Hoplopyga liturata
Creators: name: Shaughney, Jennifer Marie
name: Ratcliffe, Brett C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Hoplopyga
Hoplopyga liturata

description: Hoplopyga liturata (Olivier, 1789)
(Figs. 51–59)
Scarabaeus pennicrusta Voet 1776: 10 (nomen nudum; see nomenclatural remarks below).
Type not found. Type locality: “ India Orientali.”
Cetonia liturata Olivier 1789: 86 (original combination).
Type not found. Type locality: not given.
Gymnetis spinosa Fischer von Waldheim 1823: 259 (synonym).
Type not found. Type locality: “ Brasilia.”
Gymnetis hamata Fauvel 1860: 305 (synonym).
Type not found. Type locality: “ Cayenne.”
Gymnetis spurca Janson 1880: 576 (original combination).
Holotype female at RMNH, labeled “ Ecuador (Buckley)//Museum Leiden/verz. F. T. Valk Lucassen (O. E. Janson)// Hoplopyga spurca Janson // Type // Gymnetis spurca Janson /female symbol Type // spurca Jans. // Gymnetis spurca, Jans. Type Ecuador // Gymnetis spurca Janson Holotype ”, examined. Type locality: “ Ecuador.” New synonymy.
Description. Length 11.4–16.7 mm; width across humeri 6.7–10.7 mm. Ground color of dorsum highly variable, ranging from velutinous, brownish yellow to greenish gray. Some specimens entirely black. Head with fuscous clouding either side of midline at base in both sexes. Pronotum with fuscous to piceous clouding at middle, fuscous M-shaped mark (sometimes obscured by clouding), and narrow, longitudinal, brownish yellow band on posterior half of midline (band sometimes absent). Elytra with fuscous to piceous clouding at base mesad of mesepimeron and at suture, and with fuscous to piceous marks as follows: each elytron with 1–2 spots on mediodiscal area and J-shaped mark or reversed J-shaped mark on apical umbone. Ventral surface opaque, ground color as on dorsum. Metasternum with reddish brown, shiny, oblique spot either side of midline or reddish brown, shiny spot at middle or narrow, reddish brown, shiny line on midline on males; females with middle third entirely reddish brown, shiny. Mesometasternal process reddish brown, shiny at apex on males, entirely reddish brown and shiny in females. Abdominal sternites of males each with reddish brown, shiny areas or not, females with middle third of each sternite reddish brown, shiny. Setae tawny. Head: Surface with large, dense, round and n-shaped punctures, each puncture with a minute seta in pristine specimens, punctures becoming smaller towards apex. Clypeal apex weakly emarginate at middle, weakly reflexed, weakly angulate either side of emargination. Antennal club slightly longer than antennomeres 2–7 combined. Pronotum: Lateral margins obtusely angulate, appearing broadly rounded. Surface with minute to small, sparse, round punctures at middle, punctures becoming large, dense, and n-shaped laterally. Lateral margins with short bead not reaching apical or basal angles. Elytra: Surface of each elytron with 2 distinctly elevated, discal costae, lateral costa on each elytron interrupted and depressed on mediodiscal area. Depressions between costae with n-shaped punctures; punctures large, dense, arranged longitudinally in striae, not extending to base near scutellum.Apical declivity with large, dense,n-shaped punctures. Lateral margins densely punctate. Sutural costae each elevated into longitudinal keel on posterior half. Apices at suture strongly spinose. Pygidium: Surface distinctly convex in both sexes, with large, dense, concentric, transversely vermiform punctures, each puncture with minute setae. Venter: Metasternum with large, dense, n-shaped and m-shaped punctures either side of middle, each puncture with a minute to short seta. Mesometasternal process, in lateral view, subparallel to horizontal axis of body (sometimes at a slight, oblique angle to horizontal axis of body in large specimens), moderately protuberant beyond mesocoxae; in ventral view (Figs. 52–53), apex broadly rounded. Abdominal sternites with large, dense, n-shaped and elongate, n-shaped punctures either side of middle in males or on lateral, opaque areas in females, each puncture with a minute to short seta. Legs: Protibia short, tridentate in both sexes. Parameres: Shaft divergent between midpoint and apex (Figs. 54–55). Lateral margins with broad bulge between midpoint and apex. Apices each with distinct, lateral spur. Ventral face obliquely angled, visible in lateral view.
Distribution. Hoplopyga liturata has a broad distribution from the southern half of Mexico to Argentina (Fig. 56). There are two possibly erroneous records from Chile.
Locality Records. 2,998 specimens from the following collections: ADMC, AMIC, AMNH, BCRC, BMNH, CASC, CCBM, CMNH, CNCI, CZUG, DCCC, DEIC, EAPZ, EGRC, EMEC, FMNH, FSCA, HAHC, INBC, INPA, JDGC, JEWC, JMMC, LACM, LSAM, MAMC, MCZC, MIZA, MLUH, MNHN, MPEG, MZSP, NMPC, OSU, PKLC, QCAZ, RMYC, SEMC, SLTC, TAMU, UCCC, UFRJ, UMSP, UNSM, USNM, WBWC, and ZMHU. Some data from Morón (1995), Reyes Novelo and Morón (2005), Fierros- López (2007), Suárez-G. and Amat-García (2007), Jhon Neita (personal communication to BCR, 13 November 2008), Neita Moreno et al. (2010), Orozco (2012), Di Iorio (2013), and Rodrigues et al. (2013). ARGENTINA (11): CHACO (1): No data. MISIONES (9): Estación Experimental Loreto, Pindapoy, No data. NO DATA (1). BELIZE (25): BELIZE (3): Manatee, No data. CAYO (8): Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas Research Station. ORANGE WALK (5): La Milpa Field Station, Río Bravo Conservation Area. TOLEDO (7): Punta Gorda, No data. NO DATA (2). BOLIVIA (38): BENI (2): Cavinas, Guyaramerín. COCHABAMBA (5): No data. LA PAZ (15): Nor Yungas, Río Zongo, San Jose, Tumupasa. SANTA CRUZ (14): Amboró National Park, Buena Vista, Cuevas (6.2 km SE), Florida, Hotel Fauna y Flora (4–6 km SSE Buena Vista), Loma Alta. NO DATA (2). BRAZIL (678): ACRE (1): Río Branco. AMAPÁ (5): Porto de Santana, Río Matapi, Serra Lombarda, No data. AMAZONAS (173): Benjamin Constant, Borba, Guajará, Humaitá, Ipiranga, Lago do Acará, Manacapuru, Manaus, Manicoré, Maués, Obidos, Reserva Ducke (near Manaus), São Paulo de Olivença, Tefé, Tonantins, Yauaretê, No data. BAHIA (27): Alcobaça, Ilhéus, Maragogipe, No data. DISTRITO FEDERAL (1): No data. ESPÍRITO SANTO (68): Colatina, Linhares, Santa Leopoldina, No data. GOIÁS (14): Jataí, Río Verde, No data. MATO GROSSO (17): Cáceres, Chapada dos Guimarães, Cuiabá, Pôrto do Sará, Reserva Humboldt. MATO GROSSO DO SUL (23): Aquidauana, Chapada, Córrego Itá. MINAS GERAIS (12): Río Sapucaí, Varginha. PARÁ (165): Altamira, Belém, Benevides, Cametá, Conceição do Araguaia, Itaituba, Mocajuba, Óbidos, Río Madeira, Santarém, Tapará, Taperinha, Tucuruí, No data. PARAÍBA (4): No data. PARANA (7): Caviuna, Heimtal, Mirador, Ponta Grossa. RIO DE JANEIRO (16): Goytacazes, Guanabara, Itatiaia, No data. RIO GRANDE DO SUL (19): Chapada. RONDÔNIA (62): Abunã, Ariquemes (60 km SW), Fazenda Rancho Grande (62 km S Ariquemes), Ouro Preto do Oeste. SANTA CATARINA (13): Blumenau, Corupá, Joinville, Nova Teutônia, Pinhalzinho. SÃO PAULO (4): No data. NO DATA (47). CHILE (2): LOS LAGOS (2): Llanquihue, Puerto Varas. COLOMBIA (185): ANTIOQUIA (19): Betania, Estrella, Gómez Plata, Guarne, Medellín, Prado, Santafé de Antioquia, Turbo, Villa Arteaga, Yolombó, No data. BOYACÁ (6): Muzo, Villa de Leyva, No data. CALDAS (1): No data. CASANARE (1): No data. CAUCA (25): Matagang, No data. CHOCÓ (7): La Troje, Tutunendó, Yuto, No data. CÓRDOBA (2): Tres Palmas, No data. CUNDINAMARCA (10): Bogotá, Fusagasugá, Medina, No data. GUAVIARE (1): No data. MAGDALENA (16): Aracataca, Cañaveral, Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Patuca, Río Frío, Sevilla. META (8): Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena, Villavicencio, No data. NORTE DE SANTANDER (2): La Playa, No data. PUTUMAYO (3): Mocoa. QUINDÍO (2): Calarca, No data. RISARALDA (10): Pereira. SANTANDER (2): Bolívar (65 km NW Tunja), Bucaramanga. SUCRE (1): No data. TOLIMA (7): Honda, Santa Isabel. VALLE DEL CAUCA (32): Cali, Palmira, Río Dagua, Toro, No data. NO DATA (30). COSTA RICA (603): ALAJUELA (42): Caño Negro, Dos Ríos, Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno, Upala, Zapote de Upala, Zarcero, No data. CARTAGO (44): Aquiares (9 km NW of Turrialba), Chirripo Valley (30 mi SE Turrialba), Juan Viñas, Pacayas, La Suiza, Tucurrique, Turrialba. GUANACASTE (240): Bebedero, La Cruz (9 mi. S Santa Cecilia), Estación Biológica Maritza (Parque Nacional Guanacaste), Estación Bosque Diriá (Bosque Nacional Diriá), Estación Cacao (2 km SW Cerro Cacao), Estación Los Almendros (12 km, Carretera a Santa Cecilia), Estación Pitilla (9 km S Santa Cecilia), Estación Santa Rosa (Parque Nacional Santa Rosa), Finca Jenny (30 km N de Liberia), Finca Pasmompa (5 km SE Santa Cecilia), Hacienda Santa María, Liberia (25 km NE, Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja), Palo Verde Biological Research Station, Parque Nacional Barra Honda (3 km NE Nacaome), Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Sector Pailas (4.5 km SW del Volcán Rincón de la Vieja), Tierras Morenas, Turín, No data. HEREDIA (17): Belen, San Antonio de Belen, San Rafael (Area de Conservación Cordillera Volcánica Central), Selva Verde Lodge, Virgen, No data. LIMÓN (49): Amubri, Area de Conservación Llanuras del Tortuguero, Cerro Tortugero, Guápiles (35 km N), Parismina, La Perla (10 mi. NE Siquirres), Pococí (30 km N Cariari), Puerto Viejo, Reserva Biológica Hitoy Cerere, San Miguel (Finca Los Angeles), Santa Clara (Hamburg Farm). PUNTARENAS (120): Agua Buena, Estación Biológica Las Alturas (Área de Conservación La Amistad-Pacífico), Estación Biológica Monteverde, Estación Pittier (4.2 km SW del Cerro Gemelo), Estación Quebrada Bonita (Reserva Biológica Carara), Estación San Miguel (3 km NW Cabo Blanco), Estación Sirena (Parque Nacional Corcovado), Finca Las Cruces (4 mi S San Vito de Java), Golfito (Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce), Guacimal (Finca Buen Amigo Monteverde), Monteverde, Río Bonito (2.3 km W Cerro la Gamba), Sabalito, Santa Elena (3 km SW), Sendero Los Patos, Sierpe (Rancho Quemado), Las Tablas Protected Zone. SAN JOSÉ (48): La Caja, Candelarita, Cerro de la Muerte, Curridabat, Estación Zurquí (Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo), Reserva Biológica Carara (2 km N Bijagual), San Isidro (7 km N), San José, San Pedro, Zurquí de Moravia, No data. NO DATA (43). ECUADOR (97): BOLÍVAR (12): Balzapamba, La Chima, Chimbo. COTOPAXI (9): La Maná, Las Pampas (2 km N). GUAYAS (5): Balzar Mountains, Guayaquil, San Francisco. LOS RÍOS (4): No data. NAPO (2): Atahualpa (10–24 km E). PASTAZA (2): Pacayacu. PICHINCHA (11): San Carlos, Santa Inés. SANTO DOMINGO DE LOS TSÁCHILAS (38): Santo Domingo de los Colorados (12 km E.). NO DATA (14). EL SALVADOR (7): LA LIBERTAD (1): No data. SAN MIGUEL (1): No data. SAN SALVADOR (2): Los Planes de Renderos, No data. NO DATA (3). FRENCH GUIANA (161): CAYENNE (159): Kourou, Macouria, Matoury, Montabo, Mont du Tigre, Montsinéry (D5, km 3.2), Montsinéry-Tonnegrande, Pariacabo, Passoura, Régina, Rémire-Montjoly, Risquetout, Roura (RD 6, km 13.2–39.5), No data. SAINT LAURENT DU MARONI (2): No data. GUATEMALA (27): ALTA VERAPAZ (7): Cobán, Panzós, San Juan Chamelco, Senahú, Trece Aguas. BAJA VERAPAZ (1): No data. CHIMALTENANGO (1): Yepocapa. GUATEMALA (2): Guatemala City, Santa Elena Barillas, Villa Lanales. PETÉN (2): Tikal National Park. QUETZALTENANGO (1): Zunil. SAN MARCOS (2): La Conquista, Zapote. SUCHITEPÉQUEZ (4): Finca Chocolá (10 km N San Antonio), Finca El Cipres, Zunilito. ZACAPA (2): San Lorenzo (2 km S), La Unión. NO DATA (5). GUYANA (41): CUYUNI-MAZARUNI (15): Bartica, Kartabo. DEMERARA-MAHAICA (8): Georgetown, Hyde Park, No data. NO DATA (18). HONDURAS (85): ATLÁNTIDA (29): Boca Cerrada (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado), Ceiba, Estación CURLA (Parque Nacional Pico Bonito), Estero García (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado), El Pino (Parque Nacional Pico Bonito), Río Masica (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado), Salado Barra (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado). COMAYAGUA (28): Comayagua (8 km N), Siguatepeque, Taladro, Taulabé. COPÁN (1): Copán Ruinas. CORTÉS (5): Lago de Yojoa, Muchilena. FRANCISCO MORAZÁN (1): Valle de Ángeles. GRACIAS A DIOS (1): No data. LA PAZ (4): No data. OLANCHO (2): Parque Nacional La Muralla. YORO (3): Montaña de Santa Bárbara (Parque Nacional Pico Bonito), Portillo (Parque Nacional Pico Bonito), El Progreso. NO DATA (9). MEXICO (91): CHIAPAS (19): Comitán de Domínguez, Palenque (10 mi. S), Parque Lagunas Bélgica (12 mi. N Ocozocoautla), Rancho St. Rosa, San Antonio, Tapachula, No data. HIDALGO (2): Molango, Tlanchinol. JALISCO (1): Casimiro Castillo. OAXACA (1): Puerto Escondido Road (km 114). PUEBLA (5): Xicotepec. QUINTANA ROO (13): Nuevo X-Can, Tigre Grande. VERACRUZ (44): Banderilla, Briones, Catemaco, Coatepec, Córdoba, Fortín, Los Tuxtlas, Xalapa, Zapoapan de Cabañas, No data. YUCATÁN (1): Tigre Grande. NO DATA (5). NICARAGUA (32): CHONTALES (11): Juigalpa, No data. JINOTEGA (2): El Jaguar Coffee Finca. NUEVA SEGOVIA (2): Dipilto. REGIÓN AUTÓNOMA DEL ATLÁNTICO SUR (7): Río Las Latas, Zelaya. RÍO SAN JUAN (6): Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge, Río Papaturro, Refugio Bartola. NO DATA (4). PANAMA (211): BOCAS DEL TORO (1): Almirante. CHIRIQUÍ (111): Boquete, Bugaba, Caldera, Cerro la Pelota, Cerro Punta, David, Finca la Suiza (5.3 km N Los Planes), Hato del Volcán, Hornito, Lino, Ojo de Agua, Santa Clara, No data. COCLÉ (4): El Valle. COLÓN (17): Coco Solo Hospital, Fort Gulick, Fort Sherman, Gamboa, Gatún, Gatun Tank Farm, Madden Forest Preserve, Pipeline Road (Parque Nacional Soberanía), No data. DARIÉN (3): Pirre, El Real de Santa María. PANAMÁ (67): Altos de Campana National Park, Altos (Isla) de Majé, Arraiján, Barro Colorado Island, La Campana, Cerro Azul, Cerro Jefe, Chilibre, Fort Kobbe, Ipetí, Lake Cerro Azul, El Llano-Cartí Rd (km 8–9), Majé, Pacora, Parque Nacional de Soberania (Pipeline Rd., 2 km W. Gamboa). NO DATA (8). PARAGUAY (10): GUAIRÁ (1): Villarrica. ITAPÚA (3): Hohenau. NO DATA (6). PERU (108): CUSCO (4): Machu Picchu, Marcapata, Valle de Lares (75 km NW Calca). HUÁNUCO (5): Leonpampa, Río Pachitea, Tingo María. JUNÍN (28): Chanchamayo, Río Oxabamba, Sani Beni, San Ramón, Satipo. LIMA (2): Cerro Azul, Upper Río Marañón. LORETO (17): Caballococha, Datem del Marañon, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yarinacocha, Yurimaguas. MADRE DE DIOS (3): Puerto Maldonado (8 km E), Tambopata National Reserve (30 km SW Puerto Maldonado). PASCO (19): Chontabamba, Pozuzo. S A N M A RT Í N (1 4): Ac h i n a m i z a, J u a n j u í, Moyobamba, Soritor (21 km W of Rioja), Tarapoto, No data. NO DATA (16). SURINAME (81): BROKOPONDO (7): Brownsberg, Stone Island Eco Resort. PARAMARIBO (3): No data. NO DATA (71). TRINIDAD (49): ARIMA (5): Arima, Asa Wright Nature Center (7.5 mi. N Arima). CITY OF PORT OF SPAIN (9): Maraval, Saint Clair, No data. COUVA-TABAQUITE-TALPARO (10): Caparo. RIO CLARO-MAYARO (1): Mayaro Beach. SAN JUAN-LAVENTILLE (6): Maracas Bay, Maracas Bay Road (Mile Post 6.25). TUNAPUNA-PIARCO (6): Valsayn Park. NO DATA (12). VENEZUELA (376): AMAZONAS (12): Río Ocamo, San Carlos de Río Negro, No data. APURE (1): San Fernando de Apure. ARAGUA (56): Choroní, Estación Biológica Rancho Grande, Henri Pittier National Park, El Limón, Maracay, El Portachuelo, No data. BARINAS (9): Barinas, Reserva Forestal de Ticoporo. BOLÍVAR (116): Agua Fría, Anacoco, Caicara (150 km S), El Dorado, Guri, El Pao, Reserva Forestal de Imataca, Río Cuchivero, Río Guaniamo, Suapure, No data. CAPITAL DISTRICT (33): Caracas, Parque Los Chorros, No data. CARABOBO (18): Bejuma, Chirgua, Güigüe, San Esteban, Trincheras, Vigirima. FALCÓN (2): Boca Aroa, Sanare. LARA (1): Bobare. MÉRIDA (2): No data. MIRANDA (8): Quebrada La Guarita, San Antonio de los Altos, Los Teques, No data. MONAGAS (18): Jusepín, Maturín (42 km SE), San José de Buja. PORTUGUESA (1): Biscucuy. TÁCHIRA (16): Bramón, Cordero, La Morita, Machiri, Paramillo, Rubio, San Cristóbal, No data. TRUJILLO (2): Boconó, El Cenizo. YARACUY (20): Cumaragua, La Hoya, Yumare. ZULIA (23): Maracaibo, Serranía de Perijá, El Tucuco, No data. NO DATA (38). NO DATA (80).
Temporal Distribution. January (127), February (90), March (174), April (167), May (259), June (231), July (140), August (182), September (163), October (169), November (150), December (168).
Diagnosis. Hoplopyga liturata has a broad distribution, and the color and gestalt of this species is consequently variable (Figs. 51, 57–59). One of the distinguishing characters for this species is that the punctation between the median elytral costa and the sutural costa of each elytron does not continue to the base of each elytron next to the scutellum. In addition, males of this species lack long, dense setae at the base of the mesometasternal process, a character that is present in some species that appear similar. The parameres of H. liturata are unique in that the ventral portions of the shaft are obliquely angled, so that the ventral face is clearly visible in lateral view (Fig. 54). It is most similar to H. ocellata, but the area of fuscous clouding on the middle of the pronotum has straight margins in H. liturata, while the edges of the fuscous clouding in H. ocellata have a scalloped appearance. In addition, H. ocellata has an hourglass shape on the elytra that is not present in H. liturata.
Nomenclature. Olivier (1789) described Cetonia liturata and a subsequent folio of plates (Olivier 1808) clearly shows this species to be H. liturata. Gory and Percheron (1833) then moved C. liturata to the genus Gymnetis. The catalogs of Schenkling (1921), Blackwelder (1944), and Krajčík (1998) listed Cetonia acuminata Herbst and Scarabaeus pennicrusta Voet (misspelled as S. penicrusta) as synonyms of H.liturata, but the following will describe why we do not list them as synonyms in this revision.
Cetonia acuminata was actually first described by Fabricius (1775), and it is unclear when and why it was first erroneously attributed to Herbst. Herbst (1790) simply redescribed the species, citing both the original description by Fabricius and Voet’ s description of S. pennicrusta in the Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum. A syntype of C. acuminata was located at the BMNH, and it was noted that this specimen has a visible scutellum (not present in Hoplopyga species) and does not resemble H. liturata (Malcolm Kerley, personal communication to BCR, 15 October 2014). Therefore, we remove this species from synonymy with H. liturata. As for S. pennicrusta, Voet published the first 40 pages of the Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum in 1776, which included the description of S. pennicrusta. However, the Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum is not consistently binomial, thus rendering the names in that work invalid (ICZN Article 11.4). Therefore, Scarabaeus pennicrusta is a nomen nudum. In addition, the figure of S. pennicrusta provided in the second volume of the Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum has a visible scutellum, and the type locality given is “ India Orientali,” the East Indies, where Hoplopyga species do not occur.
Janson (1880) described Gymnetis spurca from a single female and recognized that it was similar to H. liturata but is distinguished by its more robust form and coarse punctation. We have observed that H. liturata specimens from Ecuador are frequently larger and darker than specimens from other localities, but putative H. spurca homotypes present no significantly consistent differences from H. liturata specimens. Hoplopyga liturata is extremely variable in appearance over its range from Mexico to Argentina, and we have observed many regional differences in gestalt and form of the male parameres. Therefore, we consider H. spurca to be conspecific with H. liturata.
Schaum (1844) synonymized Gymnetis spinosa with G. liturata, and Ritsema (1885) synonymized Gymnetis hamata with G. liturata. We support these synonymies, and the plate in Fischer von Waldheim (1823) illustrating G. spinosa shows that the species is conspecific with H. liturata. In addition, in his description of G. hamata, Fauvel (1860) remarked that the species is very similar to G. ocellata. Without type material to examine, we cannot definitively say whether Ritsema’ s synonymization of G. hamata with G. liturata is correct or whether it should have been synonymized with H. ocellata, but we are comfortable with the synonymy as it stands based upon the description of G. hamata.
Natural History. Specimens have been collected at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,600 m and in habitats ranging from tropical moist forests (Fig. 60) to tropical rainforests. Adult beetles are attracted to fermented fruit and sap and have been found in traps baited with avocado, banana, blackberries, mandarin oranges, mango, papaya, plantain, and sugared wine (Gara and Onore 1989; Solís 2004; label data). Gara and Onore (1989) listed several plants on which adult beetles fed on sap or slime flux. These included Cordia alliodora (Ruiz and Pavón) Chamisso (Boraginaceae) and Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hooker) Rafenesque (Fabaceae) in Ecuador. Adults have been observed feeding on the ripened fruits of Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Persea americana (Miller) (Lauraceae), and Solanum umbellatum Miller (Solanaceae) (Gara and Onore 1989) in Ecuador. Solís (2004) observed adults feeding on the flowers of Renealmia species (Zingiberaceae) and noted that disturbing this species caused it to emit a foul odor. Hedström and Elmqvist (1984) observed this species feeding on the sap of Gouania polygama (Jacquard) (Rhamnaceae) and noted that butterfly species in the genus Prepona Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) were observed inserting their proboscis into the anus of H. liturata specimens, presumably to extract nutrients from the fluid excrement of the beetle. Larvae have been found in the rotten wood of D. regia, Eucalyptus globulus Labillardière (Myrtaceae), P. americana, and Protium ecuadorense Benoist (Burseraceae) (Gara and Onore 1989). Larvae, pupae, and adults have been found in the rotten bases of hollow, live trees and adults on plants such as Acnistus arborescens (L.) Schlechtendal (Solanaceae) and G. polygama (Garcia et al. 2013; label data). Neita et al. (2006) reported larvae found in the trunk of decomposing Brosimum utile (Kungh) Pittier (Moraceae). The larvae and pupae of this species were described by Morón and Arce (2002).
description: Published as part of Shaughney, Jennifer Marie & Ratcliffe, Brett C., 2015, A Monographic Revision of the Genus Hoplopyga Thomson, 1880 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini), pp. 579-638 in The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (4) on pages 604-610, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065x-69.4.579, http://zenodo.org/record/6553835