Hoplopyga riparia Shaughney and Ratcliffe

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 : 628-630

Hoplopyga riparia Shaughney and Ratcliffe , new species

( Figs. 109–114 )

Type Material. Holotype male, labeled “ PERU: Loreto; Ucayali/R., Yarina Cocha / VI-22-1954 /leg. Peter Hocking ” and with JMS and BCR red holotype label. Allotype female labeled “ PERU: Loreto; Ucayali/R., Yarina Cocha / II-13-1957 /leg. Peter Hocking ” and with JMS and BCR red allotype label. Paratypes (1 male, 2 females) labeled as follows: “ PERU: Loreto; Ucayali/R., Yarina Cocha / VIII-6-1954 /leg. Peter Hocking ” (1). “ PERU: Loreto; Ucayali/R., Yarina Cocha / V-15-1957 /leg. Peter Hocking ” (1). “ Braz. Mato Grosso/Porto Velho / Rio Tapirape / X-1962 ” (1). All paratypes with JMS and BCR yellow paratype label.

Holotype and allotype deposited at FMNH. One paratype at CASC and two paratypes at UNSM.

Description. Holotype. Male. Length 15.9 mm; width across humeri 9.8 mm. Color of dorsum opaque, mottled, brownish yellow with fuscous clouding as follows: head with clouding on frons either side of middle; pronotum with clouding at middle and faint, black, M-shaped mark and narrow, longitudinal, brownish yellow band on posterior half of midline; elytra with clouding laterally, on raised costae, and from apical umbone to suture on each elytron. Ventral surface brownish yellow, shiny. Metasternum with reddish brown spot at middle. Mesometasternal process entirely reddish brown. Sternite 5 reddish brown along posteromedioal margin. Last sternite reddish brown on anteromedial and posteromedial margins. Punctures shiny. Setae tawny. Head: Surface with large, dense, round punctures, punctures becoming n-shaped and more dense on clypeus. Clypeal apex distinctly reflexed, subtruncate. Lateral margins of clypeus densely rugose. 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 large, dense, and n-shaped laterally. Lateral margins with bead from apex to 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, continuing to base near scutellum in 2 columns. 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, concentric, transversely vermiform punctures originating from midline and either side of midline, punctures with minute setae. Venter: Metasternum with large, dense, n-shaped and transverse, vermiform punctures either side of middle, each puncture with a minute seta. Mesometasternal process, in lateral view, subparallel to horizontal axis of body, moderately protuberant beyond mesocoxae; in ventral view ( Fig. 111 ), lateral margins expanding just before apex, apex broadly rounded. Abdominal sternites with small, dense, n-shaped punctures on lateral thirds, each puncture with a short seta. Legs: Protibia with apical tooth distinct, subsequent teeth reduced. Parameres: Shaft divergent between midpoint and apex ( Figs. 112–113 ). In dorsal view, lateral margins narrowing towards apices. Apices each with distinct, lateral spur.

Allotype. Female ( Figs. 109–110 ). Length 16.5 mm; width across humeri 10.4 mm. As holotype except in the following respects. Color: Clypeus shiny, reddish brown. Sternites each with reddish brown spot on middle third. Legs: Protibia tridentate, with second tooth closer to apex than basal tooth.

Variation. Male (1 paratype). Length 15.6 mm; width across humeri 10.0 mm. Females (2 paratypes). Length 15.8–17.6 mm; width across humeri 10.0–11.0 mm. Color: Male paratype with mesometasternal process reddish brown only on apex, metasternum with narrow, longitudinal, reddish brown line at middle. Legs: Protibia tridentate in female and male paratypes, with second tooth closer to apex than basal tooth.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the Latin riparius, meaning of or belonging near the bank of a river. So named because each specimen of the type series was collected near a river in Brazil or Peru.

Distribution. Hoplopyga riparia is known from Peru, with one specimen from Brazil ( Fig. 114 ). This species is represented by only five specimens, and additional collecting or museum specimens will better define the distribution of this species.

Temporal Distribution. February (1), May (1), June (1), August (1), October (1).

Diagnosis. Hoplopyga riparia most closely resembles H. liturata but can be distinguished by having punctures that continue to the base of the elytra near the scutellum. In H. liturata , these punctures do not reach the base of the elytra near the scutellum. Hoplopyga riparia is also larger (15.6–17.6 mm) than typical H. liturata specimens and has a mesometasternal process that widens just before the apex. Hoplopyga liturata is usually smaller than 15.8 mm, and the mesometasternal process never widens just before the apex. Hoplopyga riparia can be easily distinguished from other Hoplopyga species by its mottled dorsal appearance and the distinct form of the male parameres ( Figs. 112–113 ).

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

Figures

Figs. 109–114. Hoplopyga riparia. 109–110) Habitus of allotype female; 111) Mesometasternal process, ventral view; 112–113) Parameres; 114) Distribution.