An Eocene fossil scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from Tanzania

A fossil scarabaeoid (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) Mahengea mckayi new genus, new species – the only well-preserved insect fossil and one of only a few insects found at the site – is described from an otherwise rich Eocene (~ 45.6 mya) maar Lagerstätte at Mahenge in central northern Tanzania. Numerous fossil fishes and plants have been recovered from this site and described. The dearth of insect fossils is surprising considering their richness in other deposits of similar origin and age. We suggest that the rich fish fauna present in the oxygen-rich parts of the water in the former volcanic crater lake may have scavenged most of the terrestrial insects that fell into the water. Although the fossil described here is undoubtedly that of a member of the Scarabaeoidea, the family placement remains unsure. Significance: We describe the first Eocene fossil scarab from Africa. It is one of only a few scarab fossils from the continent and one of the best-preserved insect (invertebrate) fossils from the deposit

Female terminalia morphology and cladistic relations among Tok-Tok beetles (Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)

Tok-tokkies are one of the most iconic lineages within Tenebrionidae. In addition to containing some of the largest darkling beetles, this tribe is recognized for its remarkable form of sexual communication known as substrate tapping. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships within the group remain poorly understood. This study investigates the usefulness of female terminalia morphology for delimiting Sepidiini and reconstructing relationships among it. Data on the structure of the ovipositors, genital tubes and spicula ventrali have been generated for >200 species representing 28 Pimeliinae tribes. This dataset was used in a comparative analysis at the subfamilial level, which resulted in recognition of several unique features of tok-tokkie terminalia. Additionally, new features linking phenotypically challenging tribes also were recovered (Cryptochilini + Idisiini + Pimeliini).Secondly, 23 characters linked to the structure of female terminalia were defined for tok-tok beetles. Cladistic analysis demonstrates the nonmonophyletic nature of most of the recognized subtribes. The morphological dataset was analysed separately and in combination with available molecular data (CAD, Wg, cox1, cox2, 28S). All obtained topologies were largely congruent, supporting the following changes: Palpomodina Kaminski & Gearner subtr.n. is erected to accommodate the genera Namibomodes and Palpomodes; Argenticrinis and Bombocnodulus are transferred from Hypomelina to Molurina; 153 species and subspecies previously classified within Psammodes are distributed over three separate genera (Mariazofia Kaminski nom.n., Piesomera stat.r., Psammodes sens.n.). Psammodes sklodowskae Kaminski & Gearner sp.n. is described. Preliminary investigation of the ovipositor of Mariazofia basuto (Koch) comb.n. was carried out with the application of microcomputed tomography, illuminating the muscular system as a reliable reference point for recognizing homologous elements in highly modified ovipositors.Funding was provided by the National Science Centre, Poland (OPUS-19 Project 2020/37/B/NZ8/02496) and National Science Foundation (DEB-1754630/2009247)Peer reviewe

A new dung beetle species of the genus Stiptopodius Harold, 1871 (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) recorded from xeric savanna in Namibia

Strümpher, Werner P., Daniel, Gimo M. (2021): A new dung beetle species of the genus Stiptopodius Harold, 1871 (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) recorded from xeric savanna in Namibia. Zootaxa 4999 (4): 335-342, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4999.4.

ERRATUM A new species and new distributional records of Haroldius Boucomont, 1914 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from southern Africa.

Daniel, Gimo M., Strümpher, Werner P., Snäll, Stanislav (2022): ERRATUM A new species and new distributional records of Haroldius Boucomont, 1914 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from southern Africa. Zootaxa 5091 (4): 600-600, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5091.4.

An Eocene fossil scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from Tanzania

A fossil scarabaeoid (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) Mahengea mckayi new genus, new species – the only well-preserved insect fossil and one of only a few insects found at the site – is described from an otherwise rich Eocene (~ 45.6 mya) maar Lagerstätte at Mahenge in central northern Tanzania. Numerous fossil fishes and plants have been recovered from this site and described. The dearth of insect fossils is surprising considering their richness in other deposits of similar origin and age. We suggest that the rich fish fauna present in the oxygen-rich parts of the water in the former volcanic crater lake may have scavenged most of the terrestrial insects that fell into the water. Although the fossil described here is undoubtedly that of a member of the Scarabaeoidea, the family placement remains unsure. Significance: We describe the first Eocene fossil scarab from Africa. It is one of only a few scarab fossils from the continent and one of the best-preserved insect (invertebrate) fossils from the deposit

An unexpected new flightless dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Endroedyolini) from the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa

Daniel, Gimo M., Strümpher, Werner P., Deschodt, Christian M. (2022): An unexpected new flightless dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Endroedyolini) from the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa. Zootaxa 5093 (4): 414-420, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.

Woody plant communities of southern South Africa and new distribution records for the rare dung beetle species Sarophorus punctatus Frolov & Scholtz, 2003 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Strümpher, Werner P., Daniel, Gimo M., Davis, Adrian L.V. (2022): Woody plant communities of southern South Africa and new distribution records for the rare dung beetle species Sarophorus punctatus Frolov & Scholtz, 2003 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5188 (4): 396-400, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5188.4.

FIGURE 2 in Taxonomy of Colophon Gray (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): new species and a status change

FIGURE 2. Adult habitus of Colophon switalae new species: (a) male dorsal view; (b) male ventral view; (c) male protibia; d) male dorsal view (red colour form)

Dung Beetle Assemblage Structure in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve: Responses to a Mosaic of Landscape Types, Vegetation Communities, and Dung Types

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is a private game reserve covering 1,020 km2 in the Northern Cape, South Africa. It has been created from a number of reclaimed farms and restocked with large indigenous mammals. Two surveys were conducted to inventory the dung beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) and determine their spatial patterns and food type associations. The spatial survey used pig dungÐbaited pitfall traps to examine dung beetle distribution across three main landscape types (plains, dunes, hills) comprising six principal vegetation communities. The food study examined their relative associations with carrion and four different dung types within a single vegetation community. A total of 70 species was recorded. Because the food association study was spatially restricted and conducted under drought conditions, abundance and species richness (47 species) were much lower than in the spatial study (64 species), which was conducted after substantial rainfall. Principal spatial differences in species abundance structure of assemblages were between the sandy southwest plains and dunes; the sandy northern dune Þelds and plains; and the rocky hills. Forty species analyzed in the food association study showed clear distributional biases to carrion or the dung of elephant (monogastric herbivore), pig (omnivore), cattle and sheep (ruminant herbivores), or pig and cattle. The results (1) show how dung beetle assemblage structure is locally diversiÞed across the heterogeneous landscape of the reserve and (2) indicate how the different dung types dropped by a diverse assemblage of indigenous mammals may variously favor different species of dung beetles