Moluris strigosa (Herbst 1799) - Three-ribbed Hunchback Toktokkie

Members of the genus Moluris closely resemble other rounded/globular Toktokkies (Mariazofia and Toktokkus), but have a hunchback pronotum (convex pronotal disc) and subquadrate pronotal base and scutellum (triangular scutellum in Mariazofia).
Moluris is (according to Koch 1955) well-characterized by the complete pre-mesosternal sulcus and often dentiform structures of base of mesosternum. (These are parts of the underside). Mariazofia can be told from Moluris by having prognathous head (hypognathous in Moluris) and nonconvex pronotal disc.
Elytra may be smooth, tuberculate, granulate or costate and some species are hairy.
The genus is probably near endemic to the Western and Southern parts of the Cape provinces in South Africa.
Males can be easily distinguished by the presence of confined (rounded) golden setal patches on the second abdominal ventrite (same as in Mariazofia).

Moluris strigosa (Three-ribbed Hunchback Toktokkie) is easily identified by the 3 regular straight costae on the elytral disc, the absence of large tubercles and the entirely grey-tomented legs.

Original description (Pimelia strigosa) in:
Herbst, J. F. W. 1799. Natursystem aller bekannten in- und ausländischen Insekten als eine Fortsetzung der von Büffonschen Naturgeschichte: Nach dem System des Ritters Carl von Linné bearbeitet von Carl Gustav Jablonsky, fortgesetzt von Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst. Vol VIII
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/263861#page/71/mode/1up
Translated from Latin & German:
Black, thorax globular, elytra with three raised stripes, glabrous.
This beetle has the same shape as Pimelia striata [this is one of the forms of Mariazofia gibbosa], but is slightly smaller. The color is very dark black everywhere, shiny. The head is flat, and hangs straight down. The pronotum is almost more convex than semi-spherical, smooth, without dots. The elytra are strongly convex, obtusely ovoid, hanging down on the apex, hardly granulated. Each elytron bears three strongly raised smooth longitudinal lines, but not reaching the apex of the elytra; the suture and lateral edge are also a raised line; from there, the elytra curve around the abdomen and lie tightly.
The antennae are black, the articles are elongated. The legs are black, covered with short yellowish flat-lying hairs.

Illustrated in:
Herbst 1806. Natursystem aller bekannten in- und ausländischen Insekten als eine Fortsetzung der von Büffonschen Naturgeschichte: Nach dem System des Ritters Carl von Linné bearbeitet von Carl Gustav Jablonsky, fortgesetzt von Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst. Suppl. 1
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/263863#page/295/mode/1up

Redescription in:
Haag-Rutenberg, G. 1871. Beiträge zur Familie der Tenebrioniden (II. Stück). Coleopterologische Hefte VII: 21–111.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/81206#page/203/mode/1up
Black, shiny, oblong-oval; prothorax globose, shiny; elytral suture and the three costae raised, intervals covered with very minute wrinkles and tubercles.
An easily recognizable species of Scaurus-like appearance.
Pronotum of the usual convex form, shiny, microscopic finely dotted. Elytra elongated, flatly convex, the suture quite prominent and three costae strongly protruding, ending at the apical slope. Interspaces finely wrinkled and granulated, the first least of all. Legs grayish hairy.
Male with toment spot on second segment.
Cape

iNat observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152111304

Publicado el febrero 14, 2024 12:40 TARDE por traianbertau