Revision of the genus Delopleurus Boheman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) with description of new species from Africa

Abstract

The genus Delopleurus Erichson, 1847, is revised. Five new species are described from Africa: Delopleurus naviauxi sp. nov., Delopleurus krikkeni sp. nov., Delopleurus darrenmanni sp. nov., Delopleurus fossatus sp. nov. and Delopleurus pubescens sp. nov. One new synonymy is established (Delopleurus parvus (Sharp, 1875) = Delopleurus cardoni Paulian, 1934, syn. nov.). Lectotype of Delopleurus pullus Boheman, 1857, is designated. Delopleurus janssensi Frey, 1963, is transferred to the genus Metacatharsius Paulian, 1939. A key to the Delopleurus species and locality maps are given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:67AE5CC5-9C9C-4872-A2B6-68C3BA82C44A

Keywords:

• Coleoptera
• Scarabaeidae
• Delopleurus
• new species
• new synonymy
• new combination
• key to species
• Africa-Southern Asia disjunction
• mycetophagy

Acknowledgements

I am thankful to the colleagues who provided material and data for this work: Adrian Davis (UPSA), Alain Drumont (IRSNB), Bert Viklund (NHRS), Christian Deschodt (UPSA), Darren Mann (OUMNH), Eva Sprecher-Uebersax (NHMB), Kirstin Williams (DMAGD), Marc De Meyer (MRAC), Margie Cochrane (SAMC), Max Barclay (BMNH), Olivier Montreuil (MNHN), Riaan Stals (SANC), and Ruth Müller (TMSA). Special thanks are due to Marc De Meyer who hosted me at MRAC on two long-term occasions. Corrections and suggestions from three anonymous reviewers considerably improved the manuscript.