Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2017-01-06
Page range: 292–298
Abstract views: 57
PDF downloaded: 2

A new brachypterous species of Phoberus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Trogidae)
and status changes of species in the East African P. nigrociliatus group

Scarab Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
Scarab Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
Coleoptera Afrotropical Region flightlessness key keratin-feeding Malawi Nyika Plateau

Abstract

A new brachypterous species, Phoberus nyikanus Strümpher (Coleoptera: Trogidae), is described from Malawi. In addition, three status changes are proposed: Phoberus nigrociliatus (Kolbe) from the Ethiopian highlands, P. nyansanus (Haaf) from central East Africa, and P. nyassicus (Haaf) from southern Tanzanian mountains are elevated to species level. A key is provided to aid in the identification of members of the P. nigrociliatus group, and the species in the group are illustrated by photographs. This brings the total number of species in the genus to 44.

 

 

References

  1. Arrow, G.J. (1927) A note on the coleopterous genus Trox, with description of a few new Asiatic species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 9, volume 19, 465–468.

    Balthasar, V. (1939) Neue Arten der coprophagen Scarabaeiden aus dem Museo Zoologico della Università di Firenze. Redia, 25, 1–36.

    Browne, D.J., Scholtz, C.H. & Kukalová-Peck, J. (1993) Phylogenetic significance of wing characters in the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). African Entomology, 1, 195–206.

    Haaf, E. (1953) Die afrikanischen Arten der Gattung Trox F. (Col. Scarab.). Entomologische Arbeiten aus dem Museum Georg Frey, 4, 309–346.

    Kolbe, H.J. (1904) Über einige interessante Lamellicornier und Tenebrioniden Afrikas. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 49, 282–302.

    MacLeay, W.S. (1819) Horae entomologicae; or essays on the annulose animals. Containing general observations on the geography, manners, and natural affinities of the Insects which compose the genus Scarabaeus of Linnaeus; to which are added a few incidental remarks on the genera Lucanus and Hister of the same author. With an appendix and plates. Volume 1, Part 1. S. Bagster, London, United Kingdom, 160 pp.

    Scholtz, C.H. (1980) Monograph of the genus Trox F. (Coleoptera: Trogidae) of Subsaharan Africa. Cimbebasia Memoir, 4, 1–104.

    Scholtz, C.H. (1981) Aptery in Trox (Coleoptera: Trogidae): morphological changes and their relationship to habitat. Journal of the Entomological Society of southern Africa, 44, 83–87.

    Scholtz, C.H. (1982) Catalogue of world Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Entomology Memoir, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Republic of South Africa, 54, 1–27.

    Scholtz, C.H. (1986) Phylogeny and systematics of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Systematic Entomology, 11, 355–363.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1986.tb00186.x

    Strümpher, W.P. & Scholtz, C.H. (2009) New species and status changes of small flightless relictual Trox Fabricius from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Trogidae). Insect Systematics and Evolution, 40, 71–84.
    https://doi.org/10.1163/187631209X416723

    Strümpher, W.P. & Scholtz, C.H. (2011) Description of a new, possibly extinct, species of flightless Trox F. (Coleoptera: Trogidae) from South Africa. Insect Systematics and Evolution, 42, 337–348.
    https://doi.org/10.1163/187631211X595065

    Strümpher, W.P., Sole, C.L., Villet, M.H. & Scholtz, C.H. (2014) Phylogeny of the family Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data. Systematic Entomology, 39, 548–562.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12074

    Strümpher, W.P., Villet, M.H., Sole, C.L. & Scholtz, C.H. (2016) Overview and revision of the extant genera and subgenera of Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Insect Systematics and Evolution, 47, 53–82.
    https://doi.org/10.1163/1876312X-46052133

    Zidek, J. (2013) Checklist and bibliography of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Insecta Mundi, 314, 1–38.