Gymnetis bajula (Olivier, 1789)

Figs. 3–5 (aspects), 8–10 (parameres)

Cetonia bajula Olivier, 1789: 82 (description; distribution)

Gymnetis bajula Olivier: Schenkling 1921: 91 (catalog; distribution; references); Schürhoff 1937: 65 (distribution); Blackwelder 1944: 262 (catalog).

Gymnetosoma bajula (Olivier, 1789): Krajčík 1998: 77 (catalog; distribution).

Gymnetis hebraica, not Drapiez, 1820: Gory & Percheron 1833: 355 (description; distribution); Schaum 1844: 360 (correct identification); Schenkling 1921: 91 (catalog; references); Schürhoff 1937: 65 (list).

Gymnetis perplexa Dejean, 1833: 169 (catalog; distribution; nomen nudum); Burmeister, 1842: 287–288 (description; distribution); Schaum 1844: 360 (synonymy); Schenkling 1921: 91 (catalog; references); Krajčík 1998: 77 (catalog).

Distribution: FRENCH GUIANA: Cayenne (Dejean 1833), Col. Dupont (Burmeister 1842). BRAZIL (Dejean 1833, Gory & Percheron 1833, Schenkling 1921, Blackwelder 1944); Pará: Ourém, 30-I-1894, 2 exx.; Marco da Lagoa, 10-V-1894, 1 ex. (Schulz 1901). ARGENTINA: Corrientes (Schenkling 1921).

Syntype (examined)

[FRENCH GUIANA]: “ bajula Oliv. / perplexa Dej. / hebraea [sic] G.P. / Guyana” [handwritten by Burmeister, pinned to the bottom of the drawer], 1 ex. [HBBA] , “ Gymnetis / perplexa / Burmeister / Syntypus [handwritten by A. Bachmann] / Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales [printed]” on red paper, black frame (Fig. 4).

Material examined: BRAZIL: Pará: Obidos, Rio Branquinho, X-1955, 1 male [ODIC] (light brown) (Fig. 5); [Mato Grosso]: Utiariti, Rio Papagayo, 23-XI-1966, G.J. Williner leg., 1 ex. [ODIC] ; Santa Catarina: São Bento do Sul, P. Wagner leg., 1 male [ODIC] (nearly black) (Fig. 3).

Male genitalia: parameres (Fig. 8); details of the sculpture on the dorsal side in the angle between both parameres (Figs. 9–10).

Note 1: According to Schaum (1844), “J'ai comparé l'individu décrit sous ce nom [ Gymnetis perplexa] par M. Burmeister à celui qui a servi de type à la G. hebraica, Gory et Perch., et je les ai reconnus identiques. Cette espèce est la véritable Cetonia bajula de Fabricius selon la collection de Copenhague et celle d'Olivier, dont la description et la figure lui conviennent parfaitement.” Burmeister labeled one specimen in the Burmeister Colletion at MACN as “ bajula Oliv. / perplexa Dej. / hebraea [sic] G.P. / Guyana ” (later “?”, influenced by the statement of Schaum 1844). In his description of G. perplexa, Burmeister (1842: 287–288) mentions “Long. 13’’’. ♀ ”, and “In Cayenne, von Hern Dupont”, that matches with the data of the label and size of the specimen, likely the holotype of G. perplexa (Fig. 4).

Note 2: The original record of G. bajula from Corrientes (Schenkling 1921) was not found. See Note for Gymnetis hebraica (Drapiez, 1820) .

Note 3: Together with Gymnetis punctipennis Burmeister, 1844, G. bajula is one of the largest species in the genus (23.0–25.0 mm total length between the anterior margin of the clypeus and the apices of elytra). The species is variable in dorsal color, from nearly black (Fig. 3) to light brown (Fig. 5). The specimen examined from Mato Grosso is similar in dorsal color to the holotype of G. perplexa (Fig. 4). All specimens are of the same lighter brown color in the venter of the body, independently of the dorsal color.