Melolontha, Fabricius, 1775

Gupta, Devanshu, Keith, Denis, Bhunia, Debika, Das, Priyanka, Ghosh, Joyjit & Chandra, Kailash, 2023, Review of Melolontha Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from India with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 5263 (2), pp. 191-216 : 192

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5263.2.2
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B07051F2-A15B-49EC-9A2F-91B9420FEA4A
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7814556
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BC1F87FF-137F-FFF9-FF74-FD0EFA6EBF8C
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Melolontha
status

Treatment

Key to species groups of Melolontha known from India (adopted and modified from Li et al. 2010)

1. Elytral disc glabrous or setiferous; colour of elytra light olive to dark green........................................ 2

– Elytral disc with dense setae; colour of elytra dark brown to yellowish-brown...................................... 3

2. Pronotum shining dorsally, lacking metallic reflection; elytron with one post-humeral and 2 to 3 basal setiferous patches ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–4 ); apex of interval one deeply depressed along elytral disc; parameres with ventroapical process, distinctly elongate and gradually acuminate in lateral view ( Fig. 53 View FIGURES 53–64 ), lateral convexity completely absent ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 41–46 )............... guttigera group

– Pronotum with dorsal metallic with green reflection; elytra without patches of setae at base ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–4 ); apex of interval one weakly depressed along elytral disc; parameres without a ventroapical process ( Fig. 54 View FIGURES 53–64 ), lateral convexity weakly developed ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 41–46 ) ........................................................................................ virescens group

3. Basal segment of antenna swollen at apex, with antennomeres 2 and 3 compressed (see Li et al. 2010, fig. 1) ( Figs. 26 View FIGURES 25–32 , 34 View FIGURES 33–40 , 66 View FIGURES 65–71 ); antennal club strongly to moderately curved outwardly ( Figs 25 View FIGURES 25–32 , 33 View FIGURES 33–40 , 66 View FIGURES 65–71 ); length of dense setae more on vertex than those of clypeus ( Figs. 25 View FIGURES 25–32 , 33 View FIGURES 33–40 , 66 View FIGURES 65–71 ); setae on inner surface of meso- and metatibiae stout and long ( Figs. 31 View FIGURES 25–32 , 37 View FIGURES 33–40 )................ … 4

– Basal segment of antennae moderately swollen apically, antennomeres 2 and 3 elongate (see Li et al. 2010, fig. 2); antennal club weakly to moderately curved outwardly (see Li et al. 2010, figs. 4, 5, 6); length of setae on vertex same as those on clypeus; setae on inner surface of meso- and metatibiae stout and short.................................................. 5

4. Antennal club strongly curved outwardly, 3.5 times as length of basal segments (see Li et al. 2010, fig. 3) ( Figs. 25 View FIGURES 25–32 , 33 View FIGURES 33–40 , 66 View FIGURES 65–71 ); outer metatibial spur subequal in length to length of metatarsomeres 1 and 2 combined ( Figs. 31 View FIGURES 25–32 , 37 View FIGURES 33–40 ); apical portion of pygidium not narrowed, more or less rounded ( Figs. 15, 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ); parameres symmetrical, apical process of left paramere not raised ( Figs. 43, 44 View FIGURES 41–46 , 70 View FIGURES 65–71 )....................................................................... phupanensis group

– Antennal club moderately curved outwardly, three times as length of basal segments; outer metatibial spur subequal to length of metatarsomere 1; apical portion of pygidium narrowed to form an elongate process ( Figs 17, 18 View FIGURES 13–18 ); parameres asymmetrical, apical process of left paramere relatively raised ( Figs 45, 46 View FIGURES 41–46 )...................................... aeneicollis group

5. Antennal club relatively shorter, weakly curved (see Li et al. 2010, fig. 6) ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 5–8 ); pronotum with irregular serrations laterally; parameres with sharply developed pointed process at outer margin in dorsal view ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 47–52 ).............. .. chinensis group

– Antennal club usually longer and moderately curved (see Li et al. 2010, figs. 4, 5) ( Figs. 8–12 View FIGURES 5–8 View FIGURES 9–12 ); pronotum with serrations developed anteriorly with basal one–half to one–third of margin smooth (see Li et al. 2010, fig. 8); parameres without pointed process ( Figs. 48–52 View FIGURES 47–52 ).................................................................................. 6

6. Central disc of pronotum evenly and densely punctate; midline of pygidium ridged completely or incompletely ( Figs. 20–22 View FIGURES 19–24 ); apical and dorsal process ( Figs. 48–50 View FIGURES 47–52 ) and lateral convexity of paramere well developed ( Figs. 60–62 View FIGURES 53–64 )..... .. carinata group

– Central disc of pronotum unevenly punctured; midline of pygidium smooth ( Figs 23–24 View FIGURES 19–24 ); apical process of paramere distinctly enlarged posteriorly, fusing with dorsal process ( Figs. 51–52 View FIGURES 47–52 ), lateral convexity broadly swollen laterally ( Figs. 63–64 View FIGURES 53–64 )............................................................................................... incana group