Beckhoplia gifbergensis 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 gifbergensis

description: Beckhoplia gifbergensis Dombrow, new species
(Figs. 43, 82–83, 110)
http://zoobank.org/ 3A279973-E69B-4F02-B0F9-C287FEB5CD93
Type locality. [RSA, WCP]: Vanrhynsdorp Rd. to Gifberg.
Type material. [7] Holotype ♂: white label pr «AFRICA: Republic of South Africa | Western Cape, Vanrhynsdorp | Road to Gifberg | 31°38ꞌ53ꞌꞌS–18°44ꞌ10ꞌꞌS | Host plant: Berkheya spinosa » | 29.08.2011, leg.: J.F. Colville » || blue label pr « Bioregion: | Knersvlakte | Vegetation Type: SKk5 – | Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld » || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071222» || red label pr « Holotype | Beckhoplia gifbergensis sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC). – Paratypes 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «37» pr «.563–.569 | coll. Dombrow» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia gifbergensis sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (ESDW).
Condition of holotype. Very good. Pinned. Dissected, parameres glued on separate card below beetle. Right mesothoracic leg removed for genetic analysis.
Differential diagnosis. Differs from B. pumilla: Pronotum of B. gifbergensis widest medially. Pronotum of B. pumilla widest in anterior two fifth. Elytra of B. gifbergensis transparently pale-brown. Elytra of B. pumilla yellowish pale-brown. Elytra of B. gifbergensis covering propygidium. Elytra of B. pumilla protruding propygidium. Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. gifbergensis slightly convex in dorsal view (Figs. 82, 110). Externoposterior margin of parameres of B. pumilla undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 80, 109). Anterior margin of phallobase of B. gifbergensis concave in dorsal view (Figs. 82, 110). Anterior margin of phallobase of B. pumilla deep v-shaped incised in dorsal view (Figs. 80, 109).
Description
Measurements: length 6.6–7.1 mm; width 3.4–3.6 mm.
Integument: Black, slightly lustrous; elytra transparently pale-brown, lateral and posterior margin broadly blackened.
Tegument: Clypeus bare; sparse setose with short, erect, black setae on the inner side of the reflexed anterior and lateral margins. Head sparse setose with erect, short, pale-brown and medium-long black setae. Eye canthus with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long, black setae. Scapus loose setose with medium-long, black setae, palebrown ventrally, sparser and short on pedicellus; funicle I–II bare, funicle III–IV and clavus sparse setose with short, semi-erect, pale-brown and dark-brown setae. Pronotum loose setose with erect, short, whitish and long brown setae; with a loose setose ciliary of long, black setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and mediumlong, semi-erect, brown setae. Elytra with pattern. Sparse setose with short, reclinate, black setae, denser laterally; medium-long, erect, brown setae interspersed in anterior third; a sparse juxta-sutural row of short, semi-erect, black setae from anterior margin crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus; with three shortened, loose, longitudinal, squamose stripes of reclinate, narrowly-lanceolate, white scales: a sutural stripe in apical quarter; a juxta-sutural stripe from behind middle, terminating towards apical third; a sparse sometimes interrupted supra-lateral stripe in apical half and around apical torus. Suture a loose row of medium-long and long, robust, erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites sparse pilose with long, white hairs. Ventrite I–V sparse setose with very short, reclinate, whitish setae; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed; upper corner loose squamose with reclinate, narrowly-lanceolate, white scales. Propygidium loose squamose with reclinate, narrowly-lanceolate, white scales. Pygidium sparse setose with long, erect, black setae; tip with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long, black setae. Prothoracic femur loose setose with short brown setae; medium-long brown hairs interspersed ventrally; bare internally. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, whitish setae; erect medium-long and long ventrally; with a sparse setose longitudinal row of medium-long, erect, brown setae dorsally; a loose setose ciliary of short, black and white setae on internal ridge; a setaceous ciliary of short, transparently brown setae on anterior margin, more robust towards internal ridge; a medium-long, downwards pointing setose ciliary of pale-brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long, whitish and brown hairs; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, reclinate, white setae; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed ventrally and externally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of very short and short, black bristles; lengthening dorsally; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with long, semi-erect white setae; medium-long erect, black setae interspersed externally; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, black setae; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed; sparse setose with long, erect, black setae internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of short, brown bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally, more robust ventrally. Prothoracic and mesothoracic tarsomere I–IV bare. Metathoracic tarsomere I–IV sparse setose with very short, reclinate, black and greyish setae. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs with a setaceous, apical, marginal ciliary of short, black setae, lengthening towards metathoracic tarsomeres, fine dorsally and more robust ventrally. Pretarsomere of thoracic legs sparse setose with extremely short, reclinate, black setae, semi-erect and short ventrally, lengthening towards metathoracic pretarsomere.
Head: Suture between head and clypeus linear, raised. Head dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish, not merging punctures, micropunctate within. Funicle I–II cylindrical, slightly thickened medially; funicle III short asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus long elliptic, slightly longer than pedicellus and funiculum combined.
Pronotum: Widest medially; loose punctate with small and extremely small, shallow, roundish punctures, dense within medial furrow and towards margins. Anterior corner orthogonal. Lateral margin linearly attenuate anteriorly and posteriorly. With an indistinct, shortened, shallow medial furrow from posterior margin terminating in anterior fifth, broadening at disk. Posterior corner angled.
Scutellum: Buckler-shaped; as broad as long; dense punctate with very small and small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctate within; with a complete, median, longitudinal, narrow, smooth stripe. Lateral margin linearly attenuate in anterior third, stronger apically. Tip pointed.
Elytra: Ovate; longer than broad; widest in anterior third; covering propygidium. Lateral margin slightly convex attenuate apically. Sculpture indistinct; very slightly pulvinate laterally; humerus indistinct; with a broad roundish torus around scutellum; lateral trench missing; complanate along scutellum and suture. Sparse punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between; a loose juxta-sutural row of small, deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin, crossing scutellar torus to apical torus; a sparse supra-humeral row of small, deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus to apical torus.
Abdomen: Ventrite I distinctly shortened medially; ventrite V slightly constricted ventrally. Propygidium with a slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium distinctly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin moderately 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 anterior and median tooth u-shaped and between median and basal tooth linear. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; equal in length; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere distinctly thickened; smooth ventrally; slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. External claw 9 / 10 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; slightly less than 2 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere with a shortened smooth ridge ventrally followed by a roundish cutting; slightly shorter than tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw 9 / 10 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Tibia 9 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined short; slightly more than 9 / 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 less than 1 / 5 more in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 4 /
5 in length of external claw.
Parameres: (Figs. 82–83, 110).
♀♀. Measurements: length 7.2–7.4 mm; width 3.9–4.1 mm.
Integument: Black; elytra pale-brown, lateral margin broadly blackened; thoracic tarsi brown.
Tegument: Clypeus sparse setose with short, erect, red-brown setae, loose and medium-long on head. Funiculum with few very short, semi-erect and erect, pale-brown setae, sparse and semi-erect on clavus. Pronotum with pattern. Loose setose with short and long, erect, brown setae; sparse, short, reclinate, white setose interspersed, denser in posterior half of medial furrow and at posterior margin near corner; with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long and long, brown setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, semi-erect, brown and whitish setae. Elytra with pattern. Sparse setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; denser laterally; long, erect, brown setae interspersed at humerus; with two shortened, longitudinal loose setose stripes of short, reclinate, white squamiform setae; a sutural stripe in apical quarter; a sparse supra-lateral stripe in apical half and around apical torus. Suture with a loose row of short, robust, erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites sparse pilose with long, yellowish-white hairs. Ventrite I–V sparse setose with short, reclinate, white setae; medium-long, semi-erect, white setae interspersed. Propygidium loose setose with short, reclinate, brown setae and white squamiform setae; medium-long, semi-erect, brown and white setae interspersed. Pygidium sparse setose with short, reclinate, brown and whitish setae; long, erect, brown setae interspersed; tip with a loose ciliary of medium-long and long, brown setae. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, yellowish setae; erect, medium-long and pale-brown ventrally; a loose setose ciliary of short, brown setae on internal ridge; a loose setose ciliary of short and medium-long, black and yellowish setae on external ridge; anterior margin with a loose setaceous ciliary of short, pale-brown setae on anterior margin; a medium-long downwards pointing setose ciliary of pale-brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short and medium-long, reclinate, whitish setae; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, brown setae interspersed, long and finer internally; Fringe of posterior margin as in male but redbrown. Metathoracic femur loose setose with long, semi-erect, whitish and brown setae. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae; long, semi-erect, robust, brown setae interspersed, longer and finer internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of very short, red-brown bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally, more robust ventrally. Setae of thoracic tarsi red-brown.
Head: Clypeus very slightly depressed laterally; loose punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly vertically reflexed. Lateral margin slightly reflexed. Suture between head and clypeus undulated, crenated. Eye on head level. Funicle I–II cylindrical; funicle III asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus 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. With an indistinct, shortened, shallow medial furrow from posterior margin terminating on disk. Posterior corner rounded.
Scutellum: Dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures, not micropunctate within.
Elytra: Lateral trench indistinct. Loose punctate with extremely small and very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between; a loose juxta-sutural row of small, deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin, crossing scutellar torus to apical torus; a sparse supra-humeral row of small, deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus to apical torus.
Abdomen: Distinctly pulvinate; ventrite II–V broadened medially; ventrite V not constricted ventrally. Propygidium with a slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium slightly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; slightly declined posteriorly; upper margin moderately convex, linear medially; tip linear.
Prothoracic leg: Femur robust. Median tooth of tibia broad triangular-shaped. Shape of interspace between teeth concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; tarsomere I petiolate chalice-shaped; tarsomere I longest, tarsomere II–IV equal in length; slightly less than 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; without roundish cutting apically; slightly less than 3 / 5 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slender; not broadened medially; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly more than 3 / 5 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined very short; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender; with a full undulate ridge ventrally, roundish cutting missing; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slender; not broadened medially; slightly shorter than pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Femur slightly thickened. Tibia distinctly extended dorso-apically; slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of tibia; petiolate chalice-shaped. Pretarsomere slender. External claw slightly less than 1 / 10 more in length of pretarsomere.
Distribution. Western Cape Province (Fig. 140), only known from the type locality.
Vegetation Type. Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld (SKk 5).
Host Plants. Asteraceae: Didelta spinosa (L. f.) W. T. Aiton.
Etymology. The specific name derives from the resemblance to B. julianae.
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 50-53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4823.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4401916