Sisyphus swazi Daniel & Davis, 2020

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 : 16-17

Sisyphus swazi Daniel & Davis sp. n. ( Fig. 2F )

ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/ C42533D7-5760-4187-8415-45608ED98DD0

Diagnosis: Sisyphus swazi sp. n is similar to S. alveatus in that both bear tufts of setae on the elytra. However, it differs by having a concave anterior margin between the medial clypeal teeth whereas in S. alveatus the margin is straight. In S. swazi sp. n the anterior margin of the pronotum is wider than the posterior margin, unlike in S. alveatus where the width is almost uniform. Pronotal setae arise from the centre of ocellate punctures in the new species, while in S. alveatus they are inserted between ocellate points. The interior edges of the metatibiae are weakly serrated in S. swazi sp. n whereas in S. alveatus they bear strong dentition.

Examined type material

Holotype: (♂ SANC): SWAZILAND (Mbabane) Ekuvinjelweni , 26.09353°S 31.30082°E, baited pitfalls, leg: Cebisile N. Magagula.

Description: Male holotype: Size. 5.0 mm, width: 2.7 mm. Colour. body and setae brown; meso- and metasternum black. Head. Margin between clypeal medial teeth concave; dorsal surface of the clypeus setose and punctate; clypeo-frontal suture visible; vertex setigerous with ocellate points. Pronotum. Complete lateral prothoracic margin between the prothoracic disc and prothoracic episternum. Strong anterolateral emargination; anterior edge wider than posterior margin. Setae arise from the centre of ocellate punctures on the pronotal disc. Setae not uniform, but randomly arranged in patches; forming distinct bald spots on pronotal disc. Elytra. Short; narrow posteriorly; elytral striae minutely punctate and crenulate; double line of striae non-continuous, interrupted by fine ocellate strial puctures. Interstrial setae arranged in tufts. Hind wing and venation reduced to small sclerites ( Fig. 2J ). Pygidium. Ushaped and setigerous with ocellate punctures. Sternites. Abdominal sternites finely crenulate, setigerous with ocellate punctation; setae arranged in rows laterally; mesometasternal suture visible; punctate depression on the postero-medial surface of the metasternum. Legs. In ventral view, antero-lateral carina of profemur punctate, with a lateral row of fine and well developed setae; meso- and metafemur very small anteriorly, enlarged mid-posteriorly, densely punctate and setose; protibia with three teeth and a single terminal spine; mesotibia punctate and setose with two terminal spines; metatibia setose with weak indentation anteriorly, serrated laterally with two spurs; pro- meso- and metatarsi five segmented with two claws, setose laterally; first tarsal segment of the meso- and meta-thoracic legs with a row of strong setae on the external edge. Aedeagus. Parameres symmetrical, somewhat truncated towards the apex. In ventral view, a knob-like structure present basally ( Fig. 2F )

Female: unknown.

Distribution: The new species has only been recorded in shaded vegetation along the escarpment of the Lebombo Mountains in Swaziland ( Fig. 4 ).

Remarks: By showing a concave edge between the medial teeth of the clypeus and setae on the pronotum arising from the centres of ocellate points, Sisyphus swazi sp. n. is superficially similar to two other southern African species of the muricatus species-group: namely, S. manni and S. perissinottoi . However, both species differ from S. swazi sp. n. by having uniformly arranged setae on the pronotum, which lacks bald patches. Furthermore, both species bear a pronotum of uniform width, in contrast to S. swazi sp. n in which the latero-anterior margins of the pronotum are expanded.

Etymology: Patronym is a noun in apposition, which reflects the name of the country ( Swaziland) in which the holotype specimen was collected.

Figures

Fig. 2. Images of the habitus of the muricatus species-group: A. S. muricatus; B. S. neobornemisszanus; C. S. fasciculatus; D. S. perissinottoi; E. S. manni; F. S. swazi sp. n. G. S. alveatus. I. Fully developed hind wing, which is typical to most of Sisyphus species in southern Africa H. Brachypterous hind wing of S. alveatus. J. Sclerite represents a reduced hind wing of S. swazi sp. n.

Fig. 4. Distribution map for the muricatus species-groups.