Revision of the Systellopini (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Melolonthinae)

Abstract

The Systellopini, an Australian tribe of the Scarabaeidae : Melolonthinae, is revised. It now includes six genera and 19 valid species. The tribe is defined and keys are provided to genera and species. The new species described are: Sarothromerus aranda, Sa. niger, Sphyrocallus desertus, Sp. lloydi, Prochelyna houstoni, Enamillus septus, E. clevensis, and E. rectus. The following generic names are synonymized (synonym first): Tosotarsus Sharp and Atholerus Sharp = Prochelyna Erichson; Trichelasmus Sharp = Enamillus Sharp. The following specific names are synonymized (synonym first): Systellopus validus Sharp and Sy. ater Lea = Sy. obtusus Sharp; Atholerus obscurus Sharp = Prochelyna heterodoxa Burmeister. Previously described species are transferred to other genera as follows: Tosotarsus velutinus Sharp to Prochelyna; Trichelasmus basalis Blackburn to Enamillus; Sphyrocallus bicolor Blackburn to Enamillus; Trichelasmus pilicollis Sharp to Enamillus. Prochelyna rubella Schaufuss is transferred to the Liparetrini and synonymized with Pachygastra tasmanica Germar, and Metascelis flexilis Westwood is presumed not to be a systellopine. The other species recognized are Sarothromerus sharpi (Blackburn), Chilodiplus albertisi Sharp, Sphyrocallus brunneus Sharp, Enamillus mauricei Blackburn and E. striatus Sharp.