A revision of the Scarabaeine Dung Beetles of Australia. I. Tribe Onthophagini

Abstract

The first part of this revision covers the tribe Onthophagini, comprising only the cosmopolitan genus Onthophagus Latreille. The generic name Macropocopris Arrow is synonymized under Onthophagus. Distribution patterns of the species in Australia are outlined in general terms, as are feeding habits and behaviour, where known. Ecological preferences, particularly as regards vegetation cover and soil type, are briefly outlined for about two-thirds of the species. The distribution of each species is plotted on maps.

The genus is divided into 24 species-groups and 165 species in Australia. Keys are provided for the species-groups and, within these, for the included species. Forty-six new names are proposed, as follows: alquirta, apterus, arrilla, bambra, bornemisszai, bornemisszanus, brooksi, bunamin, chepara, dandalu, darlingtoni, dummal, endota, ferrari, gandju , gangulu, gidju, gulmarri, jalamari, jangga, kokereka, kumbaingeri, lamgalio, manya, millamilla, monteithi, mundill, nammuldi, nurubuan, ouratita, paluma, parrumbal, pillara, togeman, tuckonie, turrbal, wagamen, wakelbura, waminda, wigmungan, wilgi, wombalano, yeyeko, yiryoront, yungaburra, and yunkara.

Five names previously regarded as synonyms are revalidated, as follows: duboulayi Waterhouse, fuliginosus Erichson, mniszechi Harold, propinquus Macleay, and quinquetuberculatus Macleay.

Forty-two names are newly synonymized, as follows (the synonym first): acuticeps Macleay = propinquus Macleay; aureoviridanus Blackburn = geelongensis Blackburn; bipustulatus Fabricius = quadripustulatus Fabricius; chillagoensis Paulian = glabratus Hope; conspicuoformis Paulian = tricavicollis Lea; cowleyi Blackburn = laminatus Macleay; cupreopunctatus Lea = evanidus Harold; darwini Paulian = fissiceps Macleay , decurio Lansberge = rubrimaculatus Macleay; dumbrelli Blackburn = dunningi Harold; emarginatus Macleay = rubrimaculatus Macleay; fitzroyensis Blackburn = queenslandicus Blackburn; granicollis Lea = rupicapra Waterhouse; hackeri Paulian = tabellicornis Macleay ; helmsi Blackburn = propinquus Macleay ; hornianus Paulian = blackburni Shipp; howitti Blackburn = desectus Macleay; humeralis Macleay = fabricii Waterhouse; imponderosus Lea = rubescens Macleay; integriceps Macleay = fissiceps Macleay; kingi Harold = muticus Macleay; leaniensis Paulian = incanus Macleay; lucidicollis Boheman = auritus Hope; microtrichius Lea = vilis Harold; minusculus Macleay = quadripustulatus Fabricius; monticola Paulian = sydneyensis Blackburn; negatorius Blackburn = evanidus Harold; opacipennis Lea = pugnax Harold; pauperculus Frey = bicarinaticeps Lea; pontilis Blackburn = blackwoodensis Blackburn; postcornutus Frey = peramelinus Lea; promptus Harold = discolor Hope; pseudoemarginatus Goidanich = rubrimaculatus Macleay; quadrinodicollis Lea = erichsoniHope; semihirtus Frey = incornutus Macleay; semirugosus Gillet = fissiceps Macleay, spissicollis Lea = duboulayi Waterhouse; strabonis Lea = fabricii Waterhouse; subocelliger Blackburn = waterhousei Boucomont and Gillet; sutilistriatus Lea = thoreyi Harold; sydneyicus Paulian = dunningi Harold, zietzi Blackburn = blackburni Shipp.

Two names, crotchi Harold and granunz Lansberge, are treated as nomina inquirenda.