Euphoria areata Species-Group

Orozco, Jesús, 2012, Monographic Revision of the American Genus Euphoria Burmeister, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 11) 66, pp. 1-182 : 98

Euphoria areata Species-Group

(Appendix 3: Plate 5e–j )

Species in this group are distinguished by their quadridentate clypeus, antennal club longer in males than in females, base of pronotum rounded, protibiae tridentate in both sexes, and strongly compressed mesometasternal process. The parameres are simple in general and of little use for species separation.

Composition. Three species are known in this group: E. anneae (Howden) , E. areata (F.), and E. pilipennis (Kraatz) .

Taxonomic History. Species in this group were formerly included in the genus Stephanucha . Burmeister (1842) created Stephanucha based exclusively on Stephanucha areata by removing this species from Cetonia . Burmeister (1842) defined Stephanucha as having the clypeus not laterally raised but with four teeth apically, head with a strongly rugose surface, antennal club longer in males, base of pronotum rounded, elytra strongly convex, mesometasternal process small, legs short, and protibiae tridentate in both sexes. Lacordaire (1856) synonymized Stephanucha with Euryomia based on the idea that it was established based only on geographic distribution and could not be separated from other Old World genera. The catalog of Harold (1869) raised Stephanucha back from synonymy and Lacordaire’ s ideas were never considered again. Ratcliffe and Paulsen (2008), based on unpublished molecular data and observations on morphology, placed Stephanucha in synonymy with Euphoria .

Natural History. Species of this group are known from sandy habitats. Adults and larvae of E. areata and E. pilipennis are associated with burrows made in sandy soils by ants and mammals and in manmade mounds. No specimens are known to have been collected in fruit traps or attracted to lights. Most of the specimens studied were caught in flowers, flying, or by sifting rodent burrows or ant nests. The larvae of E. areata were described by Skelley (1991) and are the only immatures known in the group.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THE AREATA SPECIES- GROUP

Species in this group are difficult to separate based on adult morphology alone. Since none of the species are sympatric, geographic distribution can be used as an aid to identification.

1. Medial clypeal teeth generally fused at base ( Fig. 57b ). Elytra frequently densely setose with short to long setae ( Fig. 57a )................. .................... E. pilipennis (Kraatz) (p. 101)

1′. Medial clypeal teeth not fused at base ( Fig. 56b ), if fused elytra never densely setose ( Fig. 56a, d, e ).................................................................. 2

2. Black elytral markings on sutural area only ( Fig. 56a ). Eastern United States ( Fig. 56g )..... ......................................... E. areata (F.) (p. 99)

2′. Black elytral markings distributed throughout disc ( Fig. 55a ). Texas, USA ( Fig. 55f ) ......... ....................... E. anneae (Howden) (p. 98)

CLAVE PARA LAS ESPECIES DEL GRUPO AREATA

Las especies de este grupo son difíciles de separar usando la morfología de adultos exclusivamente. Dado que ninguna de las especies es simpátrica, la distribución geográfica puede ser usada como ayuda en la identificación.

1. Dientes mediales clipeales generalmente fusionados en la base ( Fig. 57b ). Élitros frecuentemente densamente setosos, con setas largas y cortas ( Fig. 57a )................... ................. E. pilipennis (Kraatz) (p. 101)

1′. Dientes mediales clipeales no fusionados en la base ( Fig. 56b ), si fusionados, élitros nunca densamente setosos ( Fig. 56a, d, e ) .............2

2. Máculas elitrales negras distribuidas solamente sobre el área sutural ( Fig. 56a ). Este de los Estados Unidos ( Fig. 56g )................................. ........................................ E. areata (F.) (p. 99)

2′. Máculas elitrales negras distribuidas a través del disco ( Fig. 55a ). Texas, EEUU ( Fig. 55f ) ......................... E. anneae (Howden) (p. 98)

Figures

Plate 5. Euphoria species. inda species-group: a) E. hirtipes, b, c, d) E. inda. areata species-group: e, f) E. anneae, g, h, i) E. areata, j) E. pilipennis. discicollis species-group: k, l, m) E. discicollis. verticalis species-group: n) E. bispinis, o) E. verticalis.

Fig. 57. Euphoria pilipennis. a) Habitus, b) Head, c) Parameres, d) Temporal distribution, e) Geographic distribution in the United States.

Fig. 56. Euphoria areata. a) Habitus, b) Head, c) Parameres, d-e) Color variation, f) Temporal distribution, g) Geographic distribution in the United States.

Fig. 55. Euphoria anneae. a) Habitus, b) Head, c) Parameres, d) Color variation, e) Temporal distribution, f) Geographic distribution in the United States.