A revision of the Australian Chafers (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Melolonthinae). Vol. 4*. Tribe Liparetrini : Genus Colpochila

Abstract

The fourth part of the revision of Australian Scarabaeidae : Melolonthinae deals with the genus Colpochila Erichson of the tribe Liparetrini. Tribe and genus are defined and a key to 127 species is provided. The value of computer-coded species descriptions is discussed. The following 65 new species are described: Colpochila abdita, affinis, andersoni, aquila, arida, blackburni, bogania, boreas, calabyi, callida, capta, carnabyi, castanea, chinnicki, clavipalpis, comma, crepera, decolor, efficax, fulva, goerlingi, ignota, infernalis, ingens, iota, iricolor, iris, kalambi, leo, limbata, longiclava, lutea, major, maura, melina, minor, nana, nasuta, nigromarginata, nitens, nitida, pagana, pallidula, parva, paula, piceofulva, picta, polita, potens, pubescens, regia, rubida, rubiginosa, rutila, satelles, secreta, setifera, sodalis, sorella, soror, unidens, vanna, velata, vesca, vicina.

The following new synonymy (35 names) is established (junior synonym first): Haplonycha Blanchard 1851 = Colpochila Erichson 1843; Colpochila nracilis Blackburn = C. bella Blackburn; Haplonycha neglecta Blackburn = C. bella Blackburn; Haplonycha paradoxa Blackburn = C. bella Blackburn; Haplonycha amoena Blackburn = C. bella Blackburn; Haplonycha cara Lea = C. bella Blackburn; Haplonycha iridipennis Lea = C. bella Blackburn; Haplonycha marginipennis Lea = C. clypealis Blackburn; Haplonycha fimbricollis Lea = C. crassiventris Blackburn; Haplonycha punctatissima Blackburn = C. deceptor Blackburn; Colpochila campestris Blackburn = C. fortis Blackburn; Haplonycha pygidialis Lea = C. gagatina (Bumeister); Haplonycha fimbripennis Lea = C. gigantea (Bumeister); Haplonycha pulchripennis Lea = C. gouldi (Hope); Colpochila dubia Blackburn = C. laminata Blackburn; Haplonycha pallida Lea = C. longior (Blackburn); Haplonycha lucifera Blackburn = C. nobilis (Blackburn); Haplonycha colossa Lea = C. nobilis (Blackburn); Haplonycha pectoralis Blanchard = C. obesa (Blanchard); Haplonycha thoracica Blackburn = C. obesa (Blanchard); Haplonycha dilatata Lea = C. obesa (Blanchard); Haplonycha novemarticulata Lea = C. pulchella Blackburn; Haplonycha octoarticulata Lea = C. pulchella Blackburn; Haplonycha gymnopyga Lea = C. punctiventris Blackburn; Haplonycha fimbriata Lea = C. ruficeps (Bumeister); Colpochila testaceipennis Macleay = C. scutalis (Blanchard); Haplonycha gibbicollis Lea = C. setosa Blackburn; Haplonycha fraterna Blackburn = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha egregia Blackburn = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha rustica Blackburn = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha arvicola Blackburn = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha electa Blackburn = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha sabulicola Blackburn = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha semiopaca Lea = C. sinuaticollis Blackburn; Haplonycha sloanei Blackburn = C. solida Blackburn; Haplonycha mauricei Blackburn = Aneucomides coloratus Blackburn. Haplonycha nitidicollis Nonfried, H. striatella Blanchard, H. iridescens Blanchard, H. obscuricornis Blanchard, Melolontha astrolabei Boisduval, and M. obesa Boisduval are treated as unrecognizable and deleted from consideration as species of Colpochila. Haplonycha ciliata Boisduval is transferred to Heteronyx and Haplonycha minuta Lea to Pteroplatydesmus.

The following new genera are described (based on species originally described in Haplonycha). Ictigaster gen. nov. (type-species Haplonycha ruficollis Lea, 1917) and Leonotus gen. nov. (type-species Haplonycha pilosicollis Lea, 1930).

*Vol. 3, Aust. J. Zool., Suppl. Ser., 1980, No. 76.