Stegopterus vittatus (Fabricius, 1775)

Stegopterus vittatus (Fabricius, 1775) View in CoL

Figs 19 View Figure 19 , 20 View Figure 20

Cetonia vittata Fabricius, 1775: 819 View in CoL (original description).

Trichius vittatus : Gory and Percheron 1833: 83.

Stegopterus vittatus View in CoL : Burmeister and Schaum 1840: 405; Burmeister 1842: 744; Lacordaire 1856: 562; Harold 1869: 1342; Péringuey 1907: 297; Schenkling 1922: 15; Krajčik 1999: 49.

Type material.

Lectotype, here designated. South Africa – WCP • ♂; Cap. B. sp.; Gory Type ; Coll. Melly; MHNG: MHNG ENTO 0119902 .

Other material examined.

South Africa – WCP • 1 ♀; Bookram Farm ; 30 Aug. 1981; Endrödy-Younga leg.; groundtraps [= pitfall traps], 59 days; ERPC • 1 ♂; Cape Town ; Oct. 1988; C. R. Owen leg.; ERPC • 2 ♂; Langebaan ; 25 Oct. 1989; J. Glaser leg.; ERPC • 3 ♂; Leipoldtville, Eland’s Bay ; ERPC • 3 ♂ 1 ♀; Yzerfontein ; ERPC .

Diagnosis.

Stegopterus vittatus is easily identified by the following suite of characters: Mesotibia strongly bent ventrally and with widened apex; external margin of protibia with three equally spaced teeth; antennal clubs shorter than the clypeus.

Distribution.

This is the best-known species in the genus, and its occurrence has been recorded in detail across the entire lowland region, stretching from Cape Point in the south to Lamberts Bay on the west coast (Fig. 21 View Figure 21 ).

Remarks.

Among the specimens analysed in this study, there is no particular variation in chromatic or morphological patterns, except in the intrahumeral black band, which is sometimes reduced at the centre but still complete.