Hycleus argentatus (Fabricius, 1792)

Bologna, Marco A., Amore, Valentina & Pitzalis, Monica, 2018, Meloidae of Namibia (Coleoptera): taxonomy and faunistics with biogeographic and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4373 (1), pp. 1-141 : 58-59

Ac) Hycleus argentatus species group

This group, defined by Pardo Alcaide (1963) and by Bologna (1990), includes: (a) at least three southern African species listed below ( H. jucundus , H. peringueyi , H. surcoufi with their synonyms); (b) seven species from the Sahelo-Saharan area [ H. argentatus (Fabricius, 1792) , H. bicoloricornis (Pic, 1924) (a nomen praeoccupatum and possible synonym of H. argentatus ), H. egregius (Voigts, 1902) , H. gabonensis (Pic, 1913) , H. guineeensis ( Marseul, 1872) , H. ocellaris (Olivier, 1811) , H. quadrinotatus (Pic, 1948) ]; (c) three species from eastern and central Africa [( H. amabilis (Fairmaire, 1887) , H. salaamensis (Pic, 1913) , H. upembanus (Kaszab, 1957) ]. This group of species is easily distinguishable by the reduced number of antennomeres (nine, rarely eigth in some specimens) and the silver setation very dense and short on the body.

Hycleus jucundus (Erichson, 1843) ( Fig. 3Q )

Mylabris (Actenodia) jucunda Erichson, 1843

Distribution. Angola and Namibia .

Material examined and literature records. [Omusati] Ruacana: C46, Ruacana Falls, 17.4000°S 14.2833°E (CB). Ogongo: C46, Ruacana-Oshakati 5 km E of Ombalantu (= Uutapi ) , 17.5405°S 15.0403°E (CB). Okahao: C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana 25 km NW Kamanjab , 18.4775°S 14.6977°E (CB); Site 7/ Row B , 18.9497°S 14.5600°E (SMWN); Duikersdrink, Etosha N.P., 19.0667°S 14.7167°E ( SMWN); C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana 77 km NW of Kamanjabn , 19.2528°S 14.4442°E (CB). [Kunene] Epupa: Hippo Pool on Kunene River 20 km W of Ruacana , 17.4092°S 14.2185°E (CB). Opuwo: C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana 46 km S of cross-road for Opuwo , 18.3280°S 14.3035°E (CB); C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana , 18.9027°S 14.3903°E (CB). Kamanjab: Otjitambi , 19.8167°S 15.1667°E ( SMWN). [Oshana] Okatana: D3609, Oshakati-Ongenga 3 km N jct. C46 , 17.7377°S 15.6727°E (CB). [Oshikoto] Onayena: B1, Ondangwa-Tsumeb 26 km SE of Ondangwa , 18.0402°S 16.2037°E (CB). [Otjozondjupa] Otjiwarongo: C63, Outjo-Kalkfeld 15 km N of Kalkfeld , 20.7537°S 16.2210°E (CB). Omatako: 100 km N Okahandja , 21.0920°S 16.8280°E (CP). [Erongo] Omaruru : C33, 3 – 9 km S of Omaruru (Karibib-Omaruru), 21.4948°S 15.9705°E (CB). Dâures: Gross Spitzkoppe , 21.8167°S 15.1667°E (CB). Karibib: Karibib , 21.9333°S 15.8333°E (CB); B2, Usakos-Karibib 16 km W of Karibib , 21.9358°S 15.7056°E (CB); Karibib , D1953, jct. C32 , 21.9552°S 15.8493°E (CB). [Karas] Lüderitz: near Aus , 26.6667°S 16.2667°E (CP).

Other records: Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

Remarks. Types of this species were not examined.

Hycleus peringueyi (Pic, 1953) ( Fig. 3R )

Actenodia jucunda Péringuey, 1909 (nec Erichson, 1843) Actenodia peringueyi Pic, 1953

Distribution. Botswana, Namibia , South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Material and literature records. [Omusati] Outapi: Mahanene Agric. Research Station , Ovambo , 17.4333°S 14.7833°E ( SMWN) . Anamulenge: C 46, 100 km ESE Ruacana, 17.5333°S 15.1167°E (CB). Elim : C46, 15 km NW Oshakati, 17.6833°S 15.5167°E (CB). Tsandi : Tsandi, Ovamboland, 17.7667°S 14.8667°E ( SMWN) . Ogongo : Iikango, Ovamboland, 17.8500°S 15.2333°E ( SMWN) . Ruacana : Ekango, Kaokoland, 18.6833°S 14.3167°E ( SMWN). [Caprivi] Kongola: Horseshoe , West Caprivi, 17.8833°S 23.2833°E ( SMWN) . [Kunene] Kamanjab: Kamanjab , 19.6333°S 14.8333°E ( SMWN) . Khorixas : Fransfontein, Damaraland, 20.1833°S 15.0167°E ( SMWN) . [Erongo] Dâures : northern end Tsisab, Brandberg, 21.0833°S 14.6667°E ( SMWN) . Karibib : Karibib, D 1953, jct. C32, 21.9552°S 15.8493°E (CB). [Karas] Oranjemund: 10 km NW Rosh Pinah , 27.9000°S 16.7000°E (SMWN).

Other records: Namib Sand Sea desert ( Seely 2012); Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

Remarks. Types of this species were examined at SAMC and that of its synonym at MNHN.

Hycleus surcoufi (Pic, 1932) ( Fig. 3S )

Coryna surcoufi Pic, 1932

Coryna sororia Borchmann, 1940

Coryna argentata De Moor, 1978 (nec Fabricius, 1801)

Distribution. Botswana, Mozambique, northwestern Namibia , South Africa, and Zambia.

Material and literature records. [Oshikoto] Oniipa: B1, 20 km SE Ondangwa (road), 17.9833°S 16.1333°E (CB). Onayena: B1, Ondangwa-Tsumeb 26 km SE of Ondangwa , 18.0402°S 16.2037°E (CB). [Erongo] Karibib: Karibib , 21.9333°S 15.8333°E ( SMWN) .

Other records: Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

Remarks. Types of this species were examined at MNHN.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. Ceroctis angolensis; B. Ceroctis exclamationis; C. Ceroctis bohemani; D. Ceroctis aliena; E. Ceroctis peringueyi; F. Ceroctis trifasciata; G. Ceroctis blanda; H. Ceroctis amphibia; I. Ceroctis karroensis; J. Ceroctis korana; K. Ceroctis braunsiana; L. Ceroctis capensis; M. Ceroctis cfr. seabrai; N. Ceroctis spuria; O. Hycleus dentatus; P. Hycleus tripunctatus; Q. Hycleus jucundus; R. Hycleus peringueyi; S. Hycleus surcoufi; T. Hycleus brincki; U. Hycleus congoensis; V. Hycleus lunatus; W. Hycleus ertli; X. Hycleus arlecchinus; Y. Hycleus basibicinctus.