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A new species of Onitis Fabricius, 1798
from south-eastern Africa
(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, Onitini)

Francois Génier', Philippe Moretto?

| Beaty Centre for Species Discovery, Canadian Museum of Nature, RO. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario,
KIP 6P4 Canada 2 2, rue Marcel Sambat, 83200 Toulon, France

Corresponding author: Francois Génier (fgenier@nature.ca)

Academic editor: A. Frolov | Received 20 August 2019 | Accepted 22 September 2019 | Published 31 December 2019
http://zoobank.org/8D9C2DE4-F0 9B-4B42-999B-ECF580943CCE

Citation: Génier F, Moretto P (2019) A new species of Onitis Fabricius, 1798 from south-eastern Africa (Coleoptera,
Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, Onitini). ZooKeys 900: 23-29. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.900.39284

Abstract
Onitis albertcollarti sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species is closely related to and occurs

sympatrically with O. lycophron Klug, 1855.

Keywords
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dung beetle, Mozambique, new species, Onitis albertcollarti, Tanza-
nia, Zambia

Introduction

While surveying dung beetles in Zambia and Mozambique, we found a series of speci-
mens that key out to Onitis lycophron Klug, 1855 in the Ferreira (1978) key to the
Afrotropical species of Onitini. These specimens were clearly distinct from O. lycophron
and all other Onitis based on a unique protibial protrusion in males and the distinct
fine rugae on the apical surface of the parameres and belonged to a new species. ‘This
new species belongs to the O. lycophron species complex (defined by Krikken 1977),
which is part of the larger Onitis 19" species group as defined by Janssens (1937).

Copyright F Génier, P Moretto. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC
BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

24 Francois Génier & Philippe Moretto / ZooKeys 900: 23-29 (2019)

The main purpose of describing this new species of Onitis is to make the name
available for a field guide of the dung beetle species of Parque Nacional das Quirimbas
(FG, in preparation). Although the taxonomy of the species belonging to group 19
needs to be reviewed, the uniquely shaped parameres unambiguously separate this
undescribed taxon from all others in the genus.

Materials and methods

Type specimens were deposited in the following collections:

CMNC_ Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada;

FGIC Francois Génier personal collection, Gatineau, Québec, Canada;
IRSNB Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussel, Belgium;
JEJC Jean-Francois Josso personal collection, Muzillac, France;

PMOC Philippe Moretto personal collection, Toulon, France;
RMIC ~— Collection Robert Minetti, La Ciotat, France.

The methods are the same as described in Génier and Moretto (2017). All speci-
mens are types and have a World Scarab. Database number.

Taxonomy

Onitis albertcollarti sp. nov.
http://zoobank.org/560344F2-06A1-4BD2-B5BD-ABF1C2748DC]1
Figures 1—9

Type locality. 1 km SE Kacheleko Outpost (15°01'35"S 26°25'23"E, 1250 m), Cen-
tral Province, Zambia.

Holotype 3 (CMNC, WSD00038914): [ ZAMBIA: CENTRAL PR. | 1 km SE
Kacheleko Outpost, | 1250 m, 15°01'35"S 26°25'23"E | 10.XII.2010, Central Zambe-
zian | & Miombo woodland, prairie edge | light trap, F Génier, 2010-56 ]; [WORLD
| SCARAB. | DATABASE | WSD00038914 ] barcode label; [ HOLOTYPE ¢ | Onitis
| albertcollarti | des. Génier & Moretto, 2019 ] red card.

Allotype 2 (CMNC, WSD00038918): same data as holotype.

Paratypes 68 33,55 29, 402 unsexed specimens. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE Conco: KATANGA, [unspecified locality], [no date], [anonymous], — 1 ¢
(IRSNB); Mozampique: CABO DELGADO, Ravia (site 1), PN. Quirimbas, 380
m (12°39'41"S, 39°25'22"E), 1.i.2013, FE & S. Génier & M. Denja, eastern Miombo
woodlands, light trap (2013-24) — 1 9, 1 S (FGIC); same locality, 2.1.2013, E & S.
Génier & M. Denja, eastern Miombo woodlands, light trap (2013-26) — 1 d (FGIC);
Ravia (site 6), PN. Quirimbas, 380 m (12°31'2"S, 39°18'38"E), 3.i.2013, E & S. Gé&
nier & M. Denja, eastern Miombo woodlands, light trap (2013-35) — 2 d¢ (FGIC);

A new species of Onitis 25)

Figures |!-9. Onitis albertcollarti sp. nov. 1-8 male holotype 9 female allotype | habitus, dorsal view
la protibia, slightly oblique dorsal view to show apical tooth shape 2 habitus, ventral view 3 protibia, oblique

view 4 aedeagus, lateral view 5 parameres, dorsal view 6 parameres, ventral view 7 frontolateral peripheral

endophallite (FLP), flat view 8 frontolateral peripheral endophallite (FLP), side view 9 head, dorsal view.

26 Francois Génier & Philippe Moretto / ZooKeys 900: 23-29 (2019)

Taratibu (site 4), PN. Quirimbas, 340 m (12°47'32"S, 39°41'50"E), 7.i.2013, E &
S. Génier & M. Denja, eastern Miombo woodlands, elephant dung (2013-39) — 3
SS (FGIC); Taratibu (site 5), RN. Quirimbas, 340 m (12°47'3"S, 39°42'10"E),
10.i1.2013, E & S. Génier, eastern Miombo woodlands, elephant dung (2013-67) —
1 2, 3 GS (FGIC); Tanzanta: DODOMA, Dodoma, (6°11'S, 35°46'E), xii.2006,
[anonymous], — 43 specimens (RMIC); IRINGA, Tandala, Ruaha National Park,
912 m (7°47.412'S, 35°30.219'E), 6.xii.2006, R. Minetti, — 4 99, 4 3, 96 speci-
mens (FGIC, PMOC); MOROGORO, savane de Mikesse Hills, 378 m (6°14.457'S,
37°58.312'E), 12-14.xii.2006, R. Minetti, - 1 ¢ (PMOC); Uluguru Mountains,
(7°6'S, 37°39'E), xii.2006, Local collectors, — 103 specimens (PMOC); Vuma Hills,
(7°25'S, 37°8'E), 3—5.i.2009, D.C. Moore, — 3 299, 1 6 (PMOC); RUKWA, 10 km
N Namanyere, Luafi Game reserve, 510 m (7°27.289'S, 30°54.498'E), 19.xi.2006, R.
Minetti, — 1 @ (PMOC); Zambia: CENTRAL PROVINCE, 1 km SE Kacheleko Out-
post, 1250 m (15°1'35"S, 26°25'23"E), 10.xii.2010, F. Génier, central Zambezian &
Miombo woodland, prairie edge, light trap (2010-56) — 1 9, 3 dod (CMNC, FGIC);
25 km NE Lilemone, 1250 m (15°13'14"S, 26°19'41"E), 5.xii.2010, F. Génier, cen-
tral Zambezian & Miombo woodland, light trap (2010-46) — 6 29, 8 do (FGIC);
same locality, 6.xii.2010, E Génier, central Zambezian & Miombo woodland, dung
trap (2010-47) — 1 d (FGIC); 5.6 km SW Kacheleko Outpost, 1250 m (15°3'28"S,
26°23'55"E), 7.xii.2010, E Génier, central Zambezian & Miombo woodland, prairie
edge, dung trap (2010-48) —7 99,7 do (FGIC); 6.2 km W Mukambi Lodge Jct. on
M9, 1100 m (14°57'2"S, 25°56'21"E), 18.xi.2010, E Génier, open central Zambezian
& Miombo woodland, elephant dung (2010-02) — 4 299, 3 do (FGIC); 6.5 km N
Chunga, 1100 m (14°59'40"S, 26°1'11"E), 4.xii.2010, E Génier, open central Zambe-
zian & Miombo woodland, light trap (2010-43) — 15 99, 18 dd (FGIC); Chunga,
Kafue National Park [site 1], (15°2.362'S, 25°59.437'E), 11—12.xii.2009, Josso, Juhel
& Minetti, pi¢ge lumineux — 20 specimens, 1 9, 1 oS (JFJC); Kacheleko Wildlife
Outpost, Kafue National Park, (15°1'S, 26°25'E), 2—3.xii.2007, Josso, Juhel & Mon-
fort, piége lumineux — 6 9, 4 So JFJC); same locality, 6-7.xii.2008, J.-F. Josso
& R. Minetti, piége lumineux — 2 29 (JFJC); same locality, 10—-18.xii.2009, Josso,
Juhel & Minetti, piége lumineux — 91 specimens (JFJC); Kafue river east, (14°57'S,
25°55'E), 4.xii.2007, Josso, Juhel & Monfort, — 49 specimens (JFJC); Mukambi Safari
Lodge, 1250 m (14°58'32"S, 25°59'29"E), 8.xii.2010, EK Génier, open central Zambe-
zian & Miombo woodland, light trap (2010-50) — 2 99, 1 d (FGIC); same locality,
9.xii.2010, FE Génier, open central Zambezian & Miombo woodland, light trap (2010-
52) — 1 9, 1 6 (FGIC); COPPERBELT, Kasompe, (12°36'S, 27°53'30"E), ii.1982,
[anonymous], —1 9, 3 6d (PMOC).

Diagnosis. Male Onitis albertcollarti sp. nov. will key to couplet 4 on page 159 in
the Krikken (1977) key to species of the O. lycophron species complex. The presence of
a single tooth on the profemur ventral surface on basal half (Fig. 3, arrow) will separate
it from O. mendax Gillet, 1918 (interrupted carina) and O. pseudojanssenii Krikken,

A new species of Onitis a

1977 and O. janssenii Gomes Alves, 1854 (both species with two separate protibial
protrusions on the ventral surface basally in moderate to large males).

Onitis albertcollarti will key to O. lycophron (couplet 12, page 323) in the Ferreira
(1978) key to Onitini species. Males differ from O. lycophrons by the distinct project-
ing apical tooth of the protibia (Fig. 1a, arrow) and the external edges of the apical
tooth forming a distinct angle with the anterior edge of the apical lateral tooth. Fe-
males differ from O. lycophron by the smaller subtriangular pygidium.

Description. Holotype 3 (Figs 1-8). Overall aspect. Length 20.0 mm, maximum
width 9.5 mm. Colour dark brown to black, lacking metallic sheen. Dorsal surface
slightly sericeous on head and pronotum, elytra less glossy. Setae minute on head, pro-
notum, and dorsal surface of elytra, with longer setae on elytral apical declivity. Venter
with long dense pubescence on mesosternum and median lobe of metasternum. Head.
Anterior clypeal edge rounded, margin abruptly upturned. Clypeogenal sutures not
carinate, weakly defined. Clypeal surface with short, transversal scabrous punctures.
Genal surface finely granulate. Clypeofrontal carina arcuate medially, slightly sinuous
and tuberculate near the clypeogenal suture. Frontal surface finely punctate medially,
with denser granulate punctures laterally. Frontal tubercle obtuse, in line with cephalic
posterior edge. Pronotum. Lateral edges broadly arcuate in dorsal view, maximum
width midway between anterior angle and posterior angle. Surface moderately convex.
Pronotal punctures simple and coarse, becoming scabrous on anterior angles; punc-
tures irregularly distributed, separated by one to six diameters. Posteromedian fossae
fused, surface with coarse microsculpture and with fine, irregular, scabrous punctures.
Posterior edge finely crenulate on each side of posteromedian fossae. Seutellum. Small
and triangular. Elytra. Moderately convex. Striae 1-7 moderately wide, slightly wider
at basal third. Strial punctures weakly defined on apical declivity. Interstriae 1-8 fee-
bly convex, with fine, irregularly-spaced punctures. Elytral striae 8 straight, wide, and
deeply impressed from humeral callus to junction with striae 7. Elytral interstria 9 nar-
rowly bulging dorsally. Elytral striae 8 and 9 wide and deeply impressed at apical third.
Pygidium. Subtriangular, distinctly smaller than in O. /ycophron. Pygidial surface con-
vex, sericeous, with scattered, minute, setigerous granules. Antennal club. Fulvous,
mostly covered with dense, minute, yellow setae and some scattered long, brown setae.
Ventrites. Metasternal surface with two more-or-less triangular depressions on each
side of midline posteriorly. Abdominal sternite 3 with few minute, scattered setae me-
dially. Legs. Profemur anterior surface flat with minute punctures. Apicoventral edge
produced into a small, inwardly bent denticle. Protibia long and slender, anterior half
evenly bent inward. External edge with four teeth. Apex produced into a semi-trape-
zoidal and downwardly bent tooth flanked internally by a short but thick setal brush
(Fig. 1a, arrow). Distal edge of apical tooth forming a distinct angle with external edge
of apical projection. Longitudinal carina of ventral surface obtusely toothed at basal
fourth (Fig. 3, arrow). Mesofemur posterior edge crenulate in ventral view, lacking a
denticle or projection on apicoventral angle. Mesotibial internal edge straight. Metafe-

28 Francois Génier & Philippe Moretto / ZooKeys 900: 23-29 (2019)

mur lacking ventrally bent tooth on anterior edge at middle, posterior edge produced
into an obliquely oriented, acute tooth medially, basal portion of tooth never fused
with ventroposterior edge of metafemur. Aedeagus. Phallobase as long as parameres
(Fig. 4). Parameres with apical surface covered with coarse, fused granulation forming
fine longitudinal rugae (Figs 4, 5). Frontolateral peripheral endophallite (FLP) bilo-
bate, with a spiniform process at distal third (Figs 7, 8).

Variation. Measurements (59 Gd, 46 99). Length: male 15.0-21.0 mm
(18.0 = 1.5 mm), female 15.5—21.0 mm (18.1 + 1.3 mm). Female as male except cl-
ypeal edges ogival in dorsal view (Fig. 9); pygidium smaller and triangular with surface
flat and with denser, minute, setigerous granules; legs unmodified, except for mes-
ofemoral posterior edge as in male. Some variation in the coarseness of dorsal micros-
culpture with some individuals appearing entirely dull.

Etymology. While visiting the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brus-
sels, we found a specimen of this species bearing the “Onitis collarti” paratype label
of André Janssens. Since Janssens’ name was never formally described we decided to
honour this homage with the modification to “O. albertcollarti”. Albert DCH Collart
was a colleague and friend of André Janssens a well-known scarab worker. Collart first
worked as a sanitary agent in the former Belgian Congo from 1923 to 1930. For health
reason he had to come back to Belgium and started to work as a scientific collabora-
tor for the entomology department of the former Royal Museum of Natural History
in 1932. He was promoted several times and concluded his career as the Laboratory
Director of the Institution in 1964. He retired in January 1965 and remained associ-
ated as a scientific collaborator of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences until
his death in 1993.

Distribution. From southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Katanga) to
Tanzania in the north and eastern Zambia through northern Mozambique in the
south. Onitis albertcollarti occurs sympatrically with O. lycophron on most of its north-
ern distribution.

Natural history. Specimens with data were collected using pitfall traps baited with
human faeces and elephant dung and were attracted to light traps. Some individuals
were collected in eastern Miombo woodlands and central Zambezian woodlands.

Acknowledgements

The senior author wishes to thank Mark Hoekstra, Luis Augusto, Marcelino Denja,
and the park warden José Dias dos Santos Mohamede, who greatly facilitated the
fieldwork in Parque Nacional das Quirimbas (Cobo Delgado, Mozambique), where
specimens of the new species were collected. Alain Drumont (IRSNB), Jean-Francois
Josso, and Robert Minetti contributed the bulk of the studied specimens. Andrew
Smith kindly reviewed the manuscript and greatly improved the final version. A spe-
cial thanks to Francine and Robert K. Barrett for their ongoing support of scarab
taxonomy and systematics.

A new species of Onitis 29

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