Scarabaeus geminogalenus Davis and Deschodt, 2016

Deschodt, Christian M., Davis, Adrian L. V. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2016, Three new species, a synonymy and taxonomic notes on southern African members of the dung beetle genera Scarabaeus s. str. Linnaeus, 1758 and Escarabaeus Zídek & Pokorný, 2011 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Journal of Natural History 51 (5 - 6), pp. 299-316 : 302-310

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2016.1261949
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CEC29F9E-2B2B-4568-8AE2-4CC65F79EC96
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B7AE4B-FFC8-BC49-FEF9-FF1863B6FBD0
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Scarabaeus geminogalenus Davis and Deschodt
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Scarabaeus geminogalenus Davis and Deschodt View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 4 View Figure 4 and 5)

Scarabaeus (Sebasteos) westwoodi sensu ; Péringuey, 1908: 555 nec; Von Harold (1869): 95 Specimens examined: Holotype: ♂ ST. LUCIA ESTUARY, Natal. 19.V.78, G. F. Bornemissza,

COLS22344. (SANC).

Paratypes one spec, S. Afr; Kruger Nat Pk, Punda Maria, 22.41 S – 31.01 E, 3.2.1994; E – Y: 2977, elephant dung, leg . Endrödy-Younga ( TMSA), two spec, S . Afr; KrugerNat . Pk, Malonga sands, 22.38 S – 31.17 E, 8.2.1994: E – Y: 2986, on red sand, Endrödy- Younga ( TMSA), one spec, Masemola ♂ – 6:03 GoogleMaps ., 4593 ( TMSA), one spec, S . Afr; KrugerNat . Pk, Pumbe sands, 24.12 S – 31.55 E, 22.11.1994: E – Y: 3063, groundtraps. 60 days, Endrödy . Bellamy, groundtrap with faece bait ( TMSA), five spec, ST . LUCIA ESTUARY, Natal . 26.VIII.78, G. F. Bornemissza, two with COLS22352, one with COLS22346 one with COLS22345 and one with COLS22348 ( SANC), five spec, ST . LUCIA ESTUARY, Natal . 19.V.78, G. F. Bornemissza, three with COLS22343 and two with COLS22344 ( SANC), four spec, SOUTH AFRICA: KZN, Tembe Elephant Park , 27° 01 ‘ S 32°24 ʹ E, 24 – 27 GoogleMaps .i., 1996, BJ van Rensburg, pitfall trap: elephant dung, COLS28131 ( SANC), one spec, SOUTH AFRICA, NTL, St Lucia Nat .Park, 28.[°]22[’]S 32.[°] 25[‘]E, G Bernon, COLS23082 ( SANC), two spec, SOUTH AFRICA: LIMP, Greater Kuduland, Safaris , E of Tshipise, 22°38 ʹ 28 “ S 30°18 ʹ 50 ” E, 08 – 16 GoogleMaps .iv GoogleMaps .2007 SARCA, COLS23080 ( SANC), one spec, SOUTH AFRICA, Tvl, D ’ Nyala Nat . Res., Ellisras District , 23.[°] 45[’]S 27.[°]49[‘]E, 10 – 14 .xi .1986, V.M. Uys, COLS23081 ( SANC), one spec, SOUTH AFRICA, Tvl, D ’ Nyala Nat . Res., Ellisras District , 23.[°] 45[’]S 27.[°]49[‘]E, 10 – 14 .xi .1986, B. Grobbelaar, COLS23081 ( SANC), one spec, NDUMU G .R., Natal, 25.X. 73, Tribe & Temby, COLS00177 ( SANC), PAFURI, KNP, (24 kms S – Maohai Pan ), 25 .III.73, I.D. Temby, COLS22349 ( SANC), FOMOTHINI PAN, N . Natal 8.X.80, E. Klingelhoefer, COLS22350 ( SANC), one spec, SOUTH AFRICA, NATAL, Cape Vidal , 28.[°] 10[’]S, 32.[°]32[‘]E. 13.i.1981, I.M. Millar, COLS23012 ( SANC), one spec, HLUHLUWE, Natal , (15 km S) 31 .X. 78, Bornemissza & Aschenborn, COLS22347 ( SANC), two spec (one spec gold coated for SEM imaging), Tembe Elephant park, Kwazulu-Natal, 27°01 ’ S 32°24 ʹ E, 24 – 29 GoogleMaps .I GoogleMaps .1996, B. J. Van Rensburg ( UPSA), one spec, Tembe Elephant park, KZN, South Africa, 27°01 ‘ S 32° 24 ʹ E, 26 – 27 GoogleMaps .VII GoogleMaps .1995, B. J. Van Rensburg ( UPSA), one spec, Tembe Elephant park, KZN, South Africa, 27°01 ’ S 32°24 ʹ E, 17 GoogleMaps .iii GoogleMaps .1995, B. J. Van Rensburg ( UPSA), three spec, Soutpansberg , Limpopo, S22.9157° E29.68756°, 3 – 4 GoogleMaps .ii GoogleMaps .2009, L. J. Niemand ( UPSA) .

Diagnosis. This species is similar to S. galenus , but can easily be separated by the much denser punctation on the pronotum.

Description: Large beetle, completely black.

Body size of holotype: Head capsule length 9.3 mm, combined length of pronotum and elytra over midline 23.5 mm, widest width over elytra 16.1 mm, height 11.8 mm.

Head: Surface completely rugose, without granulation. No projection on dorsal surface of clypeus. Clypeal teeth slightly upturned, with anterior fourth of teeth smooth. Notch between two median clypeal teeth rounded; notch between first and second obtuse angled. Median two teeth protruding forward, with a downward pointing spine on each; a third downward pointing spine just under notch of median teeth present. Vertex slightly convex. Antennae dark brown to black.

Pronotum: Punctate, with large, sometimes irregular, punctures almost contiguous. Surface between punctures very finely shagreened. Thin medial line present, withoutpunctures and not always traversing pronotum. Sometimes small lateral clear area at anterior half adjacent to medial line present. Lateral margins punctate, with punctures at anterolateral angle elongated and arranged in subparallel downward pointing lines. Anterior margin smooth ending with sharp triangular protrusion.

Protibia: Outside margin with four teeth in distal two thirds, proximal tooth smallest. Margin between teeth serrate and somewhat crenulate in first third. Inside margin serrate, with dark long setae that are evenly spaced. Denticle on inside margin opposite third

protibial tooth pointing upward at almost 90 degrees, and fourth protibial tooth pointing forward at about 45 degrees.

Elytra: Slightly ribbed. Interstriae shagreened, with small widespread punctures. Striae clearly discernible with the naked eye, with small, regular punctures visible only from 20x magnification.

Sterna: Clear median longitudinal groove over meta- and mesosternum, forming deep foveae on meta- and mesosternum. Meta- and mesosternum with setigerous punctures. Mesosternum sloping at about 45 degrees anteriorly.

Pygidium: Wrinkled with small irregular punctures far apart.

Aedeagus: See Figure 2 View Figure 2 (C)

Variability: There is very little morphological variation between the specimens except for the variable size (smallest and largest specimens in type series: head capsule length 8.4 – 12.0 mm, combined length of pronotum and elytra over midline 20.3 – 28.3 mm, widest width over elytra 14.1 – 20.0 mm, height 9.8 – 13.6 mm.).

Etymology: The species ’ long association and incorporation with S. galenus is echoed by renaming it as the twin of S. galenus

Distribution: This species occurs on the coastal sand plains of eastern South Africa and southern Mozambique, extending inland along the Limpopo River valley.

Type specimens of Scarabaeus galenus Westwood, 1847 , Scarabaeus westwoodi ( Von Harold, 1869) and Scarabaeus vicinus Janssens, 1940 Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 5 and 6

Zídek and Pokorný (2004); listed the holotype specimen of Scarabaeus galenus Westwood, 1847 ; as being deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, but it could not be located after an extensive search by Mr Malcolm Kerley, recently retired curator in the Coleoptera Section. Mr Darren Mann, Head of Life Collections at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, also unsuccessfully searched the Hope Collection. The holotype could not be traced and is believed to be lost.

The type of Scarabaeus westwoodi Von Harold (1869) ; is listed (Zídek and Pokorný 2004) as being in the Muséum National d ’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Janssens (1940, p. 46) reported to have examined this type, and noted that it is in the Oberthür Collection in the MNHN. It is, however, also presumed lost since it could not be found after an extensive search by the current curator, Dr Antoine Mantilleri.

Article 75.2 of the ICZN (1999) states that ‘ A neotype is not to be designated as an end in itself, or as a matter of curatorial routine, and any such neotype designation is invalid ’. Both these species are well known and without any taxonomic or nomenclatural complications other than those resolved in the present paper. Hence we do not designate neotypes for the two abovementioned species.

During preparation for this paper, specimens believed to be S. galenus were placed next to each other and subtle differences were observed between individuals from the drier Kalahari and the moister savannah areas of southern Africa. Characterization of the Kalahari individuals corresponded well with the description of Scarabaeus vicinus Janssens, 1940 . However, two extensive searches in the MNHN by Dr Antoine Mantilleri also failed to locate the type specimen. Although we could not compare our specimens with type material, we are confident that we have rediscovered a species for which there have been no records since its description in 1940. There is a history of previous misidentification since specimens of S. vicinus in the SANC and TMSA were found among those determined as S. galenus by zur Strassen in 1993. Some published data also appear to reflect misidentifications, e.g. from Burghersdorp (sic) [S30.996° E26.328°], Kimberley [S28.728° E24.749°], Prieska [S29.670° E22.745°] ( Péringuey 1901), Twee Rivieren [S20.611° E26.470°] ( Ferreira 1959), from the Waterberg plateau [S20.652° E22.146°] ( Delatour 2008) and in extensive survey data from the Northern Cape ( Davis et al. 2008).

Scarabaeus vicinus can be easily distinguished from the morphologically similar S. galenus by the more velutinous appearance of the elytra and pronotum compared to the more shiny S. galenus . The fore tibiae of S. vicinus are also more inwardly curved than those of S. galenus . See Figure 4 View Figure 4 for SEM images of the elytra and pronota of both species. Locality records show that S. galenus is widespread in the drier savannah of south-eastern Africa with a range extending north-eastwards to southern Tanzania whereas the newly rediscovered, close relative, S.vicinus is Kalahari-centred in the drier, sandy areas of south western Africa ( Figure 2 View Figure 2 ).

Again with reference to Article 75.2 ( ICZN 1999), we refrain from defining a neotype for S. vicinus because it is relatively easy to identify and the original type specimen might still be found.

Type specimen of Scarabaeus rixosus Péringuey 1901

As the type specimen of Scarabaeus rixosus Péringuey, 1901:50 , is not listed in the holdings of the Iziko South African Museum where the majority of Péringuey ’ s type specimens are housed, it is likely to have been deposited in his personal collection (R. Stals pers. comm.). Péringuey ’ s private collection was acquired by the UPSA and subsequently donated to the SANC ( Cochrane 2006). We propose that a specimen recently found amongst undetermined Scarabaeinae material in the SANC is the type specimen of S. rixosus ( Figure 3 A – C View Figure 3 ) as it conforms to the original description. It also differs from all other known Scarabaeus species , including Scarabaeu s zambesianus Péringuey, 1901, and its putative closest relative Scarabaeu s proboscideus (Guérin- Méneville 1844) ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (D)), which is the only other Scarabaeus species known to bear a spur on the mentum. Although the locality label on the re-discovered specimen (‘ Upper Limpopo ’) is in Péringuey ’ s handwriting (R. Stals pers. comm.), it differs from the published type locality for S. rixosus (‘ Southern Rhodesia (Middle Limpopo) ’) However, it is known that Péringuey seldom published labels verbatim (R. Stals pers. comm.) Thus, we propose that the rediscovered specimen is the holotype of Scarabaeus rixosus Péringuey, 1901 . It is curated in the SANC, with accession numbers COLS23260 and TYPH02071. No other specimens of this species are known.

Descriptions of new species Scarabaeus karae Davis and Deschodt sp. nov.

Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 and 6 View Figure 6

Specimens examined Holotype: ♂ Abe Bailey NR, Gauteng, S26°17 ʹ -21 ʹ E027°16 ʹ -18 ʹ, 1496 m- 1544 m, 09 – 10.xii.2002. A Davis. ( TMSA) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: three spec same as holotype, (one SANC, one TMSA, one UPSA).

Figure 5. Map showing the known distribution of Scarabaeus galenus Westwood () (the type localities of Ateuchus (Actinophorus) paradoxus Boheman , and Sebasteos adelphus Kolbe , are not shown here), Scarabaeus vicinus Janssens (▲) and Scarabaeus geminogalenus Davis and Deschodt (▪). Note that the record for Scarabaeus galenus in Namibia and the two easterly records for Scarabaeus vicinus are seen as errors.

Etymology: This species is named in honour of Kara, the only daughter of CD.

Description: Medium sized beetle, completely black except for tan brown coloured setae on ventral side.

Body size of holotype: Head capsule length 4.0 mm, combined length of pronotum and elytra over midline 11.9 mm, widest width over elytra 8.1 mm, height 5.6 mm.

Head: Frons punctate, clypeus rugose. No projection on dorsal or ventral surface of clypeus. Clypeal teeth slightly upturned, with anterior apices of teeth smooth. Notch between median clypeal teeth and between first and second clypeal teeth right angled. Vertex slightly convex. Antennae black.

Pronotum: Punctate with irregularly spaced punctures that are sometimes far apart and sometimes contiguous. Surfaces between punctures smooth. Row of irregular punctures on posterior margin. Lateral margins crenulate.

Protibia: Inside margin smooth, with dark setae of irregular length and uneven spacing. No tooth at distal inside end. Outside margin with four teeth in distal four fifths, proximal tooth smallest. Serrate between teeth and crenulate in first fifth.

Elytra: Ribbed. Shagreened on interstriae with irregularly spaced big punctures that are far apart. Punctures sometimes touch outside margin of interstriae. Striae acutely edged and distinct to the naked eye with small punctures close together giving a stippled appearance. Sterna: Shallow and indistinct median longitudinal groove over meta- and mesosternum, area next to groove smooth. Otherwise meso and metasternum with long thin tan brown setae and small and close together punctures. Mesosternum strongly inclined at about 90 degrees anteriorly.

Pygidium: Smooth with very few large irregular punctures.

Aedeagus: See Figure 2 View Figure 2 (D).

Variability: Except for the variable size (smallest and largest specimens in type series: head capsule length 3.5 – 5.1 mm, combined length of pronotum and elytra over midline 10.5 – 13.1 mm, widest width over elytra 7.0 – 9.0 mm, height 5.0 – 6.1 mm.), there is very little variation between the specimens.

Diagnosis: This new species keys out to Scarabaeus funebris in Zur Strassen (1967), but can easily be separated from this allied species, which sometimes overlaps in distribution and habitat, by having larger punctures on the pronotum and clear and round punctures on the elytra. The parameres of the aedeagus are basally slightly more concave for S. karae than for S. funebris . The serrations on the inside front tibiae are reduced to small round scallops to almost smooth as opposed to S. funebris . It is also generally smaller than S. funebris . We have seen images of the type specimen of Scarabaeus funebris pretoriensis Janssens, 1940 (IRSNB) and compared it with images of the type specimen of Scarabaeus funebris Boheman, 1857 ; in the NHRS and confirm the synonymy of S. funebris pretoriensis with S. funebris as proposed by Zur Strassen, 1967 even though the pronotal punctation is less pronounced in the subspecies.

Distribution: This species is probably restricted to the high grassland of central South Africa.