Beckhoplia elkeae 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 elkeae

description: Beckhoplia elkeae Dombrow, new species
(Figs. 24, 54, 86–87, 112)
http://zoobank.org/ 57D792FF-0ECF-4470-A44C-A14640DD9F96
Type locality. [RSA, NCP]: Grootvlei Pass.
Type material. [153] Holotype ♂: white label pr « RSA, NC, Grootvlei Pass W | side, 595 m, 30°13,007’S– | 17°46,156’E, 30.08.2012, | leg.: H&E. Dombrow #615» bs pr «Host plants: | Tripteris clandestina | Tripteris oppositifolium | Didelta spinosum #615» || yellow label hw «43» pr «.876 | coll. Dombrow» || blue label pr «Bioregion: | Namaqualand Hardeveld | Vegetation type: SKn1 - | Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland» » || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071221» || red label pr « Holotype | Beckhoplia | elkeae sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC). – Paratypes: 5 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «43» pr «.960–.974 | coll. Dombrow» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071221» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | elkeae sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC); 83 ♂♂, 54 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «43» pr «.877–.959;.975–.999» & hw «44», pr «.000–.001;.003–.028 | coll. Dombrow» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | elkeae sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (ESDW).
Additional material examined. 1 ♀: white label pr « RSA, CP, Namaquald. | #0003 Kilianꞌs Pass | 30.10.33S– 17.40.60E | 500m, leg. P. Desmet» || pr «#0003, 14.08.1994 | Stoeberia frutescens | Ruschia sp., Arctotis sp.» || yellow label hw «18» pr «.470 | coll. Dombrow»|| red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | julianae sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» (ESDW).
Condition of holotype. Very good. Glued on card. Dissected, parameres and spiculum gastrale glued behind beetle.
Differential diagnosis. Differs from B. julianae: Lateral margin of pronotum of B. elkeae linearly attenuate anteriorly, slightly convex attenuate posteriorly. Lateral margin of pronotum of B. julianae slightly concave attenuate anteriorly, linearly attenuate posteriorly. Interno-posterior margin of parameres of B. elkeae broad curly bracketshaped in dorsal view (Figs. 86, 112). Interno-posterior margin of parameres of B. julianae broad parabola-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 84, 111). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. elkeae distinctly undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 86, 112). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. julianae convex in dorsal view (Figs. 84, 111).
Description
Measurements: length 7.9–8.4 mm; width 4.1–4.4 mm.
Integument: Black; elytra transparently pale-brown, lateral and posterior margin broadly blackened, suture sometimes blackened.
Tegument: Clypeus bare; sparse setose with short, erect, pale-brown 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 loose setose ciliary of medium-long, black, setae. Scapus loose setose with medium-long, black setae, pale-brown ventrally, sparse and short on pedicellus; funiculum with few very short, erect, brown setae, sparse on clavus. Pronotum loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, whitish setae; long, erect, dark-brown setae interspersed; with a loose setose ciliary of long, black setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and mediumlong, semi-erect, whitish setae, shortening apically. Elytra with pattern. Sparse setose with short, reclinate, black setae, denser in darkened areas; long, erect, black setae interspersed in anterior third; with two loose, longitudinal rows of distinctly long, erect, black setae: a juxta-sutural row from anterior margin crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus, shortening apically; a supra-humeral row from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus towards apical torus, shortening apically; with three dense squamose shortened, longitudinal stripes of reclinate, oblanceolate, white scales: a sutural stripe in apical third; a juxta-sutural stripe from behind middle, terminating towards apical third; a lateral stripe beside apical torus. Suture with a loose row of long and distinctly long, robust, erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, white hairs. Ventrite I–V dense squamose with reclinate, oblanceolate, transparently white scales; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Propygidium dense squamose with reclinate, oblanceolate, transparently white scales; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Pygidium sparse setose with medium-long, erect, black setae; tip with a loose setose ciliary of long, black setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, white hairs; bare internally. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, white setae; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed, long ventrally; with a sparse setose longitudinal row of medium-long, erect, robust, black setae dorsally; a loose setose ciliary of short, black setae on internal ridge; a sparse setose ciliary of short, transparently white setae on external ridge; a setaceous ciliary of short, black 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 hairs; distinctly long ventrally; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, white setae; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed, long and fine internally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of very short and short, black bristles; lengthening dorsally and ventrally; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with medium-long to long, semi-erect, white setae; distinctly long ventrally; medium-long, erect, robust, black setae interspersed externally; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, black setae; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed; sparse setose with long, erect, black setae internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of short, black bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs sparse setose with very short, reclinate, pale-brown setae; with a setaceous, apical, marginal ciliary of short, black setae, lengthening towards metathoracic tarsomeres, fine dorsally and more robust ventrally. Pretarsomere of all thoracic legs sparse setose with very short, reclinate, pale-brown setae, lengthening and darkening towards metathoracic pretarsomere; few, medium-long, semi-erect, black setae at apical margin, shorter ventrally.
Head: Suture between head and clypeus linear, crenated. 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 in anterior two fifth; sparse to loose punctate with extremely small to very small, shallow, roundish punctures, dense within medial furrow at posterior margin. Anterior corner acute. Lateral margin linearly attenuate anteriorly, slightly convex attenuate posteriorly. With an indistinct, complete, shallow medial furrow from posterior to anterior margin. Posterior corner rounded.
Scutellum: Parabola-shaped; as broad as long; dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctate within; with a shortened, median, longitudinal, broad, smooth stripe, from anterior margin terminating medially. Lateral margin slightly convex. Tip pointed.
Elytra: Ovate; longer than broad; widest in anterior third; protruding propygidium. Lateral margin slightly convex attenuate apically. Sculpture distinct; dorsally not pulvinate laterally; humerus distinct; with a very broad roundish torus around scutellum, extending apically, terminating on disk; lateral trench distinct; complanate along scutellum; slightly, broadly depressed along suture. Loose punctate with extremely 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 very small, shallow and deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus to apical torus, terminating medially.
Abdomen: Ventrite I distinctly shortened medially; ventrite I–IV broadest, slightly constricted ventrally. Propygidium with an indistinct stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium distinctly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin moderately convex; lateral margin linearly attenuate apically; tip rounded.
Prothoracic leg: Femur and tibia slender. Tibia smooth ventrally. Median tooth robust. Basal tooth rudimentary. Interspace between teeth almost equal. Shape of interspace between teeth concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; equal in length; slightly more than 2 / 5 in length of tibia. Tarsomere IV without ventral extension. Pretarsomere distinctly thickened; with a shortened granulate ridge ventrally; slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly more than 1 / 10 more in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly longer than femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; slightly less than 3 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere with a shortened smooth ridge ventrally followed by a roundish cutting apically; as long as tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Tibia as long as femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; slightly less 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 less than 1 / 5 more in length of pretarsomere.
Internal claw slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of external claw.
Parameres: (Figs. 86–87, 112).
♀♀. Measurements: length 7.6–8.7 mm; width 4.2–4.9 mm.
Integument: Black; elytra transparently pale red-brown, darkening, sometimes blackened towards lateral margin, suture sometimes red-brown; mesothoracic femur and tibia, prothoracic tarsus as well as metathoracic femur dark red-brown; metathoracic tibia, mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsus red-brown.
Tegument: Clypeus sparse setose with short, erect, pale-brown setae. Setae on head, eye canthus and dorsal part of scapus brown. Pronotum with pattern. Loose setose with medium-long erect, brown setae, shortening towards posterior margin; with a loose, squamose, longitudinal band of reclinate, lanceolate, whitish scales in posterior half of medial furrow; with a loose squamose spot of reclinate, narrowly-elliptic, yellowish scales at posterior margin near corner; setae of ciliary brown. Scutellum loose setose with short, semi-erect, pale-brown setae, semierect, lanceolate, yellowish scales interspersed in apical half. Setae of elytra brown, interspersed setae extended to apical margin; scales of stripes lanceolate and offwhite, juxta-sutural stripe shorter and with an additional shortened, median, supra-lateral stripe within lateral trench. Hairs on thorax and pleurites offwhite. Scales on ventrite I–V narrowly-lanceolate and offwhite; setae yellowish. Scales on propygidium lanceolate and yellowish as well as the setae. Pygidium dense squamose with reclinate, ovate, yellowish scales, short to medium-long, erect, yellowish setae interspersed; tip with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long, pale-brown setae. Hairs of prothoracic femur yellowish. Prothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, pale-brown to brown setae; medium-long to long and erect ventrally; setae of longitudinal, dorsal row brown; setae of ciliary on internal ridge brown; setae of ciliary on external ridge reclinate and transparently pale-brown; setae of ciliary on anterior margin red-brown and not robust. Hairs of mesothoracic femur offwhite. Setae of mesothoracic tibia offwhite. Ciliary on posterior margin red-brown. Metathoracic femur only loose pilose with medium-long to long, semi-erect, offwhite hairs. Setae of metathoracic tibia pale-brown; interspersed setae red-brown; medium-long to long and brown internally. Bristles of ciliary on posterior margin less robust and transparently pale red-brown. Setae of ciliary of tarsomere I–IV of thoracic legs red-brown; pale red-brown in between on mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsomeres. Setae on pretarsomere of thoracic legs red-brown.
Head: Clypeus dense punctate with deep, very large, roundish punctures. Anterior margin distinctly vertically reflexed. Suture between head and clypeus undulate. Head dense punctate with large, deep, roundish punctures. Funicle I–II cylindrical, slightly thickened medially; funicle III short asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus short elliptic.
Pronotum: Widest in anterior third; loose punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures, denser within medial furrow. Anterior corner obtuse. Lateral margin linearly attenuate in anterior third, slightly convex attenuate posteriorly.
Scutellum: Broader than long; without smooth stripe. Tip rounded.
Elytra: Almost square; as long as broad. Sculpture indistinct; lateral trench distinct.
Abdomen: Distinctly pulvinate; ventrite II–V slightly broadened medially; ventrite V broadest, not constricted ventrally. Propygidium with a slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium slightly declined posteriorly; slightly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; lateral margin subparallel in upper fifth, linearly attenuate apically; tip linear.
Prothoracic leg: Tarsomere I–IV combined short; tarsomere I longest, tarsomere II–IV equal in length; slightly than 9 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with a shortened smooth ridge ventrally, roundish cutting missing; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined short; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined.
Metathoracic leg: Femur slightly thickened. Tibia slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined short; slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender; with a smooth ridge ventrally. External claw as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of external claw.
Distribution. Northern Cape Province (Fig. 140).
Vegetation Type. Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland (SKn 1).
Host Plants. Asteraceae: Tripteris clandestina (Harv.) Norl., Tripteris oppositifolia (Aiton) B. Nord.; Didelta spinosa (L.f.) Aiton. – Aizoaceae: Stoeberia frutescens (L. Bolus) Van Jaarsv.
Etymology. The species is dedicated to Elke Dombrow, wife of the first author.
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 55-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4823.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4401916