A taxonomic revision of Liogenys occurring in Brazil with an interactive key and remarks on New World Diplotaxini (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae)

Abstract

Liogenys Guérin-Méneville, 1831 is the major genus of Neotropical Diplotaxini, with 78 species distributed from Panama to southern Argentina and Chile, except for Ecuador. Due to the large numbers of both described and undescribed species, as well as its agricultural importance, mainly of those in Brazil, Liogenys was redefined and redescribed. Nine new species are described: L. cavifrons Cherman, sp. n., L. femella Cherman, sp. n., L. piauiensis Cherman, sp. n., L. rotundicollis Cherman, sp. n., L. pseudosanctaecrucis Cherman, sp. n., L. grossii Cherman, sp. n., L. pseudospiniventris Cherman, sp. n., L. sulcoventris Cherman, sp. n., and L. freyi Cherman, sp. n. All the new species are Brazilian, except for the last one, which is Argentinian. Twenty-three Brazilian species are redescribed and illustrated. Five new synonyms are proposed, and 19 lectotypes are designated. New geographical distribution records for 19 species are presented, as well as a key to New World Diplotaxini and Brazilian species of Liogenys.

Liogenys Guerin-Méneville, 1831 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Diplotaxini) of northern South America and Central America: taxonomic overview with four new species

“…With these relocations we here confirm that the distribution of Liogenys is strictly Neotropical, agreeing with Cherman et al (2017) data. Taking into account the new species records presented here, the geographical distribution of Liogenys is updated from Trinidad and Tobago (St. George and Scarborough) towards South America, until southern Chile.…”

“…Taking into account the new species records presented here, the geographical distribution of Liogenys is updated from Trinidad and Tobago (St. George and Scarborough) towards South America, until southern Chile. Before this work, the northernmost country in Liogenys distribution was Panama (Cherman et al 2017). Recently, Diplotaxis poropyge Bates, 1887, a species distributed from Mexico to the south of Panama (Vaurie 1958(Vaurie , 1960, was discovered in Colombia, and thus it is the first Diplotaxis recorded in South America (Mendoza & García-Atencia 2019).…”

“…Liogenys Guérin-Méneville, 1831 is the most specious genus of Neotropical Diplotaxini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) and now comprises 95 species distributed from Panama throughout most of South America to Argentina and Chile (Cherman et al 2017(Cherman et al , 2019(Cherman et al , 2020(Cherman et al , 2021. The northernmost limit of Liogenys geographical distribution is somewhat overlapped with Diplotaxis Kirby, 1837 (Vaurie 1958).…”

“…This digital project includes all Liogenys species recently revised by M.A.C. Changelog files provided at the main page of the key enables anyone to track the changes from the original database (Cherman et al 2017) and to use them for further studies. For more information concerning Lucid keys, visit www.lucidcentral.org.…”

First record of the genus Diplotaxis Kirby, 1837 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Diplotaxini) in South America

“…In fact, the two genera complement each other geographically. While Liogenys is distributed from Panama to southern Chile and Argentina (Cherman et al 2017), Diplotaxis reaches the southern limits of its range in Panama with two species (Diplotaxis poropyge Bates, 1887 and Diplotaxis zeteki Vaurie, 1958) (Vaurie 1958).…”