Ab) Hycleus tripunctatus species group

Hycleus tripunctatus (Thunberg, 1791) comb. n. (Fig. 3P)

Meloe tripunctata Thunberg, 1791

Types. Types of this species were not examined.

Distribution. Southern Namibia (new species record for this country) and western South Africa.

Material examined and literature records. [Karas] Karasburg: 3 km S of Warmbad, 28.4833°S 18.7667°E (SMWN).

Remarks. This species is well distinct by its mesosternum, anteriorly more elevated and with a clear prominent line which divides this narrow area, but without forming a clear “scutum”. Actually, this structure of mesosternum appears intermediate between that of the lineages Mesogorbatus and Mesotaeniatus. A such mesosternum is common to H. coecus (Thunberg, 1791) and H. connexus (Marsel, 1872) (see Pardo Alcaide 1963), both from South Africa, but in these two species there is a tuft of very long setae on the posterior margin of the elevated fore area, lacking in H. tripunctatus . Relationships among these three species need to be tested molecularly.