Neosisyphus macrorubrus ( Paschalidis, 1974 )

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 : 54-55

Neosisyphus macrorubrus ( Paschalidis, 1974) ( Figs. 29 , 30A )

Montreuil 2015b: 20, 28

Sisyphus macrorubrus Paschalidis 1974

Paschalidis, 1974b: 300

Size: Males: length: 10.2– 7.5 mm; width: 4.5–3.0 mm. Females: length: 10.5–7.0 mm; width: 4.5–3.0 mm.

Type locality: Vanstandensrus, OFS (Free State, South Africa)

Diagnosis: N. macrorubrus is very close in appearance to N. rubrus . However, it shows simple parameres ( Fig. 30A ) that lack the lateral protrusions, which typify N. rubrus .

It also shows a different geographical distribution pattern and minimal overlap with N. rubrus .

Examined type material

Holotype: (♂ SANC) / SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Vanstadensrus , 10.xii.1971, leg: Kirk /, /457/1/, /ex coll. CSIRO, Div. Entomology; S. African Station /; red label / Holotype ♂, Sisyphus marcorubrus spec. nov, det. KM Paschalidis, 1974 /, white label /SANC TYPH 00724/ Paratypes: (4♂, 4♀ SANC; 1♂, 1♀ SAM) SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Ladybrand ( Maseru Rd ), 27.xi.1971, leg: Bornemissza & Aschenborn. (3♂, 3♀ SANC; 1♂, 1♀ SAM) SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Zastron (21 mi N), 12.v.1972, leg: Olsen. (2♂, 1♀ SANC; 1♂, 1♀ SAM) SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Caledon River (3 mi W Maseru), 2.iii.1971, leg: Aschenborn. (9♂, 6♀ SANC) SOUTH AFRICA, CP, Aliwal North (North), 3.iii.1971, leg: Aschenborn. (3♂, 3♀ SANC) SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Wepener (22 mi N), 11.v.1971, leg: Aschenborn. (4♂, 3♀ SANC) SOUTH AFRICA, CP, Kimberley (25 mi S), 14.iii.1971, leg: Bornemissza & Kirk. (2♂, 1♀ SANC) SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Rouxville, 01.xi.1971, leg: Bornemissza & Kirk. (1♂, 2♀ SANC) SOUTH AFRICA, OFS, Bloemfontein (11 mi N), 03.xi.1971, leg: Bornemissza & Kirk. (1♂, 3♀ SANC) SW.AFRICA ( NAMIBIA), Outjo (15 kms N), 10.iv.1974, leg: Aschenborn .

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: N. macrorubrus is distributed in dry savanna, karoo and grassland, un- der cooler conditions in South Africa (Northern Cape and Free State), Namibia (Etosha Pan Okaukuejo) and Botswana (near Kanye) ( Fig. 31 ).

Remarks: The type series of S. rubripes Boheman 1857 contained specimens belonging to two different species. Péringuey (1901) described one of Boheman’s type specimens under the name S. rubripes . However, the characters which Péringuey discussed did not match those of the holotype of S. rubripes ( Arrow 1927) , which means that, Péringuey was describing an unnamed species. The Péringuey species was recognized as new by Haaf (1955), Ferreira (1972), and later, Paschalidis (1974b) who proposed the current official name for the species.

Figures

Fig. 29. Images of the habitus of the rubrus species-group, arrow showing the main diagnostic feature for the species-group: A. N. macrorubrus; B. N. rubrus.

Fig. 30. Images of the aedeagi of the rubrus species-group: A. N. macrorubrus; B. N. rubrus.

Fig. 31. Distribution map for the rubrus species-group.