Dung Chafers

Observed by tony rebelo
iSpot TeamBotanical Society of South Africa A-teamCape Bird ClubEntomological Society of Southern AfricaFriends of Tokai ParkProtea Atlas ProjectSenior Scout AdventureSouth African National Biodiversity InstituteSouth African National Parks Honorary RangersToyota Enviro Outreach
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Rhinocoeta
Rhinocoeta
Rhinocoeta
Rhinocoeta
beetes in situ as first seen
full dung midden

found in dung midden: http://ispot.org.za/node/175859 (detail of full dung midden)

originally posted at http://ispot.org.za/node/176678 - but apparently 2 species (see notes therein), so reposted here.

Location: Old Houwhoek Pass Koffeekraal440
Identifications
  • likely ID 
    Dung Fruit Chafer (Rhinocoeta sanguinipes)
    Confidence: I'm as sure as I can be.
Species interactions

No interactions present.

Other observations of Dung Fruit Chafer (Rhinocoeta sanguinipes)

Species with which Dung Fruit Chafer (Rhinocoeta sanguinipes) interacts

Comments

Reasoning and motivation

Rhinocoeta sanguinipes is the aberrant fruit chafer in Photo 1: upside-down specimen; Photo 2: bottom specimen; Photos 3 & 4: broken specimen. Compare this with the notes for the other specimens in these photos, being Rhinocoeta armata, HERE: http://ispot.org.za/node/176678#comment-71470.

It may be necessary to zoom right in and look at more than one photograph to see these species-specific characteristics:

1. This species is smaller and less robust than the other.

2. The pronotal sides of this species are red-brick and not black, as are the middle and hind femora. The extent of the red-brick colouration in this species may involve the whole underside and all of the legs.

3. The punctures on the pronotum are round, not irregular.

4. The punctures on the scutellum are only a little elongate.

5. The mesosternal lobe of the mesometasternal process is less dilated than in the other species.

6. The tubercle on the anterior margin of the pronotum is small but distinct (it may also be absent), and behind it the pronotum is a little depressed to concave in an arch around the tubercle, or at least [specimen in photos 3 & 4] bilaterally depressed laterad of the central tubercle.

7. The elytra are less coarsely sculptured than those of the other species, with well discernible round to crescent-shaped punctures.

8. The third and fifth elytral costae are indistinct and become obsolete before reaching the apical umbone.

9. The shapes and configurations of the spines and spurs at the apex of the hind tibiae are strikingly different: carefully look at these structures in both photos 1 & 2.

Additional distinguishing characteristics are not visible on these photos. Please note that the characterisation above does in part not entirely exclude the other four Rhinocoeta sensu stricto species, of which we do not have observations yet.

-- Beetledude

@ Riaan

If you're having second thoughts...
It would be quite strange indeed if they happen to be different.
I'll check tomorrow.

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