Garreta australugens Davis & Deschodt, 2018

Davis, Adrian L. V. & Deschodt, Christian M., 2018, Two new species of Garreta Janssens, 1940 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Southern Africa, Zootaxa 4450 (2), pp. 242-248 : 243

Garreta australugens Davis & Deschodt , new species

Figs 1–4

Description of holotype. Holotype ♂: 20.3 x 11.6 mm (length with head extended x maximum width). Habitus uniformly charcoal black.

Head. Clypeus with four well defined denticles; middle two denticles larger and separated by right-angled gap; clypeal surface with large, irregular granules that are close together but clearly separated by dense microgranulation.

Pronotal disc. Surface of pronotum with small more or less rounded and irregularly spaced granules that are separated by less than one or two granule diameters; area between granules, micro-granular giving a shagreened appearance. Longitudinal midline almost indiscernible. Two very short diagonal grooves (basal impressions) on each side of midline at the base of pronotum.

Elytra. Surface sculpture of elytral interstriae similar to pronotum, i.e. large granules separated by one to three granule diameters; area between granules very finely microgranular with a shagreened appearance. First elytral striae next to midline with widely spaced and very faint punctures; all other striae apunctate, narrow, unclear and shagreened.

Anterior legs. Narrow and slightly curved inwards.

Aedeagus. Similar to other species of Garreta ( Fig. 3 ).

Sexual dimorphism. Inward curving front legs of male type material narrower than those of females. Terminal spur of front legs acute in females and more blunt in males.

Variability. The colour of paratype specimens is uniform with no variation; size of paratype specimens varies from slightly smaller to slightly larger than the holotype.

Etymology. The name is a combination of the specific name of its closest relative Garreta lugens and its southern distribution.

Type specimens examined. Holotype ♂: "Wildlife College, Site 3, S24°32’27” E31°20’23”, 23-25.xi.2009, C. Du Toit & C. Jacobs. ", in SANC . Paratypes: 2 spec. same data as holotype, in UPSA ; 1 spec. "S. Afr. ; Transvaal, Pafuri, 29.3.73., Potg.&Scholtz", in TMSA ; 1 spec. " Bubye River S. Rhodesia 29/10/73, N.J.Duke ", in TMSA ; 2 spec. "2553a. Satara , KNP, 19.I.82, Various soil and vegetation types, Doube & Macqueen, COLS01270 ", in SANC ; 1 spec. "329, GORONGOSA N.P., Mozam. 11-28.I.72, Bornemissza & Kirk, COLS08747 ", in SANC ; 1 ♂ spec. "BIRCHENOUGH BRIDGE, Rhod. (60 kms E) 18.I.74, H.H. Aschenborn, COLS08748 ", in SANC . All SANC specimens (except holotype) have two additional determination labels: Garreta lugens (Fairmaire, 1891) , det . CSIRO, DBRU and Garreta lugens (Fairmaire, 1891) , det. ALV Davis, 2013.

Differential diagnosis. This new species can be easily separated from Garreta lugens by pronotal granulation; granules are clearly separate and more or less round in Garreta australugens new species, whereas those of G. lugens are often connected forming irregular shapes.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of (A) Garreta australugens Davis & Deschodt, new species (holotype), (B) Garreta lugens (Fairmaire, 1891) and (C) Garreta namalugens Davis & Deschodt, new species (holotype). Scale bar is 2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Elytral and pronotal sculpture of Garreta australugens Davis & Deschodt, new species, Garreta lugens (Fairmaire, 1891) and Garreta namalugens Davis & Deschodt, new species. Scale bar is 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Aedeagi of the holotype of (A) Garreta australugens Davis & Deschodt, new species, (B) Garreta lugens (Fairmaire, 1891) and (C) Garreta namalugens Davis & Deschodt, new species. Scale bar is 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Map showing the distribution of Garreta australugens Davis & Deschodt, new species (red circle) and Garreta namalugens Davis & Deschodt, new species (red triangle); Kaokoveld (red star).