Sisyphus gazanus Arrow, 1909

Daniel, Gimo M., Davis, Adrian Lv., Sole, Catherine L. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2020, Taxonomic review of the tribe Sisyphini sensu stricto Mulsant, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in southern Africa, including new species descriptions, Insect Systematics & Evolution 51 (1), pp. 1-61 : 30-31

Sisyphus gazanus Arrow, 1909 ( Figs. 11 , 12C ).

Arrow 1909: 518; Gillet 1911: 23; Arrow 1927: 461; Haaf 1955: 361; Ferreira 1972: 799; Schäfer & Fischer 1992: 129.

Type locality: Chirinda, Mashonaland ( Zimbabwe)

Size: Male: length: 5– 4.5 mm; width: 3.1– 2.5 mm; Female: length: 5– 4.4 mm, width 3.1– 2.4 mm.

Diagnosis: S. gazanus is relatively close in appearance to S. inconspicuus sp. n. However, it is easily distinguished by a combination of features as follows: S. gazanus has a somewhat shallow depression dorsally on the genae; the dorsal surface of the head (vertex and frons) is entirely covered by distinct ocellate punctures ( Fig. 11J ); the pronotal disc shows a patchwork of bald areas and sparse short setae. In addition, the parameres of both species are distinctly different ( Figs. 12 C–D).

Examined type material

Lectotype: (♂ NHML): ZIMBABWE, Mashonaland, Chirinda, 05.x.1908. Leg: Marshall (handwritten Sisyphus gazanus Arrow 1909 ), lectotype det: Bacchus , 1976 / violet label /. Paralectotype: (♂ NHML): ZIMBABWE, Mashonaland, Mt. Chirinda, 01.xii.1908, leg: Marshall (handwritten Sisyphus gazanus Arrow 1909 ), lectotype det: Bacchus , 1976 ; /blue label/.

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: Sisyphus gazanus is associated with cooler conditions in highland forest in Zimbabwe and Malawi. It was described from Mount Chirinda ( Zimbabwe) at the southern end of the Inyanga Highlands and Chimanimani Mountains. This range may have acted as a corridor into Malawi where the species has also been recorded from Mount Mulanje and Mount Gomoloti ( Fig. 13 ). So far, it has not been recorded under cooler, shaded conditions on the intervening Muchinga Mountains (Manica, Mozambique) or Mount Binga (19.78°S 33.30°E).

Figures

Fig. 11. Images of the habitus of the costatus species-group: A. S. impressipennis; B. S. costatus; C. S. gazanus; D. S. inconspicuus sp. n; E. S. australis sp. n. F. elytra composed of alternate rows of well and less-developed setae, normally seen in S. costatus and S. australis sp. n. G. Head of S. costatus shows a concavity between the medial teeth on the anterior edge of the clypeus. H. Head of S. australis sp. n shows a straight margin between the medial teeth on the anterior edge of the clypeus; there are defined carinae on the clypeo-frontal suture, and scattered punctation on the vertex. I. Frons of S. inconspicuus sp. n without clear punctation. J. S. gazanus: bearing vertex and frons densely and fully punctate.

Fig. 12. Images of the aedeagi of the costatus species-group: A. S. impressipennis; B. S. costatus; C. S. gazanus; D. S. inconspicuus sp. n; E. S. australis sp. n.

Fig. 13. Distribution map for the costatus species-group.