Epirinus jacobsae Deschodt & Davis, 2019

Deschodt, Christian M., Davis, Adrian L. V. & Daniel, Gimo M., 2019, The endemic Southern African genus Epirinus Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) revisited: five new species and two new synonyms, Zootaxa 4603 (2), pp. 327-340 : 328-330

Epirinus jacobsae Deschodt & Davis , new species

Figs. 1E , 3A , 5 .

Type material: Holotype. Dissected male: Mapelane, Pig dung. | -28°24'30.18" 32°25'13.83" | 16-18.x.2011 Deschodt ( TMSA) . Paratypes. 5 females, same data as holotype, 2 TMSA, 2 UPSA, 1 SANC .

Description of holotype, male. Body: 4.1 x 2.3 mm (length with head extended x maximum width) Head: Clypeal teeth prominent, pointing upwards with a pair of setae at base of each tooth; no distinct median indentation; very small notch on lateral margin where genal suture terminates; frontal suture clearly effaced medially; clypeal surface densely punctate, with associated setae; eyes narrowing posteriorly.

Pronotum: Surface densely punctate with round punctures associated with recurved setae; medial depression distinct with no median longitudinal line and no lateral foveae.

Elytra: Striae distinct, with large, round punctures; interstriae shiny and smooth; first and seventh interstriae with one row of setae, all other interstriae (up to the eighth) with two well-defined rows of setae (some setae abraded); setae golden brown with recurved points; elytral margin raised for apical two thirds; apical tubercles absent.

Pygidium: With two large tubercles on surface.

Venter: Hypomeral carina reaching anterior pronotal margin; ventrites fairly rugose with single row of punctures, setae fine; metaventrite punctures small, separated by approximately 2x their diameter.

Male genitalia: Asymmetrical ( Fig. 3A ).

Etymology: This species is named after Carmen Jacobs who tirelessly administered the bureaucracy of the Scarab Research Group.

Diagnosis: In appearance, this species is very similar to E. davisi . However, E. jacobsae new species can be readily separated by its smaller metaventrite punctures that are further apart.

Remarks: Males with slightly more sinuous hind legs than females.

Distribution, ecology, conservation status, and potential threats: Epirinus jacobsae new species is the first flightless Epirinus recorded from Northern Coastal Forest as defined by Mucina and Rutherford (2006). This forest type is categorised as “least threatened in general” and “well protected” within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006). However, it is uncertain if E. jacobsae new species occurs to the north of the type locality in Maphelane Nature Reserve, which is isolated from the much larger northern part of the iSimangaliso park by the Umfolozi River and St Lucia Estuary. Epirinus jacobsae new species is currently only known from Maphelane, which lies at the northernmost extent of the single forest patch bordered to the south by the Sokhulu State Forest (S 28.50° E 32.40°). No specimens were recorded during two previous extensive sampling efforts ( Davis et al. 2003, 2013) in Sokhulu State Forest. Should E. jacobsae new species occur in Sokhulu, it is noteworthy that mining for Titanium-bearing sands within the state forest are projected to continue northwards terminating just to the south of Maphelane. This will reduce the potential habitat for E. jacobsae new species from 4300 hectares (Ha) to about 800 Ha (area sizes from Mucina & Rutherford 2006). The mining company is actively engaged in the rehabilitation of the forest ( van Aarde et al. 1996). However, Davis et al. (2003) noted that another flightless dung beetle species, Gyronotus carinatus Felsche, 1911 , is notably absent from formerly disturbed forest patches whereas it is still present in the relatively undisturbed Sokhulu Forest Reserve. The reason for this absence is unclear but could be due to unsuitability of habitat, disturbance, or isolation from the relatively undisturbed dune forest at Sokhulu. We believe that it would be even more difficult for the much smaller E. jacobsae new species to colonize any of the rehabilitated habitat.

According to the IUCN red list categories, E. jacobsae new species should be classified as endangered B2ab (iii). See IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2012) for an explanation of the criteria.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus, dorsal view. A, Epirinus muellerae Deschodt & Davis, new species, B, Epirinus inparrugosus Deschodt & Davis, new species, C, Epirinus pseudorelictus Deschodt & Davis, new species, D, Epirinus schoolmeestersi Deschodt & Davis, new species and E, Epirinus jacobsae Deschodt & Davis, new species.

FIGURE 3. Aedeagus, dorsal and lateral views. A, Epirinus jacobsi Deschodt & Davis, new species; B, Epirinus schoolmeestersi Deschodt & Davis, new species; C, Epirinus muellerae Deschodt & Davis, new species; D, Epirinus pseudorelictus Deschodt & Davis, new species. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. The collecting localities for the new species described in this paper. Epirinus jacobsae Deschodt & Davis, new species (Δ), Epirinus inparrugosus Deschodt & Davis, new species (-), Epirinus pseudorelictus Deschodt & Davis, new species (•), Epirinus muellerae Deschodt & Davis, new species (Ɨ) and Epirinus schoolmeestersi Deschodt & Davis, new species (*). The updated known distribution of Epirinus davisi (•), with the type locality of its junior synonyms, Epirinus hluhluwensis (at Hluhluwe Game Reserve) and Epirinus ngomae (at Ngome Forest), highlighted. Two specimens of probable undescribed species with affinities to Epirinus pygidialus Scholtz & Howden, 1987, are shown as Ɨ.