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

• Published in: Annals of the Entomological Society of America Vol. 102; no. 6; pp. 998 - 1012
• Main Authors: Audisio, P, Cline, A.R, Lamanna, F, Trizzino, M, Antonio, G, Mancini, E, De Biase, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford University Press 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Anthystrix endroedyi; Anthystrix flabellicornis; Anthystrix megalocera; Asteraceae; descriptions; geographical distribution; host plants; insect morphology; insect taxonomy; new species; new synonymy; Nitidulidae; Tarchonantheae; taxonomic keys; taxonomic revisions; South Africa; Meligethinae; systematics; Nitidulidae; Asteraceae; Tarchonantheae
• ISSN: 0013-8746; 1938-2901
• DOI: 10.1603/008.102.0609

The pollen beetle genus Anthystrix Kirejtshuk, 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 luculenta Kirejtshuk & Easton 1988, Anthystrix rotundiclava Kirejtshuk & Easton 1988, and Anthystrix martini (Grouvelle, 1899) need to be transferred to two new undescribed genera. These new genera will globally include approximately equal to 20 species, most of which remain undescribed or previously attributed to the unrelated genus Meligethinus Grouvelle, 1906. One new synonymy is proposed: Meligethinus uhligi Kirejtshuk & Easton, 1988, = Pria martini Grouvelle, 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.