Liogenys Guerin-Méneville, 1831 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Diplotaxini) of northern South America and Central America: taxonomic overview with four new species.

The biodiversity of northern South American and Central American Liogenys Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Diplotaxini) is reviewed. Four new species are described: L. clipeosetosa Cherman, new species; L. genieri Smith Cherman, new species; L. granadina Cherman, new species; and L. schneiderae Cherman, new species. The male of L. quadridens (Fabricius, 1798) and the female of L. quadridentata Blanchard, 1851 are described for the first time. Liogenys gebieni Moser, 1921 is a new junior subjective synonym of L. macropelma Bates, 1887. The northernmost record of Liogenys is emended to Trinidad and Tobago for L. granadina Cherman, new species and L. schneiderae new species. Diplotaxis puberea cuprascens (Bates, 1887) new combination, Diplotaxis puberea puberea (Bates, 1887) new combination, and Diplotaxis pubisternis (Bates, 1887) new combination are all transferred from Liogenys to Diplotaxis Kirby, 1837. Lectotypes are designated for Liogenys gebieni Moser, 1921; Melolontha quadridens Fabricius, 1798; and Liogenys quadridentatus Blanchard, 1851. An identification key to northern South American Liogenys is presented.

Liogenys Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the southern South American Transition Zone and boundaries: taxonomic overview with four new species.

The biodiversity of Liogenys Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Diplotaxini) from the southern South American Transition Zone and boundaries is presented. Four new species are described: L. brachyclypeata Cherman, new species; L. lucialmeidae Cherman, new species; L. martinezi Cherman, new species; and L. maxillaricuspis Cherman, new species. The synonymy of L. flaveola Moser, 1924 (= L. kadleci Frey, 1970) is proposed. Lectotypes are designated for L. flavida Moser, 1918; L. pallidicornis Blanchard, 1851 (currently L. xanthocera Harold, 1869); and L. rufoflava Moser, 1918. Redescriptions are provided for all the species mentioned above plus L. calcarata Frey, 1970 and L. kunzteni Moser, 1921, as well as an identification key and updated geographical distributions to all species in the region. All species are present in the Monte province, except of L. kuntzeni (Andean provinces of Chile). Liogenys flavida and L. rufoflava have the broadest distribution, the latter here expanded to Paraguay and Chile.

Abundance and Diversity in the Melolonthidae Community in Cultivated and Natural Grassland Areas of the Brazilian Pampa.

Annual crops or exotic trees for cellulose extraction have replaced natural grassland areas of the Brazilian Pampa biome. These activities have been intensified in recent years and may lead to changes in the white grub complex. The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity and abundance of white grubs in cultivated and natural grassland areas of the Brazilian Pampa biome. We conducted samplings in natural grassland and cultivated areas throughout 18 locations in the Brazilian Pampa. Diversity index and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were used to compare the Melolonthidae community within and between cultivated and natural grassland areas. Diloboderus abderus Sturm, Cyclocephala modesta Burmeister, and Plectris sp.5 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) were the most abundant taxa, accounting for 49.08% of all white grubs collected from both land use types. Abundance, diversity, and evenness indices were greater in natural grassland than in cultivated areas. The NMDS demonstrated that natural grassland and cultivated areas share similar white grub species assemblages, with 22 species collected in both land use types. Our data suggest that most of the Melolonthidae species collected in the Brazilian Pampa are capable of persisting in cultivated areas. This is the first work characterizing the Melolonthidae community throughout the Brazilian Pampa, which is vital for implementing pest management tactics and conservation of beneficial species.

White grubs (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Key for identification, species richness and distribution

White grubs (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Key for identification, species richness and distribution. The objective of this study was to survey the occurrence and geographic distribution of white grub species (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) in cultivated and non-cultivated fields of the "Planalto Region", Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil and develop a key at genus-level. Twenty-eight species from 15 genera and three subfamilies were recorded: Dynastinae, Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. The species or genera recorded for the first time in the state are: Cyclocephala metrica, C. tucumana, Isonychus albicinctus, Liogenys bidenticeps, L. fusca, L. obesa and L. sinuaticeps, Paranomala violacea, as well as unidentified species of Amononyx, Dicrania, Leucothyreus, Macrodactylus, Plectris and Rhizogeniates. Among the species recorded, 23 were associated with winter crops. Only Cyclocephala metrica, Dyscinetus rugifrons, two species of Leucothyreus and one species of the tribe Sericini were not present in cultivated crop fields. Cyclocephala flavipennis and Diloboderus abderus occurred in most of the municipalities sampled, often associated with Plectris sp., C. modesta and C. putrida. The highest richness of melolonthids was concentrated in the northeast of the Planalto region.

First record of species of Liogenys (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) associated with winter grain crops in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

First record of species of Liogenys (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) associated with winter crops in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Some species of Liogenys Guerín-Meneville, 1831 are known to cause damage to soybean, corn and other summer crops in the Brazilian "Cerrado" region. This work aimed to identify melolontid larvae associated with winter crops in Rio Grande do Sul state. Larvae and adults of Liogenys species were collected from the municipalities of Ijuí, Cruz Alta, Manoel Viana, São Luiz Gonzaga and São Francisco de Assis. The specimens were identified as L. bidenticeps Moser, 1919; L. fusca Blanchard, 1851, L. obesa Burmeister, 1855, and L. sinuaticeps Moser, 1918. This is the first record of these species associated with winter grain crops, for Rio Grande do Sul State. Biological and behavioral studies are necessary to confirm their association with host plants.

Primeiro registro de ocorrência de espécies de Liogenys (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) associadas a culturas de inverno no Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). As espécies de Liogenys Guerín-Meneville, 1831 são conhecidas no "Cerrado" brasileiro por causar danos em culturas de verão como soja e milho. O trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as larvas de melolontídeos que ocorrem nas culturas de grãos de inverno no Rio Grande do Sul. Larvas e adultos de Liogenys foram coletados nos municípios de Ijuí, Cruz Alta, Manoel Viana, São Luiz Gonzaga e São Francisco de Assis. As espécies foram identificadas como Liogenys bidenticeps Moser, 1919, L. fusca Blanchard, 1851, L. obesa Burmeister, 1855 and L. sinuaticeps Moser, 1918. Trata-se do primeiro registro de ocorrência destas espécies associadas a culturas de grãos de inverno, no Estado de Rio Grande do Sul. São necessários estudos de biologia e comportamento para confirmar sua associação com plantas hospedeiras.