Delopleurus pullus Boheman

(Figure 3A–F)

Delopleurus pullus Boheman 1857; Péringuey 1901; Ferreira 1972; Gillet 1911; Janssens 1939.

Diagnosis

This species is most similar to D. gilleti but can be separated from it in having the pygidium with relatively larger disc punctate with smaller and sparser punctures in males and granulate and pubescent in females, and in having relatively sparsely punctate disc of pronotum.

Description

Beetles are small (4.5–6.1 mm), strongly convex, black or dark brown, upper surface glabrous.

Male (Figure 3A). Clypeus quadridentate, two medial teeth acute, lateral ones rightangled to acute-angled. Clypeus rugose in anterior part and laterally, frons densely punctate (punctures separated by less than a puncture diameter).

Pronotum more or less trapezoidal, about two times wider than long. Anterior and lateral margins bordered, base not bordered. Surface relatively sparsely punctate on disc (punctures separated by two to three puncture diameters) and denser laterally.

Elytra trapezoidal, as wide as long, shiny. Stria relatively deep, with punctures slightly larger than striae width. Elytral intervals feebly convex to almost flat, with minute punctation.

Anterior tibiae with three outer teeth, without a small acute tooth between first outer tooth and apical spur.

Pygidium with relatively slender borders and convex disc. Basal border slender and almost parallel-sided except in the middle. Apical border about twice as thick in the middle as the basal border, becoming more slender laterally. Disc glabrous, punctate with punctures separated by one to two puncture diameters (Figure 3B).

Parameres with a small protrusion ventroapically (visible in lateral view, Figure 3C).

Female (Figure 3D) can be separated from male in having acute, not bifurcated spurs of anterior tibiae and disc of pygidium with small granules and setae (Figure 3E).

Type material

Lectotype (here designated), male with the labels ‘ Caffraria’, ‘ J. Wahlb [erg].’, ‘ Type’, ‘ pullus Boh. det J.Ferrer’ (NHRS). Paralectotypes, male and female with the labels ‘ Caffraria’, ‘ J. Wahlb [erg].’ (NHRS).

Additional material

ANGOLA: Namakunde, II.1923, 1 male, 2 females (SAMC). ZIMBABWE: Mutare [Umtali], 1903, A.Bodong leg., 1 male (SAMC); Empandeni, 1911, J.O’ Neil leg., 2 males, 2 females (SAMC); Salisbury, 1894, G.A.Marshall leg., 3 males (SAMC); Salisbury, XII.1897, G.A.Marshall leg, 1 male (BMNH); Salisbury, XII.1900, G.A. K.Marshall leg., 1 male (IRSNB); 7 miles (11.3 km) south of Matimba, 5.I.1972, Bornemissza & Kirk leg., 1 male (SANC); Bulawayo, XII.1903, G.A.K.Marshall leg., 1 female (BMNH). NAMIBIA: Otjiwarongo district, Abachaus, XII.1951, G. Hobohm leg., 1 male (TMSA); Otjiwarongo district, Abachaus, 16.I.1956, G. Hobohm leg., 1 male, 2 females (NHMB); Kamanyab [Kamanjab], 1 male, 4 females (SAMC); Mafa, II.1923, 2 females (SAMC); Nagusib [Farm 25 southeast Namutoni], I.1922, 1 spm. (SAMC); Kaokoveld, 44 km northwest Ohopoho, 7.II.1975, from under stones, leg. Endrody-Younga leg., 2 females (TMSA). MOZAMBIQUE: Chimoio, XII.1929, P.Lesne leg., 2 females (MNHN). SOUTH AFRICA: D’ Nyala Nature Reserve, Ellisras District, 18–20.XII.1987, Grobbelaar leg., 1 male, 1 female (SANC); Lydenburg District, 1896, P.A.Krantz leg., 1 female (TMSA); Vryburg, 1918, J.Brown leg., 1 male (SAMC); Vryburg, 1893, E.Simoni leg., 1 male, 1 female (MNHN); Malta, 1928, G.van Son leg., 2 males (TMSA); Shiluvane, 1902, 1 female (SAMC); Shiluvane, H.A. Janod leg., 1 female, 2 spm. (MNHN); Ben Alberts Nature Reserve, Thabazimbi, 24–28.XI.1980, S.J. van Tonder leg., 1 male (SANC); Moorddrift, XII.1914, C.J.Swierstra leg., 1 male (IRSNB); Durban, 1846, Boheman, 1 female (MNHN); Legonyane, 11.I.2011, from mushroom, C. Deschodt leg., 1 male, 4 females (UPSA); ‘ Natal’, 1 male (MNHN).

Distribution

The species is widely distributed in the northern part of Southern Africa (Figure 3F).