Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880

Qiu, Jian-Yue, Xu, Hao & Chen, Li, 2014, Redescription and distribution of the rare flower chafer, Periphanesthes aurora (Motschulsky, 1858) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), Zootaxa 3847 (2), pp. 259-266 : 260-261

Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880

Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880: 213 ; Schenkling 1921: 357; Krikken 1977: 312; Krajčik, 1999: 39; Smetana 2006: 303; Krajčik 2011: 21. Type species Macroma aurora Motschulsky, 1858 , by monotypy.

Bonsiella Ruter, 1965: 206 ; Mikšić 1974: 755; Mikšić 1977: 212; Ma 1995: 71; Krajčik, 1998: 17; Type species Coryphocera blanda Jordan, 1895 , by monotypy. Synonymized by Krikken 1977: 312.

Diagnosis. This genus is distinguished from all other genera of the Goliathini by the combination of the following external characters: body medium sized; clypeus subquadrate, flat; dorsal surface clad with dense, small, setiferous punctures; posterior margin of elytron serrate; mesometasternal process short, rounded, flat; each coxa and tibia with thick setae arranged in columns; 2 teeth along the outer margin of protibia.

Redescription. Body medium sized, oblong, widest at humeral umbone; dorsal surface matt, with dense, small, setiferous punctures; ventral surface with sparse setae. Head flat; clypeus subrectangular, anterior and lateral margins raised; anterior margin nearly straight, corners rounded; antenna with 10 antennomeres, club with 3 antennomeres; a row of short setae along inner margin of the 8th antennomere. Pronotum subtrapezoidal, widest near posterior margin; posterior margin nearly straight, with slight emargination before scutellum. Scutellum triangular, glabrous, sparsely punctate. Elytron gradually narrowed posteriorly; sutural costa convex, glabrous; apicosutural angle pointed; posterior margin serrated, a seta inserted behind each small tooth. Mesometasternal process short, rounded, flat. Abdomen with 7 sternites, 6 sternites visible, flat (male) or convex (female); pygidium arcuate, surface rugose, with numerous short, sinuous striolae. Legs slender; surface with many long setae and some modified into a thick bristle; mesotibia and metatibia with row of brush-like setae along the inner margin; protibia slender with 2 teeth on outer margin (both sexes).

Sexual dimorphism. Both sexes look similar, but females have a larger body, broader protibia and convex abdomen.

Distribution. Palaearctic and Oriental Regions.

Remarks. The monotypic genus Periphanest hes was proposed by Kraatz (1880) for Macroma aurora Motschulsky, 1858 , but the generic characters were given based only on Motschulsky’s original description within a habitus illustration. The clypeus of M. aurora seems appears rounded in Motschulsky’s inexact illustration ( Fig. 14 ), and resulted in Kraatz incorrectly describing the genus Periphanest hes as having a “Clypeus rotundatus”. Referring to Motschulsky’s publication, Krikken (1977) indicated that Coryphocera blanda is conspecific with M. aurora , and proposed to synonymize Bonsiella with Periphanesthes . However, lacking Motschulsky’s publication, Mikšić (1977) pointed out that Kraatz’s description of the clypeus is not identical to that of C. blanda . Besides, he believed that “ Amboina ” is the type locality of M. aurora which is far from the known distribution of C. blanda . So Mikšić suspected that they were different species, and rejected Krikken’s synonymization. After examining photographs of the lectotype of M. aurora , we can confirm that it is undoubtedly conspecific with C. blanda , and Bonsiella Ruter, 1965 is a junior synonym of Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880 .

Kraatz (1880) placed Periphanesthes near Macroma in the tribe Cremastocheilini , and this inappropriate systematic position was followed by Schenkling (1921) and Krajčik (1999). Periphanesthes decidedly belongs to the subtribe Coryphocerina, and the simple genitalia and the non-elongate proleg of the male resemble that of Heterorrhina Westwood, 1842 , Dicheros Gory & Percheron, 1833 , Pseudodiceros Mikšic, 1974 , Rhomborhina Hope, 1837 , Diphyllomorpha Hope, 1843 , Pseudotorynorrhina Mikšic, 1967 , Torynorrhina Arrow, 1907 , Euchloropus Arrow, 1907 , Ingrisma Fairmaire, 1893 , and Trigonophorus Hope, 1831 , etc. The sexual dimorphism of Periphanesthes is not pronounced. The protibia of both sexes have two teeth, while the protibia is smooth, or the middle tooth strongly reduced in the male of those genera listed above. The evenly and densely set setiferous punctures and the specialized setae are obvious in Periphanesthes , and the short, rounded mesometasternal process can easily distinguish this genus from Heterorrhina , and Dicheros , which are usually considered the closest to Periphanesthes ( Ruter 1965; Mikšić 1974). Based on all the characteristics discussed above, placing this unique species in a separate genus appears justified.

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 22. Periphanesthes aurora (Motschulsky, 1858). 14. Habitus illustrations in original publication (after Motschulsky). 15 – 19. Lectotype of Macroma aurora Motschulsky, 1858, female: 15. Dorsal; 16 Ventral; 17. Pronotum; 18 – 19. Labels. 20. Identification label of Ma Wen-Zhen for Bonsiella blanda (Jordan, 1895). 21 – 22. Habitat of adult (Mt. Qiandashan, Zhuji, Zhejiang, China, by Tiexiong Zhao). 23. Distribution map (inset map: type locality “ Amboina ”).