Hoplopyga ravida ( Janson, 1881 )

Shaughney, Jennifer Marie & Ratcliffe, Brett C., 2015, A Monographic Revision of the Genus Hoplopyga Thomson, 1880 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (4), pp. 579-638 : 626-628

Hoplopyga ravida ( Janson, 1881)

( Figs. 103–108 )

Gymnetis ravida Janson 1881: 581 (original combination).

Holotype male at BMNH ( Fig. 103 ), labeled “Type//Fry Coll./1905-100.//Venez// 18603// Gymnetis /ravida. O. Jans./Type// Gymnetis ravida Janson Holotype”, examined. Type locality: “ Venezuela.”

Description. Length 11.4–14.6 mm; width across humeri 6.7–9.0 mm. Color of dorsum opaque, orangish yellow with black clouding as follows: pronotum with clouding at middle, surrounding narrow, longitudinal, orangish yellow band on midline; elytra with clouding laterally, on raised costae, and from apical umbone to suture of each elytron, with black, J-shaped or reversed J-shaped mark on each apical umbone. Ventral surface with ground color opaque, orangish yellow. Metasternum reddish brown, shiny on middle or entirely reddish brown, shiny, with areas of orangish yellow clouding. Mesometasternal process entirely reddish brown, shiny. Sternites entirely reddish brown, shiny, except for orangish yellow, opaque, posterolateral spots on each sternite. Sternites 1–3 sometimes with orangish yellow clouding on middle. Setae tawny. Head: Surface with large, moderately dense, round punctures, punctures each with a minute seta. Clypeal apex distinctly reflexed, weakly emarginate at middle, weakly angled either side of emargination. Lateral margins of clypeus rounded. Antennal club distinctly longer than antennomeres 2–7 combined. Pronotum: Lateral margins obtusely angulate, appearing broadly rounded. Surface with small, moderately dense, round punctures at middle, punctures becoming large and n-shaped laterally. Lateral margins with black bead not reaching apex or base. Elytra: Surface of each elytron with 2 distinctly elevated, discal costae, lateral costa on each elytron interrupted and depressed on mediodiscal area. Depressions between costae with n-shaped punctures; punctures large, dense, arranged longitudinally in striae, not continuing to base near scutellum. Apical declivity with punctures reduced in density between apical umbone and suture. Lateral margins densely punctate. Sutural costae each elevated into longitudinal keel on posterior half. Apices at suture strongly spinose. Pygidium: Surface distinctly convex, with large, dense, n-shaped punctures along basal margin and in 3 columns, or with surface almost entirely covered by large, dense, concentric, transversely vermiform punctures. Punctures each with a minute seta. Venter: Metasternum with large, dense, n-shaped and m-shaped punctures either side of middle, each puncture with a short seta. Mesometasternal process, in lateral view, subparallel or at a slight, oblique angle to horizontal axis of body, moderately protuberant beyond mesocoxae; in ventral view ( Fig. 105 ), apex broadly rounded. Abdominal sternites with large, dense, shallow, n-shaped punctures on lateral thirds, each puncture with a short seta. Legs: Protibia in males with distinct apical tooth and subsequent teeth worn down. Females with tridentate protibia, with second tooth closer to apical tooth than basal tooth. Parameres: Shaft divergent between midpoint and apex ( Figs. 106–107 ). In dorsal view, lateral margins subparallel with minute bulge before apex. Apices each with minute, lateral spur.

Distribution. Hoplopyga ravida is known primarily from northern Brazil, with the holotype from Venezuela and one specimen from Trinidad ( Fig. 108 ). Additional collecting would help to establish a more accurate range for this species.

Locality Records. 15 specimens from the following collections: AMNH, BMNH, CASC, CMNH, CMNC, RMNH, SEAB, and USNM. BRAZIL (13): AMAZONAS (9): Manacapurú, Maués, Obidos, Tonantins. PARÁ (3): Monte Cristo, Óbidos. NO DATA (1). TRINIDAD (1): PORT OF SPAIN (1): Chancellor Road. VENEZUELA (1): NO DATA (1).

Temporal Distribution. January (1), May (1), August (3), October (1), November (3).

Diagnosis. Hoplopyga ravida is easily distinguished from other Hoplopyga species by its orangish yellow dorsum, the distinct, longitudinal line on the midline of the pronotum, and the orangish yellow spots on the posterolateral corners of each sternite. This species most closely resembles H. liturata but can be distinguished by the characters above as well as by the form of the male parameres, which are distinct for this species.

Natural History. Nothing is known of the biology of this species.

Figures

Figs. 103–108. Hoplopyga ravida. 103) Holotype from BMNH, dorsal view; 104) Habitus, ventral view of additional specimen; 105) Mesometasternal process, ventral view; 106–107) Parameres; 108) Distribution.