University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in Entomology Museum, University of Nebraska State May 2000 Taxonomic review of Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini) and a description of the use of this species as food by the people of the Ecuadorian highlands. Andrew B. T. Smith University of Nebraska State Museum & Canadian Museum of Nature, [email protected] Aura Paucar C. University of Nebraska State Museum, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers Part of the Entomology Commons Smith, Andrew B. T. and Paucar C., Aura , "Taxonomic review of Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini) and a description of the use of this species as food by the people of the Ecuadorian highlands. " (2000). Papers in Entomology. 10. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/10 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in Entomology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. SYSTEMATICS Taxonomic Review of Platycoelia lutescens (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini) and a Description of its Use as Food by the People of the Ecuadorian Highlands 1 2 ANDREW B. T. SMITH AND AURA PAUCAR C. Systematics Research Collections, W436 Nebraska Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588Ð0514 Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 93(3): 408Ð414 (2000) ABSTRACT Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini), a species that occurs in the Andes Mountains of South America, is redescribed. Platycoelia albescens (Bates) and P. baronis (Ohaus) are considered new synonyms of P. lutescens. A lectotype is designated for P. albescens. The use of this species as a food source by the people of the Ecuadorian highlands is discussed. RESUMEN Se redescribe a Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplo- gnathini), especie presente en la cordillera de los Andes en Sudame´rica. Platycoelia albescens (Bates) y P. baronis (Ohaus) son consideradas nuevos sinonimos de P. lutescens. Se designa lectotipo para P. albescens. Se discute el uso de esta especie como recurso alimenticio en ciertos poblados de los Andes ecuatorianos. KEY WORDS Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Platycoelia, entomophagy, Ecuador Platycoelia lutescens BLANCHARD is a species of scarab aea and added the new species L. baronis. Ohaus beetle that occurs in the highlands of Colombia, Ec- (1905) described L. baronis using specimens from Ec- uador, and Peru´ . This species is easily recognized uador. He stated that L. albescens and L. baronis oc- relative to other Andean scarabs by the cream color curred in Ecuador and that L. lutescens occurred in and large size (Ϸ2 cm). Platycoelia lutescens is sea- Ecuador and Peru´ . Ohaus (1908) later mentioned that sonally abundant, and label data indicated that it was L. lutescens was found near Quito, Ecuador. In the sold in the Ecuadorian markets as food. In this article, Genera Insectorum for Rutelinae, Machatschke we redescribe the adult of P. lutescens and place P. (1965) synonymized the genus Leucopelaea with albescens (Bates) and P. baronis (Ohaus) as synonyms. Platycoelia, thus transferring L. lutescens, L. albescens, We also extend the known range of this species into and L. baronis to the latter genus. Additionally, Ma- southern Colombia. chatschke (1965, 1972) incorrectly designated Platy- The genus Platycoelia was erected by Dejean (1833) coelia lutescens as the type species for the genus Leu- for one species [P. flavostriata (Latreille 1813)] oc- copelaea. Leucopelaea albescens is the type species for curring in the Andes Mountains of South America. Leucopelaea by monotypy. Because of the confusion Blanchard (1851) described P. lutescens using a spec- over the correct identity of P. lutescens, we are rede- imen (or specimens) from Cuzco, Peru´ . One year scribing it below. before his death, Bates (1891) described the genus Leucopelaea and the species L. albescens using 13 spec- Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard imens from Cotopaxi and Machachi, Ecuador. Evi- dently, Bates was not acquainted with BlanchardÕs P. Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard 1851: 227. Type not lutescens. In his description, Bates (1891) made no seen. There is no doubt that the specimens we exam- reference to P. lutescens (proposed 41 yr previously), ined are P. lutescens based on BlanchardÕs (1851) orig- or, if he believed that the species differed, he might inal description and OhausÕ (1905) redescription. have transferred the species to Leucopelaea. Arrow (1899) Þrst questioned the validity of the genus Leu- Leucopelaea albescens Bates 1891: 30. Lectotype male copelaea and hypothesized that Bates may not have at the Natural History Museum, London, England, been familiar with a similar genus, Callichloris Bur- labeled (a) “Co-type” (round with red circle), (b) meister (now a junior synonym of Platycoelia). In his “92Ð24,” (c) “Cotopaxi Ecuador. 12000 feet. Ed. revision of the New World Anoplognathini, Ohaus Whymper,” (d) “Leucopelaea Albescens” (in BatesÕ (1905) transferred P. lutescens to the genus Leucopel- handwriting), (e) LEUCOPELAEA ALBESCENS BATES DET: A.B.T. SMITH 1999, LECTOTYPE (red 1 E-mail: [email protected] Lectotype label), (f) PLATYCOELIA LUTESCENS 2 E-mail: [email protected] BLANCHARD ( DET: A.B.T. SMITH 1999” (white 0013-8746/00/0408Ð0414$02.00/0 ᭧ 2000 Entomological Society of America May 2000 SMITH AND PAUCAR:SYSTEMATICS AND ENTOMOPHAGY OF P. lutescens 409 determination label). Lectotype here designated. The losity; setae long, reddish. Protibia with three teeth in location of the remaining 12 specimens from BatesÕ apical half; Þrst and second teeth subequal in size, original type series is unknown. NEW SYNONYMY. third tooth small, often worn and obsolete, removed slightly from apical teeth. Protarsus with modiÞed Leucopelaea baronis Ohaus 1905:123. Male holotype claw thickened, ßattened when compared with other from the Museum fu¨ r Naturkunde der Humboldt-Uni- claw, apex weakly bifurcate (Fig. 2). Protarsomere 5 versita¨t zu Berlin, Germany labeled (a) “Ecuador Bar- with weak, internal, medial tooth (Fig. 2). Unguitrac- on,” (b) “Leucopelaea Baronis Type Ohs.” (orange tor plate cylindrical, produced beyond apex of pro- type label), (c) “LEUCOPELAEA BARONIS OHAUS tarsomere 5, with 2 setae at apex and at subapex (Fig. HOLOTYPE” (red holotype label), (d) “Zool. Mus. 2). Mesotibia weakly ßattened in lateral view, sides Berlin,” (e) “PLATYCOELIA LUTESCENS BLAN- subparallel, apex weakly divergent, external edge with CHARD ( DET: A.B.T.SMITH 1999” (white deter- 1 carina in apical third, apex with 7Ð10 spinules. mination label). Two male and two female paratypes Metatibia weakly ßattened in lateral view, sides sub- are all labeled “Ecuador Baron” and have an orange parallel, apex weakly divergent, external edge with 1 “Leucopelaea Baronis Cotype Ohs” label and a yellow carina in apical third, apex with 10Ð18 spinules. Meso- “LEUCOPELAEA BARONIS OHAUS PARATYPE” and metatarsus with external claws laterally ßattened label. One specimen labeled “Ecuador E. Deville” also with respect to ventral tooth; ventral tooth variable in had an orange “Leucopelaea Baronis Cotype Ohs” size (subequal to apex or smaller than apex) and place- label but this is an invalid type designation because the ment (at subapex or at middle). Parameres (Fig. 3): original description mentioned only specimens col- Symmetrical in caudal view. Phallobase 1.4 times lected by Baron (Ohaus 1905). NEW SYNONYMY. longer than length of parameres. FEMALE. Length 17.5Ð30.3 mm. Width 10.7Ð16.8 Description. MALE (Fig. 1): Length 16.1Ð24.3 mm. mm. As male except in the following respects. Legs. Width 10.2Ð13.6 mm. Color dorsally and ventrally Third protibial tooth broadly acute, rarely worn down cream-colored when alive, often turning tan or testa- and obsolete. Protarsomere Þve lacks internal tooth ceous when dead. Head. Dorsal surface glabrous. (Fig. 4). ModiÞed protarsal claw laterally ßattened Frons impunctate or sparsely punctate at base, mod- and with a ventral tooth (Fig. 4). Metatibia with inner erately punctate toward apex, punctures moderate spurs blunter and shorter. Female genitalia not diag- (0.034Ð0.085 mm) in size. Frontoclypeal suture com- nostic. plete, weakly bisinuate. Clypeus densely punctate Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from all (base) to rugopunctate (apex), punctures moderate other species in the genus Platycoelia by the following (0.034Ð0.085 mm) in size; apex broadly rounded, combination of characters: dorsally cream-colored to moderately reßexed. Labrum with apex vertically pro- tan, mesosternal process small with apex not protrud- duced with respect to clypeus, moderately produced ing past the mesocoxae, pronotum glabrous, and spi- at middle with triangular tooth. Maxillary surface pi- racles on lateral edge of sternites 4 and 5 each with lose; maxillary palpus apex with 2Ð3 laterally elongated margins extruded as a short cylinder. teeth that are sometimes worn and obsolete. Mentum Distribution (Fig. 5). Andes Mountains from south- with surface pilose; apex quadrate and weakly notched ern Colombia to southern Peru´ . Recorded from 1,800 at middle. Antenna 10-segmented, club slightly to 4,000 m. Occurs in paramo and other grassland shorter than segments 1Ð7. Pronotum. Widest at