Beckhoplia Dombrow 2005
Creators: name: Dombrow, Holger E.
name: Colville, Jonathan F.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Melolonthidae
Beckhoplia

description: Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005
http://zoobank.org/ E923F896-4AFE-4006-86B6-D8FF1D15EED6
Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005: 126.
Genotype. Beckhoplia colvillei Dombrow, 2005: 128, original designation by Dombrow (2005).
Main characters. Clypeus broader than long, longitudinally depressed laterally, smooth. Margins of clypeus linear and distinctly raised. Pronotum broader than long, punctate with shallow, roundish punctures. Elytra mostly ovate, partly covering to protruding the propygidium. Pygidium vertical, not reaching metathoracic coxae. Prothoracic tibia tridentate. All tibiae with spur. All claws double and vertically split, external claw of metathoracic tarsus not split.
Differential diagnosis. Differs from Anisochelus Burmeister, 1844 (Fig. 138). Clypeus of Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 (Fig. 1) distinctly longitudinally depressed along lateral margin. Clypeus of Anisochelus (Fig. 2) complanate. Margins of clypeus of Beckhoplia distinctly vertically raised. Margins of clypeus of Anisochelus slightly vertically raised. Main surface of clypeus of Beckhoplia smooth and bare. Main surface of clypeus of Anisochelus dense punctate and loose setose. Parameres of Beckhoplia (Figs. 62–97, 100–117). Parameres of Anisochelus (Figs. 98–99).
Redescription
Integument: Black; funiculum sometimes pale-brown or seldom brown annulated; elytra mostly transparently palebrown or brown, with more or less blackened margin; very seldom black or yellowish pale-brown.
Tegument: Clypeus bare; sparse to loose setose with erect, pale-brown to black setae on the inner side of the vertically reflexed anterior and lateral margin; the latter very seldom bare. Head mostly loose setose with erect, black setae, very seldom whitish or pale-brown setae interspersed. Eye canthus with a loose to dense setose ciliary of black setae. Pronotum without pattern; loose setose with erect, black setae; very seldom whitish or brown setae, sometimes interspersed, very seldom lengthening anteriorly or seldom declining posteriorly; with a loose to dense setose ciliary of black, sometimes whitish setae on lateral margin, very seldom declining posteriorly. Scutellum loose setose with semi-erect to erect, brown to black setae, sometimes shortening apically; with a longitudinal bare strip of various length, sometimes missing. Elytra with or without pattern; mostly sparse to loose setose with semierect or erect, seldom reclinate, brownish or black setae, sometime lengthening anteriorly and/or setae of various length interspersed; seldom whitish setae, scales or squamiform setae interspersed around apical torus; with one or two loose setose longitudinal rows of semi-erect or erect, black setae. If patterned, then additionally with two or three shortened, longitudinal, loose to dense squamose bands of reclinate, white and/or very seldom grey scales. Suture with a loose row of robust, semi-erect to erect, black setae, sometimes lengthening apically. Thorax and pleurites loose, very seldom sparse pilose with long, black, seldom white hairs. Ventrite I–V mostly loose, sometimes sparse setose with reclinate or semi-erect, brownish or black, seldom white setae; very seldom dense squamose with lanceolate, transparently white scales; semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Propygidium loose setose or loose squamose. If setose, then with semi-erect, seldom erect, black, very seldom pale-brown or whitish setae, very seldom squamiform setae; semi-erect, black setae or reclinate, white setae interspersed; sometimes posterior margin with a loose row of reclinate, whitish scales or white setae. If squamose than with reclinate, pale-brown and/or whitish or greyish scales, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Pygidium mostly sparse setose with erect, black setae, very seldom whitish scales interspersed in upper quarter; tip always with a ciliary of black setae. Prothoracic femur mostly loose pilose, with semi-erect, black, very seldom white or brown hairs; seldom loose setose with semi-erect, black or brown setae; always bare internally. Prothoracic tibia mostly loose setose with reclinate, sometimes and/or semi-erect, pale-brown, whitish or black setae; can be sparser ventrally; sometimes semi-erect or erect white, brown or black setae interspersed; with a sparse setose longitudinal row of erect, black, seldom brown setae dorsally; a loose setose ciliary of black, seldom additionally white setae on internal ridge; sometimes additionally with a sparse, seldom denser setose ciliary of mostly white setae on external ridge; a setaceous ciliary of somewhat brown or black setae on anterior margin; mostly more robust towards internal ridge; a downwards pointing setose ciliary of brownish setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with black, whitish and/or brown hairs; lengthening and/or brownish or white ventrally; seldom erect, black setae interspersed dorsally and externally; always bare internally. Posterior margin with a marginal ciliary of black, very seldom red-brown bristles, sometimes lengthening dorsally, very seldom ventrally; always missing internally. Mesothoracic tibia mostly sparse setose with reclinate or semi-erect, whitish or seldom brownish setae, sometimes sparser internally; semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed; seldom sparser and normally finer internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with mostly semi-erect, black, sometimes white setae than black setae interspersed externally; sometimes whitish or brownish ventrally, seldom black hairs interspersed; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with semi-erect, brownish, infrequent black setae; semi-erect, sometimes robust, black setae interspersed; mostly finer internally, sometimes denser. Posterior margin with a normally loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of black bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally, frequently more robust ventrally. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs sparse setose with reclinate, mostly brownish, very seldom black and/or greyish setae or prothoracic and/or mesothoracic tarsomere I–IV bare. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs with a setaceous, apical, marginal ciliary of black, seldom brownish setae, lengthening towards metathoracic tarsomeres, fine dorsally and more robust ventrally. Pretarsomere of all thoracic legs sparse setose with reclinate or semi-erect, seldom only with a few, brownish or black setae, sometimes lengthening, very seldom also darkening towards metathoracic pretarsomere; mostly with few, semi-erect, black setae at apical margin, shorter and more or less red-brown ventrally.
Head: Clypeus broader than long; corner angled; coplanar with frons; distinctly longitudinally depressed laterally; as broad as frons; surface smooth, lustrous; inner surface of reflexed margins punctate with micropunctures. Anterior margin linear; very distinctly vertically reflexed (Fig. 6) and higher than lateral margin; upper edge concave, curly bracket-shaped or broad v-shaped (Figs. 3–5) incised (variable character within the species and between the sexes; not used in the species descriptions), following sculpture of clypeus; with a small, triangular-shaped, slightly rounded tooth at each corner. Lateral margin very slightly convex; distinctly reflexed; not merging with eye-canthus; relation to width of head very broad. Suture between head and clypeus indistinct, undulate or linear, complanate seldom crenated or raised, very seldom missing or interrupted medially. Head dense punctate with shallow, very small or small, roundish, sometimes partly merging punctures and sometimes micropunctate within; surface and lateral margin complanate. Eye canthus (Figs. 11–14) very long, broad, complanate. Eye above (Figs. 8–10) head level.
Antenna: Consisting of nine segments (Fig. 15). The long cudgel-shaped scapus and the ± spherical pedicellus followed by a four segmented funiculum: funicle I–III of different shape, funicle IV very short asymmetric frustumshaped and an always three segmented lamellar elliptic to long elliptic clavus (Figs. 16–18).
Labrum and epipharynx: Labrum strongly sclerotized, vertical, horizontally oriented (Fig. 19); zona lateralis and zona centralis bare; apical margin concave; apical ciliary dense pilose with erect, fine hairs, missing medially; lateral margin distinctly convex; anterior half with a dense setose ciliary of erect, robust setae; clypeo-labral suture linear dorsally, concave ventrally. Epipharynx membranaceous; posterior medial process narrow, complanate; with a dense setose comb, stretching v-shaped from apical corner along border between zona lateralis and zona centralis conceding in front of posterior tormal process, terminating at posterior margin of posterior tormal process; lateral tormal process long, bare.
Mandibles: Paired, (Fig. 20) stout, symmetric, sparse setose externally. Lacinia mobilis: narrow, membranaceous, dense pilose towards mola; with a more or less sclerotized tooth. Mola: prominent, sclerotized, dentate; teeth arranged in parallel rows; postmola: membranaceous. Incisivus: stout, sclerotized, somewhat pilose externally.
Maxillae: Paired (Fig. 21). Stipes: sparse setose. Maxillar palpus: four-segmented, segment IV bare, more or less thickened, cylindrical, distinctly longer than segment I–III combined; segment III with a ciliary of relatively long setae; segment I–II bare. Galea: sclerotized, with a tuft of hairs above teeth; six-dentate, arranged in two groups: an apical group of three slightly shifted, vertically arranged, elongate, triangular-shaped, pointed teeth; a basal group of three transverse, elongate, pointed, triangular-shaped teeth, grown together in basal three quarters. Lacinia: well developed with a longitudinal, medio-ventral ridge, set with a loose stripe of setae, lengthening from cardo to galea. Cardo: stout, apodeme broadly bi-forked, tip of one joint almost spherical, tip of the second joint ending in three knobs.
Labium: Strongly sclerotized, ovate, with a distinct longitudinal medial furrow, longitudinally pulvinate, sparse setose with erect setae. Anterior margin undulate; anterior corner angled with a shortened, loose setose ciliary. Lateral margin distinctly incised in anterior fifth; behind labial pulps distinctly convex, with a loose setose ciliary of longer setae. Posterior margin linear. Labial pulps three-segmented, short and robust; segment III cone-shaped, slightly shorter than segment I–II combined (Fig. 22).
Pronotum: Broader than long; widest in anterior two fifth or medially; slightly pulvinate laterally; loose to dense punctate with shallow, roundish punctures, may be denser within medial furrow and towards margins. Anterior margin shallowly concave; anterior corner orthogonal or obtuse, very seldom acute. Lateral margin convex or linearly attenuate anteriorly and subparallel or very seldom slightly convex attenuate posteriorly; surface of lateral margin smooth. With a shortened or complete, shallow, more or less distinct medial furrow. Posterior margin convex; posterior corner obtuse, angled or rounded (Figs. 23–24).
Scutellum: Buckler-shaped or parabola-shaped (Figs. 25–26); longer than broad to broader than long; longitudinally pulvinate, vertically complanate; dense punctate with shallow, roundish punctures, mostly micropunctate within; mostly with a longitudinal, sometimes shortened, more or less broad, median, smooth stripe. Lateral margins slightly convex or linearly attenuate in anterior quarter to two thirds, stronger apically. Tip pointed or rounded (Figs. 27–28), not subducting.
Elytra: Ovate, seldom oblong (Figs. 29–30); longer than broad; widest medially in anterior third or half; protruding or covering, very seldom partly covering the propygidium. Anterior margin slightly concave. Lateral margins slightly convex. Posterior margin rounded and distinctly incised medially. Sculpture more or less distinct; scutellar torus and/or costate sometimes missing; humerus indistinct, complanate; apical torus indistinct; lateral descent distinct; lateral trench sometimes missing; suture raised. Sparse to loose punctate with deep to shallow, roundish sometimes wrinkly punctures, sometimes micropunctures in-between; with two sparse to loose longitudinal rows of big punctures: a juxta-sutural row from anterior margin crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus; and a supra-humeral row from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus towards apical torus, sometimes shortened or missing.
Thorax: Interspace between mesothoracic coxae narrow.
Abdomen: (Fig. 31). Five ventrites visible; not compressed laterally. Ventrite I distinctly to extremely shortened medially; ventrite II–V not shortened medially; ventrite V sometimes broadest and/or slightly constricted ventrally (Figs. 32–33). Propygidium with an indistinct or slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium vertical, not reaching metathoracic coxae; distinctly broader than long (Fig. 34); slightly to distinctly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin slightly to moderately convex, mostly linear medially; lateral margin convex or subparallel in upper fifth or quarter, linearly attenuate apically, or only sometimes linearly attenuate apically (Figs. 36–38); tip rounded or linear (Figs. 39–40).
Prothoracic leg: Femur slender or robust; slightly compressed laterally. Tibia slender or robust; distinctly compressed ventrally; tridentate, teeth robust; with an internal and external ridge(Figs. 45a,b; 46a,b); smooth ventrally or with a medio-ventral ridge (Figs. 44, 45c); loose punctate with shallow, roundish punctures; with a dense longitudinal row of deep, elongate, roundish punctures dorsally (Fig. 41); with spur. Apical tooth elongate, longest, bent forward, outwards, tip slightly pointing downwards. Median tooth elongate, seldom robust, triangular-shaped, slightly shorter than apical tooth, pointing outwards. Basal tooth smallest, sometimes rudimentary. Interspace between teeth almost equal or interspace between anterior and median tooth double in width than between median and basal tooth. Shape of interspace between anterior and median tooth concave or u-shaped and between median and basal tooth concave or linear (Figs. 41–43). Articulation point of tarsomere I at base of anterior tooth. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short, rarely very short; frustum-shaped; slightly compressed laterally; equal in length or lengthening from tarsomere I–IV (Figs. 47–48); almost half in length of tibia. Tarsomere III very rarely with a ventral extension (Fig. 49). Tarsomere IV seldom with a ventral extension (Fig. 49). Pretarsomere slightly to distinctly thickened; smooth or with various structures ventrally (Figs. 50–54) followed by a roundish cutting apically; more or less as long as tarsomere I–IV combined. Claw double; both scythe shaped, smooth ventrally, split vertically. Internal claw broadened medially; up to a quarter longer than pretarsomere. External claw nearly three quarters in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Femur and tibia slender; both distinctly compressed laterally. Tibia cylindrical; slightly convex dorsally; slightly constricted dorsally apically; diagonally truncate; with spur; roughly three quarter in length of femur to slightly longer than femur; loose punctate with shallow and deep, roundish punctures, sparse and shallow internally. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short to very short; frustum-shaped; slightly compressed laterally; equal in length; slightly less than 3 / 10 to slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere distinctly thickened; smooth or with various structures ventrally, followed by a roundish cutting, sometimes missing (Figs. 55–58); roughly one third in length of tibia. more or less as long as tarsomere I–IV combined. Claw double; both scythe shaped, smooth ventrally, split vertically. External claw robust; broadened medially; more or less as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw slender; slightly shorter than external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Femur slender; distinctly compressed laterally; without trochanteral spine. Tibia sub-cylindrical; distinctly compressed laterally; almost as long as femur, seldom longer than femur; slightly diagonally truncate; not mucronate; with spur. Loose punctate with shallow, elongate- roundish punctures. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short, very seldom short or very short; frustum shaped; slightly compressed laterally; declining in length from tarsomere I–IV; roughly three quarters in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender to slightly thickened; slightly compressed laterally; with various structures ventrally (Figs. 59–61); almost half in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Claw double; both smooth ventrally. External claw slender; scythe-shaped; longer than pretarsomere; not split. Internal claw slender; linear in basal two thirds, very slightly bent downwards in apical third; mostly slightly longer than three quarters in length of external claw; split vertically.
Sexual dimorphism: Indistinct. Clypeus very slightly depressed laterally; fully punctate; less reflexed (Fig. 7). Eye canthus very seldom full, dividing eye. Clavus of antenna distinctly shorter. Pronotum widest in anterior third to medially (mostly different to the ♂♂ but sometimes equal); posterior corner rounded. Pygidium slightly declined posteriorly. Ventrites distinctly pulvinate (Fig. 35). Tip of pygidium linear. Mesothoracic pretarsomere slender to slightly thickened, Metathoracic tibia distinctly shorter than metathoracic femur; slightly to distinctly extended dorso-apically (variable within species); slightly extended ventro-apically. All thoracic legs including tarsi red-brown and mostly slender.
Distribution. The genus is endemic to the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of the Republic of South Africa. The centre of its biogeographical distribution falls within the winter-rainfall zone (Fig. 139) at the intersection between the north-western parts of the Fynbos Biome and south-western border of the Succulent Karoo Biome. A northern Succulent Karoo extension is recorded from the central, winter-rainfall, arid Namaqualand region. All species within the genus currently display highly localized distributions confined to specific vegetation type habitats, predominantly those of Renosterveld and succulent Karoo-Shrubland, with a hotspot of diversity centred around the Hantam Bokkeveld Plateau (Fig. 140).
Key to the species of the genus Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005
1 Elytra uni-coloured.................................................................................... 2
- Elytra bi-coloured..................................................................................... 8
2 Colour of elytra black; externo-posterior margin of parameres almost convex in dorsal view (Figs. 62, 100)......................................................................................... B. nigra Dombrow, new species
- Colour of elytra transparently brown...................................................................... 3
3 Externo-lateral margin of parameres slightly concave and angled towards tip in dorsal view (Figs. 64, 101, 66, 102)............................................................................................. 4
- Externo-lateral margin of parameres linearly attenuate and not angled towards tip in dorsal view (Figs. 68, 103, 70, 104, 72, 105, 74, 106)........................................................................... 5
4 Scutellum as long as broad; externo-posterior margin of parameres concave in dorsal view (Figs. 64, 101).................................................................................. B. pallidibrunnea Dombrow, new species
- Scutellum longer than broad; externo-posterior margin of parameres convex, slightly incised medially in dorsal view (Figs. 66, 102)..................................................... B. fusca Dombrow, new species
5 Pronotum with a longitudinal medial furrow................................................................ 6
- Pronotum without medial furrow; externo-posterior margin of parameres convex, slightly incised medially in dorsal view (Figs. 68, 103)................................................... B. setosa Dombrow, new species
6 Elytra with a longitudinal depression along suture........................................................... 7
- Elytra without a longitudinal depression along suture; lateral margin of pronotum widest medially; ventral margin of parameres linear for half or more of its length in lateral view (Fig. 71); interno-lateral margin of parameres angled medially in dorsal view (Figs. 70, 104).......................... B. castanea Dombrow, new species
7 Lateral margin of pronotum widest in anterior half; externo-posterior margin of parameres linear with a median convex extension in dorsal view (Figs. 72, 105).................................. B. colvillei Dombrow 2005
- Lateral margin of pronotum widest at posterior corner; externo-posterior margin of parameres undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 74, 106)................................................... B. pulchra Dombrow, new species
8 Elytra square and uni- or bi-costate....................................................................... 9
- Elytra attenuate apically and not costate.................................................................. 10
9 Integument of elytra red brown, margin blackened, uni-costate; externo-posterior margin of parameres convex in dorsal view (Figs. 76, 107)...................................... B. nigrofasciata Dombrow, new species
- Integument of elytra black with two more or less intensive red brown patches between humerus and scutellum, bi-costate; externo-posterior margin of parameres undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 78, 108).......................................................................................... B. caliginosa Dombrow, new species
10 With two or three shortened, longitudinal, white squamose stripes.............................................. 11
- Elytra without white squamose stripes.................................................................... 14
11 Integument of elytra yellowish pale-brown; with two squamose stripes: a sutural stripe in posterior third and a lateral stripe in posterior quarter around apical torus; externo-posterior margin of parameres linear with a median convex extension in dorsal view (Figs. 80, 109)....................... B. pumila Dombrow, new species
- Integument of elytra transparently pale-brown; with three squamose stripes: a sutural stripe in posterior third; a juxta-sutural stripe just past the centre, expiring towards apical third; and a lateral stripe beside apical torus......................................................................................... 12
12 Clypeus and head blunt black; pronotum yellowish brown pilose and setose; elytra depressed behind scutellum; lateral trench of elytra indistinct; interno-posterior margin of parameres uniformly rounded in dorsal view (Figs. 82, 110)................................................ B. gifbergensis Dombrow, new species
- Clypeus and head lustrous black; pronotum whitish pilose and setose; elytra longitudinally depressed along suture; lateral trench of elytra distinct; interno-posterior margin of parameres broad v-shaped (Figs. 84, 111) or curly bracket-shaped (Figs. 86, 112) in dorsal view........................................... 13
13 Lateral margin of pronotum slightly concave attenuate anteriorly, linearly attenuate posteriorly; internoposterior margin of parameres broad v-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 84, 111)................. B. julianae Dombrow 2005
- Lateral margin of pronotum linearly attenuate anteriorly, slightly convex attenuate posteriorly; internoposterior margin of parameres curly bracket-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 86, 112)............................................................................................................ B. elkeae Dombrow, new species
14 Base of parameres distinctly recessed medially and interno-posterior margin rounded in dorsal view and anterior margin of phallobase curly bracket-shaped (Figs. 88, 113) or interno-posterior margin parabolashaped in dorsal view and externo-posterior margin linear with a convex median extension in dorsal view (Figs. 90, 114)....................................................................................... 15
- Interno-posterior margin of parameres curly bracket-shaped, u-shaped or parabola-shaped in dorsal view............... 16
15 Interno-posterior margin rounded in dorsal view and externo-posterior margin convex and anterior margin of phallobase curly bracket-shaped (Figs. 88, 113)............................... B. suturalis Dombrow, new species
- Interno-posterior margin of parameres parabola-shaped in dorsal view and externo-posterior margin linear with a convex median extension in dorsal view and anterior margin of phallobase broad parabola-shaped (Figs. 90, 114).......................................................... B. nigrosetosa Dombrow, new species
16 Elytra with a longitudinal depression along suture.......................................................... 17
- Elytra without a longitudinal depression along suture; interno-posterior margin of parameres curly bracketshaped in dorsal view (Figs. 92, 115).............................................. B. occidentalis Dombrow 2005
17 Elytra yellowish pale-brown, blackened from lateral margin to lateral descent; elytra partly covering propygidium; interno-posterior margin of parameres u-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 94, 116).................................................................................................... B. bicolor Dombrow, new species
- Elytra transparently pale red-brown, blackened from lateral margin to lateral trench; elytra protruding the propygidium; interno-posterior margin of parameres parabola-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 96, 117)....................................................................................... B. dolichiocnemis Dombrow, new species
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 8-14, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4823.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4401916