Banca de DEFESA: CARLOS FERNANDO BENNEDICTH PAZ ORDOÑEZ

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : CARLOS FERNANDO BENNEDICTH PAZ ORDOÑEZ
DATE: 19/02/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Auditório da PRPG
TITLE:

TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE Cyclocephala latericia HÖHNE, 1923 (MELOLONTHIDAE: DYNASTINAE: CYCLOCEPHALINI) SPECIES GROUP

 

KEY WORDS:

Brazil, masked beetles, cryptic species, morphology, Dry Diagonal

PAGES: 138
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Biodiversidade
SUMMARY:

The genus Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821 (Melolonthidae: Dynastinae) is morphologically characterized by the absence of prominent tubercles or horns on the head or pronotum, and differs from other genera of Cyclocephalini, in addition to the convergent shape of the clypeus and the quite variable apex. With over 350 described species, it is predominantly distributed in the Nearctic and neotropical regions, the latter being the most diverse. The genus's great diversity leads to the formation of species groups based on morphological similarities to facilitate their taxonomic study. Among these, the Cyclocephala latericia species group originally consisted of three species, characterized by yellowish-brown body coloration, the presence of six pronotal spots, and a pygidium with long bristles. However, these species present significant taxonomic challenges due to the great similarity in their morphological structures, such as the male genitalia. The main objective of this work was to revise and update the taxonomy of the Cyclocephala latericia species group. The study was developed at the Insect Taxonomy Laboratory (LabTaxIn) of UFRPE, based on the morphological analysis of specimens from various entomological collections. As a main result, it was identified that the group is considerably more diverse than previously known. Nine new species, potentially new to science, were recognized, raising the total to twelve species within 58 this group, with the vast majority of them distributed along the dry diagonal of South America. For each species, a diagnosis and morphological description were provided, in addition to the following resources: a dichotomous taxonomic key, detailed illustrations, and a map of geographic distribution, fundamental tools for correct identification and for future ecological and taxonomic studies.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - PASCHOAL COELHO GROSSI
Interno - ***.477.844-** - RAFAEL SOBRAL ALVES - INPA
Externo à Instituição - FÁBIO CORREIA COSTA - UFPE