A taxonomic review of the genus Phyllophaga Harris (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Abstract

There is a total of 77 species of the genus Phyllophaga Harris from Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have, 17 of them newly described here (P. admiratia NEW SPECIES, P. caliche NEW SPECIES, P. danieli NEW SPECIES, P. dolabrata NEW SPECIES, P. duartei NEW SPECIES, P. edwardi NEW SPECIES, P. garciai NEW SPECIES, P. ladonnae NEW SPECIES, P. linguspina NEW SPECIES, P. luquillensis NEW SPECIES, P. maricao NEW SPECIES, P. neibana NEW SPECIES, P. platensis NEW SPECIES, P. sarcophaga NEW SPECIES, P. tortolae NEW SPECIES, P. turnbowi NEW SPECIES, P. zemi NEW SPECIES). Two of these were previously confused with P. pleei and P. rex Woodruff and Sanderson. I include descriptions of and keys for all 77 species (52 species from Hispaniola, 25 species from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and illustrations of 68 of these (43 Hispaniola, 25 Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands).I have new island distribution records for P. microphylla (Blanchard) and P. pleei (Blanchard). New character sources employed for the first time include the labral angle, the antennal yellow spots, and the maxillary palpomere. Twelve of species are still known from only a single sex. (P. garciai, male, P. linguspina, male , P. caliche, male, P. zemi, male, P. barrosa Sanderson, female, P. costura Sanderson, male, P. garrota Sanderson, male, P. rex Woodruff and Sanderson, male, P. davidsoni Woodruff, male, P. esquinada Sanderson, male, P. aceitillar Woodruff, male, P. rustica Woodruff, male). Additionally, I illustrate the previously unknown females of P. espina Sanderson, P. carnegie Woodruff and P. toni Woodruff. An illustrated glossary of the terminology used is provided.