Review of the Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of eastern Melanesia and Polynesia, with descriptions of new species

The Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of the small island nations in eastern Melanesia (Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu) and Polynesia (Samoa) are reviewed. New distributional records, keys, and illustrations of the three genera and 10 species for the region are presented. Monteitheolus Howden & Storey, 2000, is considered a new synonym of Hadrorhyparus Howden, 1995, resulting in Hadrorhyparus fijiensis (Howden & Storey, 2000), new combination.

Generic limits of Antecessorirhyparus Minkina, 2020, are reviewed. The recently described, Antecessorirhyparus papuanus Minkina & Jákl, 2024, from Papua New Guinea, is discussed and is here placed in Rhyparus Westwood, 1845, becoming Rhyparus papuanus (Minkina & Jákl), new combination. Three new species are described: Antecessorirhyparus samoaensis (Samoa), Hadrorhyparus vitiensis (Fiji), and Rhyparus vanuatuensis (Vanuatu).

The widespread species Rhyparus helophoroides Fairmaire, 1893, and variable Rhyparus breviceps Paulian, 1984, are reported from Samoa and are possibly adventive (recent immigrants). A lectotype is here designated for Rhyparus rugatus Arrow, 1935, from Vanuatu.