Liogenys palpalis
Creators: name: Cherman, Mariana A.
name: Basílio, Daniel S.
name: Clarkson, Bruno
name: Mondaca, José
name: Bezděk, Aleš
name: Smith, Andrew B. T.
name: Almeida, Lúcia M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Liogenys
Liogenys palpalis

description: Liogenys palpalis (Eschscholtz, 1822)
(Figs 11A–G, 12A–H, 13A–I, 14A–J, 16E) Melolontha palpalis Eschscholtz 1822: 17 (original description). Liogenys castaneus Guérin-Méneville 1831: plate 3 (illustration); Guérin-Méneville 1838: 85 (original description); Laporte 1840: 138 (redescription).
Liogenys palpalis: Solier 1851: 101 (redescription); Burmeister 1855: 14 (synonymy); Philippi 1887: 689 (catalogue); Dalla Torre 1913: 318 (catalogue); Blackwelder 1944: 228 (catalogue); Smith and Evans 2005: 176 (catalogue); Evans and Smith 2009: 180 (catalogue); Krajčík 2012: 145 (catalogue); Cherman et al. 2017: 10 (genus redescription).
Liogenys pubisternis Bates 1887: 155; Dalla Torre 1913: 318 (catalogue); Blackwelder 1944: 228 (catalogue); Frey 1969: 47 (key); Smith and Evans 2005: 176 (catalogue); Evans and Smith 2009: 180 (catalogue); Krajčík 2012: 145 (catalogue). Synon. nov.
Diplotaxis pubisternis (Bates 1887): Cherman et al. 2021b: 24 (reclassification)
Liogenys reichei Germain 1903: 51 (original description); Gutiérrez 1949: 20 (synonymy); Gutiérrez 1951: 129 (revision). Peritryssus excisus Reiter 1918: 78 (original description); Ragusa 1922: 129 (distribution notes); Winkler 1929: 1093 (catalogue); Porta 1932: 418 (catalogue, key); Baraud 1977: 283 (distribution notes); Baraud 1979:40 (redescription); Baraud 1992: 572 (redescription); Carpaneto and Piatella 1995: 14 (catalogue); Sanmartín 2003: 437 (natural history); Sanmartín and Martín-Piera 2003: 4 (systematics).
Liogenys excisus (Reiter 1918) [not Moser 1919]: Keith and Lacroix 2003: 45, 48 (redescription, systematics).
Liogenys excisa (Reiter 1918) [not Moser 1919]: Keith 2004: 154 (systematics); Bezděk 2006: 183 (catalogue); Lacroix 2007: 8 (history); Evans and Smith 2009: 177 (catalogue); Krajčík 2012: 145 (catalogue); Bezděk 2016: 214 (catalogue); Cherman et al. 2016: 766 (systematics); Cherman et al. 2017: 5, 14 (revision). Synon. nov.
Liogenys obesulus Gutiérrez 1951: 133 135 (key, original description); Krajčík 2012: 145 (catalogue).
Liogenys obesula: Evans 2003: 211 (catalogue); Evans and Smith 2009: 180 (check); Cherman et al. 2017: 14 (revision). Synon. nov.
Type material examined: Melolontha palpalis ♂ lectotype here designated (ZIN) (Fig. 12A–D): [white handwriten] ‘palpalis. / Esch. / Chili / T.’, [white handwriten, outlined] ‘ Liogenys / Guer.Men. / Amphicrania Dej. ’, [white, outlined in red] ‘ LECTOTYPE / Melolontha palpalis / Eschscholtz, 1822 / Des. Cherman M. A.’, [white, typeset, outlined] ‘Southern Neotropical Scarab / database # AS 2614900 / Liogenys palpalis / (Eschscholtz, 1822) ♂ / DET’: A.B. T. SMITH 2008”, genitalia mounted.
Liogenys castaneus ♂ lectotype here designated (MNHN) (Fig. 11E–G): [green / white handwriten] ‘4196 / 36’, [white handwriten] ‘ Liogenys castaneus / Guerin. voy. M. / Duperry pl. 3 f. 6’, [light green typeset] ‘ MUSÉUM PÁRIS / [handwriten] Chili / Fontaine’, [green handwriten] ‘ L. palpalis. Eschsch. / castaneus Guérin / Chili / M. Gay’, [white, outlined in red] ‘ LECTOTYPE / Liogenys castaneus / Des. Cherman M. A.’ [white, typeset, outlined] ‘Southern Neotropical Scarab / database # AS 2615158 / Liogenys palpalis / (Eschscholtz, 1822) ♂ / DET: A.B. T. SMITH 2008’.
Liogenys pubisternis ♂ lectotype here designated (BMNH): (Fig. 12C, D) [round, white with light blue border, typeset] ‘ SYN- / TYPE’, [round, white with red border, typeset] ‘Type’, [white, typeset] ‘ Mexico. / Salle Coll’, [white, typeset] ‘Ex Coll. / J.STRUM.’, [white, typeset] ‘Sp. figured.’, [white, typeset and handwriten] ‘B.C.A.Col.II.(2) / Liogenys / pubisternis, Bates’, [white, handwriten] ‘ Liogenys / pubisternis / Bates’, [red with border, handwritenandtypeset] ‘ LIOGENYS / PUBISTERNIS / BATES ♂ / LECTOTYPE’ genitalia mounted.
Liogenys reichei ♂ holotype (MNNC) (Fig. 12E, F): [white handwritten] ‘Mocha / Reiche’, [white handwritten] ‘1193 / Reichei / [?] p.e. (ined.)’, [white handwritten] ‘1193 / a / ♂ ’, [white handwritten] ‘1193 / a / [genitalia mounted]’, [white handwritten] ‘1193 / a / [maxilla mounted]’, [white typeset] ‘ CHILE / M.N. / H.N. / Tipo / Nº / 2916’, [red typeset] ‘Holótipo’, [white typeset] ‘Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # [handwritten] AS 2603069 / Liogenys / palpalis (Eschscholtz) / [typeset] DET: A.B.T. SMITH 2006’.
Peritryssus excisus ♂ lectotype (MMBC) (Fig. 12A, B): [white handwriten] ‘ Peritryssus / excisus / m. / m. / Type’, [white, outlined, handwriten] ‘Sicilia’, [white typeset] ‘Collectio / V.Zoufal / Moravské museum, Brno’, [red typeset] ‘LECTOTYPE’, [white handwriten] ‘ Lectotype / designé par / 2003 / [typeset] M. LACROIX’, [white handwriten] ‘ Peritryssus / excisus Reiter / 2002 / [typeset] M. LACROIX det’.
Liogenys obesulus ♂ holotype (MZUC) (Fig. 12G, H): [white handwriten] ‘4164’, [white handwriten] ‘ Chile.I.16 / Pichibudis / Curico-Varas’, [light red typeset] ‘ HOLOTIPO ♂ ’, [white handwriten, outlined] ‘ Liogenys ♂ / obesulus. Gut. / [typeset] R. Gutierrez-Det. 49’, [white, blue typeset, outlined] ‘ Colección / R. Gutiérrez / 1958’, [light red typeset] ‘ Lyogenis obesulus / Gutierrez 1949 / HOLOTYPE / MZUC-UCCC Nº 41901’. ♀ paratype (MZUC): [white handwriten] ‘4169’, [white handwriten] ‘ Chile.I.16 / Pichibudis / Curicó marit / Varas’, [light red typeset] ‘ ALOTIPO ♀ ’, [white handwriten and typeset, outlined] ‘ Liogenys / obesulus. Gut. sp. nov. / ♀ R. Gutierrez-Det. 51’, [white, blue typeset, outlined] ‘ Colección / R. Gutiérrez / 1958 ’. ♂ paratype (ZMUC): [white handwriten] ‘4167’, [white handwriten] ‘ Chile.1.16 / Pichibudis / Curico. Varas’, [light red typeset] ‘PARTIPO ♂ ’, [white, plue typeset, outlined] ‘ Colección / R. Gutiérrez / 1958’, [white handwriten] ‘ Liogenys / obesulus / Det: Gut’., [light red typeset] ‘ Lyogenis obesulus / Gutiérrez, 1949 / PARTYPE / MZUC-UCCC Nº 41904 ’. ♂ paratype (CMNC): [white handwriten] ‘ Chile.1.16 / Pichibudis / Curicó / Varas’, [light red typeset] ‘PARTIPO’, [white handwriten, outlined] ‘ Liogenys / obesulus. Gut. / 51 [typeset] R. Gutierrez-Det. ♂ ’, [white typeset] ‘ Southern Neotropical Scarabs / database # AS 2614902 / Liogenys palpalis / (Eschscholtz, 1822 ♂ / DET: A.B. T. SMITH 2008 ’.
Non-type material examined: CHILE. Without date or collector, 11♂ and 2♀ (ZMHB); 7♂ (BMNH); 2♂ (CASC, ZMUC); 1♂ (MNHN); 1♀ (FMNH); without locality and date, Reed leg., 2♂ and 1♀ (BMNH); 2♂ (USNM); 4♂ (BMNH); II.1934, E.C. Reed leg., 2♂ (CASC); Kraatz leg., 2♂ (SDEI); 2♂ (CASC); ‘ C. [Central] Chile’, A. Faz leg., 2♂ and 1♀ (USNM); 3♂ (AMNH); Southern Chile, M. J. Rivera leg., 1♀ (USNM). Coquimbo: Limarí, Combarbalá, 20.XI.1959, L. E. Peña leg., 2♂ (FMNH); Ovalle (35 mi. S), 1.XII.1950, Ross and Michelbacher leg., 2♂ and 1♀ (CASC); 10 km. E. Fray Jorge Natl Pk., 28.XII.1966, dry wash, M.E. Irwin leg., 8♂ and 4♀ (CASC); Fray Jorge, 15 km SW Pachingo, 29.XII.1966, 30°27 ʹ S, 71°32 ʹ W. M.E. Irwin leg., 1♀ (CASC); 5 km SW Hurtado, 30.XII.2006 to 3.I.2007, M.L. Jameson and F.L. Russell leg., 1♀ (UNSM); Elqui, without locality and date, Reed leg., 1♂ (CMNC); 2♂ (MLPA); Totoralillo, 19-20.XII.2015, J. Pizarro leg., DNA vouchers MAC035 and LSBC63 (fresh specimen), 1♂ (CEMT); La Serena, XII.1939, Reed leg., 1♂ (CMNC, MLPA); Illapel, XII.1948, without collector, 1♂ (MNNC); Choapa, Los Vilos, Caracas, 15.XII.2011, J. Pizarro leg., 5♂ and 2♀ (JMEC); Pichidangui, 21–23.XII.2013, J. Pizarro leg., 2♂ (JMEC); 28.IX.2015, J. Mondaca E. leg., 4♂ (JMEC). Valparaíso: without locality, date or collector, 1♂ (CASC); 6♂ (ZHMB); Valparaíso, without date or collector, 1♂ (NHMB); without date, E. P. Reed, 12♂ and 2♀ (CASC); 4♂ (AMNH); Viña del Mar, I.1988, 1♂ (MNNC); Quebrada Alvarado, Las Palmas, 12.IV.1974, S. Zunino leg., 1♂ (UMCE); Parque Nacional La Campana, near Granizo, 6.I.2007, M. L. Jameson, F. L. Russel leg., 1♂ (UNSM); Maitencillo, 15.XII.1946, without collector, 1♂ and 1♀ (CASC); Petorca, 16.XI.1959, without collector, 1♂ (FMNH); La Ligua, 15.I.2019, M. Maldonado leg., DNA vouchers MAC034 and LSBC62 (fresh specimen), 1♂ (CEMT); Este de Cabildo, 24.XI.2018, V. M. Diéguez coll, DNA vouchers MAC036 and LSBC64 (fresh specimen), 1♂ (CEMT); Marga-Marga, Los Perales at Río Marga Marga, 3.II.1 967 330 m, 33°08’S. 71°18’W, M. E. Irwin leg., 1♂ and 4♀ (CASC); Los Perales, XII.1931, without collector, 1♀ (BMNH); Quilpué, II.1922, without collector, 1♂ (CMNC); 3♂ (MZSP); II.1922, A. Faz coll.; 2♂ (CMNC, INHS); 6.II.1922, A. Faz leg., 1♂ (NHMB); 16.II.1922, 2♂ (USNM); 6–16.II.1922, A. Faz leg., 13♂ (USNM); 12.XI.1924, 1♂ (AMNH); 4♂ (CASC); Central Quilpué, 6.II.1922, R. Gutiérrez leg., 1♂ and 1♀ (CMNC); Limache, I.1920, 2♂ and 1♀ (CASC); 13.XII.1919, 2♂ (CASC); Quillota, Ocoa, Parque Nacional La Campana, XII.1984, L. Peña leg., 5♀ (LEMQ); San Felipe de Aconcagua, Huaquén, X.1986, L. Peña leg., 1♂ (INPA); S. Alicahue, 5.II.1984, L. Peña leg., 1♂ (LEMQ); El Naranjo, S. Caimanes, L. Peña leg., 7.II.1986, 2♀ (LEMQ); Concón, without collector, 10.I.1946, 1♂ (CASC); 16.XII.1950, Ross and Michelbacher leg., 1♂ (CASC); Santo Antonio, El Tabo, 1–28. II.1974, L. Peña leg., 1♂ (LEMQ); Algarrobo, 12.II.1975, 1♀ (FMNH). Región Metropolitana de Santiago: without locality, I.1966, L. E. Peña leg., 1♀ (CMNC); I.1982, Dr. H. Levinson leg., 1♀ (EMEC); without date or collector, 1♀ (CASC); Apoquindo, XI.1959, Dirings leg., 1♂ (MZSP); El Peuma, XII.1951, without collector, 2♂ (FMNH); El Colorado, XII.1979, L. Peña leg., 1♂ (CMNC); Los Andes, X.1989, L. Peña leg., 1♀ (CMNC); Chacabuco, 18.I.1983, M. Cerda leg., 2♀ (UMCE); Til Til, XII.1964, Pereira leg., 2♂ (MZSP); XII.1953, L. E. Peña leg., 2♂ and 3♀ (FMNH); 1♀ (CMNC); 19♀ and 5♂ (UMRM); XII.1953, Dirings leg., 1♂ (MZSP); 21.XI.2004, in cactus flowers, J. Mondaca leg., BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS678, 1♂ (CMNC); Colina, km 16.5, 16.I.2004, J. Mondaca E. leg., BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS680, 1♀ (CMNC) and 2♂ (CEMT); Caleu, Lo Marin, 5.II.2003, J. Mondaca leg., 1♂ and 1♀ (JMEC); Cordillera de la Costa, XII.1953, Dirings leg., 1♂ (MZSP); La Obra, 24.I.1991, A. Alviña leg., 1♂ (UMCE); Reserva Río Clarillo, 31.I.1989, R. Miller, L. Stange leg., 1♀ (FSCA); San José de Maipo, Maipo R. Vly [Valley] near Manzano, 24.I.2006, 33.35.13-70.23.00, 955 m, T. McCabe leg., 2♀ (PKLC); San Alfonso, 8.I.1984, G. Arriagada leg., 1♀ (MNNC); Santiago, without collector; XII.1946, 1♂ (BMNH); I.1966, L. E. Peña leg., 1♀ (FMNH); El Canelo, X.1950, 1♂ (MNNC, CMNC); 9.I.1967, M. E. Irwin leg., 4♂ and 10♀ (CASC); X–XII.1978, L. E. Peña leg., 3♂ and 3♀ (CMNH); 1946, without collector 1♂ (BMNH); El Canelillo, M. E. Irwin leg., 1♂ (UMCE); Aculeo, XII.1981, L. Peña leg., 1♀ (INPA), 1♂ (CMNC); L. Peña leg., XII.1983, 1♂ (LEMQ); XII.1979, without collector, 1♀ (FMNH); Peñalolén, 5–12.XII.1969, L. Alvarez leg., 1♂ and 2♀ (MEUC); 21.I.2001, Jackson leg., 1♀ (MNNC); Quebrada de Macul, 8.XII.2003, V. M. Diéguez leg., 1♂ and 2♀ (CMNC), DNA barcode voucher ABTS681, 1♂ and 1♀ (CMNC); El Arrayán, 1.XI–31.XII.1963, L. E. Peña leg., 1♀ (FMNH); 13.II.1964; 2♀ (CASC), 1♀ (FMNH); 13.II.1963, 1♂ (CASC) and 1♀ (CMNC); Lo Aguirre, 18.XII.2005, M. Elgueta leg., 1♂ and 2♀ (MNNC); Ruta 68, km 16.5, 14.XII.2005, M. Elgueta leg., 4♀ (MNNC); DNA barcode voucher ABTS704 (fresh specimen), 2♀ (CMNC); additional voucher LSBC09 (fresh specimen), 1♀ (CEMT); DNA barcode voucher ABTS701 (fresh specimen), 2♀ (CMNC); additional voucher LSBC11 (fresh specimen), 1♀ (CEMT); DNA barcode voucher ABTS689 (fresh specimen), 1♀ (CMNC); additional voucher LSBC06 (fresh specimen), 1♀ (CEMT); additional voucher LSBC26 (fresh specimen), 1♀ (CEMT); Renca, XI.1951, without collector, 1♂ and 1♀ (FMNH); 1♀ (CMNC); 26.I.2004, J. Mondaca E., DNA barcode voucher ABTS685 (fresh specimen), 1♂ (CMNC); Guayacan, Río Maipo, I.1951, L. E. Peña leg., 1♀ (FMNH), 2♀ (CASC). O’Higgins: Doñihue, Lo Miranda, 5.XII.2004, DNA barcode voucher ABTS679 (fresh specimen), 2♂ (CMNC), additional voucher LSBC01 and LSBC25 (fresh specimen), 2♂ (CEMT); Cardinal Caro, Pichilemu, Tanume, 18–19.I.2006, M. Guerrero leg., 6♂ (MNNC); DNA 28 S / 18S VOUCHER SMI-31, 1♂ (CMNC); Cachapoal, Rancagua, Cocalán, 15–17.XII.1986, L. Peña leg., 1♀ (INPA); Reserva Nacional Río Cipreses, 19.XII.2002, Mondaca leg., 1♂ and 1♀ (JMEC); 7.XII.2005, 1♀ (JMEC); 14.XII.2005, DNA BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS698, 1♂ and 1♀ (CMNC), 1♀ (CEMT); Termas de Cauquenes, Machali, 11.I.1953, without collector, 1♂ (MNNC); Baños de Cauquenes, L. E. Peña leg., 15.XII.1946, 1♀ (FMNH); Cordillera Rancagua, La Leonera, 25.II.1962, L. E. Peña leg., 1♀ (FMNH); 26–30.XII:1954, 1750 m, 1♂ (FMNH); 850 m, 1♀ (FMNH); La Sepultura, San Vincente de Tagua Tagua; 25.XII.1985, L. Peña leg., 3♂ (LEMQ). Maule: Cauquenes, S. Chovellén, 25.I.1979, L. Peña leg., 29♂ and 1♀ (LEMQ); 2♂ (CMNC); Cauquenes (1 km E), 12.II.2004, A. B. T. Smith, M. J. Paulsen, J. Mondaca leg., 1♂ (CMNC); Los Ruiles (RN), 23–30.I.2004, A. Vera leg. 1♂ (MNNC); 22–23.I.2 006 188 m, M. Guerrero leg., DNA BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS702, 1♂ (CMNC), 1♂ (CEMT); 28.I.2005, A. Vera leg., DNA BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS696, 1♀ (CMNC), 1♂ (CEMT); Curicó, Hue ca-hue can, Camino Zapallar 10 km E. Curicó, 1–4.II.1998, J. E. Barriga leg., 2♂ (MNNC), Los Queñes (6 km E), 7.II.1989, R. Miller, L. Stange leg., 3♀ (FSCA); Talca, Forel Carrizalillo, 30.I–5.II.1 981 250 m, L. E. Peña leg., 38♂ (USNM); vicinity of Talca, 9.XII.1982, A. Newton, M. Tayer leg., 1♀ (FMNH); Talca (22mi. N), Ross and Michelbacher leg., 22.XII.1950, 3♂ and 2♀ (CASC); 5 km W Vilches, 13.I.1 967 615 m, M.E. Irwin, L.A. Stange leg., 1♂ and 2♀ (CASC); Los Cipreses, 14.I.1968, 1000 m, L. E. Peña leg., 1♂ and 1♀ (FMNH); Linares, Río Ancoa, ca. 25 km E Linares on road to Embalse Ancoa, 25.I.2 008 330 m, 35°55.164’S, 71°22.948’W, Holzenthal, Pauls, Mendez leg., 1♂ (UMSP); Parral, 5.XII.1998, Guerrero leg., 1♂ (MNNC); Puente Malcho, 1–31.I.1979, L. Peña leg., 2♂ (LEMQ); Puente Malcho, near Longavi River, 13–15.I.1 979 600 m, D. Davis, M. Davis, B. Akerbergs leg., 1♂ and 1♀ (USNM); San Javier, 15–24.I.2003, Jackson leg., 1♀ (MNNC); Tranque de Bullileo, 10–12.I.1 979 800 m, D. Davis, M. Davis, B. Akerbergs leg., 1♂ (USNM); Estero de Leiva, Cordillera Parral, Barros, L. E. Peña leg., 8–12.I.1953, 2♂ (FMNH). Ñuble: Diguillín, Chillán, I.1900, without collector, 1♀ (MNNC); camino a las Mariposas km 7 side road, 4.II.2004, T. H. Ogden leg., DNA BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS687, 2♀ (CMNC, CEMT); Río Chillán, Puenta Marchant, 7.I.2002, T. H. Ogden leg., DNA BARCODE VOUCHER ABTS686, 1♂ (CMNC). Biobío: without locality, 1907, P. Herbst leg., 3♂ (SDEI); Arauco, Contulmo, 1904, Schonemann leg., 1♂ (NHMB); Biobío, Rt. 5, Río Laja (2 km N), 16.I.1987, C.M. Flint, O.S. Flint leg., 1♂ (USNM); Salto del Laja, 23.I.1998, N.E. Woodley leg., 3♂ and 5♀ (USNM); Laguna del Laja, 22–23.I.2005, 1000 m, S. Bily leg., 1♂ (NMPC); Mulchén, 16.I.1972, without collector, 4♂ (USNM); M. Elgueta leg., 9♂ and 1♀ (CNCI); Concepción, Concepción, without date or collector, 2♂ (ZMHB); without date, E. P. Reed leg., 2♂ (USNM); 6♂ (CASC); 1♂ (NHMB); Queime, 7.II.1972, without collector, 30♂ and 4♀ (FMNH); 1–31.I.1970, 1♂ (FMNH); Florida, 2.II.1964, T. Cekalovic leg., 13♂ and 1♀ (CNCI); Hualqui, 1–31.I.1954, without collector, 4♂ and 2♀ (AMNH). Araucanía: Cautín, 1–28.II.1981, L. E. Peña leg., 26♂ (LEMQ); Cunco, without date or collector, 1♀ (BMNH); Temuco, Los Copihues, 1–31.I. / 1972, M. Rivera leg., 6♂ (FMNH); Temuco (22 km E), 1. VI –31.VII.1951, M. G. Smith leg., 1♂ (CASC); Carillanca, 15.I.1987, 1♂ and 1♀ (MNNC); Malleco, Angol, 29.I.1951, Ross and Michelbacher leg., 3♂ and 1♀ (CASC); 1♂ (NHMB); W. Lumaco, 2.II.1967; L.E.Peña leg., 2♂ (MEUC); 43♂ (CMNC); 5♂ (UCDS); 1.II.1967, 13♂ (CASC); Lumaco (11 km W), 1.II.1967, E. I. Schlinger leg., 252♂ and 1♀ (CASC); Perquenco (10 mi. N), 6.I.1951, Ross and Michelbacher leg., 1♂ (CASC). Los Ríos: Valdivia, without date or collector, 2♂ (ZMHB). Los Lagos: Osorno, Pucatrihue, Costa Osorno, L. E. Peña leg., 1–28. II.1967, 1♂ (FMNH), Pucatrihue Costa, L. E. Peña leg., 3–21. II.1967, 1♂ (FMNH).
Diagnosis: Length: 11.5–15.8 mm; width 6.8–8.1 mm. Body reddish brown, short or elongate, elytra shiny or semi-opaque (Fig. 13A, D, G), clypeal emargination deep, rounded, or subangled and narrow; outer sides of anterior teeth sub-parallel, clypeal lateral edge convex (Fig. 13B, E, H); elytra glabrous or sometimes with minute, short bristles mainly posteriorly (Fig. 6A); mesotibia with two transverse carina, the apical complete or almost complete; ventrites clothed with abundant scales beneath the elytra; pygidium flat or barely convex, trapezoidal, pygidial maximum width slightly more than twice the apical width; bristled throughout, short, erect or decumbent bristles and longer towards apex (Fig. 13C, F, I); two metatibial transverse carinae present posteriorly, the basal carina sometimes weak; female metatibia with apical carina forming a ring or almost so, male metatibia with apical carina varying from only present posteriorly to incomplete or almost completely transverse, inner edge of metatibia varying from not carinate at basal portion (Fig. 14A, B) to entirely carinate (Fig. 14C, D), and carina straight (Fig. 14A–C) or produced from medial or subapical region and widely expanded towards the apex (Fig.14D); enlargement of pro- and mesotarsomeres varying from slender to widely enlarged; protarsomere 2 elongate or as long as it is wide, parameres with apex harpoon like or spatulate, corners angled or subangled (Fig. 14E–J).
Type locality: Liogenys palpalis and L. castanea: CHILE. Concepción; L. reichei: CHILE. La Mocha [Ñuble]; L. obesula: CHILE. Curicó, Pichibudis. L. excisa: ITALY. Sicily [adventive]; L. pubisternis: Mexico [erroneous].
Geographical distribution: CHILE. Coquimbo (Coquimbo, Choapa, Limarí, Illapel); Valparaíso (Petorca, Valparaíso, Marga-Marga, Quilpué, San Felipe de Aconcagua, San Antonio); Región Metropolitana de Santiago (Chacabuco, Santiago, Cordillera, San José del Maipo); O’Higgins (Cardenal Caro, Cachapoal); Maule (Curicó, Cauquenes, Linares, Talca); Ñuble (Diguillín); Biobío (Biobío, Arauco, Concepción); Araucanía (Cautín, Malleco); Los Ríos (Valdivia); Los Lagos (Osorno).
Remarks: Liogenys palpalis resembles L. wagenknechti in the shape of the clypeus, which has the lateral edge convex and the clypeal emargination deep. Liogenys palpalis is easily recognizable from L. wagenknechti (in parenthesis) in the body and elytra reddish brown (black), inconspicuous bristles on elytra less abundant, and long bristles on thorax yellow (grey or dull brown).
As supported by molecular data in the present work, Liogenys palpalis is a polymorphic species (Fig. 1; Table 2), and almost all variable features interchange in some point. Morphology of its individuals varies in the body size, elongate or short; shape of clypeus (narrow or wide); fovea of the maxillary palp elongate, oblong or rounded; punctures of the head, pronotum and scutellum with coarseness more or less pronounced; elytra with different abundance of inconspicuous bristles; shape and size of the pygidium, trapezoidal and shorter or quadrangular and longer; males with protarsomere 2 shorter or longer and more or less enlarged; parameres with apex from rounded to angled laterally; inner edge of the metatibia straight or produced towards apex and transverse carina absent, incomplete or complete; females with metatibial transverse carina complete, more or less strong.
Te specimens used by Gutiérrez (1951) to redescribe L.palpalis do not match the bearing-name type of L. palpalis itself (Fig. 11A–D), but the morphotype called ‘LpalpMorpho2’ in the molecular analyses above (Table 2; Figs 12G–I, 13D, G). Te diagnostic characters used to identify males of this morphotype are the inner edge of metatibia strongly produced medially towards apex, parameres with apex spatulate, body more elongate and elytra shiny.
Te combination of features used to identify the Liogenys obesula morphotype (Table 2) are the body shorter, clypeus narrow (Fig. 13A–C), males with protarsomeres slightly enlarged; metatibial transverse carina complete and parameres with lateral corner on apex sharply angled (Fig. 14A, E). Tough these features were constant among the individuals corresponding to L. obesula morphotype, they also appear in some specimens with L. palpalis diagnostic features. Te thorough comparative morphological study complemented with molecular analyses unveiled that what morphologically seemed three different lineages (L. palpalis, L. obesula and the LpalpMorpho2 morphotype), especially regarding differences among males, they are all part of a single phylogenetic unity. It was very difficult to sort the females of these three morphotypes because they are almost indistinguishable. Here we synonymize L. obesula with L. palpalis. Although L. obesula morphotype is more commonly present towards south of Santiagan Biogeographical Region (Fig. 3A), it also occurs at the coastal desert, northwest of the Coastal Range slope (Fig. 3A, D). Molecular data used in this survey did not explain the reasons of this disjunct distribution, thus we recommend more nuclear and mithochondrial molecular markers for coalescent analyses to test possible vicariant events.
Te lectotype of Liogenys pubisternis Bates, 1887 was also examined. Tis name was erroneously transferred from Liogenys to Diplotaxis in Cherman et al. (2021b) along with all other Mexican Liogenys species. Bates (1887) stated in the description that it is very close to L. palpalis. Te metatibial transverse carina is complete such as the specimens previously identificated as L. obesula. Tis specimen was undoubtedly mislabelled ‘Mexico’ and was collected in Chile. Tis name is transferred back to Liogenys and here synonymized with L. palpalis.
Liogenys excisa was originally described in Peristryssus and was adventive to Sicily, Italy (Cherman et al. 2017). Afer the examination of L. palpalis and the Peritryssus excisus name-bearing types, we propose that this is a junior subjective synonym of L. palpalis. Te debate about the origin of the Peritryssus population in Sicily started already by Ragusa (1922), shortly afer the description of P. excisus by Reiter (1918). Type specimens of P. excisus were provided to Reiter by Prof. Vladimír Zoufal (1856–1932), a well-known entomologist from Prostějov (modern Czech Republic). Zoufal is known to have collected insects from central Europe many times. For example, both Reiter (1933) and Koleška (1995) mentioned his expeditions to the Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dalmatia, and Transylvania), but no trip to Sicily was ever documented. According to a communication between Reiter and Ragusa (Ragusa 1922), Zoufal received the two P. excisus specimens labelled as from ‘Sicilia’ from a bookseller named Kalama, also from Prostějov. Tat is why subsequent authors (e.g. Baraud 1977) doubted the Sicilian origin of these specimens and assumed that they were mislabelled.
Nevertheless, Baraud (1979) found three additional historic Sicilian specimens in the MNHN in Paris. One of them bears a handwriten label ‘Sicile’, from the collection of J. Ochs; the other two also have handwriten labels stating ‘unicoloure, Sicile’ and originate from the collection of M. Vauloger de Beaupré. Tus, the most probable explanation for the origin of the Perityssus specimens in Sicily seems to be an accidental historic introduction of the species from Chile. Tis Sicilian population persisted probably only very shortly and soon became extinct. Except for these historical specimens, no other Sicilian specimens are known to us.
description: Published as part of Cherman, Mariana A., Basílio, Daniel S., Clarkson, Bruno, Mondaca, José, Bezděk, Aleš, Smith, Andrew B. T. & Almeida, Lúcia M., 2025, Taxonomic revision of Chilean Liogenys (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) and molecular assessment of a species complex, pp. 1-38 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (zlae 147) (zlae 147) 203 (1) on pages 23-30, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae147