Hoplopyga suilla ( 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 : 634

Hoplopyga suilla ( Janson, 1881)

( Figs. 125–129 )

Gymnetis suilla Janson 1881: 581 (original combination).

Holotype female at BMNH, labeled “18[?]04//Venez.//Fry Coll./1905-100//Type// Gymnetis / suilla, O. Jans. /Type.// Gymnetis suilla Jans. Holotype”, examined. Type locality: “ Venezuela.”

Description. Length 11.3–14.2 mm; width across humeri 6.6–8.4 mm. Dorsal surface velutinous or opaque. Ground color of dorsum reddish brown, cinereous, or dark, greenish gray. Pronotum with black clouding on middle and narrow, cinereous band on midline (sometimes visible only on basomedian lobe). Each elytron with black clouding on costae, black spot on mediodiscal area, and black, J-shaped mark or reversed J-shaped mark on each apical umbone. Ventral surface entirely reddish brown, shiny, with ground color of metasternum often cinereous either side of middle. Setae tawny. Head: Surface with small, sparse to moderately dense, round and n-shaped punctures. Clypeal apex distinctly (males) to weakly (females) reflexed, emarginate at middle, weakly angulate or rounded either side of emargination. Antennal club slightly longer than antennomeres 2–7 combined. Pronotum: Lateral margins appearing broadly rounded. Surface with small, sparse punctures becoming n-shaped laterally. Lateral margins with bead from apical angle to basal angle or not. 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, moderately dense, arranged longitudinally in striae, not extending to base near scutellum. Apical declivity with punctures becoming sparse between apical umbone and suture. Lateral margins moderately densely punctate. Sutural costae each elevated into longitudinal keel on posterior half. Apices at suture distinctly spinose. Pygidium: Surface weakly to moderately convex in both sexes, with large, dense, concentric, transversely vermiform and n-shaped punctures, punctures with minute setae. Venter: Metasternum with large, dense, elongate, n-shaped, and transversely vermiform punctures either side of middle, punctures with long setae. Mesometasternal process, in lateral view, subparallel or at slight oblique angle to horizontal axis of body, moderately protuberant beyond mesocoxae; in ventral view ( Fig. 126 ), apex broadly rounded, with short, sparse setae from punctures at base. Abdominal sternites with minute, moderately dense punctures at middle, punctures becoming large, elongate, n-shaped or vermiform on lateral thirds, each puncture with a short seta. Legs: Protibia short, tridentate in both sexes. Males often with first and third tooth distinct, second tooth reduced. Parameres: Form elongate and narrow, shaft weakly divergent between midpoint and apex ( Figs. 127–128 ). Lateral margins expanding from midpoint to apex. Apices each with distinct, lateral spur.

Distribution. Hoplopyga suilla is known from Trinidad and Venezuela ( Fig. 129 ).

Locality Records. 12 specimens from the following collections: AMNH, BCRC, BMNH, JDGC, and RMNH. TRINIDAD (9): PORT OF SPAIN (2): Chancellor Road. SAN JUAN- LAVENTILLE (3): Maracas Bay . TUNAPUNA- PIARCO (4): Mt. St. Benedict. VENEZUELA (3): NO DATA (3).

Temporal Distribution. May (1), June (7).

Diagnosis. Hoplopyga suilla is distinguished by its small size (11.3–14.2 mm), sparse dorsal punctation, and dorsal coloration. This species is similar to H. liturata but has a dorsum that is entirely cinereous and black rather than brownish yellow. Hoplopyga suilla has a venter that is mostly reddish brown and shiny, while H. liturata specimens have the reddish brown, shiny areas restricted to the middle of the metasternum and abdominal sternites. Hoplopyga suilla has different parameres than H. liturata (compare Figs. 127–128 and Figs. 54–55 ) and longer setae arising from punctures on the metasternum and abdominal sternites.

Natural History. Specimens have been collected in traps baited with banana at elevations ranging from sea level to 250 m. We know nothing about the natural history of this species.

Figures

Figs. 125–129. Hoplopyga suilla. 125) Habitus; 126) Mesometasternal process, ventral view; 127–128) Parameres; 129) Distribution.

Figs. 51–56. Hoplopyga liturata. 51) Habitus; 52–53) Variation in mesometasternal process, ventral view; 54–55) Parameres; 56) Distribution.