Ratcliffe 1988, 2014

Ratcliffe, Brett C., 2014, A New Genus and Species of Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, other New Species of Cyclocephalini, Pentodontini, and Phileurini from South America, and a Revised Key to the Genera of New World Pentodontini, The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (4), pp. 663-680 : 663-680

Hemiphileurus Kolbe, 1910

The genus Hemiphileurus Kolbe was reviewed by Endrödi (1978, 1985), although numerous new species have been described since ( Howden 1978; Chalumeau 1988; Ratcliffe 1988 , 2001, 2003a –b; Ratcliffe and Ivie 1998; Ratcliffe and Cave 2006; Dechambre 2000; Dupuis 1996, 2004; Dupuis and Dechambre 2000). The genus currently contains 51 species. An additional new species is described here for a total of 52 species of Hemiphileurus . Ten species in the genus are restricted to the West Indies, 25 species are exclusive to South America, 16 species are found in Mesoamerica, and three species occur in both Central and South America.

In Colombia, there are now 14 species of Hemiphileurus with the description of this new species: H. blandini Dupuis , H. caliensis Endrödi , H. cornutus Ratcliffe , new species, H. curvicornis Dupuis and Dechambre , H. depressus (F.), H. dejeani (Bates) , H. deslislesi Ratcliffe , H. elbitae Neita and Ratcliffe , H. gibbosus Dupuis and Dechambre , H. hiekei Chalumeau , H. laticollis (Burmeister) , H. rugulosus Endrödi , H. variolosus (Burmeister) , and H. vicarius Prell. The genus continues to grow in number of species as new localities are explored and sampled and as unidentified specimens residing in research collections are studied. Compare Endrödi’ s (1985) listing of 24 known species at that time with the 51 species now recognized.

The genus is characterized by having species whose adults have pointed mandibles simply curved externally, clypeus triangularly pointed, frons with tubercles (usually) or horns (occasionally) arising far from the lateral margin of the head, pronotum usually with a longitudinal furrow but lacking an anterior fovea or strong declivity, and apex of the metatibia with a single, large tooth on the upper angle. Most of the species are moderate in size and range from 16–24 mm in length.

Our knowledge of the life history and habits of these beetles remains virtually non-existent. This is a result of the secretive habits of most of the adults and larvae. Adults may be attracted to lights at night, and this is where virtually all specimens in collections were taken. But until our search pattern for collecting goes beyond light traps (i.e., extensive excavation of rotting logs), many Hemiphileurus species will remain rare in collections.

The larval stages for only three species have been described: H. illatus (LeConte) ( Ritcher 1966) , H. dispar Kolbe (Ocampo and Morón 2004), and H. elbitae (Neita and Ratcliffe 2010) . Larvae live in decaying wood, where they presumably feed on the wood and associated fungi.