Taxonomy and natural history of the myrmecophilous genus Clinterocera Motschulsky, 1858 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) from China and adjacent regions: definition of species group and revision of the C. discipennis species group.

Abstract

The Asian genus Clinterocera Motschulsky, 1858 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Cremastocheilini) is redescribed and divided into four species groups based on adult external characters. The definition of species groups and an identification key to these species groups are provided. The C. discipennis species group is revised, and two species are recognized: C. discipennis Fairmaire, 1889 and C. trimaculata Ma, 1993. Callynomes rufiventris Fairmaire, 1904, Callynomes rufithorax Moser, 1901, Callynomes cruciatus Moser, 1901, Callynomes vitalisi (Bourgoin, 1924), and Clinterocera rubra Ma, 1992 are placed as junior synonyms of Clinterocera discipennis. The male of Clinterocera trimaculata is described for the first time and newly recorded from Vietnam. Diagnoses and illustrations of Clinterocera discipennis and Clinterocera trimaculata are provided, with comments on the intraspecific variations. New distribution records of the two species are presented on a map. Brief natural history notes and host ant Liometopum sinense Wheeler, 1921 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) record of Clinterocera trimaculata are also given.