Stegopterus fuscus, 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 fuscus sp. nov.

Fig. 8

Type material.

Holotyp e. South Africa – WCP • ♂; Montagu ; Oct / Nov. 1919; SAMC: SAM-COL-A 040045 .

Diagnosis.

Stegopterus fuscus sp. nov. differs from S. langebergicus sp. nov., the closest species, by having the clypeus lateral margin strongly reborded and slightly narrowing towards the base, as well as the protibia externally tridentate with all three teeth equally spaced (see dichotomous key). Moreover, the predominant colour of its integument is fulvous, while in S. langebergicus sp. nov. it is black. The shape of its parameres is also quite distinctive (Fig. 8 F, G ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Measurements. Total length = 10.3 mm; maximum width = 5.1 mm. Body. Stocky, with melolonthinoid shape; fuscous coloured, head and scutellum black, pronotum black, with green metallic hue; head black, except brownish anterior margin of clypeus; pronotum and scutellum with predominant metallic green hue and black margins; legs brownish, darkened in places. Head. Glabrous, with some scattered, residual long, testaceous setae; clypeus wider than long (1.7 times), covered with thick, round punctures, somewhat confluent at sides; anterior margin retuse, anterior corners rounded, lateral margins strongly reborded and slightly narrowing towards base (Fig. 8 D ); antennal clubs missing. Pronotum. Surface imbricate, covered with residual, scattered, long, testaceous setae. Scutellum. Covered with dense, round punctures, confluent at sides. Elytra. Exhibiting large black band joining anteapical and intrahumeral humbones; lateral margin black, apical margin fulvous with scattered, round punctures; striae visible and sculptured with large punctures; lateral declivity horizontally shagreened; presence of large sutural / juxtascutellar black band with green hue, not reaching posterior margin. Pygidium. Fulvous, wider than long, surface imbricate, covered with residual, scattered, long testaceous setae. Legs. Protibia tridentate, with all three teeth equally spaced; proximal tooth rounded and obsolete; mesotibia curved, lower spur about 30 % shorter than upper spur; second metatarsal segment as long as first. Venter. Abdomen fulvous, covered with scattered round punctures and very long, backwards-flattened setae.

Etymology.

The name is derived from the dark brown (fuscous) colour of most of its body surface. Adjective in the nominative singular case.

Distribution.

The only record available for this species was collected near Montagu in the Klein Karoo region. However, as the genus is associated with typical fynbos vegetation, it is likely that the holotype specimen originates from the Kogsmankloof Pass in the Langeberg range, just above the town of Montagu (Fig. 21 ).

Remarks.

The female is unknown and both antennal clubs of the male holotype are missing. There is no available information on the biology / ecology of this species.

Figures

Figure 8. Stegopterus fuscus sp. nov., holotype ♂ TMSA A dorsal habitus B lateral habitus C ventral habitus D head and protibia E pygidium F parameres, frontal view G parameres, lateral 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.