Beckhoplia colvillei 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
Beckhoplia colvillei

description: Beckhoplia colvillei Dombrow, 2005
(Figs. 1, 3–5, 8, 15, 19–22, 34–35, 41, 44–45, 51, 72–73, 105) http://zoobank.org/ 1B2F14BA-5603-4601-AB77-79A8273CC0E9
Beckhoplia colvillei Dombrow, 2005: 128.
Type locality. [RSA, NC]: Farm Glenlyon [now Hantam National Botanical Garden].
Type material. [45] Holotype ♂: white label: pr « RSA, NCP, Nieuwoudtv., | Farm Glenlyon, 31.24S– | 19.08E, 22/08/1998, | leg.: J. Colville » || yellow label hw «10168» | pr «coll. Dombrow » || green label pr «Host plant: | Gazania rigida » || blue label pr «Bioregion: | Shale Renosterveld | Vegetation Type: FRs2 – | Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071226» || red type label pr « Holotype | Beckhoplia | colvillei sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» (SAMC). – Paratypes 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «18», pr «.811,.817,.848 | coll. Dombrow » || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071226» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | colvillei sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» (SAMC); 36 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «18», pr «.774,.776–.810,.812–.816 | coll. Dombrow » || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | colvillei sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» (ESDW).
Condition of holotype. Good. Pinned. Dissected, parameres and spiculum gastrale glued on separate card below beetle. Right prothoracic tarsus and right metathoracic tarsus missing after tarsomere I.
Remark. The following specimens from the original type series are transferred to several other species, because of the distinct morphological differences see descriptions of the target species: Specimens from the locality “Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve” are transferred to B. nigrosetosa sp.n.; specimens with the locality “Farm Glenlyon …#210” are transferred to B. castanea; specimens from the locality “Hantam, Nieuwoudtville” to B. suturalis sp.n.; and specimens from the locality “Biedouw Valley” to B. dolichiocnemis sp.n.
Differential diagnosis. Differs from B. pulchra: Lateral margin of pronotum of B. colvillei widest in anterior half. Lateral margin of pronotum of B. pulchra widest at posterior corner. Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. colvillei linear with a median convex extension in dorsal view (Figs. 72, 105). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. pulchra undulate in dorsal view (Figs. 74, 106). Interno-posterior margin of parameres of B. colvillei very narrow curly bracket-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 72, 105). Interno-posterior margin of parameres of B. pulchra broad curly bracket-shaped in dorsal view (Figs. 74, 106).
Redescription
Measurements: length 6.7–8.4 mm; width 3.5–4.5 mm.
Integument: Black; funiculum pale-brown annulated; elytra transparently pale-brown, margins sometimes blackened.
Tegument: Clypeus bare; loose setose with short, erect, brown setae on the inner side of the reflexed anterior and lateral margin. Head loose setose with long, erect, black setae. Eye canthus with a dense setose ciliary of long, black setae. Scapus loose setose with medium-long, black setae, pale-brown ventrally, sparse and short on pedicellus; funiculum with few short, semi-erect, black setae; sparse and brown on clavus. Pronotum loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, brown setae; with a loose setose ciliary of long and distinctly-long, black setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, erect, black setae. Elytra without pattern. Loose setose with short, semi-erect, brown setae; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed, long on humerus and along anterior margin; few short, semi-erect, whitish, squamiform setae interspersed around apical torus; with two sparse rows of medium-long, erect, black setae, slightly shorter in posterior half: a juxta-sutural row from anterior margin, crossing scutellar torus to apical torus; a juxta-humeral row from beside humerus to apical torus. Suture with a loose row of robust, medium-long to distinctly-long, semi-erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, black hairs. Ventrite I–V loose setose with short, reclinate, brownish setae; medium-long and long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Propygidium loose squamose with reclinate, narrowly-lanceolate, pale-brown and whitish scales; medium-long and long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Pygidium sparse setose with long and distinctlylong, erect, black setae; tip with a loose ciliary of medium-long and long, black setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, black hairs; bare internally. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, white setae; short, semi-erect, black setae interspersed dorsally; medium-long, erect, black setae interspersed 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, 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, black hairs; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, white setae, sparser internally; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed, long internally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of very short and short, black bristles; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with long, erect, black setae, long black hairs interspersed; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, brown setae; medium-long and long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed, denser and long internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of short and medium-long, brown bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally, more robust ventrally. Prothoracic and mesothoracic tarsomere I–IV bare. Metathoracic tarsomere I–IV sparse setose with short, reclinate, brown 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 all thoracic legs sparse setose with short, semi-erect, pale-brown setae; few, medium-long, semi-erect, red-brown setae at apical margin, shorter and paler ventrally.
Head: Suture between head and clypeus undulate, 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 medially; dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures, loose on disk. Anterior corner orthogonal. Lateral margin linearly attenuate anteriorly, subparallel posteriorly. With an indistinct, complete, shallow medial furrow. Posterior corner angled.
Scutellum: Buckler-shaped; longer than broad; dense punctate with small to large, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctate within; with a shortened, median, longitudinal, very narrow, smooth stripe from anterior margin terminating in anterior third. Lateral margin linearly attenuate in anterior two thirds, stronger apically. Tip pointed.
Elytra: Ovate; longer than broad; widest medially; protruding propygidium. Lateral margin slightly convex attenuate apically. Sculpture indistinct; slightly pulvinate laterally; humerus indistinct; with a broad roundish torus around scutellum; lateral trench missing; complanate beside scutellum and along suture. Loose punctate with extremely small to very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between; a sparse juxta-sutural row of small, shallow, roundish punctures from anterior margin, crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus; a sparse supra-humeral row of small, shallow, roundish punctures from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus towards apical torus.
Abdomen: Ventrite I extremely shortened medially; ventrite V broadest, not constricted ventrally. Propygidium with a slightly projected stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium slightly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin moderately convex; lateral margin linearly attenuate apically; tip rounded.
Prothoracic leg: Femur robust. Tibia slender; with a longitudinal, medio-ventral ridge. Median tooth elongate. Basal tooth very small. Interspace between teeth almost equal. Shape of interspace between teeth concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; lengthening from tarsomere I–IV; slightly more than 2 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with a shortened smooth ridge ventrally; as long as tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly less than 1 / 10 more in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 7 / 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 apically; 9 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Tibia slightly more than 9 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with a smooth ridge ventrally; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slightly less than 1 / 5 more in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of external claw.
Parameres: (Figs. 72–73, 105).
♀♀. Measurements: length 8.5–9.3 mm; width 4.2–5.1 mm.
Integument: Black; flagellum brown; thoracic legs dark brown; metathoracic tibia and all thoracic tarsi paler.
Tegument: Clypeus loose setose with short, erect, brown setae, medium-long on head. Eye canthus with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long, brown setae. Setae on funiculum and clavus extremely short. Pronotum without pattern. Loose setose with short, reclinate and long, semi-erect, brown setae; with a loose setose ciliary of long, brown setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, semi-erect, whitish and brown setae. Elytra loose setose with very short and short, semi-erect, pale-brown setae; medium-long, semi-erect, brown setae interspersed; few long, semi-erect, pale-brown, squamiform setae within lateral trench and around apical torus. Suture with a loose row of short and medium-long, semi-erect, robust, brown setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, pale-brown hairs. Ventrite I–V loose setose with short, reclinate, pale-brown setae; medium-long and long, erect, brown setae interspersed. Propygidium and pygidium loose setose with short, reclinate, pale-brown setae; medium-long, semi-erect, brown setae interspersed; tip of pygidium with a loose ciliary of short and mediumlong, brown setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with short and medium-long, brown hairs. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, pale-brown setae dorsally, erect, medium-long and long ventrally; with a setaceous ciliary of short, pale-brown setae on anterior margin. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long, brown hairs; paler ventrally. Mesothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, pale-brown setae; sparser internally; medium-long, semi-erect, robust, red-brown setae interspersed, longer internally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of very short and short, red-brown bristles; lengthening dorsally and ventrally; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with medium-long and long, whitish and brown setae. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, white setae; medium-long and long, robust, semi-erect, brown setae interspersed, loose 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. Ciliary of tarsomere I–IV of thoracic legs red-brown. Pretarsomere of thoracic legs sparse setose with extremely short, semi-erect, pale-brown setae.
Head: Clypeus very slightly depressed laterally; dense punctate with large, shallow roundish punctures. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly vertically reflexed. Lateral margin very slightly reflexed. Head dense punctate with small to large, shallow, roundish, partly merging punctures. Eye below head level. Clavus as long as pedicellus and funiculum combined.
Pronotum: Moderate pulvinate laterally. Anterior corner orthogonal. Lateral margin convex. Posterior corner rounded.
Scutellum: Parabola-shaped; as broad as long; dense punctate with small, shallow, roundish punctures. Lateral margin convex. Tip rounded.
Elytra: Widest in anterior quarter; covering propygidium. Sculpture indistinct; scutellar torus missing; lateral trench indistinct. Dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between.
Abdomen: Distinctly pulvinate; ventrite I distinctly shortened medially; ventrite II–V broadened medially; ventrite V not constricted ventrally. Pygidium slightly declined posteriorly; tip linear.
Prothoracic leg: Median tooth broad triangular-shaped. Tarsomere I–IV combined very short; equal in length; 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender; smooth ventrally, roundish cutting missing; slightly less than 3 / 5 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slender; not broadened; as long as pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of internal claw.
Mesothoracic leg: Tibia 4 / 5 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; smooth ventrally, roundish cutting missing; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slender; not broadened medially; as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 9 /
10 in length of external claw.
Metathoracic leg: Femur slightly thickened. Tibia slightly extended dorso-apically; slightly more than 7 / 10 in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined short; slightly less than 7 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slender; with a granulate ridge ventrally. Internal claw slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of external claw.
Distribution. Northern Cape Province (Fig. 140), only known from the type locality.
Vegetation Type. Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld (FRs 2).
Host Plants. Asteraceae: Gazania rigida (Burm. f.) Roessler.
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 33-36, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4823.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4401916