Asthenopholis crassa Arrow, 1902

Harrison, James G., 2009, A taxonomic revision of the African leaf chafer genus Asthenopholis Brenske, 1898 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae): a SEM study, Zootaxa 2225, pp. 1-48 : 13-14

Asthenopholis crassa Arrow, 1902

(Figs. 3, 9, 12, 23, 28–29, 44, 64–68, 98–99, 116–118, 138–139, 156–158, 176).

Asthenopholis crassus Arrow, 1902 : (length 28 mm, British East Africa, Nengia, female holotype in BMNH) 97–98; Péringuey 1904: 286 (key), 288; Arrow 1917: 60 (key).

Asthenopholis crassa Arrow, 1902 : Dalla Torre 1912: 182 (catalogue); Moser 1913: 342.

Diagnosis. This is the largest (26 mm) known species of Asthenopholis , which superficially resembles Brachylepis elephas (Gerstaecker, 1867) and is sympatric with this species. It has pointed yellow scales on the pronotum and elytra and the scutellum is without setae or scales (Fig. 98). Asthenopholis crassa is easily distinguished from B. elephas by having pointed yellow scales rather than almost oval shaped scales, and a bare scutellum, rather than the scale covered scutellum of B. elephas .

Redescription. Size (n = 4 males; n = 5 females). Length: males, mean 22.8 mm, (range 22.0–25.0 mm), females, 26.0 mm, (range 24.0–27.0 mm). Width: males 13.2 mm, (range 12.0–14.0 mm), females 14.2 mm, (range 12.0–15.0 mm). Colour (Fig. 3). Cuticle dark brown to black with a covering of off-white scales. Head (Figs. 9, 28–29): Head uniformly covered with pointed yellow scales, each inset in a coarse puncture. Clypeus with anterior margin slightly reflexed, corners rounded; clypeal margin smooth and weakly elevated; clypeal suture present but indistinct. Raised protuberance situated laterally near eye, surrounded by clump of stiff finer setae intermixed with thicker scales; setae double the scale length. Row of short, almost rounded scales, along posterior margin of head. Females with higher proportion of fine setae to scales. Antenna of male illustrated in Fig. 9. Arrow (1902) mentioned bright yellow antennae in his female type; this might be apparent in live or fresh specimens those examined here had light brown antennae. Pronotum (Figs. 44, 64– 68): Pronotum ratio 1.61:1 (n = 43); 1.54:1 (n = 5Ƥ). Lateral edges with an obtuse rounded angle in the middle; anterior and posterior margins smooth, lateral margins incised by stiff, long setae (setae finer than on disc), forming an irregularly serrated edge. Disc covered by pointed yellow scales, directed posteriorly. Scutellum (Figs. 98–99): Triangular, posterior apex blunt, surface smooth and without setae, punctation, or prominent sculpture under light microscope, imbricate under SEM. Some females with “V-shaped” incision at apex of scutellum and sparse scattering of very fine punctures (at 400X). Elytra (Figs. 116–118): Elytral striae very weak, almost absent, about three per elytron. Elytra covered with, uniformly dispersed, fine, yellow scales (thinner and longer than on pronotal disc) except scaleless circular patches situated posterior-laterally (ranging from 0–4 per elytron). Pygidium (Figs. 138–139): Covered with long, fine setae; setiferous puncture rims almost contiguous, with setae bent downwards. Male genitalia illustrated in Figs. 156–158.

Morphological variability. Females noticeably larger and with rounder abdomens than males.

Distribution. Known localities from Kenya and Tanzania (Fig. 23). The Simon van Noort record from the Mkomazi Game Reserve (taken at light) provides the most reliable record for recollecting the species.

Natural history, pest status, and conservation. Unknown. The phenology of A. crassa (Fig. 176) has a similar bimodal pattern as seen in other tropical beetle species, e.g. the dynastine Xenodorus janus (Fabricius) , which has a bimodal annual activity period in the tropics, but a unimodal one in southern Africa ( Harrison 2008).

Remarks. Bacchus (1974, 1978) provided type-specimen catalogues of selected groups of Scarabaeoidea (excluding Melolonthinae ) described by G. J. Arrow. He designated lectotypes in most cases except where the description and BMNH collection indicated that there was only a single specimen known, in which case these were catalogued as the holotype ( Bacchus 1974, 1978).

Arrow (1902) described A. crassa from a single female specimen based on a single length (28 mm) and this statement in his description “… there is also in our specimen …” However, there is a second male specimen with the exact label and data in the MNHN collection (JduGH111 13), which cannot be regarded as a syntype, as Arrow (1902) made no mention of it. Additionally, all drawers containing BMNH Asthenopholis specimens and undetermined African Melolonthinae were examined by J.duG.H., and no other specimens were found that might be erroneously confused as part of the type series. Consequently, the specimen examined by Arrow is here regarded as the holotype.

Type material examined ( Asthenopholis crassa Arrow, 1902 ): Holotype. KENYA, “ Type [typed onto white disk surrounded by a red circle] / Nengia [? Ngenia School], B[ritish]. E[ast]. AF[rica]. [ Kenya] // 1900.194 [written onto reverse side] / Asthenopholis crassus Arrow , type [written by Arrow onto faded white card] / JduGH110 / Holotype Ƥ, Asthenopholis crassa Arrow, 1902 , det J. du G. Harrison 2009” [specimen condition: undamaged except for abrasion of anterior, lateral elytral scales] (1Ƥ BMNH).

Additional material examined (Σ22, 43, 9Ƥ, 9 unsexed). KENYA Nengia [? Ngenia School], B[ritish]. E[ast]. AF[rica]. // 1900.194 [written onto reverse side] / JduGH111 (13 MNHN). Matiri, 6.11.1983, R. Mourglia 0 3364 / 1800 m / Meru Distr. JduGH116, (2Ƥ MRAC); Matiri [Mitunguruu], 3– 13.11.1988, R. Mourglia Kenya, Meru, Matiri (Mitunguruu) / JduGH114, (1Ƥ LACM); Matiri [Mitunguu], 18.10.1982, R. Mourglia mt. 800 / JduGH115, (1Ƥ MRAC); Mtito Andej, xii.[19]91, K. Werner (2 unsexed TMSA); Tana River, G.B. Babault May 1915 / Museum Paris, Coll. Guy Babault, 1930 / A. crassus Arrow , det. J. Decelle, 1978 / JduGH112 (1Ƥ MRAC); Thika River, G.B. Babault April 1915 / Museum Paris, Coll. Guy Babault 1930 / A. crassus Arrow , det. J. Decelle, 1978 / JduGH113 (1Ƥ MNHN); Unoa, Nziu C.G. MacArthur, Dec. [19]38 / Kenya Natl. Mus. Exchange / JduGH117 (1Ƥ UNSM). TANZANIA. Mkomazi Game Reserve, Ibaya Camp, 24.11.1995, S. van Noort, light trap, bushveld and grassland / SAM-COL A043437 / JduGH118 (13 1Ƥ SAMC); nr [near] Same, 11.11.1994, K. Werner / JduGH120 (7 unsexed 13 SEM TMSA); Pare Mts., 1000 m, Jan. 1990, K. Werner / JduGH119, (1Ƥ MRAC). No locality data. Not legible, Nevinson Coll. 1918– 14 / JduGH121 (13 BMNH).