Beckhoplia nigrofasciata Dombrow 2020, new species
Creators: name: Dombrow, Holger E.
name: Colville, Jonathan F.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Melolonthidae
Beckhoplia
Beckhoplia nigrofasciata

description: Beckhoplia nigrofasciata Dombrow, new species
(Figs. 46, 50, 76–77, 107)
http://zoobank.org/ 3C324320-AB78-4D58-872C-649569AFBFFD
Type locality. [RSA, NC]: 5 km E Nieuwoudtville.
Type material. [11] Holotype ♂: yellow label hw «50» pr «448 | coll. Dombrow» || white label pr «AFRICA: Republic of South Africa | Northern Cape, Nieuwoudtville | 5 km E, 31°17’39’’S– 19°08’08’’E | 27.8.2012, lg. J. Colville / A. Melin» || green label pr «Host plant: | Didelta spinosa » || blue label pr «Bioregion: | Sandstone Fynbos | Vegetation Type: FFs1 – | Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071225» || red label pr « Holotype | Beckhoplia | nigrofasciata sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC). - Paratypes 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀: same labels as holotype, but || yellow label hw «50» pr «.449–.457 | coll. Dombrow» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | nigrofasciata sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (ESDW); 1 ♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «50» pr «.458 | coll. Dombrow» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071225» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | nigrofasciata sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC).
Condition of holotype. Very good. Glued on card. Dissected, parameres and spiculum gastrale glued behind beetle.
Differential diagnosis. Differs from B. caliginosa: Posterior corner of pronotum of B. nigrofasciata angled. Posterior corner of pronotum of B. caliginosa rounded. Elytra of B. nigrofasciata longitudinally uni-costae. Elytra of B. caliginosa longitudinally bi-costae. Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. nigrofasciata convex in dorsal view (Figs. 76, 107). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. caliginosa undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 78, 108).
Description
Measurements: length 7.8–8.1 mm; width 3.9–4.0 mm.
Integument: Black; elytra transparently pale-brown, outer margins blackened.
Tegument: Clypeus bare; loose setose with short, erect, pale-brown to black setae on the inner side of the reflexed anterior and lateral margins. Head loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, black setae. Eye canthus with a dense setose ciliary of long, black setae. Scapus loose setose with medium-long, black setae, brown ventrally, sparser and shorter on pedicellus; funiculum with few very short, semi-erect, black setae, sparse and brown on clavus. Pronotum loose setose with long, erect, black setae; with a loose setose ciliary of long, black, setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, semi-erect, brown setae. Elytra with pattern. Sparse setose with short, reclinate and semi-erect, black setae; long, erect, black setae interspersed, denser towards humerus and lateral margin; with a loose juxta-sutural row of long, erect, black setae from anterior margin crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus; with two sparse to loose shortened longitudinal squamose stripes of reclinate, narrowly-lanceolate, white scales; a sutural stripe in posterior quarter; a very short juxta-sutural stripe behind middle; a stripe around apical torus. Suture with a loose row of robust, short to long erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, black hairs. Ventrite I–V loose setose with short, reclinate, white and black setae; medium-long and long semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Propygidium sparse squamose with reclinate, narrowlylanceolate, whitish scales; long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Pygidium sparse setose with long, erect, black setae; short, semi-erect, black setae interspersed; tip with a sparse ciliary of long, black, setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, black hairs; bare internally. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, black setae, medium-long ventrally; short, semi-erect, white setae interspersed dorsally; with a sparse setose longitudinal row of short and medium-long, erect, black setae dorsally; a loose setose ciliary of short, black setae on internal ridge; a setaceous ciliary of short, brown setae on anterior margin, more robust towards internal ridge; a medium-long downwards pointing setose ciliary of brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long, black hairs; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia loose setose with short semi-erect, whitish setae, sparser internally; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed, long and finer internally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of very short and short, red-brown bristles; lengthening dorsally and ventrally; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, black setae; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with very short and short reclinate, brown setae; long, robust, semi-erect, black setae interspersed, finer internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of short, black bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally, more robust ventrally. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs sparse setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; with a setaceous, apical, marginal ciliary of medium-long, black setae, lengthening towards metathoracic tarsomeres, fine dorsally and more robust ventrally. Pretarsomere of all thoracic legs sparse setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae, lengthening towards metathoracic pretarsomere; few, long, semi-erect, black setae at apical margin, shorter and red-brown ventrally.
Head: Suture between head and clypeus missing. Head dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish, not merging punctures. Funicle I–II cylindrical; funicle III asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus elliptic, slightly longer than pedicellus and funiculum combined.
Pronotum: Widest medially; loose punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures. Anterior corner obtuse. Lateral margin linearly attenuate anteriorly and posteriorly. With an indistinct, shallow, complete medial furrow. Posterior corner angled.
Scutellum: Parabola-shaped; as broad as long; dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctate within; with a shortened, median, longitudinal, narrow, smooth stripe from anterior margin terminating in anterior third. Lateral margin slightly convex. Tip rounded.
Elytra: Ovate; longer than broad; widest medially; protruding propygidium. Lateral margin slightly convex attenuate apically. Sculpture indistinct; slightly pulvinate laterally; humerus indistinct; with a broad roundish torus around scutellum; lateral trench missing; complanate beside scutellum and along suture. Loose punctate with extremely small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between; a sparse juxta-sutural row of very small, shallow, roundish punctures from anterior margin, crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus; a sparse supra-humeral row of very small, shallow, roundish punctures from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus towards apical torus.
Abdomen: Ventrite I extremely shortened medially; ventrite V not constricted ventrally. Propygidium with a slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium distinctly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin slightly convex; lateral margin subparallel in upper fifth, linearly attenuate apically; tip rounded.
Prothoracic leg: Femur and tibia slender. Tibia smooth ventrally. Median tooth elongate. Basal tooth very small. Interspace between teeth almost equal. Shape of interspace between teeth concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined very short; equal in length; slightly more than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Tarsomere IV with a single ventral extension. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with a small, triangular-shaped, median teeth ventrally, followed by a roundish cutting apically; slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly less than 1 / 10 more in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia 3 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; slightly more than 2 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere with a shortened smooth ridge ventrally followed by a roundish cutting apically; slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Tibia 9 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with an undulate ridge ventrally; slightly more than 2 / 5 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slightly more than 1 / 5 more in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of external claw.
Parameres: (Figs. 76–77, 107).
♀♀. Measurements: length 7.9–8.7 mm; width 4.0– 4.9 mm.
Integument: Black; flagellum brown; elytra transparently pale-brown, lateral margins blackened; thoracic legs dark brown, metathoracic tibia and thoracic tarsi paler.
Tegument: Clypeus sparse setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae, long, denser and erect on head. Eye canthus with a loose ciliary of long, black setae. Scapus with loose setose with long, brown setae, paler ventrally, very short and pale-brown on pedicellus; funiculum with few extremely short, semi-erect, pale-brown setae, sparse and very short on clavus. Pronotum without pattern. Loose setose with long, erect, brown setae, short towards posterior margin; loose, short, semi-erect, yellowish-white setae in posterior half of medial furrow; with a loose setose ciliary of long brown setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short, semi-erect, pale-brown and whitish setae. Elytra with pattern. Sparse setose with short, reclinate and semi-erect, brown setae; long, erect, black setae interspersed; with three longitudinal, sparse to loose setose bands of short, reclinate, yellowish-white setae: a sutural band from anterior margin to posterior margin; a juxta-sutural band from middle, terminating in apical quarter; a lateral band from beside humerus around apical torus, sometimes shortened anteriorly. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, pale-brown hairs. Ventrite I–V loose setose with short, reclinate, yellowish setae; medium-long, semi-erect, brown setae interspersed. Propygidium and pygidium loose setose with short, reclinate, yellowish setae; medium-long, semi-erect, pale-brown setae interspersed; tip of pygidium with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long, brown setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, pale-brown hairs. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; medium-long ventrally; a loose setose ciliary of short, pale-brown setae on internal ridge; anterior margin with a setaceous ciliary of loose short pale-brown setae; a medium-long downwards pointing ciliary of pale-brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long, brown hairs; yellowish ventrally; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, reclinate, yellowish setae; sparser internally; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, brown setae interspersed, long and finer internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with long, semi-erect, brown and yellowish setae; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, reclinate, pale-brown setae; long and robust, semi-erect, dark brown and red brown setae interspersed, denser and finer internally. Ciliary of posterior margin as in male but pale-brown. Setae of thoracic tarsi red-brown.
Head: Clypeus very slightly depressed laterally; dense punctate with large, shallow, roundish punctures. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly reflexed vertically. Lateral margin very slightly reflexed. Suture between head and clypeus undulate, crenated. Head dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish. Eye below head level. Funicle III short asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus short elliptic, as long as pedicellus and funiculum combined.
Pronotum: Moderate pulvinate laterally; dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures, denser in posterior third of medial furrow. Lateral margin convex. Posterior corner rounded.
Scutellum: Dense punctate with very small and small, deep, roundish punctures; without smooth stripe.
Elytra: Lateral trench indistinct. Size of punctures of juxta-sutural row small.
Abdomen: Distinctly pulvinate; ventrite II–IV not shortened medially; ventrite V broadest, broadened medially. Propygidium with an indistinct stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium slightly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; slightly declined posteriorly; lateral margin subparallel in upper fifth, linearly attenuate apically; tip linear.
Prothoracic leg: Femur robust. Median tooth of tibia broad triangular-shaped. Interspace between anterior and median tooth double in width than between median and basal tooth. Tarsomere I–IV combined 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Tarsomere IV without ventral extension. Pretarsomere slender; smooth ventrally, roundish cutting missing; slightly more than 3 / 5 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slender; not broadened medially; slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined very short; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender; roundish cutting missing; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of 1tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slender; not broadened medially; slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 9 /
10 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Femur slightly thickened. Tibia slightly extended dorso-apically; slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined short; slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender. External claw slightly less than 1 / 10 more in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of external claw.
Distribution. Northern Cape Province (Fig.. 140), only known from the type locality.
Vegetation Type. Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos (FFs 1).
Host Plants. Asteraceae: Didelta spinosa (L. f.) W. T. Aiton.
Etymology. The name derives from the black band on the outer margins [Latin: nigr- = black; Latin: fasciat- = banded]
description: Published as part of Dombrow, Holger E. & Colville, Jonathan F., 2020, Review of the genus Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 with the description of fifteen new species from South Africa and observations on its biogeography (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Hopliini), pp. 1-79 in Zootaxa 4823 on pages 38-40, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4823.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4401916