A review of the Australian rutelinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaedae)

Abstract

The subfamily Rutelinae is represented in Australia (including Tasmania) by 21 genera comprising 96 species and 6 subspecies. Of these, two species belong to the tribe Anomalini, one to the Adoretini, and the remainder to the indigenous tribe Anoplognathini. The subfamily is well represented in Queensland and in New South Wales, poorly so in Tasmania and in Western Australia. Of the two subtribes of the Anoplognathini, the Schizognathina is the more highly specialized. Some genera include forms that have sexually dimorphic modifications of the mouthparts and sensory organs that are very similar to those of some Dynastinae. The following alterations and additions are made to the taxonomy of the group : New genera. - Exochogenys, Dungoorus. New species. - Paraschizognathus brunneus, elgatus, elgatus subsp. kiewarrus, ocularis, pinarus, queenslandicus, tubrabuccae; Schizognathus rugulosus; Amblyterus deuqueti, simplicitarsus bundabergensis, tibialis; Mesystoechus costatus; Dungoorus murrumbullus. Species names placed in synonymy. - Repsirnus purpureipes Macleay (under R. aeneus (F.)) ; Calloodes nitidissimus Lea (frenchi Ohaus); Anoplognathus antiquus Arrow (Trioplognathus griseopilosus Ohaus) ; Pseudoschizognathus occidentalis Ohaus (schoenfeldti Ohaus). New combination. - Exochogenys nigripennis (Blanchard). Changes of status. - Repsimus manicatus (Swartz) var. montanus Lea given subspecific status. Genus Mesystoechus Waterhouse transferred from tribe Rutelini to tribe Anoplognathini.