Systematic revision of endemic southern African genera of Bolboceratinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae)
Gussmann S. M.
Scholtz, C. H.
Journal of Natural History
2000
2000-12-31
34
1045
1123
Gussmann S. M. & Scholtz, 2000
Gussmann S. M. & Scholtz
2000
[379,612,353,377]
Insecta
Geotrupidae
Boboceratex
Animalia
Coleoptera
76
1119
Arthropoda
species
jouberti
sp. nov.
Description Body length. 14.1±17.3 mm. Colour. Mid-brown, but elytra usually dark brown except for mid-brown humeral umbone and elytral margin. Head. Dorsal surface asetose. Outer margin of mandible(®gures 27a, 33a) distinctly sinuate and anteriorly strongly curved inward. Labrum(®gure 27a) asetose; declivous in anterior third and posterior two-thirds, transverse carina obsolete; anterior margin distinctly sinuate. Clypeus(®gure 27a) sloping upward posteriorly to apex of mostly obsolete transverse anterior carina; anterior carina medially often with feeble tubercle; lateral carina obsolete anteriorly but raised and distinct above antennal insertion, continuing from there posteriorly in a slightly arcuate line, and feebly developed near eye-canthus, to almost posterior end of frons; antero-lateral angle of genae sharply raised; with posterior transverse bituberculate carina, carina U-shaped between tubercles; carina laterally terminating with tubercles, not joining lateral clypeal margin. Fronsslightly depressed in the middle, depression bordered by a slight swelling on each side in the posterior part. Antennal clubwith glabrous area of basal segment two-thirds of exposed surface. Pronotum(®gures 29d, e, 33a). With large concavity occupying anterior median two-thirds of pronotum; concavity slightly narrowed to posterior U- or V-shaped end (®gure 33a), sides steepest at posterior end; posteriorly with distinctly impressed midline opening up into concavity but not reaching posterior pronotal margin; each endpoint of the`U’ or`V’ feebly tuberculate; concavity with very ®ne punctures, interspersed with larger punctures, the latter becoming largerÐbut not deeperÐ and often conūent towards sides; concavity at its widest point narrower than frons between eyes; lateral margin entire. Scutellum(®gure 27b). Basal width about 1.6Ölength; with large, often conūent but shallow punctures. Elytron. Striae moderately impressed, their punctures separated by two to four puncture diameters (®gure 27b); intervals with double punctation (about four ®ne and 12±15 minute punctures between two striae). Metasternum. As in generic description but longitudinal suture reaching mesometasternal suture (®gure 24a). Legs. Protibia®ve-dentate. Metatibiain lateral view distinctly broadening towards apex; with subapical carina unlobed; with knoblike projections spread over surface above subapical carina. Metatarsuswith one subapical seta each on tarsomere 2 and 3, but lacking subapical setae on tarsomere 4. Male genitalia. Aedeagus as in ®gure 29a±c. Distribution(®gure 35). The species is known from two localities in southwestern Namibiaand from Brandvlei in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: l` South Africa, Northern Cape Province, Brandvlei, 30.27S 20.29E, 12± 14.iv.1997, leg. C. R. Owen’( TMSA); 12 PARATYPES: 1m( TMSA), 1x (UPSA), 1, l 1m( AJCS), 2 ll, 1m, 3x ( COCS), same data as holotype; 1x,` Brandkaross[ 28.28S 16.40E], Richtersveld, 9.v.1953, C.Koch’/`’l /` Bolboceras spurium PeÂring.’ [handwriting Andreae, curator ex SAMC] ( TMSA); 1, l` S.W. Afr., S. Namib, Klinghard Mt., 27.18S± 15.42E, 29.vii.1981, E-Y: 1809, night, rocky hill, leg. EndroÈdy-Younga’( TMSA). Etymology. The species is named after Mr Andre Joubert, an enthusiastic biology teacher in SomersetWest who enjoys collecting and studying beetles and often collects valuable research material. Comments. A separate description of a female specimen is not necessary as no external sexual dimorphism was found in this new species. The only variations observed among the limited number of specimens are: body size; clypeus: the anterior and lateral carinae vary from completely obsolete to feebly developed; pronotal concavity: at posterior end either more V- or U-shaped; and the colour: elytra sometimes not darker than rest of the body. The new species is without any doubt placed in the genus Bolboceratex. It agrees with the general external generic characters as well as with the distinct aedeagal type. Sexual dimorphism is absent and intraspeci®c variability appears to be minimal. The aedeagus of Bolboceratex joubertiis most similar to that of Bolboceratex posticatusand Bolboceratex rhodesianus. It is, however, more elongate and the pair of sclerotized projections on the median apparatus is not angularly extended (compare ®gures 29a±c and 28j±l). In external morphology Bolboceratex joubertican only be confused with Bolboceratex posticatus(see under the latter) and Bolboceratex holmi spec. nov.(see below).
1997-04-14
TMSA
C. R. Owen'
South Africa
-30.27
Brandvlei
733
20.29
77
1120
1
Northern Cape
holotype
TMSA
South Africa
1
77
1120
1
Northern Cape
paratype
[452,584,210,234]
AJCS
South Africa
1
77
1120
1
Northern Cape
paratype
[673,858,210,234]
COCS
South Africa
1
77
1120
1
Northern Cape
paratype
1953-05-09
SAMC, TMSA
Richtersveld & C. Koch' & Andreae
South Africa
-28.28
Brandkaross
740
16.4
77
1120
1
Northern Cape
paratype
1981-07-29
TMSA
S. W. Afr. & S. Namib & EndroEdy-Younga'
South Africa
-27.18
Klinghard Mt.
743
15.42
77
1120
1
Northern Cape
paratype