Bolbaoeer dudleyi, Gussmann & Scholtz, 2001

Gussmann, S. M. V. & Scholtz, C. H., 2001, Systematic revision of the Afrotropical genus BolbaOEer Vulcano, Martinez and Pereira (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae: Bolboceratinae), with descriptions of eight new species, Journal of Natural History 35 (7), pp. 1013-1084 : 1049-1051

BolbaOEer dudleyi sp. nov.

(®gures 1a, 3k±n, 12h±m, 13g ±i, 14)

Description male

Body length 18.6±20.0 mm (6 specimens). Colour light brown to dark brown. Outer margin of mandibl e distinctly sinuate. Clypeus with bituberculate, feebly arcuate or feebly bisinuate transverse posterior carina; position of tubercles variable, from in line with antennal insertions to in line with clypeo-frontal transition; posterior carina as long as anterior carina. Frons feebly depressed posterior to posterior clypeal carina. Antennal club with glabrous area of basal segment about one-half of exposed surface. Pronotum with anterior margin medially feebly raised, in dorsal view arcuate and not projecting over head; with four protrusions (®gure 3k±m): in major males outer horns distinctly longer and more strongly inward curved than inner horns, the latter ones sometimes reduced to feeble swellings (®gure 3k); in minor males all four horns much reduced in size, little curved, more or less equal in length and more approximated (®gure 3l, m); surface with large, densely spaced and often conūent punctures; punctures decreasing in density and size and also interspersed with some ®ne punctures often in between and always on pronotal protrusions. Scutellum with surface coarsely punctate. Elytron with strial punctures separated by four to ®ve and a half puncture diameters; intervals with approximatel y ®ve to six punctures between two striae. Protibia ®ve-dentate. Protibial spur about as long as ®fth tarsomere, apex shaped as in ®gure 12h, sometimes as in ®gure 12m. Metatrochanter postero-medially with distinct angle and setation as in ®gure 12i. Metafemur in ventral in posterior third with line of densely spaced short and moderately long setae; with fairly dense, moderately long and long setation in anterior third and apical area; with very dense short setation in basal area and along basal half of posterior margin; remaining areas with few isolated setae. Metatibia in lateral view with subapical carina feebly bilobed or with one distinct, lateral lobe only; with unmodi®ed spurs. Underside with posterior margin of sternite 5 laterally with concave curvature, medially triangularly emarginate (®gure 12l); posterior margin of sternite 6 broadly triangularly emarginate (®gure 12l); pygidium unmodi- ®ed (®gure 12k). Genitalia with aedeagus as in ®gure 13g ±i; aedeagus strongly curved in lateral view; genital capsule apically with moderately long setation.

Description female

Body length 18.9±20.5 mm (6 specimens). Colour as in male. Outer margin of mandible feebly sinuate. Frons with strongly raised bituberculate, transverse carina; position of carina variable, from slightly anterior to to in line with postero-lateral genal angle; carina straight and slightly shorter than anterior clypeal carina. Antennal club as in male. Pronotum with anterior margin as in male; with transverse, feebly carinate swelling at median portion of disc; carina in frontal view medially straight, rarely very feebly depressed, and laterally arcuate (®gure 3n); swelling with very few ®ne punctures, interspersed with large punctures; with large, mostly conūent punctures anterior, lateral and posterior to carinate swelling. Scutellum and elytron as in male. Protibia as in male. Protibial spur slightly longer than ®fth tarsomere, acuminate. Metatrochanter postero-medially with discernible angle and setation as in ®gure 12j. Metafemur in ventral view in posterior third with line of densely spaced moderately long and long setae; in basal area and anterior third with fairly dense, long setation; in posterior third with fairly dense but moderately long setation; remaining median area with sparse setation. Metatibia as in male. Underside with posterior margin of sternite 4 with distinct bisinuate curvature; sternite 5 unmodi®ed; apex of sternite 6 unmodi®ed, i.e. rounded; pygidium unmodi®ed.

Distribution (®gure 14). Known only from localities in Malawi and one untraced locality in the D.R.C.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE:`M2680 [¯ew to light, in area of cultivation, degraded woodland and blue gum plantationsÐpersonal comment by C.O. Dudley], Limbe [15.49S 35.03E], Malawi, 11.ii.1973, C.O.Dudley’ [handwritten by Dudley] ( MMCM) ; ALLOTYPE m: same data as holotype but`M2685 [same data as for holotype]...’ ( MMCM); 6 PARATYPES: 1,`M3965 [notes stolen but probably collected in the Shire Highlands near Blantyre / LimbeÐpersonal comment by C.O. Dudley], So. Region , Malawi, xii.1971 ’ [handwritten by Dudley] ( TMSA); 1m, same data but:`M3955 [same comment as for M3965]...’ ( TMSA) ; 1 l[diss.], 2mm,`Blantyre [15.47S 35.00E] (Elsa), Distant Coll., 1911-383.’ ( BMNH) ; 1,` Nyasaland, 7 mi. S of Cholo [Thyolo, 16.04S 35.08E], II-25-58, 940 m’ /`E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech collectors’ ( HAHC) ; 1,` Congo, Maru [not traced]’ ( RMCI) .

Additional material examined (3 specimens). Malawi: 1m, S. Region , Zomba [15.22S 35.22E], December 1966, at light, Coll. R.F. Lee, C.I.E. Coll. A.1815 ( MMCM) ; 1m, Chitipa [09.41S 33.19E], Mughese [?, illegible, not traced] forest, February 1990, M. Chivura ( MMCM) . Untraced : 1,`unlabelled in old Museum Collection’ ( DMSA) .

Etymology. The species is named after C.O. Dudley, Research Associate and Honorary Curator of Entomology at the Museums of Malawi, who collected some of the above specimens and kindly provided the material for study.

Comments. BolbaOEer dudleyi is placed within the B. coriaceus species-group mainly on the basis of sternal and pygidial modi®cations in the males. The laterally concave and medially triangularly emarginate posterior margin of sternite ®ve and the broadly triangularl y emarginate posterior margin of sternite six easily distinguish the males of B. dudleyi from the males of B. coriaceus (compare ®gure 12l with 12g) but also from the males of B. abditus (compare ®gure 12l with 12q). Males of B. dudleyi and B. abditus furthermore diOEer by the shape of the pygidium (compare ®gure 12k with 12p) and by the shape of the aedeagal parameres (compare ®gure 13g ±i with 13j±l). Of importance, on the other hand, is the strong similarity of B. dudleyi and southern populations of B. coriaceus in the shape of the aedeagal parameres (compare ®gure 13g ±i with 13a±c). This and the lack of any distinct diOEerences between females, as already discussed, might indicate close relationship between the two species.

BolbaOEer dudleyi is known mainly from localities in Malawi and most female specimens were collected together with males, thus leaving no doubt about the correct male / female association for these combinations. Two females, however, were caught alone, and, as in the case of unassociate d B. coriaceus females, the determination labels bear a question mark. The two females were excluded from type designation. One rather badly preserved male specimen was also excluded from type designation (see above) because the posterior margins of sternites 5 and 6 are not very clearly visible. With regard to shape and setation of the metatrochanter and metafemur, however, the specimen is most de®nitely not a B. abditus but most likely a B. dudley .