Frankenbergerius nanus (Péringuey)

Frolov, A. V. & Scholtz, C. H., 2005, Revision of the southern African genus Frankenbergerius Balthasar with description of new taxa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Journal of Natural History 39 (25), pp. 2355-2377 : 2374-2375

Frankenbergerius nanus (Péringuey)

(Figures 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 43)

Coptorhina nana Péringuey 1888, p 95 ; 1901, p 288, 293; Janssens 1939, p 32, 36. Frankenbergerius nanus (Péringuey) : Ferreira 1972, p 362, 364.

Diagnosis

This species is similar to F. opacus sp. n. and F. nitidus sp. n. but can be separated from them by having distinct transverse convexity on the last abdominal sternite. From the former it can also be separated by the pronotum having a flat base, and from the latter by matt elytral intervals.

Description

Body black to dark brown, matt, elytra with shiny tubercles (Figure 8). Body length of males 5.8–6.2 mm, width 3.1–3.8 mm, of females 5.5–6.5 mm and 3.6–4.1 mm. Dorsal surface of pronotum with minute setae.

Head. Clypeus with anterior angles dentiform with deep sinuation between. Genae rounded, finely bordered. Genal sutures visible as fine lines. Lateral margins of clypeus very feebly sinuate near genal suture. Frontal suture indistinct. Genae and anterior part of clypeus densely punctate, almost rugose. Disc of head with minute, feebly visible punctures.

Pronotum. Anterior angles rounded. Lateral and anterior margins bordered, base not bordered. Border of anterior margin widened at middle, without sinuation. Hind angles rounded. Dorsal surface densely and coarsely punctate; punctures separated by 0.2–0.3 times their diameters on disc, becoming denser laterally. Base not concave (Figure 3).

Elytra. Striae distinct, punctate (punctures as wide as striae, separated by three to four puncture diameters); striae 9 and 10 very close, with deeper and larger punctures. Intervals matt, impunctate, with elongated tubercles.

Underside. Pygidium with strong border, disc densely punctate. Disc of meso- and metasternum smooth. Last abdominal sternite with distinct transverse convexity (Figure 9).

Legs. Anterior legs with three outer teeth without smaller teeth between. Spur of anterior tibia bifurcated in males and simple, acute in females.

Aedeagus. Parameres with slightly sclerotized apices narrower in lateral view than in F. opacus sp. n. (Figure 11).

Variability. Except for body size variation indicated above, the specimens examined are very similar.

Distribution

This species is known from a few localities in the vicinity of Cape Town ( Figure 43 ).

Type material examined

Syntype, „: Constantia [Cape Town], September 1885, Péringuey leg. ( SAMC) .

Additional material examined

Western Cape Province: Cape Town , June 1892, Péringuey leg., 3♀ ( SANC) and 2 „ and 4♀ ( SAMC); Pearly Beach, Bredasdorp [34 ° 45 9 S, 19 ° 30 9 E], 1 „ ( SAMC); Groote Post farm, near Darling, 33 ° 36 9 S, 18 ° 25 9 E, 19 September 1988, pitfall trap with cow dung, 1 „, A. Davis leg. ( UPSA) .

Figures

Figures 39–43. Frankenbergerius spp. (39–42) F. gomesi. (39) Habitus of „. (40) Aedeagus in dorsal and lateral view. (41, 42) Head of „ and ♀, respectively. (43) Distribution map of Frankenbergerius.