Neosisyphus spinipes ( 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 : 49-50

Neosisyphus spinipes ( Thunberg, 1818) ( Figs. 20 , 21C )

Montreuil 2015b: 9

Ateuchus spinipes Thunberg, 1818

Thunberg, 1818: 411

Sisyphus spinipes ( Thunberg, 1818)

Boheman, 1857: 190; Harold 1869: 985; Péringuey 1901: 100; Gillet 1911: 24; Arrow 1927: 458; Haaf 1955: 368; Ferreira 1972: 811;

Sisyphus hessii Gory, 1833

Gory 1833: 8; Klug, 1855: 651; Boheman, 1857: 190; Harold 1869: 985; Péringuey 1901: 100; Gillet 1911: 24; Arrow 1927: 458; Haaf 1955: 368; Ferreira 1972: 811; Sisyphus atratus Klug, 1855

Klug 1855: 651; Boheman, 1857: 190; Harold 1869: 985; Péringuey 1901: 100; Gillet 1911: 24; Arrow 1927: 458; Haaf 1955: 368; Ferreira 1972: 811;

Sisyphus appendiculatus Boheman, 1857

Boheman 1857: 190; Harold 1869: 985; Péringuey 1901: 100; Gillet 1911: 24; Arrow 1927: 458; Haaf 1955: 368; Ferreira 1972: 811; Montreuil 2015b: 9.

Type locality: South Africa

Size: Male: length: 10.4–8.0 mm; width: 4.7–3.0 mm. Female: length: 10.7– 8.4 mm; width: 4.7–4.0 mm.

Diagnosis: N. spinipes is close in appearance to N. infuscatus . Both bear projecting spines mid-posteriorly on the metafemur in males. However, in N. spinipes the spine is obtuse rather than acute. N. spinipes also bears a distinct triangular projection on the basal posterior edge of the mesotibia and the apex of the parameres is simple ( Fig. 21C ).

Examined type material

Ateuchus spinipes Thunberg, 1818 : Lectotype (designated here): (♂ UUZM), /Thunberg, sam nr.2744, Ateuchus spinipes (= Neosisyphus spinipes Thunb. ), Cap. TYP/, / Lectotype, det. GM Daniel, 2016).

Sisyphus appendiculatus Boheman, 1857 : (1♀ NHRS): /Caffraria/; /J. Wahlb/; / Typus /; / appendiculatus Bohem /; / Sisyphus appendic = spinipes Thunb. , det. E. Haaf, 1954/; /NHRS_JLKB: 000025219.

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: N. spinipes is associated with upland or lowland moist grassland ( Davis et al. 2002b; Davis et al. 1999). It is a widespread species, recorded from east to southern Africa ( Fig. 22 ).

Figures

Fig. 20. Images of the habitus of the spinipes species-group: A. N. fortuitus, arrow indicating the main diagnostic feature of the species-group; B. N. infuscatus; C. N. spinipes.

Fig. 21. Images for the the aedeagi of the spinipes species-group: A. N. fortuitus; B. N. infuscatus; C. N. spinipes.

Fig. 22. Distribution map for the spinipes species-group.