Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2022-11-29
Page range: 513-545
Abstract views: 352
PDF downloaded: 47

Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae): reclassification of eight species to Antitrogus Burmeister, 1855 and Barryfilius new genus

Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia.
Coleoptera Australia nomenclature taxonomy classification chafers synonyms

Abstract

The status and generic placement of nine species of Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) are reassessed. The monotypic genus Othnonius Olliff, 1890, is synonymised with Antitrogus Burmeister, 1855 (new synonym), resulting in Antitrogus batesii (Olliff, 1890) new combination. Lepidiota ciliata Britton, 1978 is transferred to Antitrogus as Antitrogus ciliatus (Britton) new combination. A group of six species attributed to Lepidiota Kirby, 1828 that do not have the scales characteristic of that genus are transferred to Barryfilius new genus as Barryfilius laevis (Arrow, 1932) new combination (type species), Barryfilius centralis (Britton, 1978) new combination, Barryfilius contiguus (Britton, 1978) new combination, Barryfilius lewisae (Britton, 1978) new combination, Barryfilius quinarius (Britton, 1978) new combination, and Barryfilius vernus (Britton, 1978) new combination. Lepidiota oblonga Brenske, 1900, is shown to be a junior synonym of Lepidiota rothei Blackburn, 1888 (new synonym). Revised keys to the genera of Australian Melolonthini, and to the species of Antitrogus and Australian Lepidiota are provided. The higher classification of the group is reviewed, and a checklist of Australian genera and species is given.

 

References

  1. Ahrens, D. (2006) The phylogeny of Sericini and their position within the Scarabaeidae based on morphological characters (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Systematic Entomology, 31, 113–144. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2005.00307.x
    Allsopp, P.G. (1989) Two new species of Lepidiota Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from Australia with notes on L. noxia Britton. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 28, 39–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1989.tb01190.x
    Allsopp, P.G. (1990a) Two new species and new distribution records of Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 44, 217–223.
    Allsopp, P.G. (1990b) Sexual dimorphism in the adult antennae of Antitrogus parvulus Britton and Lepidiota negatoria Blackburn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 29, 261–266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1990.tb00360.x
    Allsopp, P.G. (1993a) Antitrogus costai, a new chafer beetle from central Queensland, Australia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthini). Israel Journal of Zoology, 39, 193–196.
    Allsopp, P.G. (1993b) Antitrogus villosus sp. n. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from western Victoria. Australian Entomologist, 20, 153–155.
    Allsopp, P.G. (1993c) Identity of canegrubs attributed to Antitrogus mussoni (Blackburn) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 47, 195–201.
    Allsopp, P.G. (1993d) Evidence for sex attraction in three species of Australian canegrub beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 47, 51–52.
    Allsopp, P.G. (1995) Biogeography of the Australian Dynastinae, Rutelinae, Scarabaeinae, Melolonthini, Scitalini and Geotrupidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Journal of Biogeography, 22, 31–48. https://doi.org/10.2307/2846071
    Allsopp, P.G. (1999) Three new species of Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 43, 453–458.
    Allsopp, P.G. (2003) Synopsis of Antitrogus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Australian Journal of Entomology, 42, 159–178. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00340.x
    Allsopp, P.G. (2010) Integrated management of sugarcane whitegrubs in Australia: an evolving success. Annual Review of Entomology, 55, 329–349. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-112408-085406
    Allsopp, P.G. (2018) Alepida, a new genus for seven Australian species attributed to Lepidiota Kirby, 1828 and one new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Melolonthini). Australian Entomologist, 45, 441–464.
    Allsopp, P.G. (2020a) Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae): a second species of Hypolepida Britton, 1978. Zootaxa, 4742, 595–600. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4742.3.13
    Allsopp, P.G. (2020b) Clarification of the status of the types of Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) described before 1950. Zootaxa, 4885 (4), 451–486. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4885.4.1
    Allsopp, P.G. & Lambkin, C.L. (2006) Canegrubs and cladistics: what story do adult, larval and ecological characters tell? Australian Journal of Entomology, 45, 55–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2006.00511.x
    Allsopp, P.G. & Smith, A.B.T. (2022) Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae): a third species of Allothnonius Britton, 1978, and notes on the other known species. Zootaxa, 5099 (4), 475-484. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5099.4.3
    Allsopp, P.G. & Watkins, S.G. (1995) Lepidiota brittoni, a new species from coastal New South Wales (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Australian Entomologist, 22, 79–82.
    Arrow, G.J. (1917) Some systematic notes on melolonthine Coleoptera. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8, 19, 59–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222931709486912
    Arrow, G.J. (1932) A few new species of melolonthine Coleoptera. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 10, 9, 189–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933208673490
    Atherton, D.O. (1939) White grubs and pasture deterioration on the Atherton Tableland. Queensland Agricultural Journal, 52, 484–522.
    Atlas of Living Australia (2022) Othnonius batesii Olliff, 1891. Available from: https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/8aed7c27-b2d5-4584-9f6e-6093579ed6a6 (accessed 8 October 2022)
    Australian National Botanic Gardens (2022) Beetles in the gardens. Available from: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/visiting/exploring/fauna/insects/beetles-ANBG.html (accessed 10 April 2022)
    Ayivi, S.P.G., Tong, Y., Storey, K.B., Yu, D.-N. & Zhang, J.-Y. (2021) The mitochondrial genomes of 18 new Pleurosticti (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) exhibit a novel trnQ-NCR-trnI-trnM gene rearrangement and clarify phylogenetic relationships of subfamilies within Scarabaeidae. Insects, 12, 1025. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111025
    Barnett, K.L., Johnson, S.N., Facey, S.L., Gibson‑Forty, E.V.J., Ochoa‑Hueso, R. & Power, S.A. (2021) Altered precipitation and root herbivory affect the productivity and composition of a mesic grassland. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21, 145. [15 pp.] https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01871-0
    Beck, H.E., Zimmermann, N.E., McVicar, T.R., Vergopolan N., Berg, A. & Wood, E.F. (2018) Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution. Scientific Data, 5, 180214. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.214
    Bezděk, A. (2016) Tribe Leucopholini Burmeister, 1855, Tribe Melolonthini Macleay, 1819. In: Löbl, I. & Löbl, D. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Vol. 3. Scarabaeoidea, Scirtoidea, Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea. Revised and updated edition. Brill, Leiden, pp. 224–236.
    Blackburn, T. (1888) Further notes on Australian Coleoptera, with descriptions of new species. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 10, 177–287.
    Blackburn, T. (1911) Further notes on Australian Coleoptera, with descriptions of new genera and species. No. XLI. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 35, 173–203.
    Blackburn, T. (1912) Further notes on Australian Coleoptera, with descriptions of new genera and species. No. XLII. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 36, 40–75.
    Bouchard, P., Bousquet, Y., Davies, A.E., Alonso-Zarazaga, M.A., Lawrence, J.F., Lyal, C.H.C., Newton, A.F., Reid, C.A.M., Schmitt, M., Ślipiński, S.A. & Smith, A.B.T. (2011) Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys, 88, 1–972. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.88.807
    Brenske, E. (1900) Melolonthiden. In: Semon, R.W. (Ed.), Zoologische Forschungsreisen in Australien und dem malayischen Archipel. Ges. 8. Vol. 5. Denkschriften der medicinisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena, Jena, pp. 622–624.
    Brier, H. & Miles, M. (2022) Black soil scarab damage to winter cereals. Available from: https://thebeatsheet.com.au/black-soil-scarab-damage-to-winter-cereals (accessed 10 April 2022)
    Britton, E.B. (1957) A Revision of the Australian Chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaaeidae: Melolonthinae). Vol. 1. British Museum (Natural History), London, 185 pp.
    Britton, E.B. (1978) A revision of the Australian chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Vol. 2. Tribe Melolonthini. Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary Series, 60, 1–150. https://doi.org/10.1071/AJZS060
    Britton, E.B. (1980) New Australian Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 18, 193–197. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1979.tb00836.x
    Britton, E.B. (1985) Lepidiota noxia sp. n. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), a pest of sugarcane in Queensland. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 24, 117–119. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1985.tb00202.x
    Britton, E.B. (1987) Megacoryne carnabyorum, a new genus and species of Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 26, 41–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1987.tb00256.x
    Britton, E.B. (1990) A synopsis of the Australian genera of Liparetrini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 4, 159–195. https://doi.org/10.1071/IT9900159
    Bryant, L.M. & Krosch, M.N. (2016) Lines in the land: a review of evidence for eastern Australia’s major biogeographical barriers to closed forest taxa. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 119, 238–264. https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12821
    Burmeister, H.C.C. (1855) Handbuch der Entomologie. Vierter Band. Besondere Entomologie. Fortsetzung. Zweite Abtheilung. Coleoptera Lamellicornia Phyllophaga chaenochela. T.C.F. Enslin, Berlin, x + 569 pp.
    Carne, P.B. (1974) A review of the olivaceus species-group of the genus Paraschizognathus Ohaus, and description of three new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 13, 261–266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1974.tb02205.x
    Catalogue of Life (2022) Othnonius batesi Olliff, 1890. Available from: https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/4B2FS (accessed 10 April 2022)
    Coca-Abia, M.M. (2007) Phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily Melolonthinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Insect Systematics and Evolution, 38, 447–472. https://doi.org/10.1163/187631207794760921
    Cumpston, D.M. (1941) A summary of certain aspects of the scarab problem, and a contribution to a bibliography of the family Scarabaeidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 66, 33–40.
    Discover Life (2022) Othnonius batesii Olliff, 1890. Available from: https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Othnonius+batesii&mobile=1 (accessed 10 April 2022)
    Etebari, K., Lenancker, P., Powell, K.S. & Furlong, M.J. (2022) Transcriptomics reveal several novel viruses from canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in central Queensland, Australia. Viruses, 14, 649. [17 pp.] https://doi.org/10.3390/v14030649
    Evans, A.V. & Smith, A.B.T. (2020) On the tribal classification of the Nearctic Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), with descriptions of new species of Acoma Casey, 1889. Zootaxa, 4748 (1), 51–77. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4748.1.3
    Faithfull, I. (2009) A flight and new distribution record of Antitrogus carnei Britton (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Victorian Naturalist, 126, 207–210.
    Goodwin, R.H. & Filshie, B.K. (1969) Morphology and development of an occluded virus from black-soil scarab, Othnonius batesi. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 13, 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2011(69)90182-7
    Goodyer, G.J. (1977) Root-feeding beetle larvae – pests of crops and pastures. Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, 88, 42–43.
    Goodyer, G.J. & Nicholas, A. (2007) Scarab Grubs in Northern Tableland Pastures. Primefact 512. Department of Primary Industries, Sydney, 8 pp.
    Gough, N. & Brown, J.D. (1988) Insecticidal control of whitegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on the Atherton Tableland, with observations on crop losses. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, 45, 9–17.
    Houston, W.W.K. & Weir, T.A. (1992) Melolonthinae. In: Houston, W.W.K. (Ed.), Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea. Vol. 9. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, pp. 174–358.
    Hutchinson, P.M. & Allsopp, P.G. (2021) Australian Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae): a sixth species of Pseudholophylla Blackburn, 1911, and notes on the other known species. Zootaxa, 5082 (1), 30–40. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5082.1.3
    Ingram, C. (1907) On the birds of the Alexandra district, Northern Territory of South Australia. Ibis, Series 9, 1, 387–415. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1907.tb04285.x
    Ingram, C. (1908) On the birds of Inkerman Station, North Queensland. Ibis, Series 9, 2, 458–481. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1908.tb05229.x
    Interim Register of Marine and Non-marine Life. (2022) Othnonius batesii Olliff, 1891. Available from: https://www.irmng.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=11292417 (accessed 10 April 2022)
    International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th Edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, 306 pp.
    Kerruich, R.M. & Unger, P.W. (2010) Plant Protection 1. Pests, Diseases and Weeds. 4th Edition. RootRot Press, Hughes, 484 pp.
    Kikkawa, J., Webb, L.J., Dale, M.B., Monteith, G.B., Tracey, J.G. & Williams, W.T. (1981) Gradients and boundaries of monsoon forests in Australia. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia, 11, 39–52.
    Krajcik, M. (2011) Checklist of the world Scarabaeoidea. ANIMMA.X Supplement, 5, 1–276.
    Lacroix, M. (2010) Melolonthinae afrotropicaux (Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthidae). Genera et Catalogue commenté. Collection Hannetons. Vol. 2. Editions Marc Lacroix, Romans sur Isère, 468 pp.
    Lacroix, M. (2021a) Melolonthinae. Available from: http://hannetons.free.fr/page5.html (accessed 7 November 2021)
    Lacroix, M. (2021b) Combien de Melolonthinae. Available from: http://hannetons.free.fr/page20.html (accessed 7 November 2021)
    Langridge, W.H.R. & Roberts, D.W. (1977) Molecular weight of DNA from four entomopoxviruses determined by electron microscopy. Journal of Virology, 21, 301–308. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.21.1.301-308.1977
    Maddison, D.R. & Maddison, W.P. (2017) Cartographer, a Mesquite package for plotting geographic data. Version 1.5. Available from: http://mesquiteproject.org/packages/cartographer (accessed 20 August 2019)
    Matsumoto, T. (2010) Taxonomic study on the genus Psilopholis Brenske (Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, Melolonthini) with consideration of divisions of the subtribe Melolonthina. Elytra, 38, 239–247.
    Miller, L.J. & Allsopp, P.G. (2000) Identification of Australian canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthini). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 14, 377–409. https://doi.org/10.1071/IT98019
    Milner, R.J. (1974) A new variety of milky disease, Bacillus popilliae var. rhopaea, from Rhopaea verreauxi. Australian Journal of Biological Science, 27, 235–247. https://doi.org/10.1071/BI9740235
    Milner, R.J. (1976) A laboratory evaluation of the pathogenicity of Bacillus popilliae var. rhopaea, the agent of milky disease in Rhopaea verreauxi (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 28, 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2011(76)90120-8
    Milner, R.J. & Lutton, G.G. (1975) The pathogenicity of an entomopoxvirus from Othnonius batesi (Col.: Scarabaeidae) and its possible use as a control agent. Entomophaga, 20, 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371662
    Moser, J. von (1913) Neue Lepidiota-Arten von Australien, Neu-Guinea und den benachbarten Inseln. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique, 57, 46–62.
    Naumann, I. (1992) CSIRO Handbook of Australian Insect Names. Sixth Edition. CSIRO Publications, East Melbourne, 200 pp.
    Olliff, A.S. (1890) Contributions towards a knowledge of the Coleoptera of Australia. No. VI. – New Lamellicornia and Longicornia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, Series 2, 5, 5–11. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.18620
    Prokofiev, A.M. (2016) New genera and species of the Papuan Leucopholini and Melolonthini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Euroasian Entomological Journal, 15, 68–74.
    Reid, C.A.M. (2000) A complex of cryptic species in the genus Coptodactyla Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Coprini). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 46, 231–251.
    Reid, C.A.M. & Storey, R.I. (2000) Revision of the dung beetle genus Temnoplectron Westwood (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeini). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 46, 253–297.
    Schneider, C. & Moritz, C. (1999) Rainforest refugia and evolution in Australia’s Wet Tropics. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 266, 191–196. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1999.0621
    Smith, A.B.T. (2006) A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections to nomenclature and current classification. Coleopterists Society Monographs, 5, 144–204. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X(2006)60[144:AROTFN]2.0.CO;2
    Smith, A.B.T., Hawks, D.C. & Heraty, J.M. (2006) An overview of the classification and evolution of the major scarab beetle clades (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) based on preliminary molecular analyses. Coleopterists Society Monographs, 5, 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X(2006)60[35:AOOTCA]2.0.CO;2
    Smith, J.H. (1936) White grub damage to pastures on the Atherton Tableland. Queensland Agricultural Journal, 46, 446–467.
    Song, N. & Zhang, H. (2018) The mitochondrial genomes of phytophagous scarab beetles and systematic implications. Journal of Insect Science, 18 (6), 11. [11 pp.] https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey076
    Storey, R.I. & Allsopp, P.G. (1989) A positive locality record for Lepidiota contigua Britton (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Australian Entomological Magazine, 16, 47.
    Turner, J.W. & Roubicek, M.S. (1970) Laboratory evaluation of insecticides against larvae of pasture scarabs. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, 27, 337–340.
    Turner, J.W. & Shaw, G.D. (1969) Black soil scarab in south Queensland. Queensland Agricultural Journal, 95, 204–207.
    Weir, T.A., Lawrence, J.F., Lemann, C. & Gunter, N.L. (2019) Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae Leach, 1819. In: Ślipiński, A. & Lawrence, J.F. (Eds.), Australian Beetles. Vol. 2. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga (part). CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, pp. 467–507.
    Wheeler, Q.D. & Platnick, N.I. (2000) The phylogenetic species concept (sensu Wheeler and Platnick). In: Wheeler, Q.D. & Meier, R. (Eds.), Species Concepts and Phylogenetic Theory: a Debate. Columbia University Press, New York, New York, pp. 55–69.
    Zidek, J. (2018) A new species of Philacelota Heller (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Melolonthini) from Flores Island, Indonesia. Insecta Mundi, 679, 1–28.