Glycyphana (Glycyphaniola) laotica Miksic , 1968

Perissinotto, Renzo & Clennell, Lynette, 2021, Census of the fruit and flower chafers (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) of the Macau SAR, China, ZooKeys 1026, pp. 17-43 : 17

Glycyphana (Glycyphaniola) laotica Miksic, 1968 Fig. 6

Glycyphaniola nicobarica laotica Mikšić, 1968: 48.

Distribution.

According to Jákl (in Löbl and Löbl 2016: 18), it is currently known from the Hong Kong SAR and parts of the Oriental Region. It is likely that it occurs through much of southern China.

Material examined.

1♀: Taipa Central , October 2017, Jeff Lei (MACT) ; 1♂: Barra Hill , 5 May 2018, dead on roadside, L Clennell (MACT) ; 1♂: Taipa Pequena , 26 Sep 2018, on flowers of Rhus chinensis by roadside, R Perissinotto & L Clennell (MACT) ; 1♀: Coloane Village , 13 Mar 2019, on flowers of Bidens sp., R Perissinotto (SJCP) ; 1♂: ibidem 13 Apr 2019, R Perissinotto (SJCP).

Other Macau records.

Taipa Pequena, 26 Oct 2017, on flowers of Rhus chinensis , R Perissinotto & L Clennell; ibidem 2 Mar 2020; Coloane Village, 2 Jul 2019, on flowers of Bidens sp., R Perissinotto & L Clennell; ibidem, 29 Sep 2018, R Perissinotto & L Clennell; Coloane, Ká-Hó, 7 Oct 2018, R Perissinotto & L Clennell; Macau, Guia Hill, 14 Mar 2020, on flowers of Ligustrum sinense , R Perissinotto & L Clennell; St. Francis Xavier’s Parish, Macau [Coloane], 7 Jul 2019 13:04, Kit Chang (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28360614); ibidem 12 Apr 2020 13:29, L Clennell (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55132359); ibidem 27 Sep 2020 14:59, L Clennell (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60940151); ibidem 30 Sep 2020, L Clennell (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61293565); Our Lady of Carmel’s Parish [Taipa], 17 Aug 2020 14:14, L Clennell (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56723739); ibidem 14 Sep 2020 16:07, Kit Chang (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59561942); Circuito da Barragem de Hac-Sá, Coloane, 4 Jul 2020 15:26, Annie Lao (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51892005).

Remarks.

This taxon has recently been elevated to species rank by Jákl (in Löbl and Löbl 2016: 18), on the basis of comparative studies of numerous specimens from continental Asia and the type material of Glycyphana nicobarica Janson, 1877. Thus, all previous identifications of the local G. (Glycyphaniola) species occurring in Macau and nearby Hong Kong almost certainly refer to this species rather than to G. nicobarica , which is probably an endemic to the Nicobar Islands (S Jákl, pers. comm.). Specimens range in size between approximately 9-12 mm in TL and 5-6 mm in MW. The background colour of their body surface can vary from bright light green, to dark olive-green (Fig. 6 ) and in extreme cases even brown to brick-red. The extent of white maculation also varies substantially across both elytral and pronotal surfaces.

Larvae, cocoons, and freshly emerged adults have been observed inside decomposing tree trunks and branches (pers. obs.), thereby confirming the saproxylic habit of its immature stages. In Hong Kong (then referred to as Glycyphana nicobarica ), larvae were successfully reared to adulthood on fermented sawdust, and several adult specimens were found inside a compost heap composed of pig waste and sawdust ( Yiu 2010). Adults have been recorded feeding on a variety of flowers, including Rhus chinensis , Ligustrum sinense , Mallotus paniculatus , Murraya paniculata , Schefflera heptaphylla , Viburnum odoratissimum , Zanthoxylum avicennae , Bauhinia championii , and even on the alien invasive herbs Bidens alba and B. pilosa . They do not seem to be attracted to fruit-baited traps and have not been observed on sap flows either. This is one of the most often encountered species in the Macau SAR, but never in abundance. It occurs all year round, with distinct peaks of adult activity in the spring (Mar-Apr) and autumn (Sep-Oct).

Figures

Figure 6. Glycyphana (Glycyphaniola) laotica Miksic, 1968: dorsal (left) and side (right) views of typical specimens observed at Taipa (14 Mar 2019) and Coloane (20 Apr 2020), respectively (photographs: Lynette Clennell).