Life history and description of larva and pupa of Platyphileurus felscheanus Ohaus, 1910, a scarabaeid feeding on bromeliad tissues in Brazil, to be excluded from Phileurini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae)

Abstract

The third instar larvae and the pupae of Platyphileurus felscheanus Ohaus, 1910 (Phileurini), recently synonymized with Surutu jelineki Endrődi, 1975 (Cyclocephalini), are described and illustrated, and some life history information is given. The larvae were collected and reared in bromeliads in rain forests of Santa Catarina state in southern Brazil. The systematic position of this monotypic genus is reassessed at the tribe level by considering larval and adult morphological characters. Both character sets, being described and illustrated, suggest the placement of Platyphileurus in the tribe Oryctini.

Synopsis of the cyclocephaline scarab beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae)

“…The immatures of Platyphileurus felscheanus are associated with bromeliads (Grossi et al 2010, Albertoni et al 2014). Based on examination of larval, pupal, and adult characters, P. felscheanus was excluded from Phileurini and proposed to be a member of Oryctini (Albertoni et al 2014).…”

“…Based on examination of larval, pupal, and adult characters, P. felscheanus was excluded from Phileurini and proposed to be a member of Oryctini (Albertoni et al 2014). However, there are some intriguing adult character similarities between P. felscheanus and other Surutu species.…”

“…However, there are some intriguing adult character similarities between P. felscheanus and other Surutu species. For example, P. felscheanus is black, dorsoventrally flattened, and has dimorphic protarsal claw morphology (enlarged in males, simple in females) (Endrődi 1975, Grossi et al 2010, Albertoni et al 2014). The apices of the metatibiae in P. felscheanus are “weakly dentate” (Albertoni et al [2014]: figure 30).…”

“…For example, P. felscheanus is black, dorsoventrally flattened, and has dimorphic protarsal claw morphology (enlarged in males, simple in females) (Endrődi 1975, Grossi et al 2010, Albertoni et al 2014). The apices of the metatibiae in P. felscheanus are “weakly dentate” (Albertoni et al [2014]: figure 30). Alternatively, the outer edge of the metatibia figured in Albertoni et al (2014) could be considered not to be “weakly dentate”, but corbeled (outer edge produced beyond the inner edge of the tibial apex).…”

“…The apices of the metatibiae in P. felscheanus are “weakly dentate” (Albertoni et al [2014]: figure 30). Alternatively, the outer edge of the metatibia figured in Albertoni et al (2014) could be considered not to be “weakly dentate”, but corbeled (outer edge produced beyond the inner edge of the tibial apex). This tibial character is found in Surutu , Harposceles , and in the “ Cyclocephala cribrata species group”.…”