Marmarina argentina Moser, 1917

Iorio, Osvaldo Di, 2013, A review of the Cetoniinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Argentina and adjacent countries: systematics and geographic distributions, Zootaxa 3668 (1), pp. 1-87 : 49-50

Marmarina argentina Moser, 1917 , nomen dubium

Gymnetis (Marmarina) argentina Moser, 1917: 3–4 (description; distribution).

Gymnetis argentina Mos. : Schenkling 1921: 91 (catalog; distribution; reference).

Maculinetis argentina Mos. : Schürhoff 1937: 68 (distribution); Blackwelder 1944: 263 (catalog; distribution).

Marmarina argentina ( Moser, 1917) : Krajčík 1998: 80 (catalog; distribution).

Distribution: ARGENTINA (Schenkling 1922, Schürhoff 1937, Blackwelder 1944, Krajčík 1998); Corrientes: [type locality], C. Bruch leg. ( Moser 1917).

Note 1: The description of M. argentina fully agrees with the specimens of M. tigrina with more black than yellow color on the dorsum, venter, and legs ( Fig. 123–126 ), this variation not being restricted to a certain geographic area. Except in cataloges and/or lists ( Schenkling 1921, Schürhoff 1937, Blackwelder 1944, Krajčík 1998), M. argentina was never mentioned again after the original description by Moser (1917), probably because it is not possible to identify the species among the numerous individual variations of M. tigrina ( Figs. 114–128 ). The examination, illustration and redescription of the male type specimen of M. argentina are urgently needed for a correct identification of the species, and to reveal its taxonomic status and placement.

Note 2: A noteworthy point in the description of M. argentina is its small size (10 mm), smaller than Euphoria lurida (Fabricius, 1775) , and the smallest known specimen of M. tigrina .

Figures

FIGURES 114–128. General aspects of Gymnetini from Argentina: Marmarina tigrina: 114–115, orange morph (Corrientes: Santo Tomé); 116–117, pale orange morph (Corrientes: Santo Tomé); 118, Maculinetis litorea (lectotype, extracted from Ratcliffe 2004); 119–121, paler orange morph (Corrientes: Santo Tomé); 122, Gymnetis tigrina (lectotype, extracted from Ratcliffe 2004); 123–125, dark morph; 126, black morph; 127–128, pale yellow morph (Buenos Aires: San Blas).