MONOGRAPHIC REVISION OF PLATYCOELIA 147 DIAGNOSIS. This species is distinguished from all other species in the genus Platycoelia by the following combination <strong>of</strong> characters: color cream or tan; frontoclypeal suture complete; apex <strong>of</strong> the labrum with a reduced, triangular tooth not overlapping the mentum; mentum with a medial notch; antenna 10-segmented; elytron without distinct longitudinal lines; elytral apices not capable <strong>of</strong> completely covering the pygidium; apex <strong>of</strong> the elytral suture without an acute spine; mesothoracic process nub to weakly projecting apically; apical abdominal spiracle strongly protuberant; mesotarsomere 5 and metatarsomere 5 without an internal tooth; parameres with the apex rounded, not expanded. DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 58). Andes Mountains from southern Colombia to southern Perú. Recorded from 1,800-4,000 m. Occurs in paramo and other grassland habitats. BIOLOGY. Smith and Paucar-Cabrera (2000) discussed the biology <strong>of</strong> P. lutescens. The adults emerge from the paramo when the winter rains begin (usually late October to early November). It has been observed that adult emergence coincides with rainy days and the sound <strong>of</strong> thunder (Whymper 1892, Onore 1997). They emerge ‘en masse’ and have been seen by the thousands for a short period <strong>of</strong> time. Whymper (1892) gives an excellent account <strong>of</strong> this in Travels Amongst the Great Andes <strong>of</strong> the Equator. On 14 February 1880 while travelling to Volcán Cotopaxi (he was primarily on a mountain climbing expedition) Whymper writes “It was our intention to travel direct to Cotopaxi, but a violent storm drove us for refuge into Pedregal . . . at the northern foot <strong>of</strong> Rumiñahui.” The next day after the violent storm, Whymper continued toward Cotopaxi through the plain <strong>of</strong> Limpiopungo, noting “I found here, in great numbers, a rather large beetle belonging to the same tribe as our cockchafer” (Whymper collected some specimens that were part <strong>of</strong> the type series for Leucopelaea albescens [= P. lutescens]). Whymper also noted that the beetles were probably “emerging hindquarters first from the sandy soil.” The destruction <strong>of</strong> paramo habitat around Quito (for urban development) caused P. lutescens populations to decline in that area (Smith and Paucar- Cabrera 2000). LOCALITY DATA. 288 specimens examined from BCRC, BMNH, CASC, CMNH, DEIC, DJCC, FGIC, HAHC, HNHM, LACM, LEMQ, MCZC, MGFT, MLJC, MNHN, QCAZ, SMFD, SMTD, USNM, ZMHB, ZSMC. COLO<strong>MB</strong>IA (7). NARIÑO (7): Cumbal, Pasto. ECUADOR (272). BOLÍVAR (4): Cashca Totoras. CAÑAR (18): El Tambo. COTOPAXI (25): El Boliche, Latacunga, Limpiopungo, Parque Nacional Cotopaxi. ESMERALDAS (2): Mayronga. I<strong>MB</strong>ABURA (16): Juncal, Otavalo. PICHINCHA (162): Alóag, Cayambe (9.9 km NW), Chillogallo, Conocoto, Cumbayá, Ilaló, Machachi, Nono, Palmeras, Píntag, Quito, Santa Catalina, Tambillo, No data. TUNGURAHUA (4): Baños, Píllaro. NO DATA (37). PERÚ (5). CUSCO (1): Cusco. LIMA (1): Callanga. PUNO (1): No data. NO DATA (2). NO DATA (4). Doubtful locality labels include four specimens labeled “Guayquil, Ecuador,” two specimens labeled “Zarayaku Ecuador or.” and one specimen labeled Archidona. I considered these “Ecuador, no data” because these localities are too low in elevation to support populations <strong>of</strong> this species. One specimen labeled “Chili” is also doubtful (this locality is far out <strong>of</strong> the known range for the species) and I consider as a “No Data” specimen. TEMPORAL DATA. January (10), February (9), March (2), April (1), May (4), June (4), August (1), September (2), October (34) November (16), December (28).
148 BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITYOF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM Fig. 70. Platycoelia lutescens male.