Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) krugeri Zidek and Pokorný, 2018

Zidek, Jiri & Pokorný, Svatopluk, 2018, New species of the Scarabaeus subgenus Scarabaeolus Balthasar, with a review of the subgenus (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Scarabaeini), Insecta Mundi 611, pp. 1-35 : 3

Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) krugeri Zidek and Pokorný , sp. n.

Fig. 1–4

Type locality. RSA, Kruger National Park, Punda Milia Sand.

Type material. HTm from type locality, 22.38S 31.02E, leg. Endrödi-Younga 3.II.1994.

ATf from RSA, Kruger National Park, Nyandu Sands , 22.41S 31.22E, leg. Endrödi-Younga 9.II.1994.

PT (36): 23 from same locality as AT except 4 leg. Endrödi & Bellamy 18.XI.1994. \\ 1 from same locality as HT, leg. Endrödi-Younga 3.II.1994 ; \\ 3 from RSA, KwaZulu Natal NE, Jozini, Tembe, Elephant Park env. (west border), leg. M. Snížek 30.XI.2002 ; \\ 6 from same locality as preceding except leg. M. Snížek 7.XII.2002 ; \\ 2 from same locality as preceding except leg. V. Kriváň 22.I.2003 ; \\ 1f from central Botswana, “ Brit. Bechuanaland, Ghanzi, leg. J. Maurice 21.XII.1925 ” [ BMNH] .

HT+AT+24 PT at TMSA, 5 PT at BMNH, 2 PT at OXUM, 3 PT at NMPC, 2 PT at VBPC .

Etymology. The species name refers to collection localities of the type series, most of which are within the limits of the Kruger National Park.

Description of holotype. Length 14 mm. Black, head and pronotum glossy, elytra velvety matte with a weak bluish hue.

Head. Clypeus without ventral keel, its anterior part longitudinally rugate, middle and posterior parts granulose; teeth weakly upturned, spaces between them U-shaped. Genae separated from clypeus by narrow excisions, their sculpture as that on clypeus. Posterior half of head with a smooth sagittal line. Vertex laterally with large, asperate, setose punctures. Pubescence rusty brown, antennal club light yellowish brown.

Pronotum. With a weakly indicated smooth sagittal line and on disc with large, deep, rather sparse setose punctures that laterally become asperate and near margins change to granules. Pubescence rusty brown.

Scutellum . Exposed, small, triangular.

Elytra. Striate, first interval smooth, posteriorly strongly convex, with sparse small punctures; other intervals weakly convex, with sparse small, setose punctures that do not extend into intervals; fifth interval somewhat more convex. Lateral striae wider than medial, with dense small punctures.

Pygidium . Obliquely triangular, bordered all around, finely shagreened, with sparse transverse punctures.

Venter. Metasternal process strongly keeled, its sides covered by asperate, setose punctures. Ventral pubescence rusty brown.

Legs. Protibia straight, lateral edge coarsely and densely serrate, medial edge with sparse large granules. Mesotibia with two spurs. Lateral margin of metatibia without transverse carinae.

Aedeagus. Left paramere with a large ventral tooth, in lateral view parameres taper toward wedgeshaped tips. Length of phallobase does not exceed that of parameres.

Variability. Length 11–15 mm, variation other than in size not noticed.

Comparison. The new species is close to S. flavicornis (Boheman) ( Fig. 5–8 ), from which it differs by smaller size, darker pubescence, more densely punctate pronotum, shagreened elytral sculpture, keeled metasternal process, and aedeagus with relatively shorter phallobase and wedge-shaped (in lateral view) paramere tips.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) spp. 1–4) Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) krugeri sp. n., HTm, 14 mm. 1) Dorsal habitus. 2) Ventral habitus. 3) Aedeagus, dorsal. 4) Aedeagus, left lateral. 5–8) Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) flavicornis (Boheman), 15 mm. 5) Dorsal habitus. 6) Ventral habitus. 7) Aedeagus, dorsal. 8) Aedeagus, left lateral.