Elaphinis (E.) matatiele, Perissinotto, 2022

Perissinotto, Renzo, 2022, Review of the genera Elaphinis and Parelaphinis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) with description of three new species from South Africa, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (1), pp. 35-55 : 40-42

Elaphinis (Elaphinis) cinereonebulosa ( De Geer, 1778) ( Figs 10–18 , 20 )

Scarabaeus cinereonebulosus De Geer, 1778: 643 .

Cetonia cinereonebulosa : SർHö ඇHൾඋඋ (1817): 141; MൺർL ൾൺඒ (1838): 47; Bඎඋආൾංඌඍൾඋ (1842): 596.

Dolichostethus cinereo-nebulosa : SർHඈർH (1895): 108.

Atrichelaphinis cinereonebulosa : PඣඋංඇGඎൾඒ (1907): 346.

Elaphinis cinereonebulosa : PඣඋංඇGඎൾඒ (1908): 684; SർHൾඇKඅංඇG (1921): 303; SർHൾංඇ (1960): 98; Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ (1989): 22; Hඈඅආ & Mൺඋൺංඌ (1992): 176; Mൺඅൾർ & ŠටඉൾK (2017): 41; Bൾංඇ- Hඎඇൽඇൾඋ (2017): 86.

Cetonia cinerascens Fabricius, 1798: 130 : SർHö ඇHൾඋඋ (1817): 141; MൺർL ൾൺඒ (1838): 47.

Elaphinis cinerascens : Bඎඋආൾංඌඍൾඋ (1842):596; Kඋൺൺඍඓ (1898):220. Cetonia irregularis Olivier, 1789: 51 : SർHö ඇHൾඋඋ (1817): 142; Bඎඋආൾංඌඍൾඋ (1842): 596.

Type material. Scarabaeus cinereonebulosus : not traced.

Cetonia cinerascens : Lൾർඍඈඍඒඉൾ (designated by Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989): ʻCap. bon. sp. Paykul. Cetonia cinerascens F.ʼ ( ZMUC).

Cetonia irregularis : not traced.

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Eൺඌඍൾඋඇ Cൺඉൾ: 24 inds, Loerie, Jan 1960, South African Museum Expedition ( ISAM COL-A027389); 1 J, Grahamstown, 5 May 1992, [R Perissinotto & L Clennell] ( BMCS); ibidem, SE 3326 Be (Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989: 32); 1 J, Port Elizabeth, 18 Feb 1994 [drowned in swimming pool], P Webb ( BMCS); ibidem, SE 3325 Be (Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989: 32); 1 J, Baviaanskloof, 1 Dec 1995, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 2 JJ, ibidem, 24 Dec 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, ibidem, 24 Dec 1997, R. Viossat ( TGMF); 1 J, Commando Drift, 10 Dec 1995, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 3 JJ, Sam Knott NR, 21 Jan 1996, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 3 JJ, ibidem, 1 Apr 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, ibidem, 4 Apr 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, ibidem, 5 Apr 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 2 JJ, Somerset East, 16 Mar 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 2 inds, ibidem, (SANC-COLS-14629); 4 JJ 2 ♀♀, Winterberg, 11 Jan 1998, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( GBEG); 1 J, ibidem, 10 Jan 1998 ( GBEG); 2 JJ, Bedford, Huntley Glen farm, 17 Dec 1995, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 2 JJ, ibidem, 3 Mar 1996, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 3 JJ, ibidem, 25 Jan 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 3 JJ 1 ♀, ibidem, 16 Feb 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 2 JJ, ibidem, 17 Dec 1998, EL Pringle ( EPBS); 1 J, ibidem, 17 Dec 1997, EL Pringle ( EPBS); 1 J, ibidem, 6 Dec 2001, EL Pringle ( EPBS); 1 J, ibidem, 31 Dec 2016, EL Pringle ( EPBS); 1 ♀, ibidem, 11 Jan 2003, EL Pringle ( EPBS); 1 ♀, ibidem, 13 Jan 2005, EL Pringle ( EPBS); 1 J, Mountain Zebra NP, 15 Jan 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 2 JJ 1 ♀, Fort Brown, 19 Jan 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 ♀, ibidem, 27 Jan 97, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( RPGS); 1♀, ibidem, 23 Feb 1997, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, Addo Elephant NP, 27 Jan 97, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 16 JJ 2 ♀♀, Winterberge, 07 Dec 2002, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS, RPGS); 2 JJ 2 ♀♀, ibidem, 10 Jan 1998, P Stobbia ( TGMF); 1 J, Graaff- Reinet, 16 Dec 2004, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, Toorberg, 30 Dec 2007, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, Amsterdamhoek, 15 Feb 2014, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, Steytlerville, 18 Jun 2016, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J, Tarkastad, 16 Jan 2016, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 1 J 1 ♀, Willowmore, 8 Jan 2004, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( BMCS); 3 JJ 1 ♀, ibidem, S 33°14′28″ E 23°23′04″, 945 m, 4 Jan 2017, P Malec & P Šípek ( PMBC); 1 J, Olifantskop Pass, WGS 84 33°19′S, 25°57′E, 7-11 Feb 2003, R+H Fouqué ( PMBC); n J 1 ♀, Sarah Baartman District (Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality), 15 km NW of Willowmore, 900 m, 4 Jan 2017, J landing on large goat manure midden under Acacia bush, ♀ dug out from soil (Mൺඅൾർ & ŠටඉൾK 2017: 40); 4 inds, Wilgerskloof Farm, W of Sterkstroom, 19–27 Jan 2007, Pitfall-and-funnel trap, Bycatch of South African Reptile Conservation Assessment ( SARCA), M Burger & M Fabricius ( SANC- COLS-16011); n inds,Adelaide, SE 3226 Cb (Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989: 31); 1♀, Cradock, Dr.Martin ( ISAM COL-A027388); 1♀, Dunbrody, 1899, O’ Neil ( ISAM COL-A027384); 1 J, Pt. Elizabeth, 1889, Rous ( ISAM COL-A027385); 1♀, G/Tn [Grahamstown?] ( ISAM COL-A027382); 1 ind., Uitenhage C.C., 3325 CD, Ex C.N.B Coll. ( DNSM- 10413). Wൾඌඍൾඋඇ Cൺඉൾ: 1 J, Great Brak R., Mossel Bay, Feb1960, South African Museum Expedition ( ISAM COL-A027386); 3 JJ, Mossel Bay, 1910, G. French ( ISAM COL-A027383); n inds, George, SE 3322 Cd (Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989: 32); 1 J, Kleinmond, Jan 1905 ( ISAM COL-A027387); 2 ♀♀, Cap Bon Spei, Riversdale, 1889, Coll. Duvivier, E. cinereonebulosa det. Moser 1908 ( GBEG); 1 ind., ibidem, ( DNSM- 10414); 2 inds (damaged), De Hoop Vlei, 20 Meilen ostnordöstlich Bredasdorp, Loc. Nr. 108 (SർHൾංඇ 1960: 98); 1 J, Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve, Apr 2016 (J. Groenewald, pers. comm. & photo). Cൺඉൾ Pඋඈඏංඇർൾ [not resolved]: n inds., Brakkloof, SE 3326 Ba (Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989: 31); 1 J 1 ♀, C. Colony, 30 Jun 1881, Dunn ( ISAM COL-A027381); 1 J, Kap, Coll. H. Schein, München ( GBEG).

Remarks. This species is widely distributed in the Eastern and Western Cape, with habitat preference for semiarid environments ( Fig. 23 ). Although it has generally been regarded as rare (Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ 1989,

98; KඋංKKൾඇ (1984): 58; KඋൺඃඹටK (1998): 53.

Elaphinis (Micrelaphinis) : Mൺඋൺංඌ & Hඈඅආ (1989): 22; Hඈඅආ & Mൺඋൺංඌ (1992): 177; SൺKൺං & NൺGൺං (1998): 307; BൾංඇHඎඇൽඇൾඋ (2017): 88.

Included species. Elaphinis (M.) adspersula Gerstaecker, 1884 ; E. (M.) delagoensis Schoch, 1894 ; E. (M.) irrorata ( Fabricius, 1798) ; E. (M.) latecostata Boheman, 1857 ; E. (M.) pumila Boheman, 1857 .

Hඈඅආ & Mൺඋൺංඌ 1992, Mൺඅൾർ & ŠටඉൾK 2017), recent observations have actually shown that it can be locally abundant. Aggregations under trees with wide, shading canopy (e.g. Vachellia karroo , Papea capensis , Schotia afra ) can be observed immediately after major summer rainfalls across the Great Karoo region of the Eastern Cape ( Figs 20, 22 ; pers. obs.). Adults emerge from local accumulations of old cow, goat or sheep dung, where larvae grow and develop.As these large trees with extended canopy provide shade for a variety of livestock during hot summer days in the semiarid Karooid environment, high densities of dung accumulate under them and this attracts beetles like E. cinereonebulosa , occasionally in high numbers.

The species has never been found inside fruit-baited traps, or feeding on flowers or sap flows. Therefore, adults live for relatively short periods of time after emergence, fly over very short distances, generally just above the ground, and simply mate and lay eggs. Females ( Fig. 18 ) are seldom seen at the surface and males normally excavate the females partly out of the ground in order to mate. Petr Malec has attempted to reproduce the species in captivity through larval breeding, but has reported great difficulties in completing the cycle (Mൺඅൾർ & ŠíඉൾK 2017). Apparently, larvae were able to grow fast to 3 rd instar when fed a mixed substrate containing cow dung, followed by successful cocooning in sandy soil. However, inside the cocoon larvae underwent a very long pre-pupal dormancy, with no pupation occurring in some cases even after eight months and a high mortality rate recorded in general (Mൺඅൾർ & ŠටඉൾK 2017).

Figures

Figs 10–18. Elaphinis (E.) cinereonebulosa (De Geer, 1778). 10–17 – typical male; 18 – female. 10, 18 – dorsal habitus; 11 – ventral habitus; 12 – lateral habitus; 13 – clypeus; 14 – pygidium; 15 – parameres, dorsal view; 16 – parameres, lateral view; 17 – parameres, frontal view. Photographs: Lynette Clennell (10–17); Gerhard Beinhundner (18).

Figs 19–22. 19–20 – males of Elaphinis (E.) matatiele sp. nov. (19) and of E. (E.) cinereonebulosa (De Geer, 1778) (20) in their respective natural habitats at Matatiele and Willowmore. 21–22 – typical habitat of E. matatiele sp. nov. in the grassland of Mount Hargreaves, above the Eastern Cape town of Matatiele (21) and of E. cinereonebulosa in the highland grasslands of the Winterberge range of the Eastern Cape. Photographs: Lynette Clennell.

Fig. 23. Known distribution of Elaphinis (E.) cinereonebulosa (De Geer, 1778) and E. (E.) matatiele sp. nov. within South Africa, as well as outline of Wahlberg’s ʻCaffrariaʼ (black dotted frame) with position of estimated type locality of E. (M.) pumila Boheman, 1857 (map adapted from www.wikimedia.org).