Pharaonus saharicus sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from the Central Sahara (Algeria)

Abstract: A new ruteline scarab beetle species, Pharaonus saharicus sp. nov., from the Tassili n'Ajjer mountain range in the Algerian section of the Sahara desert, is described. Its relevant diagnostic characters are illustrated. The new species is classified near P. fasciculatus (Burmeister, 1844) from which it can be separated mainly by a different dorsal surface macrosetation and by the shape of the aedeagus. An annotated species list of the genus Pharaonus Blanchard, 1851 is presented, and an updated identification key to Pharaonus species is provided. First country records of P. fasciculatus from Libya and Sudan, P. lederi lederi (Reitter, 1888) from Afghanistan and P. varicoloreus (Burmeister, 1844) from Jordan are reported.

Key words: Taxonomy, new species, key, check-list, distribution, Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Pharaonus, Algeria, Sahara, Palaearctic region