White grubs (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Key for identification, species richness and distribution

Abstract

ABSTRACT. White grubs (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Key for identification, species richness and distribution. The objective of this study was to survey the occurrence and geographic distribution of white grub species (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in cultivated and non-cultivated fields of the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil and develop a key at genus-level. Twenty-eight species from 15 genera and three subfamilies were recorded: Dynastinae, Melolonthinae and Rutelinae.

White grubs (Cyclocephala flavipennis) damaging perennial winter pastures in the South Region of Brazil

“…According to CHERMAN et al (2013), in the plateau of Rio Grande do Sul, a region extending to the border of Santa Catarina, dwells another species together with D. abderus, that is widely disseminated in both cultivated and noncultivated areas: Cyclocephala flavipennis Arrow, 1914. Cyclocephala flavipennis presents an annual cycle, reaching its adult phase during spring.…”

“…During that period, 15 trenches (0.50×0.25×0.20m) were dug at the locations of plant damage in order to quantify the larval density in that area . Identification of material was performed in the "Laboratório de sistemática e bioecologia de Coleoptera" (UFPR) by Dr. Mariana Alejandra Cherman by consulting bibliography and comparing it with the preserved material CHERMAN et al, 2013), which was then deposited in the entomological collection of the laboratory. The populational density of C. flavipennis in that area was 41.6 larvae m -2 .…”

“…(1.1 larvae m -2 ). Among the Cyclocephala species commonly reported in the South of Brazil (CHERMAN et al, 2013), there are only reports of the damage caused by the larvae of C. modesta Burmeister, 1855, due to their high ability to adapt to cropping systems (CHERMAN et al, 2014). In addition, although the other two genera reported are relatively common in the cultivated and noncultivated areas of the plateau of Rio Grande do Sul, there are no records of damage caused by their larvae (CHERMAN et al, 2014).…”

White grub (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) mortality induced by Ophiocordyceps melolonthae

“…Native species include Cyclocephala modesta Burm, 1855 and Dyscinetus gagates Burm, 1847 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) (CHERMAN et al, 2013 and. In Brazil, natural epizootic diseases caused by the fungus Cordyceps sp.…”

“…Larvae of C. modesta and D. gagates were collected from soil trenches opened in soybean crops, in the district of Arroio Grande, municipality of Santa Maria, RS (29º40'S and 53º44'W), in January/February 2014 (rainfall 75mm and temperature of 25ºC, averages for the period). Samples were separated, quantified and identified in the laboratory, using taxonomic methods, as reported by COSTA (2006), and CHERMAN et al (2013 and.…”