A new Aristogethes pollen beetle from Oman, with a commented and updated checklist of the species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Abstract: An unexpected new species of the genus Aristogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009, A. pelikani sp. nov., is described from southern Oman (Arabian Peninsula). This new species appears to be morphologically rather closely related to a couple of species known from southern Africa (northern South Africa, Botswana and southern Namibia): A. eremita (Audisio, Kirk-Spriggs & Kirejtshuk, 1998) and especially A. rufofuscus (Audisio, Kirk-Spriggs & Kirejtshuk, 1998), with which it shares several morphological traits and some interesting eco-ethological adaptations; these three species are, in fact, all specialized to live in stony sub-desert environments, with phenology mostly in August-September in both areas (southern Africa and southern Arabian Peninsula); they are also all associated for larval development with sub-desertic Malvaceae: Sterculioideae of the genus Hermannia L. The new species is otherwise easily distinguished from its two southern African relatives by the peculiarly shining and coarsely punctuated elytral surface, smaller average body sizes, narrower and at base much more acutely toothed tarsal claws, and the different male and female genitalia, more like those of Aristogethes rufofuscus. The larval hostplant of the new species is represented by Hermannia (Mahernia) paniculata Franch., a small eremic southern Arabian and Northeast African species, typically growing at low altitude in stony sub-desert habitats, close to the sea. An updated and commented checklist to known species of Aristogethes is presented.

Key words: Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Aristogethes, desertic habitats, new species, taxonomy, host plants, Malvaceae, Oman, Afrotropical Region