Revision of the Southern African Pollen Beetle Genus Anthystrix (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)

• Published in: Annals of the Entomological Society of America 2009-11, Vol.102 (6), p.998-1012
• Main Authors: Audisio, P, Cline, A. R, Lamanna, F, Trizzino, M, Antonini, G, Mancini, E, Biase, A. De
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthystrix endroedyi; Anthystrix flabellicornis; Anthystrix megalocera; Asteraceae; Biological and medical sciences; Coleoptera; descriptions; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; geographical distribution; host plants; insect morphology; insect taxonomy; Insecta; Invertebrates; Meligethinae; New species; new synonymy; Nitidulidae; SYSTEMATICS; Systematics. Geographical distribution; Tarchonantheae; taxonomic keys; taxonomic revisions
• ISSN: 0013-8746; 1938-2901
• DOI: 10.1603/008.102.0609

The pollen beetle genus AnthystrixKirejtshuk, 1981 previously included six South African species characterized by unusual dimorphic development of male antennal characters. The genus is revised and three new species are described from South Africa, including Anthystrix endroedyi new species, Anthystrix flabellicornis new species, and Anthystrix megalocera new species. Anthystrix luculentaKirejtshuk & Easton 1988, Anthystrix rotundiclavaKirejtshuk & Easton 1988, and Anthystrix martini (Grouvelle, 1899) need to be transferred to two new undescribed genera. These new genera will globally include ≈20 species, most of which remain undescribed or previously attributed to the unrelated genus Meligethinus Grouvelle, 1906. One new synonymy is proposed: Meligethinus uhligiKirejtshuk & Easton, 1988, = Pria martiniGrouvelle, 1899, syn. nov. Larval host plants of Anthystrix species are reported as dioecious Asteraceae trees within the tribe Tarchonantheae (Tarchonanthus). An identification key to all Anthystrix species is provided.