''Giesbertiolus linnaei'' is a species of scarab beetle belonging to the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

Cetoniinae Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae. Many species are diurnal and visit flowers for pollen and nectar, or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit. The group is also called fruit and ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to Costa Rica.

Description

The species was first described in 2008 from a single female specimen collected in

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

in 1895 by Oliver E. Janson. Janson thought it may belong to the genus '' Gnorimus'', other experts who observed the specimen disagreed and labelled it ''Iridognorimus''. It was not formally described at the time in the hope that more specimens, particularly a male, would be found and more data would be available. Recently it was hoped that the publication of a formal description would help in the location of a male to verify whether it belongs to ''Giesbertiolus'' or if a new genus should be assigned.

Appearance

Krikken noted that the specimen was similar in appearance to the genus ''Giesbertiolus'' described in 1988 but slightly larger, with a body length of (other ''Giesbertiolus'' species are reported as being ). It has an almost complete set of punctate elytral striae and a slightly raised interstriae. The body and head are black and shiny with iridescent, greenish white markings and small punctures; the appendages on the head are brownish in colour. There is an abundance of fine pale yellow hair on the ventral side and some on the dorsal side.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2202080 Cetoniinae Beetles described in 2008 Endemic fauna of Costa Rica Beetles of Central America