Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides ( Guerin-Meneville , 1845)

Mawdsley, Jonathan R., Erwin, Terry L., Sithole, Hendrik & Mawdsley, Alice S., 2012, A synopsis of the genus Cypholoba Chaudoir (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anthiini) known to occur in the Republic of South Africa, ZooKeys 181, pp. 23-43 : 29-30

Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides ( Guerin-Meneville, 1845) Figs 1 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 26 31 33

Anthia graphipteroides Guérin-Méneville (1845:285, type locality "in regione Massilicatzi," holotype in Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris)

Polyhirma graphipteroides ( Guérin-Méneville) Péringuey (1896:346)

Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides ( Guérin-Méneville) Strohmeyer (1928:343)

Diagnosis.

Apparent body length (ABL) 24-27 mm; this species is easily separated from most of the other sympatric species of Cypholoba by the distinctive pattern of pubescence and setae on the elytra (Fig. 11). Adults could potentially be confused with Cypholoba leucospilota , but in that species the pubescence on the pronotum and elytral suture is yellowish and the patches of setae at apical third are brilliant white (Fig. 16).

Materials examined.

77 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Gauteng Province: Pretoria, Rosslyn. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Hluhluwe, Mkuze Game Reserve, Ndumu, St. Lucia Bay. Limpopo Province: Alma, Koedoesrivier, Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, 9-14 miles E Louis Trichardt, 75 km W Messina, Nylstroom, Nylsvley, Pietersburg, 9 miles N Pietersburg, 20-26 miles NE Pietersburg, Potgietersrus, Punda Maria Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, Rust de Winter, Shilouvane, Thabina, Warmbath. Mpumalanga Province: Kaapmuiden, 20 km SW Kaapmuiden, Louws Creek, Lydenburg, N’waswitshaka Research Camp, Pretoriuskop, Sabie river banks west of Paul Kruger Gate, Skukuza. Province uncertain: Lebombo Mountains.

Notes on biology.

This is easily the most abundant and frequently encountered species of Anthiini in the Kruger National Park, RSA. Adults (Fig. 1) emerge in the early rainy season (November-December) and can be locally abundant. Adults are active both nocturnally and diurnally and are typically found in riverine or riparian areas near flowing water. The charactistic behavior observed in this species, as with most Anthiini , is a rapid walking behavior which appears to be associated primarily with foraging but also is likely involved in searching for conspecifics and prospective larval habitats. We have observed adults of this species in several distinct vegetation communities (riverine gallery forest, open Combretum apiculatum - Acacia nigrescens savanna, Phragmites reed beds) and microhabitats (sand or dirt roads adjacent to riverine communities, dry sand wash, and riverine sand bars). This species also occasionally enters human-inhabited areas; we have found individuals in the N’waswitshaka Research Camp at Skukuza and also in the main tourist areas at the Skukuza tourist camp. Marshall and Poulton (1902) suggest that this species may be a mimic of Mutillidae and other stinging Hymenoptera . Our observations suggest that, while there are certainly similarities in color pattern and behavior between adults of Cypholoba graphipteroides and sympatric Mutillidae , adults of Cypholoba graphipteroides are actually significantly larger in size than most of the sympatric black-and-white mutillid wasps, rendering the resemblance less than exact. We infer from these observations that selection pressures may not be operating as intensely on this species as on other Carabidae (for examples of carabid beetles which are much more convincing mimics of Mutillidae , see Marshall and Poulton 1902).

Notes on taxonomy.

Strohmeyer (1928) recognized 20 subspecies in Cypholoba graphipteroides , many of which were separated on the basis of differences in the setal patterns of the elytra. Many of these taxa are doubtfully distinct from the nominate form and the whole group is in need of a careful revision. Such a revision should include examination of extensive series in order to determine the extent of intrapopulational variation in the elytral setal patterns. Figures 12-15 illustrate the variation in elytral setal patterns within a single population of this species, located west of Paul Kruger Gate along the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park.