Rhizotrogus tedeschii, a new species from the alpine zone of the Pollino Massif, southern Italy (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae)

Abstract

A new species of Rhizotrogus from southern Italy (Calabria, Pollino Massif) is described and illustrated. Rhizotrogus tedeschii n. sp. is a high-altitude, day-active species, very similar to R. cicatricosus, from which differs by characters of external morphology and genitalia. Images of its environment, and natural history observations are also provided. The intraspecific variation of R. cicatricosus is also briefly addressed.