Beckhoplia caliginosa 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 caliginosa

description: Beckhoplia caliginosa Dombrow, new species
(Figs. 17, 37, 78–79, 100, 108, 118)
http://zoobank.org/ D024B073-9088-4B4D-823B-5DAC1ADDCDAA
Beckhoplia occidentalis Dombrow, 2005: 127 ex parte.
Type locality. [RSA, NCP]: Botterkloof Pass.
Type material. [42] Holotype ♂: yellow label hw «54» pr «.992 | coll. Dombrow» || white label pr « RSA, WC, Botterkloof Pass | 31°49,978’S– 19°16,093’E | 524m, 29.08.2012 | leg: J.F. Colville & A. Melin» || green label pr «Host plant: | Didelta spinosa » || blue label pr «Bioregion: | Rainshadow Valley Karroo | Vegetation Type: SKv3 – | Agter-Sederberg Shrubland» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071224» || red label pr « Holotype | Beckhoplia | caliginosa sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC). – Paratypes 7 ♂♂, 22 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «50» pr «.379–.407 | coll. Dombrow» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | caliginosa sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (ESDW); 4 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «50» pr «.408–.411 | coll. Dombrow» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071224» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | caliginosa sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (SAMC); 6 ♀♀: white label pr « RSA, NCP, Botterkloof | Pass, 31.48S– 19.16E | 25/08/1999 | leg.: J. Colville» || green label pr «Host plant: | Didelta spinosa » || blue label pr «Bioregion: | Rainshadow Valley Karroo | Vegetation Type: SKv3 – | Agter-Sederberg Shrubland» || yellow label hw «18» pr «.471–.476 | coll. Dombrow» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | occidentalis sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | caliginosa sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2019» (ESDW); 2 ♀♀: same labels but || yellow label hw «54» pr «.993–.994 | coll. Dombrow» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071224» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | occidentalis sp.n. | det.: H. Dombrow 2003» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | caliginosa 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. nigrofasciata: Posterior corner of pronotum of B. caliginosa rounded. Posterior corner of pronotum of B. nigrofasciata angled. Elytra of B. caliginosa longitudinally bi-costae. Elytra of B. nigrofasciata longitudinally uni-costae. Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. caliginosa undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 78, 108). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. nigrofasciata convex in dorsal view (Figs. 76, 107).
Description
Measurements: length 6.9–7.8 mm; width 3.5–4.0 mm.
Integument: Black; scutellar torus on elytra sometimes brown.
Tegument: Clypeus bare; sparse setose with short, erect, black setae on the inner side of the reflexed anterior and lateral margins. Head loose setose with long and distinctly long, erect, black setae. Eye canthus with a dense setose ciliary of long, black setae. Scapus loose setose with long, black setae, brown ventrally, sparser and shorter on pedicellus; funiculum with few very short, semi-erect, black setae, sparse on clavus. Pronotum loose setose with long and distinctly long, erect, black setae; with a setose ciliary of distinctly long black setae, dense in anterior half, loose in posterior half. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, erect, black setae. Elytra with pattern. Loose setose with short, semi-erect, black setae; long to distinctly long, erect, black setae interspersed, denser anteriorly; with two loose longitudinal rows of long, erect, black setae: a juxta-sutural row from anterior margin crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus, shorter in posterior third and a supra-humeral row from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus towards apical torus terminating towards middle; with three shortened, longitudinal, loose squamose stripes of reclinate, narrowly-lanceolate, grey and white scales: a sutural stripe in posterior third; a juxta-sutural stripe from behind middle, terminating towards apical quarter; a lateral stripe from anterior third, within lateral trench, less dense around apical torus. Suture with a loose setose row of medium-long to distinctly long, robust, erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, black hairs. Ventrite I–V loose setose with short, reclinate and long, semi-erect, black setae. Propygidium loose setose with short, reclinate, black setae; long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Pygidium sparse setose with medium-long and long, erect, black setae; tip with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long and long, black, setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, black hairs; bare internally. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae; erect medium-long and long ventrally; 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; a medium-long downwards pointing setose ciliary of brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long and distinctly long, black hairs; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; mediumlong, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed, finer, medium-long and long internally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of short and medium-long, black bristles; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with long, erect, black setae; whitish ventrally; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semierect, black setae; medium-long and long, erect, black setae interspersed; sparser and finer internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of short, black bristles, distinctly lengthening and more robust dorsally and ventrally. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs with sparse setose with short, reclinate, pale-brown setae, lengthening and darker towards metathoracic tarsomeres; 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 short, semi-erect, black setae, lengthening towards metathoracic pretarsomere; few, long, semi-erect, black setae at apical margin, shorter ventrally.
Head: Suture between head and clypeus undulate, interrupted medially, crenated. 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 elliptic, slightly longer than pedicellus and funiculum combined.
Pronotum: Widest at anterior two fifth; loose punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures, dense within anterior and posterior fifth of medial furrow. Anterior corner obtuse. Lateral margin convex. With an indistinct, complete, shallow medial furrow. Posterior corner rounded.
Scutellum: Buckler-shaped; as broad as long; dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures. Lateral margin linearly attenuate in anterior quarter, stronger apically. Tip pointed.
Elytra: Ovate; longer than broad; widest in anterior third; protruding propygidium. Lateral margin slightly convex attenuate apically. Sculpture distinct; slightly pulvinate laterally; humerus distinct; with a broad roundish torus around scutellum; lateral trench distinct; with a distinct juxta-sutural costa from anterior margin beside scutellum towards apical torus terminating in posterior quarter; an indistinct supra-humeral costa from anterior margin beside humerus towards apical torus terminating on disk; slightly narrowly depressed along scutellum; complanate along suture. Loose punctate with very 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 slightly constricted ventrally. Propygidium with a slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium distinctly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin slightly convex; lateral margin linearly attenuate apically; tip rounded.
Prothoracic leg: Femur and tibia slender. Tibia smooth ventrally. Median tooth elongate. Basal tooth rudimentary. Interspace between teeth almost equal. Shape of interspace between anterior and median tooth u-shaped and between median and basal tooth slightly concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined very short; equal in length; slightly less than 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Tarsomere III–IV with a single ventral extension. Pretarsomere distinctly thickened; smooth ventrally; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly longer than pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 7 / 10 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly less than 9 / 10 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 apically; slightly less than 1 / 10 more in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly shorter than external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Tibia as long as femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; slightly more than 4 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with a shortened, undulate ridge ventrally; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slightly longer than pretarsomere. Internal claw less more than 9 / 10 in length of external claw.
Parameres: (Figs. 78–79, 108).
♀♀. Measurements: length 6.8-8.1 mm; width 3.9-4.4 mm.
Integument: Black; elytra transparently pale to dark brown, margins and costae blackened; thoracic tarsi pale red-brown to red-brown.
Tegument: Clypeus sparse setose with short, erect, pale-brown setae. Head loose setose with short and medium-long, erect, brownish setae. Setae on funiculum and clavus brown. Eye canthus with a loose setose ciliary of long, brown setae. Scapus loose setose with medium-long, brown setae, paler ventrally. Pronotum without pattern. Loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, brown setae; short, semi-erect, pale-brown setae interspersed in posterior half of medial furrow; with a setose ciliary of long and distinctly long brown setae, dense in anterior half, loose in posterior half on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, erect, brown setae. Elytra with pattern. Loose setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae; long and distinctly long, erect, brown setae interspersed, denser anteriorly; with three shortened, longitudinal, loose setose stripes of short, reclinate, yellowishorange setae: a sutural stripe in posterior third, a juxta-sutural stripe from behind middle, terminating towards apical third; an indistinct lateral stripe from anterior third, within lateral trench, sometimes around apical torus. Suture with a loose setose row of short to long, robust, semi-erect, brown setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, brown hairs. Ventrite I–V loose setose with short to medium-long, reclinate and long semi-erect, pale-brown setae; long, semi-erect, pale-brown and dark-brown setae interspersed. Propygidium and pygidium loose setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; medium-long and long, semi-erect, pale-brown setae interspersed; tip of pygidium with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long and long, brown setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, brown hairs. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae; medium-long and pale-brown 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 setose ciliary of pale-brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long, brown hairs; distinctly long and pale-brown ventrally. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, brown setae interspersed, long and finer internally. Posterior margin as in male but red-brown. Metathoracic femur loose setose with long, semi-erect, brown setae; distinctly long and pale-brown ventrally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae; medium-long and long, semi-erect, brown setae interspersed; sparse setose with, long, erect, brown setae internally. Posterior margin as in male but setae red-brown. Setae of thoracic tarsi pale red-brown.
Head: Clypeus very slightly depressed laterally; loose to dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures. Anterior margin slightly vertically reflexed. Lateral margin very slightly reflexed. Head dense punctate with very small and small, shallow, roundish, partly merging punctures. Eye on head level. Funicle III very short asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus short elliptic.
Pronotum: Moderate pulvinate laterally; dense punctate with very small and small, shallow, roundish punctures, denser within medial furrow and posteriorly.
Scutellum: Parabola-shaped; broader than long; dense punctate with very small, deep, roundish punctures, micropunctate within; with a shortened, median, longitudinal, narrow, smooth stripe from anterior margin terminating medially. Lateral margin convex.
Elytra: Sculpture indistinct; humerus indistinct; lateral trench indistinct; costae indistinct. Dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between; loose and small on costae.
Abdomen: Distinctly pulvinate; ventrite II–V broadened medially; ventrite V not constricted ventrally. Pygidium slightly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; slightly declined posteriorly; upper margin slightly convex, linear medially; tip linear.
Prothoracic leg: Femur robust. Median tooth of tibia broad triangular-shaped. Basal tooth very small. Shape between teeth concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; equal in length; slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of tibia. Tarsomere III–IV without ventral extension. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; without roundish cutting apically; 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 7 / 10 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined very short; slightly more than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with a smooth ridge ventrally, roundish cutting missing; slightly less than 7 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slender; not broadened medially; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Tibia slightly extended dorso-apically; slightly less than 7 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined short; slightly longer than tibia. Pretarsomere with a granulate ridge ventrally; slightly less than 2 / 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.
Distribution. Western Cape Province (Fig. 140), only known from the type locality.
Vegetation Type. Agter-Sederberg Shrubland (SKv 3).
Host Plants. Asteraceae: Didelta spinosa (L. f.) W. T. Aiton.
Etymology. The name derives from the black colour of the beetle [Latin: caligin- = dark].
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 40-47, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4823.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4401916