Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949

Perissinotto, Renzo & Garnier, Thierry, 2025, Description of new species of Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) Holm & Perissinotto, 2010 with revision of the subgenus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae, Cremastocheilini), Fragmenta entomologica 57 (1), pp. 65-89 : 77

Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949

( Figs 6-10 , 15 )

Spilophorus (Pseudospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949: 306–8 .

Spilophorus grandis . Marais & Holm 1992: 73; Krajčík 1999: 30.

Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis . Holm & Perissinotto 2010: 52; Krajčík 2024: 226.

Diagnosis. Its close resemblance with S. (P.) holmi sp. nov., described further down, has led to the past confusion and mixing up of characters between the two species. As explained in greater detail under the description of the latter species, the two can be separated mainly on the basis of the colour of their tomentum (white-cream in S. (P.) grandis rather than golden-cream like in S. (P.) holmi ), and the size of the protibial ventral tooth, which is rather well- developed in S. (P.) grandis but atrophic in S. (P.) holmi . Also, the central gap between right and left lobes of the aedeagal parameres is virtually obsolete in the latter species, while it is rather wide in the former, as a result of the markedly arcuate inner margins of its lobes.

Data Records. Type series. HT ♀, [ South Africa]: Barberton [S25°47’ E31°03’], 2.1906, Miss de Beer, Typus Spilophorus grandis m. det. Schein, München ( TMSA) .

Other records. South Africa: 1♀, KZN, False Bay [S 27 o 58’, E 32 o 23’], 27 Mar 2010, Drowned on lake shores, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( RPGS) ; 1♀, idem, 2 Apr 2010 ( BMCS) ; 2♂, idem, 2 May 2010 ( BMCS) ; 1♂, idem, 16 May 2010 ( RPGS) ; 1♀, idem, Nov 2015 ( TGMF) ; 2♂ + 1♀, ibidem, 11 Nov 2016, Inside aerial nests of Crematogaster peringueyi, R Perissinotto & L Clennell ( RPGS) ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

Fig. 6 – Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949 (South Africa, KZN, False Bay 16 Nov 2016): Aerial nest of Crematogaster peringueyi (Emery, 1895) (A); male specimen found inside it (B). Photos: Lynette Clennell.

Fig. 7 – Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949, ♂ (South Africa, False Bay KZN): dorsal habitus (A); ventral habitus (B); lateral habitus (C); clypeus (D); pygidium (E); aedeagal parameres, dorsal view (F); aedeagal parameres, lateral view (G). Photos: Lynette Clennell.

Fig. 8 – Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949, ♀ (South Africa, False Bay KZN): dorsal habitus (A); ventral habitus (B); lateral habitus (C); mentum (D); clypeus (E); pygidium (F). Photos: Lynette Clennell.

Fig. 9 – Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949, HT♀ (South Africa, Barberton): dorsal habitus (A); ventral habitus (B); lateral habitus (C); clypeus (D); pygidium (E); labels (F). Photos: Werner Strümpher.

Fig. 10 – Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) grandis Schein, 1949, Schein’s ♂ (No locality): dorsal habitus (A); ventral habitus (B); lateral habitus (C); labels (D); clypeus (E); pygidium (plate missing) (F); aedeagal parameres, dorsal view (G); aedeagal parameres, lateral view (H). Photos: Werner Strümpher.

Fig. 15 – Spilophorus (Prospilophorus) subgenus: Known distribution range of the species within the Afrotropical Realm (Map: Google Earth Pro with image from Landsat/Copernicus 12/14/2015).