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Nearly one third of the described species of Cypholoba Chaudoir (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are known to inhabit the Republic of South Africa. A key and diagnostic notes are provided for their identification, as well as notes about way of life for some of the species based on observations in the Kruger National Park. Fifteen species and subspecies of the genus are recorded from the Republic of South Africa; adult specimens of each species and subspecies are illustrated and information about the distribution of each species in the Republic of South Africa is summarized and mapped: Cypholoba alstoni (Péringuey), Cypholoba alveolata (Brême), Cypholoba amatonga Péringuey, Cypholoba fritschi (Chaudoir), Cypholoba gracilis gracilis (Dejean), Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata (Bertoloni), Cypholoba gracilis zuluana Basilewsky, Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides (Guérin-Méneville), Cypholoba leucospilota semilaevis (Chaudoir), Cypholoba macilenta (Olivier), Cypholoba notata (Perroud), Cypholoba oberthueri seruana Strohmeyer, Cypholoba opulenta (Boheman), Cypholoba rutata (Péringuey), and Cypholoba tenuicollis aenigma (Dohrn).
Identification key, distribution, savanna and woodland ecosystems, conservation
The genus Cypholoba Chaudoir is one of the most diverse lineages within the tribe Anthiini of the beetle family Carabidae, with 156 described species and subspecies (
. Adult female of Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides (Guérin-Méneville), photographed in a dry sandy streambed adjacent to the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park, RSA.
As with other Anthiini, the taxonomic history of Cypholoba is rather convoluted.
This paper is intended to provide an overview of the species of Cypholoba currently known from the Republic of South Africa (RSA). This is a fauna very much in need of good diagnostic materials, particularly keys and illustrations that can be used by non-specialists. Most of the Cypholoba species in RSA have never been illustrated and none of the published keys include all of the taxa now known to occur in RSA. The government of RSA has taken recent positive steps towards protecting certain carabid beetles under the South African Biodiversity Act of 2004 (Harrison and Müller, pers. comm.) and carabid beetles are increasingly being incorporated into ecosystem and agricultural monitoring programs in southern Africa (
We examined collections of adult Cypholoba Chaudoir and allied genera in the following institutional collections: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois (FMNH); Kruger National Park Museum (Scientific Services), Skukuza, South Africa (KNPC); South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa (SANC); National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (NMNH); Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa (TMSA). In the case of NMNH and TMSA, the specimens examined were authoritatively identified by the late P. Basilewsky, who studied this genus for many years (
Museum collections were augmented by a series of field visits in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 to the Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa, where adults of three species (Cypholoba alveolata, Cypholoba graphipteroides, and Cypholoba notata) were collected. Survey methods for Cypholoba species and other Anthiini involved systematic walking along roads, dry river washes, or sandy areas adjacent to major rivers. Surveys in the main park area were conducted from dawn until dusk and under all available weather conditions. Head-lamping surveys were conducted at night for Anthiini and other Carabidae in the N’waswitshaka Research Camp at Skukuza. Pitfall traps were also widely deployed throughout the Skukuza Ranger District of the Kruger National Park, to study the distribution of species of Carabidae across different vegetation communities and to record the responses of carabid assemblages to common landscape-scale disturbances such as mammalian grazing and ground fire. Driving surveys (
Methods and species concepts follow those previously described (
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba
Medium to large Anthiini (length 15–33 mm) with the following combination of adult attributes: head with distinct basal constriction or “neck;” second labial palpomere distinctly longer than third; pronotum rectangular or cordiform (heart-shaped), not at all markedly elevated or swollen, lacking lateral or basal flanges; elytron with rows of elevated costae which alternate with rows of large, deep punctures (in most species); elytral punctures with brown, yellow, or orange setae at bottom in many species; rows of punctures and setae not extending to apex of elytron in most species; apex of elytron flat or planate in most species; elytron often with patterned setae and/or pubescence; posterior margin of elytron usually obliquely truncate; elytron lacking an apical spine.
Southern and eastern Africa.
The species list below and the arrangement of descriptions that follow are ordered alphabetically.
Cypholoba alstoni (Péringuey), Botswana, Namibia, Republic of South Africa (RSA)
Cypholoba alveolata (Brême), Botswana, RSA, Zimbabwe
Cypholoba amatonga Péringuey, Mozambique, RSA
Cypholoba fritschi (Chaudoir), Botswana, Namibia, RSA, Zambia
Cypholoba gracilis gracilis (Dejean), Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, RSA
Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata (Bertoloni), Mozambique, RSA
Cypholoba gracilis zuluana Basilewsky, RSA
Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides (Guérin-Méneville), Mozambique, RSA, Zimbabwe
Cypholoba leucospilota semilaevis (Chaudoir), Mozambique, RSA
Cypholoba macilenta (Olivier), Lesotho, RSA, Zimbabwe
Cypholoba notata (Perroud), RSA, Swaziland
Cypholoba oberthueri seruana Strohmeyer, Botswana, RSA
Cypholoba opulenta (Boheman), Namibia, RSA
Cypholoba rutata (Péringuey), Mozambique, RSA, Zimbabwe
Cypholoba tenuicollis aenigma (Dohrn), Botswana, RSA, Zambia, Zimbabwe
1 | Elytron without white or yellow patches or linear bands of setae in apical half; basal half of elytron along suture at base with at most a narrow white or yellow patch or band of setae | 2 |
– | Elytron with distinct white or yellow patches or linear bands of setae in apical half; basal half of elytron typically also with basal patches of white or yellow setae | 10 |
2 | Pronotum elongate, slender, spindle-shaped | 3 |
– | Pronotum broader, either rounded, rectangular, or heart-shaped | 5 |
3 | Pronotum with well-defined longitudinal median impression; elytral punctures round | Cypholoba gracilis gracilis (Dejean) |
– | Pronotum with median line feebly impressed at base and otherwise not at all impressed along most of length, sometimes with a narrow raised ridge; elytral punctures oval | 4 |
4 | Pronotum median line with a round impression at base and becoming obsolete on disc | Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata (Bertoloni) |
– | Pronotum median line with a narrow impression at base and a narrow, slightly raised ridge on disc | Cypholoba gracilis zuluana Basilewsky |
5 | Elytral punctures large, those on disc with orange-red setae deep within each puncture | 6 |
– | Elytral punctures small, those on disc without orange-red setae deep within each puncture | 7 |
6 | Apparent body length (ABL) 24–28 mm; pronotum elongate and somewhat heart-shaped, width of pronotum less than width of eyes; elytra with six costae and large alveolate punctures | Cypholoba amatonga Péringuey |
Apparent body length (ABL) 31–33 mm; pronotum broader and distinctly heart-shaped, width of pronotum distinctly greater than width of eyes; elytra with six costae, fifth costa as measured from lateral margin short, only reaching to basal sixth of elytra; elytral punctures large, alveolate | Cypholoba alveolata (Brême) | |
7 | Elytra and pronotum without patterned pubescence or setae of any kind; elytral costae and rows of punctures continuing to apex | Cypholoba alstoni (Péringuey) |
– | Elytra and often pronotum with small setal tufts or patches at base; elytral costae and rows of punctures usually becoming obsolete on disc, apex of elytra smooth | 8 |
8 | Pronotal base, scutellum and base of elytra each with a small white or yellow setal tuft, barely noticeable; elytral costae broad, smooth, and shining, becoming obsolete at apical third; apical third of elytra shining | Cypholoba fritschi (Chaudoir) |
– | Pronotum and/or elytra with more extensive setal patches; elytral costae narrow; apical third of elytra matte, not shining | 9 |
9 | Elytral surface markedly rugose, each elytron with a narrow linear band of yellow setae along suture on basal third | Cypholoba rutata (Péringuey) |
– | Elytral punctures very small, costae present but not markedly elevated, elytral surface largely smooth; each elytron with an ovate or rectangular patch of yellow setae adjacent to suture on basal fifth | Cypholoba opulenta (Boheman) |
10 | Elytra with patches of grey or white setae on disc at apical third or apical fourth | 11 |
– | Elytra with patches of pale setae at base and/or apex of elytra only, adjacent to the suture | 13 |
11 | Apparent body length (ABL) 15-17 mm; pronotum elongate, slender, spindle-shaped; each elytron with a second transverse band of white setae at mid-elytron | Cypholoba tenuicollis aenigma (Dohrn) |
– | Apparent body length (ABL) 24-28 mm; pronotum broader, heart-shaped; each elytron with a patch of setae at apical third and a narrow line of white setae along the suture on the basal third of elytra; no second band of white setae at mid-elytron | 12 |
12 | Pronotal and elytral setae uniformly greyish-white; a narrow linear band of setae along midline of pronotum, a narrow linear band of setae along elytral suture on basal two-fifths, and a pair of arcuate patches located at apical third | Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides (Guérin-Méneville) |
– | Pronotal setae and the setal band at the base of the elytra yellowish orange; elytral setal patch placement similar to above, except for coloration, discal patches bright white | Cypholoba leucospilota semilaevis (Chaudoir) |
13 | Elytra with apical third smooth, shining, except for apical patch of white setae; basal two-thirds of elytra with rows of costae and large punctures, which lack reddish-orange pubescence | Cypholoba notata (Perroud) |
– | Elytra with apical fourth or fifth smooth, shining, except for apical patch of white setae; basal three-quarters of elytra with rows of costae and large punctures, reddish-orange pubescence present deep inside each puncture | 14 |
14 | Elytra with apical fourth smooth, shining, except for apical patch of white setae; each elytron with seven costae, of which the sixth is very short | Cypholoba macilenta (Olivier) |
– | Elytra with apical fifth smooth, shining, except for apical patch of white setae; each elytron with seven costae subequal in size | Cypholoba oberthueri seruana Strohmeyer |
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_alstoni
Figs 2, 29Apparent body length (ABL) 23-24 mm; easily separated from all other species of Cypholoba in RSA by the lack of patterned pubescence on the elytra and the continuation of the rows of elytral punctures and costae until the elytral apices. The sympatric species Cypholoba fritschi is similar but is larger in ABL (25-31 mm in length) and its elytral costae become obsolete on the disc shortly after mid-elytron, leaving the apical third of the elytra almost entirely smooth.
Adult specimens of Cypholoba species, from the TMSA collection unless otherwise indicated. 2 Cypholoba alstoni (Péringuey), male, Niekerk’s Hope in Griqualand West, Northern Cape Province, RSA 3 Cypholoba alveolata (Brême), male, Warmbath, Limpopo Province, RSA 4 Cypholoba amatonga Péringuey, male, Soutpansberg, Limpopo Province, RSA 5 Cypholoba fritschi (Chaudoir), male, Twee Rivieren, Northern Cape Province, RSA 6 Cypholoba gracilis gracilis (Dejean), male, Zoutpan, Gauteng Province, RSA 7 Cypholoba gracilis gracilis (Dejean), female, Vanwyksfontein Farm, Northern Cape Province, RSA 8 Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata (Bertoloni), male, Zoutpansberg, Limpopo Province, RSA 9 Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata (Bertoloni), female, Inhambane, Mozambique 10 Cypholoba gracilis zuluana Basilewsky, male, “E. Zululand, ” KwaZulu/Natal Province, RSA 11 Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides (Guérin-Méneville), male, 20-26 km NE of Pietersburg, Limpopo Province, RSA 12–15 Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides collected at sites along the Sabie River west of Paul Kruger Gate in the Kruger National Park, showing intrapopulational variation in elytral setal patterns (NMNH collection).
107 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Northern Cape Province: Farm Brulpan, Marydale, Mata Mata, Niekerk’s Hope in Griqualand West, 30 km E Pofadder, 46 km N Pofadder, Tswalu Nature Reserve, Twee Rivieren.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_alveolata
Figs 3, 25, 29, 34Apparent body length (ABL) 31–33 mm; one of the largest species of Cypholoba in RSA and the largest species that has the distinctive alveolate elytral punctures with reddish-orange pubescence at the bottom of the punctures (see Fig. 3). It can be separated from Cypholoba macilenta, Cypholoba notata, and Cypholoba oberthueri seruana by the lack of a white patch of setae across both elytral apices and from Cypholoba amatonga by its larger ABL (24–28 mm length in Cypholoba amatonga) and the differences in elytral surface sculpture mentioned in the key above. Some specimens have a patch of white setae on each elytron immediately adjacent to the scutellum, while others also have a patch of white setae on the scutellum and/or a line of white setae along the midline of the pronotum.
159 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Gauteng Province: Johannesburg, Moloto, Pienaars River Dam, Pretoria, Rosslyn, Zoutpan. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Duku duku, Durban, Ndumu, Pongola River, St. Lucia Bay, Umfolozi, Waterval, “E Zululand.” Limpopo Province: Bandelierkop, 25 km NE Ellisras, Farm Scrutton, Haenertsburg, Klein Letaba, 18 miles W Letaba Rest Camp, Letaba Rest Camp in Kruger National Park, Marblehall, Messina, Mokeetse, Pietersburg, 22 miles E Pietersburg, 20-26 km N Pietersburg, Potgietersrus, Sedula near Leydsdorp, Shilouvane, Warmbath, Woodbush. Mpumalanga Province: Barberton, 3 km NW Barberton, Grootdraai, Lydenburg, Nelspruit, Nkuhlu Plots in Kruger National Park, Sabie River road west of Paul Kruger Gate, Skukuza. North West Province: Marico River, Rustenburg, Vryberg. Province not specified: “Transvaal.”
During our surveys (see Materials and Methods above), adults of this species were found in riverine and upland areas of the Kruger National Park. Specific vegetation communities (
Adult specimens and diagnostic features of Cypholoba species, from the TMSA collection unless otherwise indicated 16 Cypholoba leucospilota semilaevis (Chaudoir), male, “E. Zululand, ” KwaZulu/Natal Province, RSA 17 Cypholoba macilenta (Olivier), male, Groenkloof, Gauteng Province, RSA 18 Cypholoba notata (Perroud), male, Shilouvane, Limpopo Province, RSA 19 Cypholoba notata (Perroud), male, Empangeni, KwaZulu/Natal Province, RSA (NMNH collection) 20 Cypholoba notata (Perroud), male, Pongola River, KwaZulu/Natal Province, RSA 21 Cypholoba oberthueri seruana Strohmeyer, male, Allemanskraal, Free State Province, RSA 22 Cypholoba opulenta (Boheman), male, Us Pass, Khomas Hochland, Namibia 23 Cypholoba rutata (Péringuey), male, Pafuri, Kruger National Park, Limpopo Province, RSA 24 Cypholoba tenuicollis aenigma (Dohrn), Zimbabwe 25 base of elytra showing punctures, Cypholoba alveolata 26 base of elytra showing punctures, Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides 27 base of elytra showing punctures, Cypholoba notata 28 base of elytra showing punctures, Cypholoba opulenta.
Maps showing distributions of Cypholoba species in RSA 29 black squares for Cypholoba alstoni, black circles for Cypholoba alveolata, white star for Cypholoba amatonga, white triangles for Cypholoba fritschi 30 white circles for Cypholoba gracilis gracilis, black star for Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata, question marks (indeterminate localities) for Cypholoba gracilis zuluana, white squares for Cypholoba tenuicollis aenigma 31 black triangles for Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides, question marks (indeterminate localities) for Cypholoba leucospilota semilaevis, black diamond for Cypholoba oberthueri seruana, white arrow for Cypholoba opulenta, white X for Cypholoba rutata 32 white diamonds for Cypholoba macilenta, black arrows for Cypholoba notata.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_amatonga
Figs 4, 29Apparent body length (ABL) 24-28 mm; similar to Cypholoba alveolata but separated from that species by the smaller ABL (31-33 mm in Cypholoba alveolata) and by the differences in elytral surface sculpture mentioned in the key above.
2 specimens from the following locality: RSA: Limpopo Province: Soutpansberg.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_fritschi
Figs 5, 29 Apparent body length (ABL) 25–31 mm; distinctive for its large body size and for the lack of patterned pubescence or setae on the elytra, although some specimens may have a small patch of yellow setae adjacent to the scutellum. As noted by
11 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Northern Cape Province: Niekerk’s Hope in Griqualand West, Twee Rivieren.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_gracilis_gracilis
Figs 6, 7, 30Apparent body length (ABL) 17-20 mm; easily recognized by its slender body form, spindle-shaped pronotum, and lack of white setae or pubescence on the elytra. The shape and size of the elytral punctures (described in the key) will separate this subspecies from both Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata and Cypholoba gracilis zuluana. In both Cypholoba gracilis gracilis and Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata the shape of the elytra is sexually dimorphic and thus both forms are illustrated here.
35 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Eastern Cape Province: Aliwal North, Dorset. Free State Province: Bothaville. Gauteng Province: 11 km SE Bronkhorstspruit, Bronkhorstspruit, Brooklyn, Florida, Pretoria, Roodeplaat, Rosslyn, Welgedacht, Zoutpan, Zusterstroom. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Waterval. Limpopo Province: Messina, Moordrift, Naboomspruit, Nylsvley, Pietersburg, Rhenosterpoort, Smith Farm. Mpumalanga Province: Argent, 14 miles E Middelburg, Middelburg, Moloto, Waterval Onder. Northern Cape Province: Niekerk’s Hope in Griqualand West, Vanwyksfontein Farm. North West Province: Lichtenburg, Rustenburg.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_gracilis_scrobiculata
Figs 8, 9, 30Apparent body length (ABL) 19–20 mm; similar in general body form and appearance to Cypholoba gracilis gracilis but differing from that subspecies in having the median line of the pronotum not markedly impressed and in having the elytral punctures oval rather than round.
1 specimen from the following locality: RSA: Limpopo Province: Zoutpansberg.
Based on the rather significant differences in the pronotal and elytral surface sculpture, Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata may ultimately prove to represent a species distinct from Cypholoba gracilis. A thorough review of the Cypholoba gracilis species complex with a rigorous evaluation of the 41 subspecific taxa proposed by
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_gracilis_zuluana
Figs 10, 30Apparent body length (ABL) 19–20 mm; similar in general body form and appearance to Cypholoba gracilis gracilis and Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata but differing from those two subspecies in the pronotal surface sculpturing, as noted in the key. There are also subtle differences in the arrangement and size of the elytral punctures and elytral costae between all three subspecies (see Figs 6–10).
6 specimens from the following localities: RSA: KwaZulu/Natal Province: “E. Zululand, ” “Zululand.”
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_graphipteroides_graphipteroides
Figs 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 26, 31, 33Apparent body length (ABL) 24–27 mm; this species is easily separated from most of the other sympatric species of Cypholoba by the distinctive pattern of pubescence and setae on the elytra (Fig. 11). Adults could potentially be confused with Cypholoba leucospilota, but in that species the pubescence on the pronotum and elytral suture is yellowish and the patches of setae at apical third are brilliant white (Fig. 16).
77 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Gauteng Province: Pretoria, Rosslyn. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Hluhluwe, Mkuze Game Reserve, Ndumu, St. Lucia Bay. Limpopo Province: Alma, Koedoesrivier, Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, 9–14 miles E Louis Trichardt, 75 km W Messina, Nylstroom, Nylsvley, Pietersburg, 9 miles N Pietersburg, 20–26 miles NE Pietersburg, Potgietersrus, Punda Maria Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, Rust de Winter, Shilouvane, Thabina, Warmbath. Mpumalanga Province: Kaapmuiden, 20 km SW Kaapmuiden, Louws Creek, Lydenburg, N’waswitshaka Research Camp, Pretoriuskop, Sabie river banks west of Paul Kruger Gate, Skukuza. Province uncertain: Lebombo Mountains.
This is easily the most abundant and frequently encountered species of Anthiini in the Kruger National Park, RSA. Adults (Fig. 1) emerge in the early rainy season (November-December) and can be locally abundant. Adults are active both nocturnally and diurnally and are typically found in riverine or riparian areas near flowing water. The charactistic behavior observed in this species, as with most Anthiini, is a rapid walking behavior which appears to be associated primarily with foraging but also is likely involved in searching for conspecifics and prospective larval habitats. We have observed adults of this species in several distinct vegetation communities (riverine gallery forest, open Combretum apiculatum – Acacia nigrescens savanna, Phragmites reed beds) and microhabitats (sand or dirt roads adjacent to riverine communities, dry sand wash, and riverine sand bars). This species also occasionally enters human-inhabited areas; we have found individuals in the N’waswitshaka Research Camp at Skukuza and also in the main tourist areas at the Skukuza tourist camp.
Riverine/riparian area along the south bank of the Sabie River west of Paul Kruger Gate in the Kruger National Park, RSA. A collecting site for Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides.
Upland Acacia nigrescens – Combretum apiculatum savanna near Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, RSA. A collecting site for Cypholoba alveolata.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_leucospilota_semilaevis
Figs 16, 31Apparent body length (ABL) 22–28 mm; similar in general appearance to Cypholoba graphipteroides but distinguished from that species by the color of the pronotal and elytral pubescence and setae. The bands of pubescence on the pronotum and elytral base are yellow in Cypholoba leucospilota (white or grey in Cypholoba graphipteroides), and the bands of pubescence on the apical third of the elytra are a much brighter white in Cypholoba leucospilota than in Cypholoba graphipteroides.
5 specimens from the following localities: RSA: KwaZulu/Natal Province: “E. Zululand, ” “Zululand.”
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_macilenta
Figs 17, 32Apparent body length (ABL) 20–23 mm; similar to Cypholoba notata and Cypholoba oberthueri but differing from both species in the length of the elytral costae. The elytral costae are roughly equal in length in Cypholoba macilenta (see Fig. 17) while the lateral costae are distinctly longer than those on the disc in Cypholoba notata and Cypholoba oberthueri (see Figs 18–21). Adults could potentially also be confused with Cypholoba amatonga but that species lacks the patch of white pubescence at the apex of the elytra and the apical portion of the elytra is more rugosely punctate, not flat and strongly shining as in Cypholoba macilenta.
127 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Eastern Cape Province: De la Rey. Free State Province: Boshof, Bothaville, H. F. Verwoerd Dam, Krugersdrift Dam. Gauteng Province: Bronkhorstspruit, Groenkloof, Johannesburg, Moloto, Muldersdrift, Pretoria, Randfontein, Rosslyn, Valhalla, Zoutpan. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Waterval. Limpopo Province: Messina, Moordrift, Pienaars River, Pietersburg, 20–26 km NE Pietersburg, Shilouvane, Woodbush. Mpumalanga Province: Lydenburg, Middelburg, 14 miles E Middelburg, Waterval Onder. Northern Cape Province: Kimberley, Niekerk’s Hope in Griqualand West, Vanwyksfontein Farm. North West Province: Lichtenburg, Marico, Rustenburg.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_notata
Figs 18, 19, 20, 27, 32Apparent body length (ABL) 21–23 mm; elytral surface sculpture distinctive with the entire apical third lacking the rows of punctures and costae found on the more basal portions of the elytra. The lateral elytral costae are longer than the costae on mid-disc or the suture. The patterns of pubescence vary in this species; some specimens possess white linear bands of setae on the head, pronotum, and base of the elytra while other specimens lack these bands (Figs 14, 15). We have also examined highly abraded specimens that lack all of the elytral and pronotal setae but in these specimens the elytral surface sculpturing is still diagnostic.
96 specimens from the following localities: RSA: Gauteng Province: Malvern, Pretoria. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Empangeni, 30 miles N of Empangeni, Hluhluwe, Maritzburg, Mkuze, “Natal, ” Ntambanana, Pinetown, Pongola, Pongola River, St. Lucia Bay, Thorny Bush, Ubombo Mountains, Weenen, “Zululand, ” “E. Zululand.” Limpopo Province: Koedoes Rivier, Sedula near Leydsdorp, Shilouvane, Thabina, Zoutpansberg. Mpumalanga Province: Barberton, Grootdraai, Lydenburg, Nelspruit, Sabie River bank west of Paul Kruger Gate, Waterval River Pass. Northern Cape Province: Kimberley. North West Province: Marico River, Vryburg.
We observed adults of this species running along dirt roads in bright sunshine through open Combretum apiculatum – Acacia nigrescens savanna in close proximity to the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park, RSA.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_oberthueri_seruana
Figs 21, 31 Apparent body length (ABL) 21–24 mm; similar in appearance to Cypholoba macilenta and Cypholoba notata but differing from both species in the length of the elytral costae (as noted in the key) and the elytral proportions which are somewhat longer and narrower in Cypholoba oberthueri seruana than in the other two species. This is apparently a rare form, at least in collections; it is known at present from two localities in Botswana and the nominate subspecies is known only from Zimbabwe (
1 specimen from the following locality: RSA: Free State, Allemanskraal.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_opulenta
Figs 22, 28, 31Apparent body length (ABL) 18–24 mm; easily recognized by the golden-yellow pubescence on the head, pronotum, and base of elytra adjacent to the suture (Fig. 22). The elytral surface sculpturing is also diagnostic, with small narrow costae separated by flat intervals with a single row of minute punctures in each interval (Fig. 28).
45 specimens from the following localities: Eastern Cape Province: Nduma, Willowmore. KwaZulu/Natal Province: Maritzburg, Melmoth, Mkuze, St. Lucia, “E. Zululand.” North West Province: Lichtenburg, 30 km W Vryberg.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_rutata
Figs 23, 31Apparent body length (ABL) 22–27 mm; similar in body proportions and surface sculpturing to Cypholoba graphipteroides and Cypholoba leucospilota but lacking the oblique bands of white setae and pubescence that are found at the apical third of the elytra in those species (see Figs 11–16).
1 specimen from the following locality: RSA: Limpopo Provice: Pafuri in Kruger National Park.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Cypholoba_tenuicollis_aenigma
Figs 24, 30 Apparent body length (ABL) 15–17 mm; similar in size, body proportions, and surface sculpturing to smaller individuals of Cypholoba gracilis but easily separated from that species by its patterned elytral pubescence (Fig. 19) and smaller body size (adults of all subspecies of Cypholoba gracilis are 17–22 mm in ABL). Adults are also superficially similar to those of species in the genus Eccoptoptera Chaudoir but in species of that genus the pronotum is broadly rounded and markedly convex (
84 specimens from the following localities: RSA: KwaZulu/Natal Province: Entabeni. Limpopo Province: Haenertsburg, Moddernek, Pietersburg, Shilouvane, Woodbush, Wylie’s Poort.
For assistance with the fieldwork associated with this project, we thank F. Venter, V. Ndlovu, J. Baloyi, O. Sithole, P. Khoza, A. Manganyi, and T. Khoza of South African National Parks. For additional field assistance we thank R. D. and J. L. Mawdsley, as well as J. du G. Harrison and his family. For assistance with visits to museum collections, we thank A. Newton and M. Thayer (FMNH), G. Zambatis (KNPC), R. Staals and B. Grobbelaar (SANC), and J. du G. Harrison and Ruth Müller (TMSA). For assistance with additional specimen imaging and image editing, we thank K. Darrow (NMNH). For comments on the manuscript during the review process, we thank A. Casale as well as two anonymous reviewers.