Cheiroplatys

Cheiroplatys latipes, from Insects of Tasmania.

Belongs within: Dynastinae.

Cheiroplatys is a genus of dynastine beetles found in Australia and the Americas (Cassis & Weir 1992).

Characters (from Carne 1957): Deep reddish brown to black, length 15–28 mm. Mentum narrow at base, only slightly narrowed towards bilobed ligula; maxillae with galeae strongly developed, 3- to 5-dentate; palps short, with fourth segment elongate, cylindrical or (occasionally) dilated, and abruptly truncate. Mandibles obtusely rounded, slightly bisinuate, surpassed by clypeus, but visible at sides. Labrum completely concealed. Antennae 10-segmented, club usually shorter than shaft, the first 2 segments setose. Clypeus in form of a truncated triangle, the apex obliquely truncate, occasionally serrate. Clypeofrontal ridge transverse, usually forming a conspicuous ridge. Head rugulose, ocular canthi short, setose, continuing side of clypeus without angularity. Pronotum with anterior margin membranous, anterolateral angles acute. Epipleurae with lateral setae confined to anterior half of elytra, the latter with disc usually bearing punctate striae. Postcoxal prosternal process short, columnar, setose. Fore tibiae bi- or trisinuate, never acutely dentate; tarsi with first segment longer than fifth; claws symmetrical. Hind legs stout: femora with sparse vestiture; tibiae bicarinate, ciliae sharp; spurs unequal, blunt, and curved; tarsi short, with first segment longer than fifth, the former moderately to strongly dilated. Pygidium glabrous or sparsely setose across base; apical ridge glabrous or setose. Abdominal sternites other than last commonly glabrous across middle. Last sternite with transverse sulcus, especially in female. Male with pronotum with anteromedian tubercle preceded by an impression or deep excavation; antennal club as long as shaft in those species with serrate clypeal apices, shorter in others. Female with pronotal tubercle and impression reduced or subobsolete.

<==Cheiroplatys Hope 1837 CW92
    |--*C. latipes (Guérin-Méneville in Duperrey 1831) (see below for synonymy) CW92
    |--C. amphioxus Arrow 1937 CW92
    |--C. bifossus Blackburn 1896 [incl. C. accedens Blackburn 1896] CW92
    |--C. borealis Carne 1957 CW92
    |--C. castaneus Lea 1917 CW92
    |--C. curtus Guér. 1830 [incl. C. ixion] M86
    |--C. excavatus Lea 1917 CW92
    |--C. inconspicuus Macleay 1887 CW92
    |--C. nitidus Carne 1957 CW92
    |--C. solidus Carne 1957 CW92
    |--C. subcostatus M86
    |--C. truncatus (Fabricius 1775) [=Geotrupes truncatus] CW92
    `--C. volsellus Carne 1976 CW92

*Cheiroplatys latipes (Guérin-Méneville in Duperrey 1831) [=Scarabaeus latipes; incl. C. compactus Blackburn 1896, C. inermis Blackburn 1900, C. juvencus Burmeister 1847, C. laevipes Burmeister 1847, C. maelius Erichson 1842, Scarabaeus porcellus Boisduval 1835, C. pygmaeus Blackburn 1896] CW92

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[CW92] Cassis, G., & T. A. Weir. 1992. Dynastinae. In: Houston, W. W. K. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia vol. 9. Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea pp. 383–425. AGPS Press: Canberra.

[M86] Masters, G. 1886. Catalogue of the described Coleoptera of Australia. Part III. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, series 2, 1 (1): 21–126.