Review of the genus exopholis motschulsky, 1859 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Leucopholini) in the Philippines

Issue Date

10-2020

Abstract

Motschulsky (1859), a Russian Imperial Army Colonel and entomologist, established the genus Exopholis, described E. birmannica and transferred Melolontha hypoleuca Wiedemann, 1819 to it. Brenske (1896) described Exopholis philippinica from the “Philippinen” from a single female specimen. Dalla Torre (1912), listed eight species under the genus Exopholis Motschulsky, 1859 from South East Asia: E. hypoleuca (Weidemann, 1819) (Myanmar, Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Nias, Ambon), E. costata (Burmeister, 1855) (Java, Nias), E. birmanica Motschulsky, 1859 (Myanmar), E. lacordairei Waterhouse, 1867 (Borneo), E. pinguis Lansberge, 1879 (Sumatra), E. brenskei Nonfried, 1891, E. borneensis Brenske, 1894 (both from Borneo) and E. philippinica Brenske, 1896 (Philippines). This paper aims to review the taxonomy of Exopholis from the Philippines. Specifically, to focus on the diagnosis of Exopholis philippinica and its geographic distribution. Moser (1910) described Lepidiota corpulenta from three female specimens that were collected by Mrs. M.S. Clemens in Mindanao, Camp Keithley and by A. Celestino in Cebu. Schultze (1916), a German officer, geographer and entomologist, reported another specimen of L. corpulenta that was collected from Luzon, Cagayan, Tuguegarao by Williamson. Based on the study of the photos of type material, L. corpulenta is synonymized with E. philippinica. Thus Exopholis philippinica is the only currently known Exopholis species in the Philippines.

Source or Periodical Title

Zootaxa

ISSN

1175-5326

Volume

4859

Issue

4

Page

527-536

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Identifier

DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4859.4.4

Digital Copy

yes

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