Trichiina Fleming, 1821

Ricchiardi, Enrico, 2015, Description of a new monospecific genus of South African Trichiina, with a key to the related genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 159, pp. 1-6 : 2-3

Subtribe Trichiina Fleming, 1821

Discussion

This work is part of a series of studies aimed at identifying and clarifying the composition and morphological relations of the exceptionally diverse South African Trichiina . The phylogenetic relationships among the Trichiina of South Africa and those occurring in other parts of the continent are yet to be investigated and in need of further species descriptions and better definition of the genera. As a contribution to the understanding of the morphological relationship between the South African genera of Trichiina an updated dichotomic key is here proposed.

Preliminary key to South African Trichiina genera

1. Abdominal tergites not covered by elytra in dorsal view ................... Calometopus Blanchard, 1850

– Abdominal tergites covered by elytra in dorsal view ........................................................................ 2

2. Elytral lateral ridge near lateral margin absent.................................................................................. 3

– Elytral lateral ridge present on most of lateral margin ...................................................................... 4

3. Posterior pronotal corners widely rounded; mesosternal process present, but not visible in side view................................................................................... Myodermum Burmeister & Schaum, 1840

– Posterior pronotal corners rounded or angled; mesosternal process absent ......... Diploa Kolbe, 1892

4. First metatarsal segment longer than second ..................................................................................... 5

– First metatarsal segment approximately as long as second ............................................................... 8

5. Pronotum length> than 0.5 times elytral length; body large (length 20.3 mm, width 11.0 mm; glabrous, slightly shiny, black............................................................... Camapterus Ricchiardi, 2000

– Pronotum length <than 0.5 times elytral length; body smaller, orange-red, but female often black or dark brown......................................................................................................................................... 6

6. Clypeus as wide as long............................................................................... Campulipus Kirby, 1827

– Clypeus wider than long. Posterior pronotal margin not emarginate ................................................ 7

7. Pronotum covered with very scattered setae (even if locally dense); female with normal wings....... ................................................................................................... Stripsipher Gory & Percheron, 1833

– Pronotum covered with dense, long setae; male elytra light brown; female smaller, completely black or dark brown, brachypterous .......................................... Eriopeltastes Burmeister & Schaum, 1840

8. Metatibial apex modified ................................................................................................................... 9

– Metatibia apex unmodified .............................................................................................................. 10

9. Metatibial apex of male much longer than single metatibial spur; female metatibial apices truncate with two spurs.......................................................................................... Brachagenius Kraatz, 1890

– Metatibial apex slightly pronouced in males, truncate in females, with two spurs ............................. ...................................................................................................................... Elpidus Péringuey, 1907

10. Metafemura enlarged (maximum width larger than 0.5 its length); length of protarsal claws> 0.8 that of last tarsal segment ...................................................................... Pseudostegopterus gen. nov.

– Metafemora slender (width less than 0.25 its length); length of protarsal claws at least 0.7 that of last tarsal segment .................................................................... Stegopterus Burmeister & Schaum, 1840