Ellimenistes setulosus FÅHRAEUS, 1871

Pimelorrhinus globatus Reitter, 1915, syn. n.

Taxonomic notes:

The original description of Pimelorrhinus and of its sole species P. globatus was based on a single male (Fig. 1) with the label ‘Ins. Rhodus’ (Fig. 2). No further species were assigned later to Pimelorrhinus, so that the genus has remained monotypic. Reitter (1915a) attributed Pimelorrhinus to the tribe Holcorrhinini because it shares with those a transversal sulcus on the epifrons beyond the eyes. In fact, the type specimen must be transferred to the South African genus Ellimenistes Boh., of which 36 species have become described. Moreover, there are no differences in external morphology and male genitalia between the type specimen of Pimelorrhinus globatus Rtt. and Ellimenistes setulosus Fåhr. Thus, a new synonymy is proposed here for Ellimenistes setulosus Fåhraeus, 1871 and Pimelorrhinus globatus Reitter, 1915 .

‘Ins. Rhodus’ could be interpreted as the Dodecanese island in Aegean Sea bearing this name. However, there is no further record for either name from the Mediterranean region. Thus either the “ Pimelorrhinus globatus ” specimen was introduced to this island accidentally, or the specimen is mislabeled. One possible source for mislabeling is the similarity of spelling of ‘Rhodus’ and ‘Rhodes’, a university in Grahamstown (established in 1904) in the Eastern Cape province, where Ellimenistes setulosus was described from (Fåhraeus 1871).

Type material:

Pimelorrhinus globatus: Holotype, male (MTMB): ‘Ins. Rhodus’ / ‘ Pimelorrhinus globatus m. 1915. Type’ / ‘Coll. Reitter’ / ‘Monotypus Pimelorrhinus globatus Reitter 1915 ’ / ‘ Ellimenistes setulosus Fåhr., Yunakov det. 2009’.

Other material examined:

South Africa: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (MTMB) “S. Africa/ Natal”; 1 ♂ (ZIN) “South Africa (Natal)”; 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀ (KUMN) “Port Natal [= Durban]/ Deyrolle [leg.]” .