Neosisyphus barbarossa ( Wiedemann, 1823 )

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 : 42-44

Neosisyphus barbarossa ( Wiedemann, 1823) ( Figs. 17 , 18A )

Montreuil 2015b:16

Sisyphus barbarossa Wiedemann, 1823

Wiedemann 1823:23; Harold 1869:984, Péringuey 1901: 100; Gillet 1911:38; Arrow 1927: 464; Haaf 1955: 368; Ferreira 1972: 829

Sisyphus rugosus Gory, 1833

Gory 1833:12

Type locality: Cape of Good Hope ( South Africa)

Size: Male: length: 10.2–8.0 mm; width: 4.5–4.0 mm; Female: length: 10.0–7.5; width: 4.5–3.0

Diagnosis: N. barbarossa resembles N. calcaratus but differs by having brown setae on the elytra. Furthermore, the projection of the metatrochanter is shorter even though major males of N. barbarossa are larger than those of N. calcaratus .

Examined type material

Lectotype (designated here): (♀ NHMD): /Mus. Western/, red label, /Type/, Cap. bon. Sp., febr.1817, barbarossa Wied /. / Lectotype, det. GM Daniel, 2016 /.

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: N. barbarossa is considered to be endemic to moist highland grassland and southern coastal uplands in South Africa ( Fig. 19 ). This contrasts with distribution records sourced from Montreuil (2015b).

Remarks: There is no collection locality for the individual in the habitus photograph of “ N. barbarossa ” provided by Montreuil (2015b). Although it resembles the photograph of N. barbarossa provided in Fig. 17A , most of the distribution data in Montreuil (2015b) is at odds with that cited, here, from cool areas of the Cape type locality and highlands of South Africa (see Supplementary information). Therefore, on the basis of

restriction to cooler regions, it would be justified to dispute Montreuil’s interpretation of the species distribution as extending into warmer savanna regions.

Figures

Fig. 17. Images of the habitus of the barbarossa species-group: A. N. barabrossa; B. N. calcaratus; C. N. tembyi sp. n, arrow showing a diagnostic feature for the new species; D. N. setiger.

Fig. 18. Images of the aedeagi of the barbarossa species-group: A. N. barabrossa; B. N. calcaratus; C. N. tembyi sp. n; D. N. setiger.

Fig. 19. Distribution map for the barbarossa species-group.