Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) Balthasar
Creators: name: Deschodt, Christian M.
name: Davis, Adrian L. V.
name: Scholtz, Clarke H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Scarabaeus

description: Key to the known* species in the subgenus Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) Balthasar adapted from Zur Stassen 1967
*The flightless Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) scholtzi Mostert and Holm 1982 is not included.
1 Interstriae of the elytra completely covered with large punctures that often open into stria forming ribbon-like patterns on interstriae, or smooth rectangular areas on elevated disk-like patches on interstriae, habitus always black................... 2
- Interstriae of the elytra smooth or with small punctures seldom opening into the striae, small dense pitting sometimes present close to the striae but never crossing the interstriae, habitus sometimes metallic green 12
2 Hind femora simple, without deep emargination proximally on posterior edge..................................... 3
– Hind femora deeply emarginated proximally on posterior edge.................................................. 8
3 Dorsal surface of anterior tibiae without pointed humps at the base of the outer teeth............................... 4
- Dorsal surface of anterior tibiae with a small pointed hump at the base of at least two of the outer teeth................ 6
4 Striae of the elytra narrow, shallow, very finely granulated; interstriae only slightly convex, bearing large, flat, smooth, shiny, and square to rectangular raised sections interrupted by pits; raised sections not interconnected nor reaching the striae. Length 9–14mm. Deep sands, SW and S coasts; South Africa ............. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) intricatus (Fabricius 1801)
- Elytral striae wide, somewhat incised; interstriae somewhat arched with moderately large and deep round excavations regularly opening into striae, distribution mainly in Nama Karoo................................................... 5
5 Antennae brown. Metasternal elevation with no large punctures proximally. Hind tibiae distally without angular bulges on outside. Raised interstriae smooth. Ventral edges of aedeagus straight, without angular bulging and without small teeth. Length 13–15mm. Nama Karoo; South Africa, S Namibia ............... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) pabulator Péringuey, 1908
- Antennae black. Metasternal elevation with a few large punctures proximally. Hind tibia distally with three angular bulges on outside, the two proximal ones continue as ridges. Raised interstriae shagreened. Ventral edges of aedeagus widened anteriorly, left paramere widening, forming a small tooth. Length 11–14mm. Nama Karoo; South Africa, S Namibia ...................................................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) karrooensis Zur Strassen 1961
6 Prothorax at base without a row of punctures. Interstriae with very shallow punctations, space between them only slightly elevated. The three proximal outer teeth of the front tibiae each with a pointed tooth-like protrusion at its base. Length 13 mm. Arid SW Angola, NW Namibia ......................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) obsoletepunctatus Balthasar 1940
- Prothorax at base with a row of irregular dense punctures. Interstriae with deep punctations, space between them convex. Only the two proximal outer teeth of the front tibiae each with a pointed tooth-like protrusion at its base..................... 7
7 Microgranulation in base of elytral pits not covering more than a quarter of the width of the interstriae. Sahel and dry savanna regions; W, N central and NE Africa; Senegal to Sudan ................ Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) palemo Olivier 1789
- Microgranulation in base of elytral pits often covering more than a quarter of the width of the interstriae. Summer rainfall regions; Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe; Botswana (uncommon)... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) bohemani (Harold 1868)
8 Emargination proximally on posterior edge of hind femora smooth without hooks, sharp angles or denticles............. 9
- Emargination proximally on posterior edge of hind femora with hooks, sharp angles or denticles..................... 11
9 Antennae black, no second emargination distally on posterior edge of hind femora. Deep sands of Mozambique Coastal Plain, S Mozambique, NE South Africa .................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) gracai Ferreira 1952
- Antennae orange-brown, second emargination distally on posterior edge of hind femora............................ 10
10 Distal emargination on posterior edge of hind femora with clear angular hook at inside. Mozambique Coastal Plain; S Mozambique, NE South Africa ......................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) clanceyi Ferreira 1954
- Distal emargination on posterior edge of hind femora rounded, no angular hook at inside. Sand outlier at base of Soutpansberg, South Africa ........................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) soutpansbergensis Deschodt and Davis spec. nov.
11 Proximal emargination on posterior edge of hind femora not denticulate, terminating with sharp angles at both sides. Length 9–11mm. SE Kalahari deep sands and outliers (South Africa); Central Botswana ............................................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) inquisitus Péringuey 1908
- Proximal emargination on posterior edge of hind femora denticulate, not terminating with sharp angles at both sides. Length 10–12mm. SW Kalahari deep sands; South Africa, Botswana, Namibia ..... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) kochi Ferreira 1952
12 Striae of the elytra deeply incised and conspicuously coarsely punctate, punctures wider than the striae............... 13
- Striae of the elytra only slightly incised, either not punctate or with only a few punctures, punctures not wider than the striae.................................................................................................... 18
13 Front corners of the prothorax conspicuously drawn forward to a point. Very small body size. Length 6–10mm. SW Kalahari,
N Nama Karoo, edge of Namib Desert; South Africa, Namibia ........ Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) parvulus Boheman 1860 - Front corners of the prothorax hardly drawn forward, obtuse angled............................................ 14
14 Body and antennae black. Upper Karoo, South Africa; S Namibia uplands.................................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) megaparvulus Davis and Deschodt spec. nov.
- Upper side of body with green or blue metallic lustre. Antennae yellow to orange brown........................... 15
15 Only the 7th interstriae of the elytra in basal half have a few large punctures; the other interstriae smooth, without punctures. Length: 9–12mm. North of S Kalahari deep sands, outliers to east; South Africa, Botswana, Namibia ............................................................................ Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) lucidulus (Boheman) 1860
- All interstriae of the elytra in basal half with several punctures, which partially coalesce with punctures of the same size on the striae............................................................................................. 16
16 Setae on head black, short. Sand outliers near Soutpansberg and Waterberg, South Africa .......................................................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) niemandi Deschodt and Davis spec. nov.
- Setae on head orange to brown, long.................................................................... 17
17 Punctures on elytra fine, punctures on interstriae not much wider than interstriae. Interstriae of elytra with dense setae. Length: 11–14mm. SW Kalahari deep sands; South Africa, Botswana ............................................................................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) carniphilus Davis and Deschodt spec. nov.
- Punctures on elytra coarse, punctures on interstriae not much wider than interstriae. Interstriae of elytra only with sparse setae. Length: 8–10mm. S Kalahari, sand outliers to east, central Namib Desert; South Africa, Botswana, Namibia ................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) anderseni Waterhouse 1890 … 20
18 Elytra black, sometimes with a greenish, bluish or bronze metallic lustre....................................... 19
- Elytra reddish yellow or reddish-brown.................................................................. 31
19 Sternite V of male with a small granule in the middle just in front of the rear edge. SE coast, Somalia ............................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) laevifrons Fairmare 1884
– Sternite V of male simple, without granules in front of posterior edge........................................... 20
20 Habitus green or muted green.......................................................................... 21
- Habitus black........................................................................................ 23
21 Elytral interstriae flat, not raised, elytra not prominently striated. Deep sands of Mozambique Coastal Plain, S Mozambique, NE South Africa ............................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) planipennis Davis and Deschodt spec. nov.
- Elytral interstriae ribbed or raised, elytra clearly striated..................................................... 22
22 Punctation of prothorax fine. Deep sands of Mozambique Coastal Plain, S Mozambique, NE South Africa ........................................................................ Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) andreaei Zur Strassen 1963
- Punctation of prothorax coarse. Deep Kalahari sands; SW Zambia .............................................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) ermienae Deschodt and Davis spec. nov.
23 Elytral interstriae smooth and flat, elytra not prominently striated. Kalahari deep sands, outliers to east, Central Namib Desert, SW coast; South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia ............ Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) flavicornis (Boheman 1860)
- Elytral interstriae raised, elytra conspicuously striated....................................................... 24
24 Up to 16mm in length................................................................................ 25
- Longer than 17mm ................................................................................... 29
25 Interstriae of elytra with conspicuous punctures............................................................ 26
- Interstriae of elytra without punctures................................................................... 27
26 Interstriae of elytra appearing dull. SW Kalahari deep sands; South Africa, Botswana, Namibia ................................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) inoportunus Ferreira 1953
- Interstriae of elytra brightly shining. SW Kalahari deep sands, Botswana ........................................................................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) nitidus Davis and Deschodt spec. nov.
27 Hair on the head and pronotum black. Antennal colour-orange brown. Inside of front tibiae somewhat serrated. Central Mega- Kalahari; Angola ............................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) gilleti Janssens 1940
- Hair on the head and pronotum yellowish. Antennal colour yellow. Inside of front tibiae finely serrated................ 28
28 Punctation on pronotum fairly dense, punctures close together. S Kalahari deep sands; Namibia, Botswana, South Africa ............................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) damarensis Janssens 1940
- Punctation on pronotum more dispersed. NE Mega-Kalahari; Congo (DRC).................................................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) kwiluensis Janssens 1940
29 Puncture-free centre line of the prothorax hardly raised; elytra simply striated, not ribbed, interstriae uniformly curved with wide matte area, centre line silky mat. Deep West coastal sands, South Africa (Northern and Western Cape Province)................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) reichei Waterhouse 1890
- Puncture-free centre line of the prothorax narrow and clearly raised; elytra ribbed, interstices slightly curved, interstriae narrowly matte along lateral edges, central ribs clear. Inland of Western South Africa and Southern Namibia ............. 30
30 Antennae and dorsal setae black. Sand pans and dunes, South Africa (Free State, Western and Northern Cape Province), Southern Namibia .................................................... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) fritschi Harold 1868
- Antennae and setae entirely orange. Namibia (inland edge of Namib Desert)............................................................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) canaliculatus Fairmaire 1888.
31 Ventral, distal edge of fore femora with a large tooth. Edge of the pygidium strongly emarginate. Length: 13–17 mm. Namib Desert Dune Fields, SW Namibia, NW South Africa ........... Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) rubripennis (Boheman 1860)
- Ventral, distal edge of fore femora without tooth. Edge of the pygidium simple. Length: 9–10 mm. Arid coast; SW Angola, NW Namibia ................................................. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) knobeli Ferreira 1958
description: Published as part of Deschodt, Christian M., Davis, Adrian L. V. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2015, Status changes, new synonymies, key and descriptions of seven new species in the subgenus Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) Balthasar 1965 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), pp. 505-527 in Zootaxa 3931 (4) on pages 521-522, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3931.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/234953