Sisyphus neobornemisszanus Daniel & Davis

Daniel, Gimo M., Davis, Adrian Lv. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2016, Three new Sisyphus species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from shaded vegetation in southern Africa, Zootaxa 4147 (1), pp. 67-74 : 71-73

Sisyphus neobornemisszanus Daniel & Davis sp. nov.

( Fig. 3a )

Sisyphus bornemisszanus Endrödi, 1983 (pars)

Diagnosis. This species is close to Sisyphus muricatus (Olivier, 1789) and Sisyphus fasciculatus Boheman, 1857 . Like S. neobornemisszanus , S. muricatus also has tufts of setae only on the elytra with uniformly distributed setae on the pronotum. However, the carinae on the head of S. muricatus are mostly more developed with deeper and very strong lateral emargination on the pronotum. S. fasciculatus is easily distinguished from S. neobornemisszanus sp. nov. by bearing black tufts of setae on both the pronotum and elytra ( Fig. 3 b).

Description. Size: Male: Length: 7.6–9.7 mm, width: 4.6–5.6 mm; Female: Length: 8.0– 10 mm, width 4.4– 5.62 mm.

Colour: Black, opaque; except mouth parts, and tarsi which are reddish brown; Antennal club dark gray or dark brown.

Head: Apex of clypeus broadly and deeply emarginate, bordered by two acute medial teeth and two more obtuse lateral teeth, genae angular anteriorly and curved laterally, surface of clypeus pubescent and finely punctate.

Pronotum: Convex with dense cover of setae, much broader than long, lateral edges curved anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly, complete lateral prothoracic ridge separating prothoracic disc and prothoracic episternum.

Elytra: narrowed posteriorly, interstriae 1, 3, 5, and 7 with rows of black setae arranged in tufts, interstriae 2, 4, and 6 with sparsely arranged single setae, a rudimentary row of setae along outer margin of abdominal pleurae.

Pygidium: V-shaped, with indistinct rows of brown setae and ocellate punctation.

Sternites: Six visible abdominal sternites with setae and ocellate punctures; meso- and metasternum black, shiny and pubescent with ocellate punctation; meso-metasternal suture clearly visible.

Legs: Profemur punctate ventrally and setose laterally; meso- and metafemur pubescent with ocellate punctation; mesotrochanter short and contiguous with femur; metatrochanter finely punctate, slightly angular and projected away from femur; Protibia with three teeth and a single terminal spurs; meso- and metatibia serrated, setose with two terminal spurs; pro- meso- and metatarsus five segmented with two claws; the first tarsal segment of the meso- and meta-thoracic legs with a row of strong setae on the ventral edge.

Aedeagus: Phallobase slightly curved dorsally as is common in the genus Sisyphus ; parameres symmetrical, short, triangular, separated by membranous area dorsally, sides almost straight and slightly impressed above ( Fig. 3 c).

Sexual dimorphism. Female: Lateral carina of pronotum somewhat stronger and more curved than in male; protibial teeth longer; meta- and mesotibia almost straight; last visible abdominal sternite not constricted medially. Male: Protibial teeth strong and short with rudimentary lateral setae; meta- and mesotibia curved; last abdominal sternite narrowed medially.

Etymology. Species named as S. neobornemisszanus , because the designated holotype was in the mixed type series of S. bornemisszanus .

Examined material. (♂ TMSA) Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand , St. Lucia 28[◦] 13[’] 12[’’] S; 32[◦] 15[’] 00[’’] E, 7.xii.1975, leg: Endrody-Younga . Paratypes: (1♀ TMSA) SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand, Mission Rock , 28[◦] 15[’] 36[’’] S; 32[◦] 17[’] 24[’’] E , 7.xii.1975, legs: Endrody-Younga. (2♂ TMSA) SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand , St. Lucia 28[◦] 13[’] 12[’’] S; 32[◦] 15[’] 00[’’] E, 28.viii.1971. leg. GF. Bornemissza. (2♂ TMSA) SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand , St. Lucia, Estuary. 28.viii.1971, leg: GF. Bornemissza. (15♂, 13♀ TMSA) SOUTH AFRICA, Zululand, Sodwana Bay , 5km, 27[◦] 21[’] 0[’’] S; 32[◦] 23[’] 24[’’] E , 2.xi.1992, leg. Endrody-Younga. (1♀ UPSA) SOUTH AFRICA, KZN. Richard’s Bay , 28[◦] 37[’] 39[’’] S, 32[◦] 17[’] 24[’’] E , 27.i.2000, leg: Davis & Delport. (2♀, 6♂ UPSA) SOUTH AFRICA, KZN. Richard’s Bay , 28[◦] 43[’] 28.5[’’] S; 32[◦] 10[’] 52[’’] E , 27.i.2000, leg: Davis & Delport. (5♀, 2♂ UPSA) SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Sileza Nature Reserve 27[◦] 06[’] S; 32[◦] 36[’] E , 03.iv.1996, leg: Van Resnburg. (1♀ UPSA) SOUTH AFRICA, KZN, Sodwana , 27[◦] 32[’] S; 32[◦] 41[’] E , 07.iv.1989, leg: Mansfield. (2♀, 5♂ UPSA) MOZAMBIQUE, Maputo, Elephant Maputo Reserve, 26[◦] 22[’] 30[’’] S; 33[◦] 47[’] 50[’’] E , 14-16.i.2003, leg: Scholtz & Holter. (2♀ UPSA) MOZAMBIQUE, Maputo, Elephant Maputo Reserve, 26[◦] 39[’] S; 32[◦] 43[’] E , 10-16.xi.2007, pitfall trap, leg: Strumpher & Deschodt. (1♂ TMSA) MOÇAMBIQUE , Inhambane, Inharrime, 24[◦] 28[’] 37[’’] S; 35[◦] 01[’] 49[’’], 1974, leg: Moor. (1♂ TMSA) MOÇAMBIQUE , Inhambane, Pomene 22[◦] 35[’] 24[’’] S; 35[◦] 21[’] 00[’’], 2.v.1974, leg. A. Strydom .

Habitat. This species has been recorded in KwaZulu-Natal Province (South Africa) as well as Maputo and Inhambane Provinces ( Mozambique), although records from Pomene suggest a wider distribution northwards along the Mozambique coastline (25.11 S; 33.73 E). In Maputaland, it is found within coastal sand and dune forests where the canopy is closed and the floor is open.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. S. neobornessmizanus sp. nov. habitus. Diagnostic features: B. Tufts of setae on elytra. C. Aedeagus.