Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) niemandi Deschodt and Davis

Deschodt, Christian M., Davis, Adrian L. V. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2015, Status changes, new synonymies, key and descriptions of seven new species in the subgenus Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) Balthasar 1965 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Zootaxa 3931 (4), pp. 505-527 : 509-510

Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) niemandi Deschodt and Davis

Figure 3, 6, 8

Diagnosis. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) niemandi is characterized by short black setae on the head and often punctate interstriae compared to brown setae on the head with interstriae that are smooth along their entire length in S. (S.) lucidulus . S. (S.) niemandi can be separated from Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) anderseni Waterhouse, 1890 by its larger size and black setae on the head compared to yellow setae on the head of S. (S.) anderseni . Punctation on the elytra of S. (S.) niemandi does not often open into the striae as in S. (S.) anderseni .

Description. Holotype: Body length 11.7 mm, metallic green. Pubescence dark brown to black. Antennae yellow.

Head: Frons punctate, each puncture with associated short, stocky black setae. Smooth, puncture free midlongitudinal area. Clypeus punctate with short stocky black setae.

Pronotum: Metallic green, punctate, space between punctures smooth, punctures separated by less than one puncture diameter, punctures with short stocky black associated setae. Longitudinal smooth area not extending to anterior edge of pronotum. Lateral margins curved, crenulate.

Elytra: Metallic green, lateral sides more or less parallel. Striae shallow with regular small punctures separated by less than two puncture diameters; punctures extending into margins of interstriae. Interstriae shiny with irregular punctures.

Pygidium: Emarginate and densely punctate, punctures small.

Metasternum: Long thin fovea between the mesocoxae, distally wider, with a shorter fovea more distally. Metasternal elevation ending with rounded angle and gradually sloping toward mesosternum. Area behind mesocoxae densely punctate, punctures small.

Abdominal sternites: Each sternite with row of punctures and associated dark setae anteriorly.

Legs: Anterior femora shallowly punctate ventrally with black setae. Outside margin of anterior tibiae bearing small saw-like teeth proximally and four outward pointing teeth distally, each separated by six to eight saw-like denticles. Inside margin crenulate. Meso- and metafemora with median row of punctures and long fine dark brown setae. Inside margin of mesotibiae smooth with row of black setae, outside margin with two brushes of dark brown setae in distal third. Vestigial second mesotibial spur present. Metatibiae with black setae. All tarsomeres of metatarsi with black setae, last tarsomere longest with claws half its length.

Aedeagus: see Figure 6.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Lukas Niemand who collected most of the type series of this species.

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, Soutpansberg, Limpopo, S22.87561 ºE29.73128º, 3–4.ii.2009, L. J. Niemand, TMSA. Paratypes: 5 specimens, unsexed, same data as holotype. 2 UPSA, 1 TMSA, 2 SANC. 1 specimen, unsexed, S.Afr.; Limpopo Prov., Mabote farm, 24[º].07[’] S 28[º]. 39[’] E, 14.11.2009, leg.Ruth Müller, TMSA.