Sisyphus perissinottoi Montreuil, 2015

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 : 15

Sisyphus perissinottoi Montreuil, 2015 ( Fig. 2 , 3D ).

Montreuil 2015:10

Type locality: Amsterdamhoek ( South Africa, Eastern Cape)

Size: Male: length: 7.0–5.0 mm; width: 3.0– 2.5 mm. Female: length: 7.3–5.0 mm, width 3.0– 2.5 mm.

Diagnosis: S. perissinottoi resembles S. manni . Setae on the pronotal discs of both species arise from the centre of ocellate punctures ( Fig. 5H ). However, S. perissinottoi differs by bearing tufts of dense and compact setae on the elytra and, lacking depressions on the latero-posterior edge of the pronotal disc. S. perissinottoi is also larger than S. manni .

Examined type material

Holotype: ( MHNH, through photograph without locality data).

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: S. perissinottoi is only known from the Eastern Cape ( South Africa) ( Montreuil 2015c). It has been recorded from unshaded vegetation. ( Fig. 4 ).

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. 3. Images of the aedeagi 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.

Fig. 5. Images of the habitus of the goryi species-group: A. S. bicuariensis sp. n; with enphasis of the black and gray setae on pronotum and elytra; B. S. caffer; C. S. genierorum; D. S. goryi; E. S. sordidus.F. Pronotal setae originate from the posterior edge or between ocellate points. G. Pronotal setae arise from the centre of ocellate punctures, commonly seen in S. genierorum, S. sordidus; S. perissinottoi; S. manni and S. swazi sp. n. H. Tufts of setae on the epipleurae visible from above.

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