 700 m. Flight / intercept FL 7 A- 4. 30. xi- 1 - xii. / 2006. A. K. Tischenkin, AT 827 / ”. Holotype with additional label on red paper “ HOLOTYPE ♀ / Rhyparus / vanuatuensis / Skelley & Minkina ”. Allotype with additional label on blue paper “ ALLOTYPE ♂ / Rhyparus / vanuatuensis / Skelley & Minkina ”. Paratypes (24 total). All known specimens were from the same area: VANUATU: Espiritus Santo Island, Cumberland Peninsula, Saratsi Range at 14.9641 ° S, 166.6479 ° E, 600 m, 4 – 6. XI. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 606, flight intercept FL 6 B- 1 (3 CSCA); [same locality] 4 – 6. XI. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 607, flight intercept FL 6 C- 1 (1 BPBM; 2 CSCA); [same locality] 28 – 29. XI. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 806, flight intercept FL 6 A- 12 (1 CSCA); [same locality] 30. XI – 1. XII. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 822, flight intercept FL 6 B- 13 (3 CSCA); [same locality] 30. XI – 1. XII. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 823, flight intercept FL 6 C- 21 (1 FSCA); [same locality, different coordinates] at 14.9657 ° S, 166.6521 ° E, 700 m, 27 – 28. XI. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 801, flight, intercept FL 7 A- 1 (2 CSCA; 1 FSCA); [same locality] 29 – 30. XI. 2006, A. K. Tischenkin AT 818, flight intercept FL 7 A- 3 (1 CSCA); [same locality, same data as holotype and allotype] (1 BPBM; 1 CSCA; 2 FSCA; 2 ISEA; 2 NHML).	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Toponymic. Named for the country where this species occurs.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3FB46FFF0FF85AFB8DFA5D.taxon	discussion	Comments. Rhyparus vanuatuensis belongs to a complex of species readily distinguished from all others by the depressed female pygidium (Minkina et al. 2022, 2023, 2025). A female holotype was chosen because males are difficult to distinguish. However, both males and females of species in this complex share similar elongate, parallel-sided bodies; dentate clypeus; weakly lobed pronotal lateral margins; low, flattened, straight elytral costae; densely, evenly coarsely punctate pronotal surface; short accessory costae over the elytral humerus; metaventrite lacking discal depressions on each side; abdominal ventrites with narrow anterior grove and small punctures, and lack a lateral triangular fovea on each side. These species differ from each other in details of dorsal punctation, elytral costal development, female pygidial structure and other characters. The majority of species in this complex appear to have speciated on many of the isolated islands or island groups in Indonesia. Considering all of the species in this group, R. vanuatuensis shares an acute or narrowly rounded apex (not truncate) of the female pygidium with four other species. Three of these species (R. bacanensis Minkina, Anichtchenko, Vasiljeva, & Skelley, 2022 from Moluccas, Bacan Island; R. malaitaensis Minkina, Skelley, Jákl, Král, & Li, 2025 from the Solomon Islands; and R. obiensis Minkina & Jákl, 2024 from Moluccas, Obi Island) have the caudal apex of the discomedian elytral costa rapidly widening, almost bulbous apex, while it is gradually widening to the apex in R. vanuatuensis. The other species, R. argopurensis Minkina & Jákl, 2024 (Java), shares details of the acute female pygidium and gradually swelling discomedian costa with R. vanuatuensis. They differ in having widely separate distributions, and R. vanuatuensis having long setae on the elytral costae, while R. argopurensis has short setae. Additionally, R. vanuatuensis have lateral lobes of pronotum less distinctly sinuate, median caudal bulbs less distinctly developed with no sinuation between median and external caudal bulbs.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3AB46EFF0FF8D7FCD1FF64.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Type materials as cited and illustrated in the description of Minkina et al. (2025) from the Solomon Islands.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3AB46EFF0FF8D7FCD1FF64.taxon	discussion	Comments. This species also belongs to the complex of species where the females have a modified apical abdominal ventrite and pygidium (see comments under R. vanuatuensis). It appears that each island region in Indonesia may have a different localized species in this complex.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3BB46EFF0FFE93FCF4FD5E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Type materials as cited and illustrated in the description of Minkina et al. (2025) from the Solomon Islands.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
03EB87FF9F3BB46EFF0FFE93FCF4FD5E.taxon	discussion	Comments. While similar to R. helophoroides in many ways, R. guadalcanalensis are easily distinguished by pronotal characters and male sexual dimorphisms. Additionally, it belongs to group of small species similar to R. helophoroides where each island region in Indonesia may have a different localized species in the complex. They are endemics sympatric with the widespread R. helophoroides.	en	Skelley, Paul E., Minkina, Łukasz (2025): Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 5632 (1): 115-137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.1.6
