A NEW SPECIES OF PELIDNOTA MACLEAY FROM CHIRIQUI PROVINCE, PANAMA (SCARABAEIDAE, RUTELINAE)

The continuing discovery of large, relatively spectacular, undescribed species of scarabs and other insects in moderately well-collected par ts of Central America is an indication of how little we know about the biodiversity of most tropical areas. The Pelidnota described herein i s a good example of one such discovery. The genus Pelidnota Macleay, a s defined by Hardy (1975), may be recognized by the labrum and clypeus fused; suture between clypeus and vertex obscure or absent; marginal bead of pronotum complete (in the present and related species); outer edge of mandible lobed or sinuate; 10-segmented antenna with 3-segment ed club; elytral edge non-membranous; tarsal claws entire, not cleft.