Comparison with a syntype of Kheper cupreus (Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) confirms that Kheper namibicus Krajcik, 2006 is a synonym

Following its original description, Kheper namibicus Krajcik, 2006, was synonymized with Kheper cupreus (Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) by Deschodt et al. (2011) but later re-erected as a valid species or subspecies (Krajcik 2020). This paper discusses the evidence for validity versus synonymy and provides further support that Kheper namibicus is, indeed, a junior subjective synonym of Kheper cupreus.http://www.mapress.com/zootaxaZoology and Entomolog

Dung beetle conservation biogeography in southern Africa: current challenges and potential effects of climatic change

Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene changes to the geomorphology, climate and vegetation of southern Africa are considered responsible for radical differences between southwest and northeast dung beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) leading to current endemism in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. This bias is supported by distributional analysis of 437 species across vegetation regions and 2° × 2° squares of latitude and longitude using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and minimum spanning trees (MST). The ordinal values for six NMDS dimensions showed significant correlations with annual rainfall, annual temperature, rainfall seasonality and altitude. Significant climatic differences were also shown between six regional centres defined and modelled for the subcontinent: winter/bimodal rainfall, southwest arid, southeast highlands, savanna, sandy savanna and east coast. Twenty-one, principal, subregional centres defined from further NMDS and MST analyses of regional data showed significant intra-regional differences in climatic attributes although published data suggest that soil, vegetation and dung type associations were frequent additional influences. Species showing the smallest ranges were centred primarily around the coast and bordering escarpments, which coincide with regions and subregions showing unique environmental conditions characterized by many endemic genera and species. Published land use data indicate that large parts of these regions are highly transformed or degraded, so that some species are facing strong current threats. Furthermore, published global climatic change data suggest that many endemic species could be further threatened, especially to the southwest where the late Cenozoic trend to unique climatic and environmental conditions could, potentially, be reversed in the future.JRS Biodiversity Foundation Grant No. GNT60313http://link.springer.com/journal/105312020-11-26hj2020Zoology and Entomolog

Transfer of three species of Namakwanus Scholtz & Howden to Versicorpus Deschodt, Davis & Scholtz or to Namaphilus gen. nov., with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae)

Taxonomic changes are made in the Byrrhidium group of Canthonini dung beetles. The genera Versicorpus Deschodt, Davis & Scholtz, 2011 and Namakwanus Scholtz & Howden, 1987 currently comprise one and four species, respectively. Re-examination of the type material of Namakwanus irishi Scholtz & Howden, 1987 indicates that the holotype and paratypes from mountains near Windhoek, Namibia, differ from the paratype from the Kuiseb River near Gobabeb in the Central Namib, warranting description of a new species, Namakwanus scholtzi spec. nov. Other species included in the genus, Namakwanus davisi Deschodt & Scholtz, 2007 and Namakwanus endroedyi Deschodt, Davis & Scholtz, 2011, differ sufficiently to warrant removal to a new genus, Namaphilus gen. nov. A further new species, Namaphilus ameibensis spec. nov., is added to the new genus. Namakwanus streyi Frolov, 2005 is transferred to Versicorpus. Lastly a new, updated key and some notes on all the known Byrrhidium group species are provided.JRS Biodiversity Foundationhttp://www.journals.co.za/content/journalam2017Zoology and Entomolog

A new synonymy in the fidius group of Copris Müller 1764 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae) and a new species from the highland grasslands of South Africa

The fidius group constitutes the basal clade in a phylogeny of the Afrotropical members of the genus, Copris Müller, 1764. In this paper we describe Copris crassus Deschodt and Davis as a new species in this group. We also demonstrate that the distributional function between two body dimensions (lateral horn length and mid-line elytron length) differs between Copris fidius (Olivier 1789) and C. crassus. Copris bihamatus Balthasar, 1965 is also a member of the fidius group. Nguyen- Phung (1988) suspected that it was a synonym of C. fidius (Olivier) so we compare specimens of similar body size and use the distributional function between body dimensions to demonstrate that C. bihamatus is indeed a synonym of C. fidius. We provide a key for all known valid species in the fidius group, except C. serius Nguyen-Phung, 1987.JRS Biodiversity Foundationhttp://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/hb201

Three new species, a synonymy and taxonomic notes on southern African members of the dung beetle genera Scarabaeus s. str. Linnaeus, 1758 and Escarabaeus Zídek & Pokorný, 2011 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Three new species are described in the dung beetle genera Scarabaeus s. str. L., 1758, and Escarabaeus Zídek & Pokorný, 2011. Two comprise, Scarabaeus karae sp. nov. and Escarabaeus remii sp. nov. and are novelties. The third comprises Scarabaeus geminogalenus sp. nov., which describes a new species previously misidentified by Péringuey in 1901 and involved in a false synonymy by Janssens (1940). Notes are provided on the type specimen of Scarabaeus galenus. A close relative, Scarabaeus vicinus is recorded for the first time. Scarabaeus natalensis is synonymized with Scarabaeus basuto. Relationships and validity of a further five species are discussed: Scarabaeus convexus with S. spretus and S. rusticus; S. ebenus with S. interstitialis. The type specimen of Scarabaeus rixosus is also discussed galenus. Distribution maps are provided for the new species and those in the S. galenus species complex.This work was supported by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnah202018-06-30hb2017Zoology and Entomolog

Effects of land usage on dung beetle assemblage structure : Kruger National Park versus adjacent farmland in South Africa

Little quantitative evidence exists regarding how effective protected areas are for preserving species. We compared dung beetle assemblages (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae) inside and outside of the Kruger National Park, which protects indeigenous flora and fauna over a large area of savannah in the northeast lowlands of South Africa. Although it is contiguous with other reserves in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, parts of its border abut onto farmland. Some effects of differing land usage either side of this border were studied at the South African Wildlife College (24.541° S 31.335° E) and the nearby farming village of Welverdiend using dung beetle assemblage structure (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) as indicators. Samples were taken from gabbro-derived and granite-derived soils in open woody vegetation, both within the reserve and on adjoining farmland, using composite pig, elephant and cattle dung baits in the early rainy season (November 2009) and separate pig and elephant dung baits in the late rainy season (March 2010). Despite much higher large mammal density around Welverdiend, significantly greater species richness, abundance, and biomass of dung beetles were recorded in the reserve where mammal species diversity is greater and elephants produce much larger droppings than any mammal in the farmland. Assemblage structure also differed strongly between dung types, weather conditions on sample days, and season, but weakly between sampled soil types. These differences in assemblage structure were recorded over short distances as the sites in the reserve were only 3-4 km from those in farmland at Welverdiend.http://www.springerlink.com/content/100177/ab201

A new monotypic genus, a species synonymy and nomenclatural corrections in the arid-adapted Canthonini (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) from the Succulent Karoo Biome of south-western Africa

Although it has been demonstrated that the tribe Canthonini (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is polyphyletic, those canthonine genera occurring in arid south-western Africa apparently form a monophyletic group. In this paper we add one new monotypic genus, Drogo stalsi gen. et. sp. n. to this group, and synonymize another member, Byrrhidium namaquense Scholtz and Howden, 1987 syn. n. with Byrrhidium ovale Harold, 1869. We correct the spelling of two species names that were not in agreement with the gender rule. A phylogenetic analysis based on morphology supports the erection of Drogo gen. n. An updated key to the genera and species of the Byrrhidium group is presented.http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/hb2016Zoology and Entomolog

Dung beetle assemblage structure across the aridity and trophic resource gradient of the Botswana Kalahari : patterns and drivers at regional and local scales

Understanding pattern and process at both regional and local scales is important for conservation planning although such knowledge of insects is frequently lacking. To assess patterns along a regional gradient of increasing aridity and diminishing food resources in the Botswana Kalahari, Scarabaeine dung beetles were sampled quantitatively using four dung types at three local sites in six regional areas. At regional scale, factor analysis of species abundance extracted a maximum of six factors, each dominated by a single area. Therefore, the statistical significance of regional spatial variation far outweighed that of dung type association. At local scale, six factor analyses of species abundance extracted from four to six factors. The importance of local dung type associations was relatively high but diminished with increasing local spatial heterogeneity. At regional scale, hierarchical analysis of oblique factors divided assemblages into unique local and shared regional components. Primary extended factors accounted for 40–50 % of unique local faunal composition in five out of six areas. Two secondary extended factors showed either high shared proportional contribution to regional assemblage structure in the northeast with a steep decline to the southwest, or an opposite trend. Their point of intersection was consistent with a boundary zone between mesic northeast and arid southwest faunal components in the central Kalahari. Despite some inconsistencies in rank position between regression methods, rainfall, temperature, and mammal density/diversity were the strongest influences on regional patterns defined by secondary factors. Patterns are discussed according to conservation and changes in land usage around reserves.The GEF-Small Grant Programme and the University of Pretoriahttp://www.springerlink.com/content/100177/hb2013ab201

Status changes, new synonymies, key and descriptions of seven new species in the subgenus Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) Balthasar 1965 (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae)

Distribution of the subgenus Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) Balthasar 1965 (tribe Scarabaeini) is centred on southern and south central Africa with only three out of 27 species recorded from West and northeast Africa. After taxonomic corrections and descriptions of seven new southern African species this somewhat controversial subgenus now comprises 33 valid species of which one is flightless. In this paper, Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) vansoni Ferreira 1958 syn. nov. is synonymized with Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) lucidulus (Boheman 1860) and Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) xavieri Ferreira 1968 syn. nov. is synonymized with Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) andreaei zur Strassen 1963. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) reichei Waterhouse 1890 stat. rev. is removed from synonymy with Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) canaliculatus Fairmaire, 1888 and reinstated as a valid species. Distribution maps for S. (S.) reichei, S. (S.) canaliculatus and a third close relative, Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) fritschi Harold 1868 are provided. The seven new species comprise: Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) soutpansbergensis Deschodt and Davis spec. nov., Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) megaparvulus Davis and Deschodt spec. nov., Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) niemandi Deschodt and Davis spec. nov., Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) carniphilus Davis and Deschodt spec. nov., Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) ermienae Deschodt and Davis spec. nov., Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) planipennis Davis and Deschodt spec. nov. and Scarabaeus (Scarabaeolus) nitidus Davis and Deschodt spec. nov. A key is provided for all the known winged species together with notes on some of the previously described species.JRS Biodiversity Foundationhttp://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/hb201

Does an aridity and trophic resource gradient drive patterns of dung beetle food selection across the Botswana Kalahari?

1. Aridity gradients are paralleled by both reductions in resources and decreased species richness of animals. Across the aridity gradient of the Botswana Kalahari, a reduction in mammal species richness leads to reduced density and diversity of dung types, accompanied by reduced dung beetle species richness. We investigated whether this gradient also drives changes in dung beetle food type association and specialisation owing to a loss of some dung types to the arid southwest. 2. Dung beetles were sampled from three study sites in each of the six study areas using 2 × 10 grids of pitfall traps baited with dung (pig, elephant, cattle, and sheep) or carrion (chicken livers). 3. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that distributions of dung beetle species between bait types deviated significantly from random associations. 4. Central Kalahari assemblages were more specialist than those at the mesic and arid extremes of the gradient. 5. Patterns of selection and specialisation to bait types differed between mesic northeast and arid southwest study areas. There were specialist faunas on carrion and more generalist faunas on ruminant herbivore dung (cattle and sheep) in each region. However, specialist species associated with elephant dung in the northeast were replaced by a more generalist fauna in the southwest with an opposite trend on pig dung. 6. Reduced species richness and high species turnover from the mesic northeast to the arid southwest is paralleled by a shift in patterns of food association that may reflect changes in the diversity of food types, particularly the absence of elephant dung from the southwest.The GEF-Small Grant Programme and the University of Pretoriahttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2311hb2013ab201