Hoplopyga brasiliensis

Hoplopyga brasiliensis is a species of beetles of the family Scarabaeidae.[1]

Hoplopyga brasiliensis
Hoplopyga brasiliensis. Mounted specimen.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Scarabaeidae
Genus:
Hoplopyga
Species:
H. brasiliensis
Binomial name
Hoplopyga brasiliensis
(Gory & Percheron, 1833)

Description

Hoplopyga brasiliensis can reach a length of about 20–36 millimetres (0.79–1.42 in).[2]

Biology

Larvae of this species are termitophilous, living in the nests of Cornitermes cumulans and Diversitermes diversimiles (Termitidae).[3] They construct pupal chambers with the decaying wood as well as a significant layer of their own feces where they develop.[2] The feces contains cuticular hydrocarbons that the specific termite hosts use to identify one another, suggesting that this element of chamber construction plays a role in protecting the h. brasiliensis larvae from termite patrols.[4]

References
  1. EoL
  2. Garcia, F.P et al. Survey of saproxylophagous Melolonthidae (Coleoptera) and some biological aspects in Aquidauana, MS
  3. Puker, Anderson; Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano; Rosa, Cassiano S.; Grossi, Paschoal C. New Records of Termite Hosts for Two Species of Hoplopyga, With Notes on the Life Cycle of Hoplopyga brasiliensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae)
  4. Puker, Anderson; Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano; Rosa, Cassiano S; Grossi, Paschoal C (2012-11-01). "New Records of Termite Hosts for Two Species of Hoplopyga, with Notes on the Life Cycle of Hoplopyga brasiliensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 105 (6): 872–878. doi:10.1603/AN12068. ISSN 1938-2901. S2CID 86274595.


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