Hycleus tripunctatus (Thunberg, 1791) Bologna & Amore & Pitzalis, 2018

Bologna, Marco A., Amore, Valentina & Pitzalis, Monica, 2018, Meloidae of Namibia (Coleoptera): taxonomy and faunistics with biogeographic and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4373 (1), pp. 1-141 : 58

Ab) Hycleus tripunctatus species group

Hycleus tripunctatus (Thunberg, 1791) comb. n. ( Fig. 3P )

Meloe tripunctata Thunberg, 1791

Types. Types of this species were not examined.

Distribution. Southern Namibia (new species record for this country) and western South Africa.

Material examined and literature records. [Karas] Karasburg : 3 km S of Warmbad, 28.4833°S 18.7667°E ( SMWN).

Remarks. This species is well distinct by its mesosternum, anteriorly more elevated and with a clear prominent line which divides this narrow area, but without forming a clear “scutum”. Actually, this structure of mesosternum appears intermediate between that of the lineages Mesogorbatus and Mesotaeniatus. A such mesosternum is common to H. coecus (Thunberg, 1791) and H. connexus ( Marsel, 1872) (see Pardo Alcaide 1963), both from South Africa, but in these two species there is a tuft of very long setae on the posterior margin of the elevated fore area, lacking in H. tripunctatus . Relationships among these three species need to be tested molecularly.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. Ceroctis angolensis; B. Ceroctis exclamationis; C. Ceroctis bohemani; D. Ceroctis aliena; E. Ceroctis peringueyi; F. Ceroctis trifasciata; G. Ceroctis blanda; H. Ceroctis amphibia; I. Ceroctis karroensis; J. Ceroctis korana; K. Ceroctis braunsiana; L. Ceroctis capensis; M. Ceroctis cfr. seabrai; N. Ceroctis spuria; O. Hycleus dentatus; P. Hycleus tripunctatus; Q. Hycleus jucundus; R. Hycleus peringueyi; S. Hycleus surcoufi; T. Hycleus brincki; U. Hycleus congoensis; V. Hycleus lunatus; W. Hycleus ertli; X. Hycleus arlecchinus; Y. Hycleus basibicinctus.