Holloway G., Joseph T.S., Kadej M. (2024). A review of the Attagenus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) species from South Africa and an image-based key to identification. African Entomology 32(e16250): 1-7.

Author(s)	Holloway, Graham; Joseph, Tara S.; Kadej, Marcin
Title	A review of the Attagenus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) species from South Africa and an image-based key to identification
Journal Title	African Entomology
DOI	10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a16250
URL	https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/16250
Volume	32
Issue	e16250
Page(s)	1-7
Date	April 2, 2024
Keywords
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Abstract	The Dermestidae is a relatively poorly studied family of insects but with a high rate of species discovery. The South African region is particularly rich in Attagenus spp. many of which are distinctively patterned. This study provides an updated list of Attagenus spp. in South Africa with a complete literature review and an image-based identification key to the Attagenus species within South Africa. Images of most species are provided. With the rise in significance of citizen science recording schemes, this study facilitates image-based identification and encourages both entomologists and citizen scientists to further contribute to the understanding of this beautiful Coleopteran family.
ISSN	2224-8854
Document Type	Journal Article
Publisher	Academy of Science of South Africa

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Associated Taxa (47)

Taxon Name	Cited As (Verbatim)	Relationship	Status	Page / Notes
Attagenus albonotatus	Attagenus albonotatus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus holmi	Attagenus holmi	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus prescutellaris	Attagenus prescutellaris	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus rhodesianus	Attagenus rhodesianus	Identification Key	synonym	Included in the key as one of valid species, however a possible synonymy is noted [p. 6] referred from World Catalogue 2023 web edition (actual synonymy was made in the World Catalogue 2015)
Attagenus boroveci	Attagenus boroveci	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus freyi	Attagenus freyi	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus grandjeani	Attagenus grandjeani	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus snizeki	Attagenus snizeki	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus diversesignatus	Attagenus diversesignatus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus romani	Attagenus romani	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus (genus)	Attagenus	RedescriptionIdentification Key	accepted	Regional review of Attagenus; some species are poorly described, therefore not included properly in the comparison
Attagenus miles	Attagenus miles	Identification Key	provisionally accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus donckieri	Attagenus donckieri	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus wittmeri	Attagenus wittmeri	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus orangensis	Attagenus orangensis	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus lambertsensis	Attagenus lambertensis [sic]	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus danielssoni	Attagenus danielssoni	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus heres	Attagenus heres	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus capensis	Attagenus capensis	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus diversus	Attagenus diversus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus fasciatopunctatus	Attagenus fasciatopunctatus	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus flexicollis	Attagenus flexicollis	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus fulvicollis	Attagenus fulvicollis	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus leopardinus	Attagenus leopardinus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus kaniai	Attagenus kaniai	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus hottentotus	Attagenus hottentotus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus jucundus	Attagenus jucundus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Telopes thunbergi	Attagenus thunbergi	Identification Key	accepted	Treated in original combination under Attagenus, subgeneric assignment or Telopes is not discussed
Attagenus fasciatus	Attagenus fasciatus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus unicolor unicolor	Attagenus unicolor	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus cinereus	Attagenus cinereus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus pustulatus	Attagenus pustulatus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus aurofasciatus	Attagenus aurofasciatus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus brunneus	Attagenus brunneus	Identification Key	accepted	"Attagenus brunneus has been listed as a species of South Africa (Herrmann and Háva 2020), however, no original record could be found to support this. A recommendation to remove A. brunneus from the list could be made due to the lack of records supporting the presence of this species in South Africa..."
Attagenus rufiventris	Attagenus rufiventris	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus capronatus	Attagenus capronatus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus muelleri	Attagenus muelleri	Identification Key	accepted	Stated "cannot be differentiated using (existing) images alone"
Attagenus pseudocapensis	Attagenus pseudocapensis	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus schawalleri	Attagenus schawalleri	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus constantini	Attagenus constantini	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus roberti	Attagenus roberti	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus pellio	Attagenus pellio	Identification Key	accepted	Noted with no known reference for record in South Africa (may be absent here, although considered cosmopolitan)
Attagenus pseudocinereus	Attagenus pseudocinereus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus pardus	Attagenus pardus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus matamata	Attagenus matamata	Identification Key	accepted	—
Attagenus vestitus	Attagenus vestitus	Identification Key	accepted	—
Telopes (genus)	Attagenus	Identification KeyRedescription	provisionally accepted	Regional review of Attagenus; some species are poorly described, therefore not included properly in the comparison. Telopes is not explicitly mentioned, but Telopes thunbergi (Mroczkowski, 1968) was treated in original combination under Attagenus; Attagenus (Telopes) capetowni (Háva, 2022) unfortunately was not included