Sisyphus costatus ( Thunberg, 1818 )

Daniel, Gimo M., Davis, Adrian Lv., Sole, Catherine L. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2020, Taxonomic review of the tribe Sisyphini sensu stricto Mulsant, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in southern Africa, including new species descriptions, Insect Systematics & Evolution 51 (1), pp. 1-61 : 29-30

Sisyphus costatus ( Thunberg, 1818) ( Figs. 11 , 12B ).

Peringuéy 1901:100; Gillet 1912:22; Arrow 1927:458; Haaf 1955:355–6; Ferreira 1972: 794–5; Harold 1869:984

Ateuchus costatus Thunberg, 1818

Thunberg 1818:412

Size: Male: length: 5.3– 4.8 mm, width: 3.0–2.0 mm. Female: length: 5.3– 4.2 mm, width: 2.6– 2 mm.

Type locality: (Cape of Good Hope) South Africa

Diagnosis: S. costatus is close in appearance to S. australis sp. n. In both species, the elytral interstriae bear alternating rows of well-developed or less-developed setae ( Fig. 11F ). However, S. costatus is distinguished by an upcurved anterior clypeal edge and a concavity between the medial clypeal teeth. In addition, it lacks a carina between the clypeus and the frons ( Fig. 11G ).

Examined type material

(1♀ SMNH) Lectotype (designated here): Red label / Uppsala University Zoology Museum ; Thunberg, saml.nr. 3206., Ateuchus costatus, Cap. minutus. F. TYP/ / Lectotype, det. GM Daniel, 2016 /.

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: S. costatus has been recorded in moist upland savanna and highland grassland ( Davis et al. 1999, Davis et al. 2005) from the Eastern Cape to the north of South Africa ( Fig. 13 ).

Remarks: The species was described by Thunberg (1818) as Ateuchus costatus . Gillet (1912) transferred Thunberg’s species to the genus Sisyphus .

Figures

Fig. 11. Images of the habitus of the costatus species-group: A. S. impressipennis; B. S. costatus; C. S. gazanus; D. S. inconspicuus sp. n; E. S. australis sp. n. F. elytra composed of alternate rows of well and less-developed setae, normally seen in S. costatus and S. australis sp. n. G. Head of S. costatus shows a concavity between the medial teeth on the anterior edge of the clypeus. H. Head of S. australis sp. n shows a straight margin between the medial teeth on the anterior edge of the clypeus; there are defined carinae on the clypeo-frontal suture, and scattered punctation on the vertex. I. Frons of S. inconspicuus sp. n without clear punctation. J. S. gazanus: bearing vertex and frons densely and fully punctate.

Fig. 12. Images of the aedeagi of the costatus species-group: A. S. impressipennis; B. S. costatus; C. S. gazanus; D. S. inconspicuus sp. n; E. S. australis sp. n.

Fig. 13. Distribution map for the costatus species-group.