An update to the taxonomy of the genus Macroderes Westwood 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) with descriptions of new species from South Africa Author Abdalla, Ishtiag H. Author Deschodt, Christian M. Author Scholtz, Clarke H. Author Sole, Catherine L. text Zootaxa 2018 2018-10-23 4504 1 41 75 journal article 28091 10.11646/zootaxa.4504.1.3 0b803003-244e-4511-aaf4-5e9c3f863861 1175-5326 2606164 52BA28B6-4280-4BD0-8B38-C794F04E4A66 Macroderes politulus Preudhomme de Borre, 1880 ( Figs. 15 , 43 , 52 , 63 , 92 ) Macroderes politulus Preudhomme de Borre 1880 : 11 ; Péringuey 1901 : 302 ; Janssens 1939 : 29 ; Ferreira 1969 : 322 ; Frolov & Scholtz 2005 : 383 . Type locality. South Africa , Caffria . Type material examined. None. Type series is deposited in IRSNB ( Frolov & Scholtz 2005 ). Additional material examined. 1 ♂ ( SANC ): “ Macroderes politulus / Somerset E [East] / [ 32° 45' 43.95’’ S 25° 32' 28.51'' E ] / Jan. 84 ; 2 ♂♂ and 1 ♀♀ ( UPSA ): “ S. Africa / SW Cape / Oranjefontein farm / nr Darling / 33° 25' S 18° 26' E / 28.VIII. 1987 / ALV Davis // ex cattle dung baited pitfall in pasture” ; 1 ♂ same data but the date of collection: 3.VII. 1987 ; 3 ♀♀ same data but the dates of collections as follows : 1 ♀ : 7.VII. 1987 , 1 ♀ : 29.VII.1987 , 1 ♀ : 17 Sept. 1987 . Size range. Males length: 9.0– 12.2 mm , width: 6.3–8.6 mm ; females length: 9.7–12.2 mm ; width: 6.4–8.7 mm . Differential diagnosis. This species is very close to M. porselinus new species in having elongated punctures of the pronotum ( Fig. 63 ) as well as a punctuated lateral border of pronotum ( Fig. 43 ). It is separated from M. porselinus new species by its rather narrower and less convex pronotum. Habitat and distribution . The range of the species is restricted to an area located within the Fynbos Biome and characterised by Renosterveld vegetation types in the Western Cape Province ( Fig. 2 ). These habitats are represented as one of the most threatened areas due to the intensive cultivation and removal of indigenous plants ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006 ), which in turn might threaten the associated fauna.