Taxonomic notes on the genus Cyphochilus Waterhouse, 1867 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthinae) with description of 10 new species

Abstract

Abstract: This work presents a revision of Cyphochilus species characterized by smooth elytra and mesocoxae separated by armed mesosternum. The type material was examined and compared to more than 500 specimens from historical collections as well as recently collected ones. Lectotypes are designated for Melolontha candida Olivier, 1789, Cyphochilus cylindricus Brenske, 1903, C. flavomarginatus Frey, 1971, C. peninsularis Arrow, 1938, C. pygidialis Nonfried, 1893, C. pygidialis v. angeri Nonfried, 1893, C. septentrionalis Waterhouse, 1867, C. testaceipes Fairmaire, 1902, C. tricolor Waterhouse, 1867, and C. vestitus Sharp, 1876. Cyphochilus septentrionalis is resurrected from synonymy (name rest.) and the following synonymies are established: C. pygidialis Nonfried, 1893 = C. septentrionalis syn. nov., C. cylindricus = C. proximus Sharp, 1876 syn. nov., C. vestitus = C. tricolor syn. nov. Cyphochilus testaceipes is transferred to Dasylepida Moser, 1913 as Dasylepida testaceipes (Fairmaire, 1902) comb. nov. Cyphochilus candidus, C. carinchebanus Brenske, 1903, C. feae Brenske, 1903, C. flavomarginatus, C. obscurus Sharp, 1876, and C. peninsularis are confirmed valid species, redescribed, and their distribution updated. Ten new species are described: Cyphochilus gandhii n. sp., from NE India, C. hmong n. sp., from Laos, C. leducthoi n. sp., from Vietnam, C. orbachi n. sp., from Vietnam, C. reichenbachi n. sp., from Vietnam, C. rohingyae n. sp., from West Malaysia, C. sansuukyii n. sp., from Myanmar, C. satyarthii n. sp., from Sikkim and West Bengal, C. tenzingyatsoi n. sp., from Tibet, and C. zuercheri n. sp., from Thailand and Myanmar. The parameres of the 19 species treated are illustrated in three projections. A checklist of the resulting 38 valid species of Cyphochilus is provided with their distribution.