Micrambe hanstroemi (Bruce, 1957)

Lyubarsky, G. Yu., 2019, New and little-known beetles of Central, South Africa and Reunion Island (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae), Russian Entomological Journal 28 (4), pp. 377-382 : 378

Micrambe hanstroemi (Bruce, 1957)

Figs 1–2 .

MATERIAL. S. Africa: RSA, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Roval Natal NR, Mahai camp, 28.688oS 28.948oE, 1450 m, Yellow Pan Trap, 24.11– 06.12.2005, leg. M. Mostovski, 1♂ .

REMARKS. The revision of Otero [2012: 420] states “male: unknown”. Thus, the first male specimen of this species was found. Type finding: Typus ♀: South Africa. Kwazulu-Natal, Royal Natal National Park; Gudu Falls, [28°32´S 30°53´E], 4.IV.1951. N° 260. Swedish South Africa Expedition 1950–1951. Thus, the male was found in the same national park as the type specimen. In the first male described, the hind tarsi are 5-segmented. This is an important character: tarsal formula 5-5- 5 in both sexes. In the double-pubescence Micrambe group of South Africa, this character is found only in M. endroedyi ( Otero, 2005) . Unfortunately, in Otero [ Otero, 2005], this species was described with errors: in the figure, the male has 4-segmented hind tarsi, although the description says that the tarsi of both sexes are 5-segmented. The general view of the aedeagus and parameres in M. endroedyi Otero [ Otero, 2005: fig. 7] and M. hanstroemi (this paper, Fig. 2 ) is very similar, but in the species M. endroedyi at the top of the parameres there are 3 long chetae, and M. hanstroemi has 2 long chetae. In the key of the species on pages 435–436, Otero [2012] distinguishes these species mainly by indicating the difference in the structure of the tarsi (not confirmed) and the difference in the transversity of the pronotum: strongly transverse in M. endroedyi and very slightly transverse in M. hanstroemi .

In the subfamily Cryptophaginae , males usually have tarsi 554, and females 555. This character of males appeared in the Cretaceous [ Lyubarsky, 2015]. This pattern is maintained in various regions, but in Africa, in the genera Micrambe and Henoticus , males lose this character and have legs 555, as in females. This loss of the character of males occurs in different genera independently and apparently happened several times, because not all species possess this character of indistinguishability of the tarsi of females and males, and the species in question do not form a separate grouping.

DISTRIBUTION. South Africa: RSA: Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Figures

Figs 1–2.Micrambe hanstroemi (Bruce): 1 — male genitalia; 2 — paramere. Рис. 1–2 Micrambe hanstroemi (Bruce): 1 — гениталии самца; 2 — парамеры.