Delopleurus gilleti Janssens

Frolov, Andrey V., 2014, Revision of the genus Delopleurus Boheman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) with description of new species from Africa, Journal of Natural History 49 (3), pp. 129-154 : 146-147

Delopleurus gilleti Janssens

( Figure 5A–F )

Delopleurus gilleti Janssens 1939

Diagnosis

This species is most similar to male D. pullus but can be separated from it in having the pygidium with smaller disc which is punctate with bigger punctures ( Figure 5B, E ) and in having relatively densely punctate disc of pronotum ( Figure 5A, D ). This species does not show sexual dimorphism in the sculpture of the pygidium.

Description

Beetles are small-sized (3.5–5.0 mm), strongly convex, black or dark brown, glabrous. Male ( Figure 5A ). Clypeus quadridentate, medial teeth acute, lateral ones acuteangled. Clypeal margin laterad of lateral teeth somewhat angulate so clypeus looks hexadentate. Clypeal surface rugose in anterior part and laterally, frons densely punctate (punctures separated by less than puncture diameters).

Pronotum about two times wider than long. Anterior and lateral margins distinctly bordered, base not bordered. Pronotum densely almost uniformly punctate with punctures separated by less than a puncture diameter.

Elytra trapezoidal, as wide as long, shiny. Stria relatively deep, with punctures slightly larger than striae width. Elytral intervals convex, with minute punctuation.

Anterior tibiae with three outer teeth, without a small acute tooth between first outer tooth and apical spur. Anterior tibial spur bifurcated apically.

Pygidium with relatively narrow borders and feebly convex disc. Disc glabrous, coarsely punctate with punctures separated by about one puncture diameter ( Figure 5B ).

Parameres in lateral view somewhat abruptly truncate, with distinct processes ( Figure 5C ).

Female ( Figure 5D ) can be separated from male in having acute, not bifurcated spurs of anterior tibiae. Sculpture of pygidium is similar to that of male ( Figure 5E ).

Type material

Holotype, female with the labels. ‘ Coll. R.I.Sc.N.B Togo Togo Coll. J.J.Gillet’, ‘ A. Janssens det., 1939 Delopleurus gilleti n. sp. type’, ‘cf. Expl. P.N.A. G.F. de Witte (1933–1935) fasc 29, 1939, p. 130’, ‘TYPE’, and ‘ A. Janssens det., 1941 gilleti A. Janssens’ ( IRSNB) . Paratypes: male and female with the same locality data as the holotype ( IRSNB); female, CONGO (Kinshasa), Kasai, forêt de Luebo, G. Babault ( IRSNB) .

Additional material

CÔTE D’ IVOIRE: National Park De La Comoe , Quango, Fitini, IX.1980, Y. Cambefort leg., 1 female ( MNHN) ; Lamto-Savane , Girard leg., I.1968, 1 spm. ( MNHN) ; Lamto , Girard leg., X.1968, 1 male ( MNHN) ; Touba , Biemasso, 1 female ( UPSA) . MALI: Kita , 1 female ( MNHN) . NIGERIA: Yankari , 25.VII.1974, G.F. Bornemissza leg., 1 female ( SANC) ; 10 km E of Kontagora , 19.VII.1974, G.F. Bornemissza leg., 14 females ( SANC) ; Samaru , 20.VII.74 G.F.Bornemissza leg., 1 male ( MNHN) . MALAWI: Mlanje , S.A.Neave: 21.I.1913, 1 female, 6.II.1913, 1 female, 27.XII.1912, 1 male ( BMNH) ; between Ft. Mangoche and Chikala Boma, 20–25.III.1910, S.A.Neave, 1 female ( BMNH) . NAMIBIA: Kaross , II.1925, 1 spm. ( SAMC) . TANZANIA: Kigonsera , 1 female ( MNHN) . ZAMBIA: Mwengwa , 1919, H.C.Dollman leg., 3 females ( BMNH) . MOZAMBIQUE: Canxixe , 1926, J. Surcouf leg., 1 male ( MNHN) .

Distribution

The species is widely distributed in the savannas both south and north from the equator ( Figure 5F ).

Figures

Figure 5. Delopleurus gilleti. (A, D) habitus (A, male, D, female); (B, E) pygidium (B, male, E, female); (C) aedeagus in lateral view and internal sac; (F) locality map.