G. it. Ent., 16 (68): 591-604
March 2023
Ridescrizione di Hoplia paganettii J. Müller, 1907
e definizione del “gruppo Hoplia minuta”
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae Hopliini)
di
DANIEL PATACCHIOLA, FABRIZIO FABBRICIANI & PIER LUIGI BOSCHIN
Abstract - Redescription of Hoplia (Hoplia) paganettii J. Müller, 1907 and definition of the “Hoplia minuta group” (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae Hopliini) - Hoplia (Hoplia) paganettii J. Müller, 1907 is a strictly Italian endemic species, currently known from a few localities in Calabria and Sicily. Based on the study of numerous material collected during three research campaigns, and the examination of specimens from private and museum collections, Hoplia paganettii is redescribed and its lectotype designated; new data on its ecology and phenology are also provided. The species is similar in morphological characteristics and ecology to Hoplia (Hoplia) minuta (Panzer, 1789) and Hoplia (Hoplia) walterrossii Sabatinelli in BARAUD (1992), also endemic to Italy. It is therefore proposed to insert these three species in a group defined “Hoplia minuta group”: their characters are summarized and compared in a table. Finally, an unpublished regional datum concerning Hoplia walterrossii from Apulia is reported.
