A review of the Blaesiina (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae, Gymnetini)
Author
Ratcliffe, Brett
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States of America
text
ZooKeys
2010
2010-01-28
34
34
105
128
journal article
10.3897/zookeys.34.289
5a91b4b1-6213-407b-8f3a-a9a71c44189c
1313–2970
576607
Blaesia
Burmeister, 1842
Blaesia
Burmeister 1842: 615
.
Type
species:
Blaesia atra
Burmeister, 1842
, by monotypy.
Description
.
Scarabaeidae
,
Cetoniinae
,
Gymnetini
.
Form
: Rhomboidal, robust, sides slightly tapering toward apex of elytra, dorsum nearly flat. Color on dorsum black to dark reddish brown, venter shiny black. Surface of head, pronotum, elytra, and
pygidium
with or without distinct setae.
Head
: Shape subrectangular, longer than wide. Clypeus with apex broadly rounded, surface slightly longitudinally tumid at middle. Antenna 10-segmented, club subequal in length to segments 1–7. Eyes small.
Pronotum
: Shape subtrapezoidal, widest near base, gradually convergent to anterior angles, basomedian lobe strongly produced, lobe covering all but tip of scutellum.
Elytra
: Widest at base, posthumeral emargination distinct.
Pygidium
: Surface
punctate and/or with transverse strigulae.
Legs
: Protibia tridentate in both sexes, teeth subequally spaced. Metatrochanter with long, acute spur, spur with apex projecting almost perpendicular to posterior margin of metafemur in both sexes (
Fig. 2
). Metafemur greatly enlarged, broad. Metatibia in male with apex extended into long, thick, acute spine and with 1 long, articulated spur; metatibia at apex in female with short, subtriangular extension and with 2 long, articulated apical spurs.
Venter
: Mesometasternal process short, flat, apex rounded, nearly obsolete.
Diagnosis
.
Species of
Blaesia
can be easily recognized by the presence of the enlarged metafemora in both sexes. In addition, males have the apex of the metatibia elongated into stout, acute spine and with only one articulated spur, both of which are unique characters in the
Gymnetini
.
Distribution
.
Species of
Blaesia
are known from
Bolivia
,
Paraguay
,
Uruguay
,
Argentina
, and southern
Brazil
.
Figureļ.
Blaesia atra
, habitus drawing of male.