Sisyphus oralensis Daniel & Davis, 2016

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 : 37-38

Sisyphus oralensis Daniel & Davis, 2016 ( Figs. 14B, E ; 15A ).

Daniel et al. 2016: 70

Size: Male: length: 3.4–4.8 mm, width: 2.1–2.5 mm. Female: length: 3.9–4.7 mm, width: 2.1–2.5 mm.

Type locality: Richard’s Bay (KwaZulu Natal, South Africa)

Diagnosis: S. oralensis resembles Sisyphus auricomus sp. n. However, it differs by the less dense cover of long yellow setae on the pronotal disc that are not distributed uniformly, but, mostly arranged in a linear pattern separated by bare patches ( Fig. 14E ). Furthermore, parameres of S. oralensis are notched dorso-transversally (Fig. 15A). Examined type material

Holotype: (♂ TMSA): SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Richard’s Bay 28°39’29.1”S 32°15’19.2”E, 27.i.2000, leg: Davis & Delport . Paratypes: (5♂, 8♀ UPSA): SOUTH AFRICA, KZN Richard’s Bay 28°39’S 32°15’E, 26–27.i.2000, leg: Davis & Delport. (4♀ UPSA; 3♂, 2♀ SANC) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Thembe Elephant Park 27°01’S 32°24’E, 17.xii.1996, leg: B.J. Van Rensburg. (9♂, 8♀ UPSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Thembe Elephant Park 27°01’S 32°24’E, 17.vii.1995, leg: B.J. Van Rensburg. (2♂, 3♀ UPSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN Thembe Elephant Park 26°55’S 32°23’E, 15–30.x.2008, leg: B.J. Van Rensburg. (2♂ SANC, 1♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Umfolozi 28°15’S 31° 55’E, 25.viii.1971, leg: Bornemissza & Insley. (1♂, 10♀ SANC) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN St Lucia Est. Nat. Reserve, Dune Forest 28°13’S 32°21’E, 27.x.1978, leg: Bornemissza. (1♀ SANC) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN Ntl Kosi Bay Nature Res 26°34’S 32°28’E, 8–11.ii.1990, leg: B. Grobbelaar. (1♀ SANC) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Near Richards Bay , 28°36’52”S 32°17’34”E, 27.x.1978, leg: Bornemissza. (1♂ SANC) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Thembe Elephant Park 27°01’S 32°24’E, 01–49. ii.1996, leg: Stals. (5♂, 6♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Ntl Kosi Bay Nature Res 26°34’S 32°28’E, 14.xi.2002, leg: Burger, Harrison & Muller. (7♂, 8♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand, Sodwana Bay 5km, 27°21’S 32°23’E, 23.xi.1992, leg: Endrödy-Younga. (8♂, 8♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, N Zululand, Ndumu Game Reserve 26°32’S 32°10’E, 1.xii.1992, leg: Endrödy- Younga. (30♂, 42♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, N Zululand, Lake Bangazi 28°04’S 32°18’E, 12.xii.1992, leg: Endrodi-Younga. (1♂, 2♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand , St. Lúcia. Mission Rock 28°13’S 32°21’E, 23.xi.1992, leg: Endrödy-Younga. (1♂, 2♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, Natal, Cape Vidal, Forest litter 28°8’S 32°33’E, 23.i.1990, leg: J. Klimaszewski. (1♂, 2♀ TMSA) : SOUTH AFRICA, N Zululand, Hluhluwe Game Reserve . 28°03’S 32°02’E, 20.xi.1992. leg: Endrödy-Younga. (12♂, 30♀ SANC) ; SOUTH AFRICA, KZN St Lucia Est. Nat. Reserve, Forest 28°13’S 32°21’E, 24–23.i.1979, leg: NH Aschenborn. (1♂, 2♀ TMSA) : MOZAMBIQUE, Inhambane, Pomene , 22°35’S 35°21’E, 04.v.1974, leg: A. Strydom. (5♂, 5♀ UPSA) : MOZAMBIQUE, Maputo Elephant Reserve 26°39’S 32°43’E, 10–16.xi.2007, leg: W. Strümpher & C. Deschodt .

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: S. oralensis is a coastal and sandforest endemic ( Jacobs et al. 2010; Daniel et al. 2016). It has been observed in dense coastal woodlands and forest from Maputaland, north-east South Africa, to south-east Mozambique (Maputo Elephant Reserve and Pomene) ( Fig. 16 ). Furthermore, recently, we found new distribution records from uMkhuze Game Reserve in South Africa (see Supplementary information). The species was collected in shaded deep sand vegetation, under pitfalls baited by dead diplopods.

Remarks: Revision of S. oralensis type material has revealed that specimens from Mozambique (Dondo, Beira and Gorongosa) with distinct golden hair on the pronotum belong to a new species of the seminulum species-group that is described below. In addition, it should be noted that in the original description of S. oralensis ( Daniel et al. 2016) , three specimens (a male and two females) from Ithala Game Reserve (Kwa- Zulu Natal, South Africa) were cited in error as paratypes of S. oralensis . These same three specimens were also cited correctly as paratypes of S. umbraphilus in the same publication.

Figures

Fig. 14. Images of the habitus of the seminulum species-group: A. S. splendidus; B. S. oralensis; C. S. nanniscus; D. S. auricomus sp. n. Pronotal setation and punctation patterns of S. oralensis (E), and S. auricomus sp. n (F).

Fig. 15. Images of the aedeagi of the seminulum species-group: A. S. oralensis; B. S. nanniscus; C. S. auricomus sp. n.

Fig. 16. Distribution map for the seminulum species-group.