Description and ecology of a new species of Eriopeltastes Burmeister & Schaum, 1840 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini), from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

A dedicated “Bioblitz” survey of the Ntinini Nature Reserve was organized and coordinated by Ezemvelo KwaZulu- Natal (EKZN) Wildlife, during the period 16–18 November 2010. The main aim of the Bioblitz was to provide biodiversity data that could assist in assessing the necessity of a formal proclamation for the protection of the reserve, within the scope of the integrated Biodiversity Conservation Planning of EKZN Wildlife

New species of Eriopeltastes Burmeister & Schaum, 1840 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae, Trichiini) from South Africa

“…There are currently 12 species described in the genus Eriopeltastes (Ricchiardi 1997, Ricchiardi et al 1999, 2004; Ricchiardi and Perissinotto 2013) and 50% of these are endemic to the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. As females are brachypterous and unable to fly, species are generally very restricted in their distribution range, occupying elevations such as mountain slopes, hilltops and ridges (Ricchiardi et al 1999).…”

“…Within this programme, it is of fundamental importance that new species be described and their distribution mapped speedily in order to avoid compromising the viability of minor or secondary reserves where micro-endemic and threatened species may occur. The rapid reporting of previously unknown species will contribute to assessing the renewal of the protected status and potential consolidation of these reserves, under the auspices of the integrated Biodiversity Conservation Planning of EKZN Wildlife (Ricchiardi and Perissinotto 2013). …”

Description of a new monospecific genus of South African Trichiina, with a key to the related genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

“…The number of described Trichiina species (sensu Smith et al 2006) endemic to South Africa has increased substantially during the last two decades (Evans 1987;Ricchiardi 1997Ricchiardi , 1998Ricchiardi , 1999Ricchiardi , 2000Ricchiardi et al 2004Ricchiardi et al , 2008Sipek et al 2012;Ricchiardi & Perissinotto 2013, 2014 and currently ranges around 40. These species are grouped into nine genera, with three of them regarded as tropical intruders and represented in South Africa by one single species each.…”