Hoplopyga cerdani Antoine, 1998

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 : 597-600

Hoplopyga cerdani Antoine, 1998

( Figs. 31–37 )

Hoplopyga cerdani Antoine 1998: 70 (original combination).

Holotype male at MNHN, labeled “ Barrage de Petit Saut / Guyane 973 – 09/01/97/ P. Cerdan leg.//HOLOTYPE/ Hoplopyga /cerdani/ Ph. ANTOINE det. 1998”, examined via photographs. Type locality: “Guyane, Barrage de Petit Saut.”

Description. Length 13.9–15.5 mm; width across humeri 9.2–10.0 mm. Color of dorsum opaque, mottled, brownish yellow with small, dense, reddish brown or black spots, each spot enclosing a puncture. Pronotum with narrow, longitudinal, brownish yellow band on posterior third of midline. Ventral surface brownish yellow to brownish orange, opaque. Metasternum with a reddish brown, shiny, oblique spot either side of midline, sometimes with greasy appearance at middle. Mesometasternal process reddish brown, shiny at apex. Sternites each with small, dense, reddish brown or black spots, surface sometimes with greasy appearance at middle. Setae tawny. Head: Surface with small, dense, round punctures, punctures usually becoming smaller and less dense on clypeus, each puncture embedded in a spot. Clypeal apex weakly to strongly reflexed, emarginate at middle, angulate either side of emargination. Antennal club distinctly longer than antennomeres 2–7 combined. Pronotum: Lateral margins obtusely angulate. Surface with small, moderately dense, round punctures at middle; punctures becoming dense and n-shaped laterally, each puncture embedded in a spot. Lateral margins usually with short bead not reaching apex or base. Elytra: Surface of each elytron with 2 complete, weakly elevated, discal costae; mediodiscal area of each elytron with distinct protuberance. Surface with small, dense, round and n-shaped punctures, each puncture embedded in a spot. Apices at suture weakly spinose. Pygidium: Surface moderately convex with small, dense, n-shaped punctures, punctures each with a reddish brown to black border and a minute seta. Venter: Metasternum with large, irregularly spaced, moderately dense, n-shaped punctures either side of middle, each puncture with a minute seta. Mesometasternal process, in lateral view, subparallel to horizontal axis of body, weakly protuberant beyond mesocoxae, with short setae on anterodorsal face; in ventral view ( Fig. 32 ), apex broadly rounded or with sides tapering to rounded apex. Abdominal sternites with minute, moderately dense punctures at middle, punctures becoming large, dense, distinctly n-shaped laterally, each puncture with a minute to short seta and surrounded by a spot. Legs: Protibia tridentate, with second and third teeth often reduced. Parameres: Shaft divergent between midpoint and apex ( Figs. 34–35 ). Lateral margins with broad bulge between midpoint and apex. Apices each with distinct, lateral spur.

Distribution. Hoplopyga cerdani is found in French Guiana ( Figs. 36–37 ). There is one record from northern Brazil that is possibly erroneous, and additional specimens are needed to verify its occurrence there.

Locality Records. 59 specimens from BCRC, CMNH, DCCC, MNHN, and UNSM. Some data from Antoine (1998). BRAZIL (1): AMAZONAS (1): Hyutanaha ( Rio Purus ). FRENCH GUIANA (57): CAYENNE (51): Barrage du Petit Saut, Dégrad Kwata, Régina ( Montagne de Kaw , D 6, Pk 54), Roura ( Montagne des Chevaux , RN 2 Pk 22; Montagne de Kaw , D 6, Pk 38), Rue de Belizon (Pk 10), Rue de Kaw (Pk 47), Rue de Régina (N2, Pk 72.5), Saint-Élie (La réserve naturelle nationale de la Trinité, Zone AYA; Inselberg Hte-Kourisbo). SAINT LAURENT DU MARONI (1): Apatou (Pk 25.7) NO DATA (1) .

Temporal Distribution. January (18), February (12), March (19), July (1), August (1), October (2), November (3), December (5).

Diagnosis. Hoplopyga cerdani is similar in appearance to M. maculosa but can be distinguished by having an opaque venter in contrast to the enamel-like venter of M. maculosa . The mesometasternal process of H. cerdani is weakly protuberant beyond the mescoxae and broadly rounded in ventral view, whereas the mesometasternal process of M. maculosa is moderately protuberant beyond the mesocoxae and, in ventral view, has the sides tapering to the rounded apex. In addition, male H. cerdani specimens have tridentate protibiae, and male M. maculosa specimens never have tridentate protibiae. Hoplopyga cerdani differs in appearance from other spotted Hoplopyga species by having numerous, small spots covering the dorsum rather than the large spots characteristic of H. miliaris , H. miniata , H. pseudomiliaris , and H. multipunctata .

Natural History. Hoplopyga cerdani has been found in banana traps at 75 m elevation and at blacklights and mercury vapor lamps ( Touroult and Dalens 2010, label data). This species has been observed coming to the edges of light traps ( Fig. 37 ) around dawn (0530 to 0630) and then trying to hide when the sun rises. In addition, these beetles are reported to smell of mushrooms or mold when fresh. (F. Lavalette and P. H. Dalens, personal communication to BCR, August 2014, October 2014, and February 2015).

Figures

Figs. 31–36. Hoplopyga cerdani, holotype. 31) Dorsal view; 32) Ventral view; 33) Labels; 34–35) Parameres; 36) Distribution. Photographs courtesy of A. Mantilleri (MNHN).

Fig. 37. Hoplopyga cerdani habitat at Montagne de Kaw, Régina, French Guiana. Photograph courtesy of F. Lavalette.