Neosisyphus tembyi Daniel & Davis, 2020

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 : 44-46

Neosisyphus tembyi Daniel & Davis sp. n. ( Figs. 7 , 8C )

ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/ 476EBD87-13C2-4DE0-A31E-883EEC69DA66

Diagnosis: N. tembyi sp. n. is similar to Neosisyphus jossoi Montreuil, 2015 . Both species are roughly the same size and lack sharp spines on the posterior margin of the metafemur. However, N. tembyi sp. n. bears a small angled protuberance on the midposterior margin of the metafemur in males. The metatrochanter projection in major males of the new species is ½ of the total length of the metafemur and is somewhat inwardly projected at the tip. Unlike in N. jossoi , in which the metatrochanter projection is ¾ of the total length of the metafemur in major males and strongly inwardly projected. Southern African specimens of N. setiger Roth (1851) differ from the new species by bearing a shorter metatrochanter in males, which is ¼ of the total length of the metafemur. Furthermore, the metatrochanter in Southern African N. setiger projects straight and is never bent on the tip. The phallobase and parameres of all of the above species are distinctly different.

Description: Male Holotype: Size. Male: length: 7.3 mm; width: 4.5 mm. Colour. Black body with brown setae; meso- and metasternum black; antennal club brown. Head. Anterior edge of clypeus with shallow sinuosity between medial teeth; lateral extreme of clypeal margin simply arcuate. Clypeo-genal suture markedly cleft; genae elongate. Frons and vertex dorsally granular, setose and minutely punctate, epicranial suture clearly visible. Pronotum. Convex with a sheen on dorsal surface; maximum width as long as the maximum length; setae inserted between ocellate punctures. Incomplete lateral prothoracic ridge between pronotal disc and prothoracic episternum. Elytra. Broad proximally and narrow posteriorly; well-spaced setae on interstriae; elytral surface shiny, distinct antero-lateral humeral callus; striae fine with double marginal lines interrupted by smooth ocellate strial punctures; granulation basally on elytral striae 4–7. Pygidium. Bearing U-shaped, ocellate punctation, a metallic sheen and setation. Sternites. Margins between abdominal sternites setigerous laterally, and glabrous medially with minute ocellate punctation; meso-metasternal suture visible; meso- and metasternum finely punctate and setose; metasternum with a punctate depression on the postero-medial edge. Mesepimeron and metepisternum finely punctate and setose. Legs. In ventral view, profemur carinate antero-laterally, punctate and internally pubescent with a lateral row of fine and well-developed setae; mesofemur finely punctate and setose, lacking any projection posteriorly; metafemur with an angled-protuberance mid-posteriorly with fine punctation and setae; metatrochanter projected backwards almost reaching top of angled protuberance; tip of metatrochanter slightly project- ed inward, but always parallel with metafemur. Metacoxa punctate and shagreened ventro-anteriorly. Protibia with three teeth and single terminal spine; meso-metatibia densely setose, serrated laterally, with two terminal spines on mesotibia, and two terminal spurs on metatibia; pro-, meso- and metatarsus five-segmented, with two claws; mostly setose. Aedeagus. Parameres separated by visible dorsal membranous portion extending nearly to the middle; arciform ridge bordering the membrane laterally, deeply notched medially; inwardly curved on the apex ( Fig. 18C ).

Morphological variation

Males bear a backwardly projected metatrochanter that is curved inwardly at the tip; this projection is absent in females where the metatrochanter is contiguous with the metafemur. The pronotum in males is larger than in females.

Examined type material

Holotype: (1♂ SANC) / Angola, Paiva Coucero (14.816667°S 15.55°E) (50 & 45 km E), 18.xii.1974, leg: Davis & Temby /, / Ex coll CSIRO, Div. Entomology S. African Station /. Paratypes: (1♀ SANC) same data as holotype.

Distribution: The species is only known from woodland vegetation in southern Angola (Paiva Coucero) ( Fig. 19 ).

Etymology: The patronym is named after Ian Temby, a former researcher at the CSIRO, Division of Entomology, South African station; who was one of the collectors of the type material.

Figures

Fig. 7. Distribution map for the goryi species-group.

Fig. 8. Images of the habitus of the umbraphilus species-group: A. S. umbraphilus.

Fig. 18. Images of the aedeagi of the barbarossa species-group: A. N. barabrossa; B. N. calcaratus; C. N. tembyi sp. n; D. N. setiger.

Fig. 19. Distribution map for the barbarossa species-group.