ABSTRACT
A new species of dung beetle, Proagoderus mabuensis Daniel, Josso, Nganhane & Strmpher, new species from Mount Mabu, northern Mozambique, is described, diagnosed, and illustrated. We provide a morphological comparison between the new species and a similar species from Mount Namuli, Mozambique, Proagoderus camiadei Josso, 2014. Both species belong to the Proagoderus dives (Harold, 1877) species-group. Furthermore, we provide an updated checklist of all known members of the dives species-group.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , MozambiqueABSTRACT
In November 2023, Deschodt & Sole (2023) proposed the new genus-group name Hathor Deschodt for a peculiar, putatively ant-associated onthophagine dung beetle from Gauteng province, South Africa. The genus is as yet known only from the female holotype of the species Hathor spinosa Deschodt, 2023. It was overlooked that the new generic name is preoccupied by Hathor Kirkaldy & Edwards, 1902, as regulated by the Principle of Homonymy (Articles 5260 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature [henceforth the Code, Anonymous 1999]). Hathor Kirkaldy & Edwards is a monotypic genus of red bug or cotton stainer (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoroidea: Pyrrhocoridae) from tropical Africa, itself a junior subjective synonym of Sericocoris Karsch, 1892. Sericocoris is currently a valid genus (Robertson 2004; Stehlk & Jindra 2011).
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Heteroptera , Female , Animals , South Africa , ZoologyABSTRACT
Onthophagus mabuensis Daniel, Strümpher & Josso, new species, is diagnosed, described and illustrated from Mount Mabu, which is situated in north-central Mozambique. Morphological comparison is made between this new forest species and similar species from Malawi and Zambia in group 3 of Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, as classified by d'Orbigny (1913). In addition, we provide a checklist of all known group 3 species.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Coleoptera/anatomy & histology , MozambiqueABSTRACT
Mabu Forest in northern-central Mozambique harbours the largest continuous block of rainforest remaining in southern Africa. Also, the region is known for its exceptional levels of biodiversity, including a high level of endemism. Several new taxa of plants and animals have been discovered from previous biological expeditions. Last year, we conducted the first dung beetle exploration in the regionwhere almost half of the dung beetle species collected are new to science. In this paper, we describe, diagnose and illustrate Pedaria ricardogutai Daniel, Strmpher & Josso, new species. We compared the new species to the most morphologically similar species, Pedaria sudrei Josso & Prvost, 2003. We also provide an annotated checklist of 17 species of Pedaria Laporte, 1832, recorded from Mozambique, including type localities and distribution records.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Mozambique , Biodiversity , ForestsABSTRACT
Silvaphilus joselmae Daniel, Strmpher Deschodt, new species is diagnosed and described from the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa. The tribal affiliation of Silvaphilus Roets Oberlander, 2010 is briefly discussed. We revise some generic characters and update the key for the species and genera in the tribe Endroedyolini Davis, Deschodt Scholtz, 2019. We also provide a distribution map of the two Silvaphilus species.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Feces , South AfricaABSTRACT
A new species of dung beetle, Stiptopodius brancoi Strmpher Daniel, new species, from Namibia, is diagnosed, described, and illustrated. The new species is the first Stiptopodius recorded from the country and belong to the singularis species group. A revised key as well as a checklist of Stiptopodius species recorded from the African continent are provided.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Grassland , NamibiaABSTRACT
Haroldius lyleae Daniel, Strmpher Snll, new species, is described and illustrated from South Africa. The new species can be easily distinguished from other species of the genus by its notable triangular clypeus lacking the distinctive mid-anterior indentation and denticles present in other Haroldius Boucomont, 1914 species. Monomorium albopilosum Emery, 1895 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is recorded as a possible ant host of the new species. Haroldius modestus (Janssens, 1953) is recorded from Zimbabwe for the first time, and Haroldius convexus (Philips Scholtz, 2000) is now recorded from the North West and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa as well.
Subject(s)
Ants , Coleoptera , Africa, Southern , Animals , South AfricaABSTRACT
It is proposed that the genus Stiptopodius Harold, 1871 should be subdivided into two species groups based on the shape of the lateral edge of the pronotum. Three new species are described from southern Africa: Stiptopodius peringueyi Daniel Deschodt, new species, Stiptopodius savuti Daniel Deschodt, new species, and Stiptopodius muellerae Daniel Deschodt, new species. Stiptopodius savuti new species is the first record of the genus from Botswana. A distribution map for the new taxa is provided. The identification key to the known species of Stiptopodius is updated.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Africa, Southern , AnimalsABSTRACT
Five new species of Epirinus Dejean, 1833 were discovered during databasing of dung beetle collections. These are described here, as Epirinus inparrugosus Deschodt Davis, new species, Epirinus jacobsae Deschodt Davis, new species, Epirinus muellerae Deschodt Davis, new species, Epirinus pseudorelictus Deschodt Davis, new species and Epirinus schoolmeestersi Deschodt Davis, new species. Using comparisons based on morphology, we also studied the taxonomic status of five morphologically-allied, allopatric populations of Epirinus from isolated forest patches in northeast KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and eastern eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). On the basis of these comparisons we synonymize Epirinus hluhluwensis Medina Scholtz, 2005, and Epirinus ngomae Medina Scholtz, 2005, with Epirinus davisi Scholtz Howden, 1987. A distribution map is provided for all of these species. Furthermore, the first record for the genus in Namibia is reported and an updated key is provided for all known species of the genus.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Namibia , South AfricaABSTRACT
Descriptions are provided for three new shade-associated species in the dung beetle genus, Sisyphus Latreille, 1807: Sisyphus umbraphilus sp. nov., Sisyphus oralensis sp. nov., and Sisyphus neobornemisszanus sp. nov. All three species are illustrated by photographs of habitus, diagnostic features, and male aedeagi. A map is provided showing their geographical distributions.