Delopleurus pubescens Frolov, 2014

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 : 142-143

Delopleurus pubescens Frolov , sp. nov.

( Figure 2D–G )

Diagnosis

Males of this species can be separated from other Delopleurus species by the disc of pygidium being rugose, somewhat granulate and pubescent with sparse brown setae ( Figure 2E ). Such a sculpture is similar to that of females of D. pullus ( Figure 3E ) but it is not rugose in the latter.

Description

Holotype, male. Body strongly convex, black, glabrous, length 5.0 mm ( Figure 2D ).

Clypeus quadridentate, two medial teeth are acute, lateral ones are somewhat angulate. Genae right-angled, indistinctly separated from clypeus. Frontoclypeal and genal suturae almost indistinct. Clypeus rugose in anterior part and laterally, frons densely punctate (punctures separated by about one puncture diameter).

Pronotum more or less trapezoidal, about two times wider than long. All margins with distinct border. Disc and base punctate with punctures separated by two to three puncture diameters, sides and especially anterior angles more densely punctate.

Elytra trapezoidal, as wide as long, somewhat opaque. Stria deep, with punctures slightly larger than striae width. Elytral intervals slightly convex (more distinctly on disc).

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

Pygidium with relatively slender borders and convex disc. Basal border slender and almost parallel-sided except in the middle. Apical border about twice as thick in the middle as the basal border, becoming more slender laterally. Disc with irregular, rugose and granulate sculpture, pubescent with short yellowish setae ( Figure 2E ).

Parameres with a small protuberance ventroapically (visible in lateral view, Figure 2F ).

Female unknown.

Paratypes. Body length 4.3–5.5 mm.

Distribution

The species is known from a few localities in the Congolese forest-savanna and Miombo woodlands ( Figure 2G ).

Etymology

The species name is a Latin word denoting the peculiar sculpture of the pygidium.

Type material

Holotype, male with the label ‘ Salisbury Mashonaland Feb. 1906 G.A.Marshall’ ( BMNH) . Paratypes: 3 males with the same label as the holotype ( BMNH) ; 1 male with the label ‘ Salisbury Mashonaland G.A. Marshall 189[4]’ ( SAMC) ; 2 males with the labels ‘COLL. MUS. CONGO Mayidi – 1945 R. P.Van Eyen’ ( MRAC) ; 1 male with the label ‘ Musee du Congo Lulua: r. Kapelekese 17.XI.1933 G.F.Overlaet’ ( MRAC) ; 1 male with the label ‘ Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B. Rhodesie du Sud Salisbury Dec. 1900 G.A.K. Marshall Coll. J.J.Gillet’ ( IRSNB) ; 1 male with the label ‘ Salisbury 14/1/ 15’ ( DMAGD) .

Figures

Figure 2. Delopleurus spp. (A, D) habitus; (B, E) pygidium; (F) aedeagus in lateral view and internal sac; (C, G) locality maps. (A–C) D. naviauxi sp. nov.; (D–G) D. pubescens sp. nov.

Figure 3. Delopleurus pullus. (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.