Philippine Journal of Science
153 No. 6A: 1979-2001, December 2024
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 25 Jan 2024
Taxonomic Review and Delimitation of Species Boundaries of Leucopholis Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Leucopholini) Associated with Areca catechu L. (Areca Nut) in South India
Kunthanahalli V. Prakash1, Hesaraghatta M. Yeshwanth2, Shayamal Lakshminarayanan3, John Vincent B. Cabusas4, Barbara L. Caoili4,5, and Orlando A. Calcetas6*
1All India Network Project on Soil Arthropod Pests, Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, G.K.V.K., Bengaluru, India 2Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, G.K.V.K., 560 065, Bengaluru, India 3Tatanagar, Bengaluru, India 4Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, the Philippines 5National Crop Protection Center, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, the Philippines 6Regional Crop Protection Center, Regional Field Office-IVA-CALABARZON, Department of Agriculture, Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas, the Philippines
*Corresponding author: orly.calcetasgis@gmail.com
Prakash K et al. 2024. Taxonomic Review and Delimitation of Species Boundaries of Leucopholis Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Leucopholini) Associated with Areca catechu L. (Areca Nut) in South India. Philipp J Sci 153(6A): 1979–2001.
ABSTRACT
The white grubs of the genus Leucopholis Dejean are the most devastating insect pests of areca nut and coconut palms in south India. To date, three species, L. lepidophora Blanchard, 1851, L. coneophora Burmeister, 1855, and Leucopholis burmeisteri Brenske, 1894 have been reported from Karnataka. Leucopholis lepidophora is distinct from the two species based on their genitalia male and molecular markers. An average of 3.43–15.4% genetic distances were observed among L. coneophora and L. burmeisteri species based on the mitochondrial COI gene DNA barcode region. These results imply that they belong to distinct species. A key to the species of Leucopholis in south India is also provided.