A taxonomic review of Apogonia from India with the description of four new species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, Diplotaxini)

Apogonia Kirby, 1819 is the most species rich genus of the melolonthine tribe Diplotaxini (Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae). The Indian fauna of Apogonia is known quite insufficiently. Although there were several tens of described species from India, most of them are known only according to the original historic description with no associated figures. Thus, a modern taxonomic treatment of the group is very much required. In the present paper, lectotypes were designated for the type species of the genus, Apogonia gemellata Kirby, 1819, as well as for Apogonia ferruginea (Fabricius, 1781) and A. rauca (Fabricius, 1781). Apogonia gemellata is removed from the synonymy with A. rauca and the geographical range of both species is discussed. Apogonia uniformis Blanchard, 1851 is removed from the synonymy with A. ferruginea and restored as a valid species. Apogonia sequens Frey, 1975 was found to be a junior synonym of A. ferruginea . Four new species are described from India: A. daksina sp. nov . (Kerala), A. dindigul sp. nov . (Tamil Nadu), A. inaequalis sp. nov . (Mizoram) and A. meghalayaensis sp. nov . (Meghalaya). New distribution data for already described species and a checklist of Apogonia species recorded from India are given.