Cyclocephala mafaffa Burmeister, 1847

Gillett, Conrad P. D. T. & Gillett, Michael P. T., 2015, The Dynastinae of the island of Saba, Dutch Caribbean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Insecta Mundi 2015 (433), pp. 1-9 : 4

Cyclocephala mafaffa Burmeister, 1847

Figure 5

Specimens examined: 31

Saba locality data. The Level; English Quarter (Windwardside); Upper Mountain Road; Crispeen. These records constitute NEW COUNTRY/ISLAND RECORDS.

Temporal data. February (1), April (7), May (19), June (3), and October (1).

Distribution. Cyclocephala mafaffa is a widespread species occurring from Mexico to Ecuador and the Brazilian Amazon ( Ratcliffe and Cave 2006). In the West Indies the species has only been recorded from Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Christopher ( Chalumeau 1983; Peck 2011), and now Saba. It is curious that such a distinctive and fairly large species has not been collected on other islands, although it is also difficult to believe that its distribution could be so restricted in the region.

Remarks. Chalumeau (1983) and Ratcliffe and Cave (2006) summarised what little biological information is available for this species. Like elsewhere in its range, when encountered, the beetles are often covered in sticky pollen and nectar, and are therefore presumably pollinators of various plants, possibly including Philodendron lingulatum (L.) K. Koch and P. giganteum Schott (Aroidea) occuring on Saba.

Figures

Figures 5–7. Dynastinae of Saba. 5) Cyclocephala mafaffa Burmeister. 6) Tomarus cuniculus (Fabricius). 7) Phileurus valgus antillarum Prell. Scales in millimetres. Photographs by Harry Taylor.