(Figs. 3D; 15I; 16I; 17I; 18K; 19G; 25A; 29E–F; 40)
Cyclocephala carinatipennis Martínez & Morón, 1984: 48–52. NEW SYNONYMY. The character states described for both species are conspecific, and so C. carinatipennis is placed in junior synonymy.
Diagnosis. In C. rufa and C. arhuacana, the surface of the pygidium has sparse punctures (Fig. 25A–B), but in C. dalensi, C. kaszabi, and C. ligyrina, the surface of the pygidium has dense punctures (Fig. 24F–H). Cyclocephala rufa can be distinguished by the larger punctures on the pygidium (small in C. arhuacana). The parameres (Fig. 29E, F) are also different from those of C. arhuacana (Fig. 30A–B).
Redescription. Male (Fig. 3D). Length 22.0– 22.7 mm; width 10.1–10.8 mm. Color dark reddish brown to black. Head: Surface of frons and clypeus with punctures moderately dense, deep, and moderately large except those on occiput and apex of clypeus that are smaller and slightly denser. Clypeus with anterior angles broadly rounded, apex broadly truncate, weakly emarginate. Mandibles apically rounded, internal face with a groove; labium densely setose, paraglossa undeveloped, apex slightly notched; maxilla with galea developed, with 6 teeth. Interocular width equals 3.1–3.3 transverse eye diameters. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club subequal in length to antennomeres 2–7. Pronotum: Surface with punctures as on frons. Base lacking marginal bead. Elytra: Surface with distinct rows of punctures: punctures (and those in intervals) ocellate, moderate to moderately large, moderately dense. Pygidium: Surface with dense punctures, moderate in size, most with a minute, tawny seta in unworn specimens. In lateral view, surface regularly convex (Fig. 25A). Legs: Protibia tridentate, basal tooth small and directed “forward” and slightly removed from others (Fig. 18K). Protarsus enlarged, tarsomeres 2–4 successively gradually larger, 5th large, only weakly curved (Fig. 17I), with large basal tooth; median claw large, strongly curved (Fig. 16I), broadly split into a wide ramus and a slender ramus (Fig. 15I); metatibia on external face with 2 rows of setae, second row crosses the external face of metatibia (Fig. 19G). Venter: Prosternal process long, stout, apex obliquely flattened into a wide, transverse oval with anterior 4/5 raised as convex “button”. Genitalia: Parameres as in Fig. 29E–F.
Female. According to Martínez & Morón (1984), the female is similar to the male except for the following characters: stronger punctures on the dorsal region of the head; epipleuron (ventral view) gradually tapering and then abruptly constricted at metacoxa; in dorsal view, epipleuron gradually expands to level of third sternite; tooth on ventral surface of epipleuron absent in lateral view. Protibia with teeth sharper than in males. Sternite with stronger punctures than in males.
Distribution. Cyclocephala rufa is known from Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador (Endrödi 1967; Martínez & Morón 1984; Ratcliffe et al. 2020).
Life history. Adults are active during the night and attracted to lights.
Locality records (Fig. 40). Two specimens examined from CTNI and ICN‒MHN: “ Colombia, César, / Jagua de Ibirico, Alto de las / Flores. Marzo 10-1996 / H. Restrepo, Leg / Alt. 1204. // Cyclocephala rufa Endrödi, 1967, Det. J. C. Neita, 2007” [♂ -ICN-028934]. “ Colombia, César, / Jagua de Ibirico, Alto de las / Flores. Marzo 10-1996 / H. Restrepo, Leg / Alt. 1204. // Cyclocephala rufa Endrödi, 1967, Det. J. C. Neita, 2007” [♂ -CTNI].