Bolax from Colombia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Geniatini): new species, records and synonyms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2026.97.5908Keywords:
Citizen science, Distribution;, Neotropics, Scarabs, TaxonomyAbstract
A taxonomic contribution to the genus Bolax Fischer von Waldheim, 1829 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Geniatini) from Colombia is presented. This contribution is based on the examination of collection specimens and additional distributional data from the citizen science platform iNaturalist. Two new species, Bolax opita sp. nov. and Bolax verdita sp. nov., are described. Two species are recorded from Colombia for the first time (B. caurana Ohaus, 1931 and B. magna Bates, 1888), and 2 new synonymies are proposed: Bolax meyeri Soula, 2011 = B. castaneicollis Burmeister, 1844, and Bolax howdeni Soula, 2011 = B. caurana Ohaus, 1931. Diagnoses, taxonomic comments, and updated distributional data are provided for most species from the country. A total of 11 species are now recognized in Colombia, 4 of which are endemic. The genus is primarily distributed along the Andes and associated piedmonts. These results highlight the importance of national collections and continued collecting efforts for improving the knowledge of Geniatini diversity in Colombia.
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