Meridiobolbus quinquedens (Kolbe)

Gussmann S. M. & Scholtz, C. H., 2000, Systematic revision of endemic southern African genera of Bolboceratinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae), Journal of Natural History 34, pp. 1045-1123 : 1089-1092

Meridiobolbus quinquedens (Kolbe)

(®gures 9a±d, 15c, d, 16d±f, 18a, b, 20)

Bolboceras quinquedens Kolbe, 1894: 171 ; Boucomont 1902: 6; 1912: 12; Paulian 1941: 27.

Meridiobolbus quinquedens (Kolbe) : Krikken 1984: 38.

Bolboceras damarinum PeÂringuey, 1901: 481 , plate xxxvi ®gure 19; Boucomont 1912: 9; Paulian 1941: 27 (syn. of Bolboceras quinquedens ).

Bolboceras fortuitum PeÂringuey, 1901: 482 , plate xxxvi ®gure 23, plate xxxix ®gure 7; Boucomont 1912: 9; Paulian 1941: 27 (syn. of Bolboceras quinquedens ).

Bolboceras hebes PeÂringuey, 1908: 640 ; Boucomont 1912: 10; Paulian 1941: 66.

Meridiobolbus hebes (PeÂringuey) : Krikken 1984: 38. Syn. nov.

Description

Body length. 9.5±13.6 mm.

Colour. Light to dark brown.

Head. Outer margin of mandible rounded but anteriorly more strongly curved inward (®gure 15c). Labrum (®gure 15c) declivous anteriad and posteriad from feebly developed to obsolete transverse carina; anterior margin distinctly sinuate. Clypeus (®gures 15c, 17, a, b) with strongly elevated transverse anterior carina, in dorsal view straight or very slightly arcuate; with well-de®ned, short diagonal, posteriorly steeply inclined carina, the latter connecting the antero-lateral marginal angle and the respective endpoint of the transverse anterior carina; with distinct lateral carina from endpoint of anterior carina extending to above antennal insertion, from there extending posteriorly in a slightly curved line past eye-canthus on frons reaching posterior end of frons. Frons (®gures 15c, 17a, b) with strongly elevated trituberculate transverse carina, positioned between eye-canthi.

Pronotum (®gure 17a, b). With four protrusions in anterior half to two-thirds, ranging from very feebly tuberculate swellings (minor males) to conical horns (major males); median pair of protrusions approximated in major males, more widely spaced in minor males (compare ®gures 17a and 17b); median pair of protrusions often more developed than lateral protrusions; area encompassed by protrusions feebly to moderately depressed, with densely spaced large and few ®ne punctures; protrusions with ®ne punctures only; sometimes with feebly indented midline, not reaching area between median tubercles/horns or posterior pronotal margin; posterior part of pronotum swollen near posterior margin, with ®ne punctation; anterior of swollen band and posterior to protrusions with slight depression, the latter with large and ®ne punctation; towards sides ®ne punctation increasingly replaced by large, shallow, often conūent punctures.

Scutellum (®gure 15d). Basal width about 1.37Ölength; with small to moderately sized, scattered punctures.

Elytron (®gure 15d). Striae moderately impressed, their punctures small and separated by four to six puncture diameters; intervals with single punctation (approximately three to four ®ne punctures between two striae).

Legs. Protibia ®ve-dentate. Metafemur with punctation and setation of ventral side as in Namibiobolbus , ®gure 9d. Metatibia in lateral view distinctly broadening apically; with subapical carina unlobed; with knoblike projections randomly spread over surface above subapical carina.

Male genitalia. Aedeagus as in ®gure 16d±f.

Distribution (®gure 19). Angola, Namibia, Botswana, western Zimbabwe and central and northern South Africa. The single locality from Angola is beyond the boundary of the map and therefore not plotted.

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE (here designated), Bolboceras quinquedens Kolbe :` quinquedens Kolbe *’ [unknown handwriting on blue label]/`163 ’ [handwritten]/`Damara bis Ngami-See, Fleck S.’ [printed on blue label]/`Type ’ [printed on red label]/`66126 ’ [printed]/`Zool. Mus. Berlin’ /`damarinu m PeÂring.’ [unknown handwriting] (ZMHB); PARALECTOTYP E (here designated):`quinquedens n.sp. Kolbe’ [handwriting Kolbe]/`Damara bis Ngami-See, Fleck S.’ [printed on blue label]/`162’ [hand-written]/`Zool. Mus. Berlin’ (ZMHB); HOLOTYPE, Bolboceras damarinum PeÂringuey :` Bolboceras damarinus Typ. Py’ [handwriting PeÂringuey]/`4’ [handwritten]/`... Holgers [?, illegible], Damaraland 1876’ [unknown handwriting]/` quinquedens Kolbe, H.Andreae det.’ [handwriting Andreae, curator ex SAMC]/`SAM ’ [black print on white label]/`Type SAM/Ent 5072’ [black print and handwriting on red label] (SAMC); LECTOTYPE (here designated), Bolboceras fortuitum PeÂringuey :` Bolboceras fortuitus Typ. Py’ [handwriting PeÂringuey]/`611’ /`Type SAM/Ent 5075’ [black print and handwriting on red label] (SAMC); PARALECTOTYP E (here designated):` fortuitum PeÂring. Allotype’ [handwriting Andreae, curator ex SAMC]/`611’ /`Type SAM/Ent 5077’ [black print and handwriting on red label] (SAMC); HOLOTYPE, Bolboceras hebes PeÂringuey :` Bolboceras hebes Typ. Py’ [handwriting PeÂringuey]/`D.Arnot, Colesberg, C.C.’ [handwriting PeÂringuey]/`m’/`fortuitu m PeÂr., H.Andreae det.’ [handwriting Andreae, curator ex SAMC]/`SAM ’ [black print on white label]/`Type SAM/Ent 5076’ [black print and handwriting on red label] (SAMC).

Additional material examined (141 specimens). Angola: 1, l Dondo ( Cambambe ) [ca 09.40S 14.30E], 957, R. v.d. Luhe ( TMSA) . Botswana: 1, l Chobe R., 5 km E Kasane, 17.48S 25.09E, Holm, Marais, Nel, Saieva , 20.i.1986 ( UPSA) ; 1x, Moremi, SE 19 23 Bc , 9.i.1981 ( UPSA) ; 1, l12x, Okavango, Thamalakane riv., SE 19 23 Dc / Cd / SE 20 23 Ab , xii.1973, P. Reavel ( TMSA) ; 1, l same data but: ii.1974 ( TMSA) ; 1x, Okavango, Thama River area , ii.1974, leg. V. E. Reavel ( TMSA) ; 1x, Botswana (B7), Kuke Pan [20.59S 22.25E], 14.iv.1972, at light ( BMNH) ; 5x, Botswana (B1), 42 mls W Kalkfontein [Tshootsha] [22.13S 20.15E], 11± 12.iv.1972, Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1/at light ( BMNH) ; 1x, Botswana (B4), Ghanzi [21.34S 21.47E], 13± 14.iv.1972, Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1. ( BMNH) ; 5x, Sitatunga, Crocodile fm., 10 km S Maun, 20.02S 23.22E, 10/ 12.i.1986, Holm, Marais, Nel Saieva ( UPSA) ; 1, l Molepolole, Kweneng Distr., SE 24 25 Bc , 21± 23.iv.1982, S.Louw ( BMSA, No. 7430) ; 2x, Botswana, Dinokwe [SE 23 26 Bc], 12.xii.1979, A. Joubert ( AJCS) ; 1m, 20 km N Maun, SE 19 23 Dc , 16.i.1978, Holm, Jakobs, Kirsten, Scholtz ( UPSA) ; 1, l 1m, 5 km N Nata , on river, 20.08S 26.11E, 7/ 10.i.1986, Holm, Marais, Nel, Saieva ( UPSA) . Namibia: 1m, Kaudom Game Reserve , 18.37S 20.37E, 17.i.1991, E. Marais ( SMWN) ; 2mm, Kaudom Game Reserve , at 18.30S 20.44E, 11.i.1991, E. Marais ( SMWN) ; 1m, 1x, Mangetti Forest [not traced], betw. Tsumkwe ± Chassie Kungveld , iii.1958, C.Koch ( TMSA) ; 2x, Narugas [28.09S 20.09E], i.1919, R. Lightfoot ( SAMC) ; 1x, Rietfontein [ambiguous], ii.1897, Borchmann S. ( ZMHB) ; 1x, Damara ( BMNH) ; 1m, 60 km E Windhoek, Fris [c]hgewaagd [22.34S 17.53E], Scherz ( TMSA) ; 1x, Windkhoek distr., Valencia Ranch 42 [23.10S 16.30E], 14 ± 24.iv.1974, A.Strydom ( TMSA) ; 2x, D.S.W. Afrika ( ZMHB) ; 1x, Windhoek [22.34S 17.06E], S.Techow ( ZMHB) ; 1x, Damaraland, Neuhof-Kowas [23.01S 18.02], ii.1952, A. Viereck ( TMSA) ; 2 ll, 31x, Mariental District, Viljoenskroon 507, 25.10S 29.58E, 24± 25.xii.1995, E. Marais ( SMWN) ; 4x, Elmot 996, SE 23 18 Db , 10.ii.1984, V. B. Whitehead ( SAMC) ; 1x, 45 km S of Aroab [27.08S 19.30E], 10.iv.1980, V. B. Whitehead ( SAMC) ; 1x, Witvlei [ambiguous] (30 km W), 23.xii.1975, H. H. Aschenborn, ex Coll. CSIRO ( UPSA) ; 1x, Duineveld [24.36S 18.54E], Elephants River Kalahari, 21± 24.xi.1957, Transvaal Mus. Exped. ( TMSA) ; 1x, Duineveld, near Stampriet [24.36S 18.54E], xi.1953, E.Patzelt ( TMSA) ; 1x, Rietfontein [ambiguous], iii± iv.1897, S.Borchmann ( ZMHB) ; 2x, S.W. Afrika, Exc. S. Trotha ( ZMHB) ; 1x, D.S.W. Afrika, S.G. Dinter ( ZMHB) . South Africa: 1m, Cape-Karroo, Olifantsvlei Farm , 30.07S 21.32E, 4± 6.v.1985, E-Y: 2218, veget. dune/pan, day, leg. Penrith, McPhsn ( TMSA) ; 1x, Cape Prov., 7 km N Olifantshoek [27.48S 22.46E], 28.i.1989, W. D. Miller, Kalahari thornveld/shrub bushveld ( HAHC) ; 1x, Northern Cape, Black Rock [27.07S 22.50E], 10.ii.1997, C. R. Owen ( COCS) ; 1x, same data but: 19.iv.1997 ( COCS) ; 1x, Upington [28.28S 21.14E], i.1949, Fath. R. Sollier ( SAMC) ; 3x, Upington , 13.iii.1950, H.-J. Bredo ( ISNB) ; 4x, Kalahari Park, Mata-Mata , 25.45S 20.00E, 18.xii.1974, E-Y: 512, on light, leg. EndroÈdy-Younga ( TMSA) ; 1x, S.W.A. [incorrect], Mata [Mata Mata, 25.49S 20.01E], ii.1923, Mus. Exp. ( SAMC) ; 2mm, Vaalwater [24.18S 28.05E], ii.1980, M. Edwardes ( UPSA) ; 1m, Vaalwater , 1.iii.1980, A.P.du Toit ( UPSA) ; 1x, Nylsvlei, Naboomspruit, SE 24 28 Da , 1100m, Savanna Ecosystem Research Project, C.S.I.R. ( TMSA) ; 1x, Mosdine, Naboomspruit [ca SE 24 28 Da], 4.iii.1978, A. Harrington ( TMSA) ; 1, l3x, Skukuza [24.59S 31.36E], xi.1967 ( SICS) ; 1, l same data ( HAHC) ; 1, l2371/ Kalahari Gemsbok Nat. P., N.CP., Mata Mata [25.49S 20.01E], 24.i.1976, Culligan & v.d. Vegte ( UPSA) ; 2x, Sentrum , 24.18S 27.20E, 12.iii.1989, E. Swanepoel ( UPSA) ; 1x, Pietersburg [23.53S 29.24E], xii.1961, M. F.I. ( UPSA) ; 1x, Kalahari Gemsbok Park, Nossob , 25.22S 20.37E, 9.i.1992, C.H.Scholtz ( UPSA) ; 2 ll, 2mm, 17x, Kalahari Gemsbok Park, Twee Rivieren , 26.28S 20.38E, 5.i.1992, C. H. Scholtz ( UPSA) ; 2x, N. Cape, Twee Rivieren, Kalahari Gemsbok Park N.P., 26.28S 20.37E, 23.xii.1988, C. H. Scholtz ( UPSA) ; 1x, same data but: Twee Rivieren Camp , 17.i.1994 ( UPSA) ; 2x, Twee Rivieren , 17± 20.ii.1957, Kalahari Gemsbok Park Expedition ( TMSA) ; 2x, Twee Rivieren , 12± 15.iv.1989 ( UPSA) ; 1x, Twee Rivieren , 29.xii.1988 ( UPSA) ; 1x, Twee Rivieren , 29.i.1988 ( UPSA) ; 1, l Gemsbok N.P., Twee Rivieren , 9.iv.1995, J. Browne, black light ( UPSA) ; 3x, Kalahari Gemsbok Park, Rooiputs , 26.20S 20.49E, 6.i.1992, C. H. Scholtz ( UPSA) ; 17x, Cape Province, Groblershoop , 28.53S 21.59E, 895 m, iv.1985, C. G. E. Moolman ( SANC) ; 11x, same data but: 1± 7.iv.1980, C. G. Moolman ( SANC) ; 4x, same data but: iv.1988, C. G. E. Moolman ( SANC) ; 4x, same data but: 19.iv.1984, C. Moolman ( SANC) ; 1x, same data but: iv.1987, C. G. E. Moolman ( SANC) ; 1x, CP, Olifantshoek , 27.56S 22.44E, 14.iv.1988, C. D. Eardley ( SANC) ; 4x, TVL., Langjan Nature Res. , 22.52S 29.14E, 10± 20.i.1980, C.Kok, light trap ( SANC) ; 1x, TVL., Nylsvley Nature Reserve , 24.39S 28.42E, 18.ii.1980, E. Grei ( SANC) ; 1x, same data but: 1982, E. Grei, light trap ( SANC) ; 1x, Pretoria, UV-Lichtfalle, Farm Roodeplaat [ca 25.30S 28.23E], ii.1961, leg. F. Neubecker ( HNHM) ; 1m, Radium , 25.5 [0]S 28.17E, 11.iii.1989, P. Snyman ( UPSA) ; 1x, Waverley , 20.iv.1989, P. Snyman ( UPSA) ; 1x, Transvaal, Stockpoort , 23.25S 27.22E, 11.i.1978, Holm, Jakobs, Kirsten, Scholtz ( UPSA) ; 1x, Port St. Johns [31.38S 29.33E], xii.1947, R.J. [illegible] ( AMMS) ; 1, l C592 [no locality label] (SICS); 1x, Nyandu sandveld [not traced], K.N.P. [Kruger National Park], 11.xii.1968 ( SICS) ; 1x, Basut. lnd., Pitseeng [not traced], i.1935 ( TMSA) . Zimbabwe: 1x, Wankie N.P [ca 18.20S 26.25E], 15.ii.1972, Bornemissza & Kirk ( UPSA) ; 1x, Victoria Falls [17.55S 25.49E], i.1955, D. V. Rorke ( HAHC) ; 1x, Zambeze, Coll. v.d. Poll ( MNHN) .

Comments. PeÂringuey (1901) described Bolboceras damarinum from a single specimen that is therefore the holotype. PeÂringuey (1901) described Bolboceras fortuitum from more than one specimen and mentioned`Lydenburg, Transvaal’ as type locality. Two specimens were found in SAMC, one that bears a type label hand-written by PeÂringuey and another one marked as allotype by Andreae, curator ex SAMC. Presumably the latter specimen is part of the type series and lecto- and paralectotype are here designated. Both specimens no longer bear any locality labels.

The development of the pronotal protrusions varies greatly between major and minor males of Meridiobolbus quinquedens (Kolbe) and females can therefore only be separated from major males. The position of the trituberculate carina on the frons and the apically strongly broadening metatibia readily distinguish Meridiobolbus quinquedens from Meridiobolbus natalensis spec. nov. (treated below).