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| Araboplia lorisi
Uliana & Sabatinelli, 2017
DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.373
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Abstract
Araboplia lorisi gen. et sp. nov. of Scarabaeidae Latreille, 1802 Rutelinae MacLeay, 1819, is described based on a single male specimen from the Arabian Peninsula, and compared with the closest Palaearctic genera. Araboplia gen. nov. is placed in the tribe Anomalini C.E. Blanchard, 1851 subtribe Popilliina Ohaus, 1918. This decision is due to its similarity with other Popilliina genera but lacks strong characters-based evidence, due to the poor definition of the Popilliina itself, which is discussed.
Keywords: Scarabaeoidea; Arabian Peninsula; new taxa; Anomalini; Popilliina
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| Figs 1–3. Araboplia lorisi gen. et sp. nov., habitus. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral view. 3. Lateral view. |
Class Hexapoda Blainville, 1816
Order Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family Scarabaeidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Rutelinae Macleay, 1819
Tribe Anomalini Streubel, 1839
Subtribe Popilliina Ohaus, 1918
Araboplia gen. nov.
Type species: Araboplia lorisi gen. et sp. nov.
Differential diagnosis: Within Popilliina, it is most close to the genus Dicranoplia Reitter, 1903, from which it is distinct by the following characters states (on male): clypeus simple, not raised; peculiar shape of the anterior claw; spur of the anterior tibia short and blunt.
Etymology: The name of the genus is derived from the area of occurrence of the species (the Arabian Peninsula) and the suffix –oplia, for assonance with other genera of Rutelinae including Dicranoplia Reitter, 1903, the closest genus.
Araboplia lorisi gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is dedicated by MU to his father, Loris Uliana, with thanks for his constant encouragement and support of his interest in natural sciences and love for insects during the years of his youth. In addition, the two subjects are alike in being covered with white hairs.
Marco Uliana and Guido Sabatinelli. 2017. Araboplia lorisi New Genus and Species of Rutelinae from Saudi Arabia (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), with Comments on the Subtribe Popilliina. European Journal of Taxonomy. 373: 1–12. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.373