Taxonomic and Ecological Aspects of the Horned Beetles Agaocephalini of Colombia (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Dynastinae)

Objective: To identify the species of Agaocephalini beetles (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Dynastinae) present in Colombia and to contribute preliminary taxonomic and ecological aspects. Scope: To publish a review of the horned beetles Agaocephalini from Colombia, providing updated taxonomic keys, systematic novelties, and detailed distribution of the species documented for Colombia. Methodology: The research included a literature review, a taxonomic study of specimens, and compilation of information available from specimen labels in various museum collections. Results: Six genera and 15 species were recorded in Colombia: Aegopsis curvicornis Burmeister, Brachysiderus tridentiger (Prell), Horridocalia delislei Endrödi, Lycomedes. burmeisteri Waterhouse, L.enigmaticus Neita and Ratcliffe, L. hirtipes Arrow, L. lydiae Arnaud Stat Rev., Lycomedes ramosus Arrow, L. reichei Brême, L. salazari Pardo-Locarno, Villalobos and Stechauner, L. velutipes Arrow, Mitracephala humboldti Thomson, Spodistes angulicollis Dechambre, S. grandis Sternberg and S. hopei Arrow. For each species, descriptions, identification keys, and distribution maps are provided. Significant taxonomic updates include: confirmation of Brachysiderus tridentiger (Prell), for Colombia (previously recorded as B. quadrimaculatus tridentiger); restored to L. lydiae Arnaud (Stat. Rev) from synonymy with L. reichei Brême; L. ramosus, L. reichei and L. enigmaticus, highlighting allometric morphological variations; a discussion of a H. delislei specimen from Peru, with its distribution now confirmed along the Pacific coast of Chocó, Valle and Nariño (Colombia) and the Esmeraldas Province (Ecuador); confirmation of Spodistes hopei Arrow, 1902 confirmed for Colombia, based on specimens from Santander and Antioquia; and confirmation of Spodistes angulicollis Dechambre for the Amazon and Colombian Orinoquia, with prior descriptions of the supposed female excluded. Conclusions: The results reveal that distribution patterns for many species are highly localized and, in some cases, relictual, associated with humid forest formations of the Pacific, Andean, and portions of the Orinoquian and Amazonian regions. Many species exhibit medium to high levels of research and conservation priority. This study further highlights the precarious state of knowledge regarding most of the recorded species.