Graphipterus fasciatus Chaudoir, 1870

Mawdsley, Jonathan R., 2012, A taxonomic review of the ancora species group of Graphipterus Latreille (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Insecta Mundi 2012 (228), pp. 1-11 : 7

Graphipterus fasciatus Chaudoir

Figure 3

Graphipterus fasciatus Chaudoir (1870: 323) (Holotype, Caffrerie, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris).

Diagnosis. Smaller adults, length 11–13 mm. Pattern of elytral vestiture distinctive ( Figure 3 ), with the elytra covered mostly in black pubescence except for a median transverse band of yellow-grey pubsecence (which does not attain the suture), an oval apical spot of yellow-grey pubescence along the suture on the apical fifth of the elytra, and a lateral border of yellow-grey pubescence which connects the median and apical spots and extends along the lateral margin to the base of the elytra. The pattern of pronotal pubescence is also diagnostic, with the median longitudinal band of dark pubescence becoming distinctly wider from the base to the apex of the pronotum ( Figure 3 ). The shape of the patches of pubescence will readily separate individuals of this species from those of G. distinctus , in which there is an additional longitudinal band of yellowish grey setae paralleling the suture, and in which the median longitudinal band of dark pubescence on the pronotum is more or less uniform in width from base to apex ( Figure 2 ). Small adults of G. westwoodi are also similar, but in that species the median yellowish-grey band of pubescence is more oblique and less transverse and the basal band of yellowish-grey setae has a distinct triangular projection extending onto the elytral disc ( Figures 5–9 ).

Distribution. Republic of South Africa (KwaZulu/Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces), Swaziland. For a list of collecting localities see Basilewsky (1977: 90).

Taxonomic Notes. As discussed above under G. distinctus , this species and G. distinctus were treated as subspecies of the polytypic species G. fasciatus by Burgeon (1929) and Basilewsky (1977). I have examined the material of this species in NMNH, SANC, and TMSA, as well as recently collected material from the Kruger National Park, and have failed to find specimens with pronotal and elytral setal patterns that could be considered intermediate between G. distinctus ( Figure 2 ) and G. fasciatus ( Figure 3 ). This lack of intermediate forms suggests that two distinct species are involved.

Figures

Figures 1–9. Adult habitus images of specimens of species in the ancora species group, from the TMSA collection. Specimen identifications by P. Basilewsky are given in brackets after the current valid name for the specimen figured. 1) G. ancora Dejean [G. ancora ancora Dejean], Hanover, Northern Cape Province, RSA. 2) G. distinctus Péringuey [G. fasciatus distinctus Péringuey], Shilouvane, Limpopo Province, RSA. 3) G. fasciatus Chaudoir [G. fasciatus fasciatus Chaudoir], Umfolozi, KwaZulu/Natal Province, RSA. 4) G. fritschi Chaudoir, Pietersburg, Limpopo Province, RSA. 5) G. westwoodi Brême [G. ancora aurantiacus Basilewsky], Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. 6) G. westwoodi [G. ancora egressus Péringuey], Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga Province, RSA. 7) G. westwoodi [G. ancora subegregius Basilewsky, paratype], Tuli District, Botswana. 8) G. westwoodi [G. ancora transitans Péringuey], Metsimaklaba, Botswana. 9) G. westwoodi [G. ancora westwoodi Brême], Swartruggens Marico, North West Province, RSA.