2 
THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST 
Antennal club (measured in straight line, not along curve) twice length of three basal 
segments (Fig. 11). Apical segment of maxillary palp slightly less than length of two basal 
segments; flattened on dorsal surface. Anterior tibia bidentate. Ventral surface of thorax 
with long grayish hairs. 
Variation in paratypes: Length 19.5-22 mm, width 7-7.5 mm. Most paratypes (9 of 12) 
have a faint indication of a third anterior tibial tooth, but this is never developed into more 
than just a slight flange on the tibial edge. Paratypes agree well in other respects. 
Female: Unknown. 
The name refers to the splotched, rather than vittate, elytra. 
Holotype male, (CAS# 13098) and 12 male paratypes: Utah, Washington Co., 6 mi. S. 
Hurricane, Hurricane Dunes, VII-15-1975, Fred G. Andrews, Alan R. Hardy, collected at 
blacklight. (Deposited in USNM, CAS, Howden, CDA and Hardy.) 
Diagnosis: P. avittata keys to either hammondi or the diffracta com¬ 
plex (couplet #4) in Fall’s Key (1923:34), depending upon interpreta¬ 
tion of the bidentate vs. tridentate condition of the anterior tibiae. 
When scaled dorsally, P. hammondi is unmistakably vittate, unlike the 
“blotched” elytral pattern of avittata (Figs. 1, 2). P. avittata is also 
smaller than hammondi. In the diffracta complex (see Young 1976), 
avittata keys to diffracta, but differs in the “blotched” verses vittate 
elytra ( diffracta occasionally lack vittae, but are never “blotched”). 
The “blotched” elytra of avittata resemble the new world species 
variolosa or nubila, or several old world species, such as fullo, al¬ 
though not as densely scaled as the old world species. P. avittata 
differs from nubila by the lack of erect elytral hairs which are present 
in nubila. From variolosa, avittata may be easily distinguished by the 
dorsal squamae, which are thin and hair-like in variolosa, but broad 
and scale-like in avittata, and the sharp clypeal corners of avittata 
compared with the round clypeal corners of variolosa. 
Remarks: This species was collected at blacklights placed upon 
the dunes. The area is also known as the “Warner Valley Dunes” by 
local residents, and is visible to the south from State Highway 17, to 
the east of the Virgin River. The dunes are evidently derived from 
Navajo Sandstone, and are the red color typical of the sand and rocks 
'in that part of Utah. Vegetation on the dunes is primarily Artemesia 
filiformis, while surrounding vegetation is Larrea divaricata Cav. 
Polyphylla anteronivea Hardy, new species 
(Figs. 3, 4,12) 
Holotype male: Length 26 mm, width 8.8 mm. Integumentary color of head piceous to 
rufo-piceous; thorax rufo-piceous; elytra, ventral body surfaces, appendages testaceous. 
Clypeal angles well defined (Fig. 12); reflexed margin, disc, front with close to contiguous 
round to oval, cream to white scales. Front with few semierect cream colored bristle¬ 
like hairs. Vertex smooth, glabrous, thorax with close to contiguous to densely overlap- 
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Figs. 1-10, Polyphylla new species. Figs. 1 and 2, P. avittata. Figs. 3 and 4, P. 
anteronivea. Figs. 5 and 6, P. erratica. Figs. 7 and 8, P. pottsorum. Figs. 9 and 10, P. mona- 
hansensis. All to same scale. 
