Stegopterus cochraneae, Ricchiardi & Perissinotto & Strümpher, 2025

Ricchiardi, Enrico, Perissinotto, Renzo & Strümpher, Werner, 2025, Revision of the Western Cape endemic genus Stegopterus Burmeister & Schaum, 1840 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae, Trichiini), African Invertebrates 66 (1), pp. 151-191 : 151-191

Stegopterus cochraneae sp. nov.

Fig. 6

Type material.

Holotype. South Africa – WCP • ♂; Zuur Vlakte, Wellington ; 3000 ft [~ 900 m]; Nov. 1922; R. Lawrence leg.; SAMC: SAM-COL-A 040047 .

Paratypes. South Africa – WCP • 31 ♂; SW Cape Prov., Hawequas Mt ; 33.40S, 19.05E [33°40'S, 19°05'E]; E-Y 1519; 1350 m; 4 Dec. 1978; Endrödy-Younga leg.; grassnetting; TMSA • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; MNHM • 1 ♂; Franschhoek ; E. P. Phillips leg.; 1913; ERPC • 2 ♂ same data as for preceding; SAMC: SAM-COL-A 040048 a and b • 1 ♂; Du Toits Peak, Huguenot ; 6000 ’ [ft] [~ 1800 m]; SAMC: SAM COL-A 040049 • 3 ♂; Dutoits Kloof ; 1350 m; 5 Nov. 1976; N. J. Duke leg.; TMSA • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; ERPC • 1 ♂; Dutoitskloof Pass ; 28 Dec. 2017; R. Perissinotto & Lynette Clennell leg.; RPRM .

Diagnosis.

Stegopterus cochraneae sp. nov. differs from S. pallidulus sp. nov. by having the clypeal lateral margin reborded and narrowing towards apex and the metatibial lower spur much shorter than the upper (see dichotomous key below). The shape of its parameres is also very distinctive (Fig. 6 F, G ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Measurements. Total length = 13.6 mm; maximum width = 6.9 mm. Body. Stocky, with melolonthinoid shape, black, with some green metallic hue, partially orange-brown antennae, elytra and legs orange-brown; elytra bordered by broad black band fading towards apical margin; second black band joining external basal corner to anteapical humbone also present. Head. Vertex covered with testaceous, very long, dense setae, bent backwards; clypeus wider than long (2.1 times), glabrous, deeply hollowed, broad and covered with thick, round punctures; anterior margin slightly retuse, anterior corners rounded, lateral margins mildly reborded and narrowing towards apex (Fig. 6 D ); antennal club curved, about 1.35 times clypeal length. Pronotum. Wider than long, with maximum width at base; black with predominant green metallic hue; surface imbricate and covered with thick, long, testaceous setae. Scutellum. Black, covered by dense, round punctures. Elytra. Dark brown-orange, semi-transparent with apicosutural corner rounded and humeral humbones prominent; posterior border shagreened; discal striae visible and exhibiting large punctures; lateral declivity horizontally shagreened. Pygidium. Wider than long, black with predominant green metallic hue; surface imbricate and covered with long, testaceous, flattened setae. Legs. Protibia externally tridentate, with distal two teeth closer to each other than to third and apical tooth rounded; mesotibia strongly bent ventrally, with the upper spur long and straight, lower spur about 30 % shorter than upper spur; apex of mesotibia with twelve prominent, reddish, regularly spaced setae; second metatarsal segment as long as first. Venter. Abdomen black, with green metallic hue, covered with large, round punctures, locally imbricate and with very long, backwards flattened setae.

Type series variability.

The metallic green hue that is so prominent in the holotype is much reduced in the paratypes, and the black band bordering the elytra is reduced in one of them. Sometimes the clypeus is covered with long, testaceous setae. Some specimens have more enlarged black areas on the elytra. Also, the pronotal metallic colour varies from blue to green or even purple.

Etymology.

This species is dedicated to Margie Cochrane, a former curator at SAMC. Noun in the genitive singular case.

Distribution.

This is a high-altitude dweller that occurs across the entire mountainous area between the towns of Paarl, Franschhoek and Worcester. This area comprises the Hawekwaberge and the Dutoitsberge ranges (Fig. 21 ).

Remarks.

The female is yet unknown and there is no available information on the biology / ecology of this species.

Figures

Figure 6. Stegopterus cochraneae sp. nov., holotype ♂ SAMC A dorsal habitus B lateral habitus C ventral habitus D head E pygidium F Parameres, lateral view G parameres, frontal view H labels. Photographs: W. S. Scale bars: 2 mm (A – C); 1 mm (D, E); 1 mm (F, G).

Figure 21. Distribution map of Stegopterus species occurring in the Western Cape, South Africa.