Popillia princeps Harold, 1878

Limbourg, Pol, 2016, Contribution to the knowledge of Afrotropical Rutelinae IV (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Melolonthidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 38, pp. 1-42 : 1-42

Popillia princeps Harold, 1878

(Figs 23-24, 27-28)

Popillia princeps HAROLD, 1878: 102 [described].

Costapopillia viridiaurata BENDERITTER, 1927: 60-61 [described, aedeagus illustrated].

Popillia princeps HAROLD, 1879: 51 [described]; KRAATZ, 1892a: 186 [described]; KRAATZ, 1892b: 303 [listed]; KOLBE, 1897: 172 [key]; KOLBE, 1914: 359 [listed from Albert- Nyansa]; OHAUS, 1918: 143 [catalogued]; MACHATSCHKE, 1957: 155 [catalogued]; MACHATSCHKE, 1972: 234 [catalogued]; KRAJCIK, 2007: 111 [catalogued].

Popillia (Eupopillia) princeps KOLBE, 1894: 215 [listed from Congo] 216 [phenology: from

June to July] 217 [Subgenus Eupopillia described for P. princeps ] 222 [described]. Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 New synonymy. Popillia (Costapopillia) viridiaurata MACHATSCHKE, 1957: 155 [catalogued]; MACHATSCHKE,

1972: 234 [catalogued]; KRAJCIK, 2007: 113 [catalogued].

TYPICAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. Lectotype ♀ of Popillia princeps Harold, 1878 present designation: Angola: [Pogge] [ princeps Harold, Malange ] [Type] [60079] [SYNTYPUS Popillia princeps Harold, 1878 labelled by MNHUB 2013] [Lectotype ♀ Popillia princeps Harold 1878 des. Pol Limbourg 2013] (MNHUB).

Paralectotype ♀ of Popillia princeps Harold, 1878 : [ Princeps Harol. Malange ] [Paralectotype ♀ Popillia princeps Harold 1878 det. Pol Limbourg 2013] (MNHUB).

2 Paralectotype ♀ of Popillia princeps Harold, 1878 : [ Angola int. bis Lunda-Reich, Pogge S.] [Type] [SYNTYPUS Popillia princeps Harold, 1878 labelled by MNHUB 2013] [Paralectotype ♀ Popillia princeps Harold 1878 det. Pol Limbourg 2013] (MNHUB).

Lectotype ♂ of Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 present designation: [HOLOTYPUS] [Musée du Congo, Katanga, Tshimbabanga, 27.III.1921, F. G. Overlaet] [R. Dét. R. 1282] [ Castapopillia viridiaurata BEND. Type ♂ E. Benderitter, det.] [Syn. de princeps Har. Selon Ohs. ] [Lectotype ♂ Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 des. Pol Limbourg 2014] (MRAC).

Paralectotype ♂ of Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 : [PARATYPUS] [Musée du Congo, Katanga, Tshimbabanga, 27.III.1921, F. G. Overlaet] [R. Dét. R. 1282] [ Castapopillia viridiaurata BEND. Type ♂ E. Benderitter, det.] [Paralectotype ♂ Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 det. Pol Limbourg 2014] (MRAC).

Paralectotype ♂ of Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 : [PARATYPUS] [Musée du Congo, Katanga, Tshimbabanga, 27.III.1921, F. G. Overlaet] [Musée du Congo, Katanga, Tshimbabanga, 27.III.1921, (F. G. Overlaet), Coll. Benderitter] [R. Dét. R. 1705B] [ Castapopillia viridiaurata Bend. Type ♂ E. Benderitter, det.] [Paralectotype ♂ Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 det. Pol Limbourg 2014] (MRAC).

Paralectotype ♂ of Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 : [PARATYPUS] [Musée du Congo, Katanga, Tshimbabanga, 27.III.1921, F. G. Overlaet] [Musée du Congo, Katanga, Tshimbabanga, 27.III.1921, (Overlaet), Coll. Benderitter] [R. Dét. R. 1834a] [ Castapopillia viridiaurata Bend. Type ♂ E. Benderitter, det.] [Paralectotype ♂ Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 det. Pol Limbourg 2014] (MRAC).

Paralectotype ♂ of Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 : [PARATYPUS] [Musée du Congo, Sandoa, 16.IV.1918, F. G. Overlaet] [R. Dét. R. 1282] [ Castapopillia viridiaurata Bend. Type ♂ E. Benderitter, det.] [Paralectotype ♂ Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 det. Pol Limbourg 2014] (MRAC).

Paralectotype ♀ of Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 : [ALLOTYPUS] [Musée du Congo, Sandoa, 1918, F. G. Overlaet] [R. Dét. S 1282] [ Castapopillia viridiaurata Bend. Type ♀ E. Benderitter, det.] [Paralectotype ♀ Costapopillia viridiaurata Benderitter, 1927 det. Pol Limbourg 2014] (MRAC).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. Republic Democratic of the Congo: 6♂, 4♀: Lomami, Mwene-Ditu, Doutrelepont ( MRAC) ; 1♂, 2♀: Shaba, XII.1995 ( RBINS) ; 1♀: Shaba, Koni, XI.1994 ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Shaba, Likasi, III.1988 ( PCKW) ; 2♀: Katanga, Zilo, III.1982 ( PCKW) ; 1♀: Katanga, Kapemba, 13km of Kazovu, II- III.2008, Leg. P. Oremans ( PCPO) ; 16♂, 3♀: Katanga, Kinda ( RBINS) ; 1♂: idem ( MNHUB) ; 5♀: Katanga, Kinda, 1927 ( RBINS) ; 2♂: Katanga, Kafakumba ( RBINS) ; 10♂: Kafakumba, III.1933, G. F. Overlaet ( MRAC) ; 4♂, 1♀: Katanga, Kafakumba, IV.1936 ( RBINS) ; 3♂, 3♀: Katanga, Kafakumba, VI.1938 ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Katanga, Kafakumba, X.1938 ( RBINS) ; 1♀: Bas-Congo, Mayidi, 1942, Rév. P. Van Eyen ( NHMB) ; 2♂, 11♀: idem ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Marungu, Cap. Storms ( RBINS) ; 3♀: Kivu, forêt d’Irangi, V.1972, A. B. Wabo ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Kivu, Kabare, 1950, Gilon ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Kivu, Nyangezi, 01.VII.1958, J. Hecq ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Kivu, Kitwabalezi, 1946, L. Herrinck ( MRAC) ; 1♀: W. Kivu, Kashusha, 1937, Vandelannoite ( MNHUB) ; 1♀: Kisantu, P. Goossens ( MNHUB) ; 1♂, 1♀: Kisantu, 1905 ( RBINS) ; 1♀: Kabolo à Molinga (Lubutu), 04.X.1929, A. Collart ( RBINS) ; 1♂, 1♀: Kituri à Lubutu, 02.X.(19)29, A. Collart ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Kituri à Kakolo, X. (19)29, A. Collart ( RBINS) ; 9♂, 6♀: Stanleyville ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Lualaba, Kamina, 1950, Dr. Buls ( MRAC) ; 2♂, 8♀: Lualaba, Zilo, II.1960, Dr. V. Allard ( MRAC) ; 6♂, 10♀: Léopoldville, Leg. De Heyn ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Lupweshi, III.1937 ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Lupweshi, VI.1939 ( RBINS) ; 6♂, 4♀: Luluabourg, 6.V.1939, J. J. Deheyn ( MRAC) ; 1♂: Lulua, Tshibamba, III.1933 , F. G. Overlaet ( MRAC) ; 3♂, 3♀: Lulua, Thepaza, IV.1934 , F. G. Overlaet ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Lulua, Kapanga, III.1933 , F. G. Overlaet ( MRAC) ; 6♂, 5♀: Lulua, Kapanga, IV.1933 , F. G. Overlaet ( MRAC) ; 1♂: Gandajika, III.1959, J. Decelle ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Gandajika, 16-30.IV.1959, J. Decelle ( MRAC) ; 1♂: Cabinda, 1938 ( RBINS) ; 1♂: Kasai ( RBINS) ; 19♂, 14♀: Sandoa ( RBINS) ; 1♀: Lemfu, VI.1934, Leg. Gromont ( MNHUB) ; 3♀: Kisantu ( MNHUB) ; 1♀: Lualaba R., 12.V.04, 2.500-4000ft. / Neave Coll. 1907230 ( MNHUB) ; 1♀: S. W. Albert-Njansa, Buessa, 12.VIII.91, Stuhlmann S. ( MNHUB) ; 1♀: W. Albert-Njansa, Bataibo a. Duki, Anf. XI.91, Stuhlmann S. ( MNHUB) ; 1♂: Bukonde /Hemptinne-St.- Benoit, 1912, P. Callewaert ( MNHUB) ; Angola: 1♂: Chianga, 01.IV.1960, E. L. Marçal ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Chianga, 27.III.1968, Passos de Carvalho ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Chianga, 13.III.1971, Passos de Carvalho ( MRAC) ; 1♀: Chianga, 08.IV.1971, Ventura ( MRAC) ; Zambia: 1♀: Abercorn, 04.IV.1944, H. J. Bredo ( RBINS) .

COMMENTS

The subgenus Costapopillia Benderitter, 1922 is characterized by the marked costae of elytra. Popillia princeps Harold, 1878 does not belong to this subgenus because this species is very variable, costae are sometimes marked or not.

DISTRIBUTION. Currently known from Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola and Zambia.

BIOLOGY. The species was collected nearly all year round, with data from February to November.