Oplostomus fuligineus (Olivier, 1789)

Serrano, Artur R. M., 2022, The rose chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) of Guinea-Bissau: an annotated checklist and new records, Zootaxa 5104 (2), pp. 151-195 : 172-173

* Oplostomus fuligineus (Olivier, 1789)

( Fig. 5e )

Distribution: ANG, DOC, GBI, KEN, MOZ, NAB, NIG, RSA, SEN, ZAM, ZIM.

Distribution in Guinea-Bissau (Administrative Regions): 2) OIO.

Historic records: none.

Material examined: Farim (OIO), 19.VI.1992, 1 ♂, P. Mendoça leg., PMC (Nº 12278) in MUHNAC (Nº 23256) .

Remarks. Despite the species presents a wide distribution in Africa (e.g. Schenkling 1921, Gomes Alves 1959, see Oldroyd & Allsopp 2017 also), it was not recorded for GBI until now. The adult specimen of Farim examined was erroneously identified as Diplognatha gagates (Forster, 1771) (det. P. Mendoça). The species is known as the “Large Hive Beetle” and the adults are associated with honey bees and paper wasps, while larvae and pupae live in dung ( Péringuey 1907; Scholtz & Holm 1985; Oldroyd & Allsopp 2017). The larvae description, life cycle and several aspects of its biology was provided by Donaldson (1989) and Oldroyd & Allsopp (2017). The last authors noticed that the species have potential to become invasive and highly damaging to beekeeping worldwide. It is a new genus/species record for Guinea-Bissau.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Cetoniinae species of Guinea-Bissau. a, Coenochilus ventricosus (dorsal view), male, Cacheu, CAC, ASC; b, Coenochilus sp. (dorsal view), female, Varela, CCH, ASC; c, Plagiochilus crassipes (dorsal view), female Jemberem, TOB, ASC; d, Cymophorus fluctiger (dorsal view), male, Jemberem, TOB,ASC; e, Oplostomus fuligineus (dorsal view), male, Farim, OIO, PMC; f, Charadronota curvata (dorsal view), female, Bissorã, OIO, ASC; g, Charadronota pectoralis (dorsal view), female, Coli (Quebo), TOB, ASC; h, Charadronota quadrisignata (dorsal view), male, Coli (Quebo), TOB, ASC; i, Diphrontis cruenta (dorsal view), male, Coli (Quebo), TOB, ASC.