Brachelytrium (Brachelytrium) aeneum, Bílý, Svatopluk & Bellamy, Charles L., 2010

Bílý, Svatopluk & Bellamy, Charles L., 2010, Supplement to the revision of the genus Brachelytrium Obenberger, 1923 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae: Anthaxiini), Zootaxa 2721, pp. 15-27 : 21-22

Brachelytrium (Brachelytrium) aeneum sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

Specimen examined. Holotype, female (NMPC): RSA, Eastern Cape, 20 km NE of East London, 11.xii.2002, lgt. M. Snížek.

Diagnosis. Large (5.8 mm), robust, posteriorly slightly enlarged, convex; dorsal surface dark green with dull metallic lustre, elytral disc darkened; frons dark green; legs and scutellum blue-green; ventral surface lustrous, blue-green; entire body asetose.

Description of the female holotype. Length: 5.8 mm; width: 2.3 mm. Head large, as wide as anterior pronotal margin; anterior margin of frontoclypeus widely emarginate; frons medially finely depressed; vertex 1.3 times as wide as width of eye; eyes large, reniform, not projecting beyond outline of head; antennae relatively long, slightly overlapping mid-length of lateral pronotal margins when laid alongside; scape pyriform, slightly curved, 4 times as long as wide; pedicel ovoid, nearly twice as long as wide; antennomere 3 nearly triangular, twice as long as wide; antennomeres 4–10 triangular to trapezoidal, 1.0–1.8 times as wide as long; terminal antennomere nearly spherical with fine anterolateral emargination; sculpture of head consisting of dense, oval to polygonal cells with large, flat central grains.

Pronotum convex, 1.8 times as wide as long with poorly developed lateroposterior depressions; anterior margin nearly straight, posterior margin very slightly biarcuate; lateral margins regularly rounded, maximum width at anterior 1/3; sculpture homogenous, consisting of small, polygonal cells with small central grains. Scutellum convex, microsculptured, slightly longer than wide.

Elytra convex, 1.6 times as long as wide, slightly enlarged posteriorly, widely rounded at posterior 1/5; humeral swellings small but well-developed; basal, transverse depression rather deep, narrow, far not reaching scutellum; epipleuron wide, well-defined, extending to apex; depressions poorly developed; sculpture nearly homogenous, consisting of fine, transversely enlarged punctures.

Ventral surface lustrous, metasternum roughly ocellate with central grains; abdominal ventrites finely ocellate, cells somewhat longitudinally prolonged; anal ventrite obtusely rounded with very fine, nearly indistinct lateral serration; anal ventrite widely grooved along entire margin. Legs short and robust, meso- and metatibiae slightly enlarged posteriorly. Tarsal claws small, slightly hook-shaped, not enlarged at base.

Male unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin adverb “ aeneus ” (coppery-coloured) to stress the coloration of the species.

Distribution. South Africa (Eastern Cape province).

Differential diagnosis. Brachelytrium (B.) aeneum sp. nov. is rather similar and probably related with B. (B.) lesnei Théry (1934) from which it differs by the aeneous coloration, longer antennae, anteriorly enlarged pronotum and robust legs ( B. (B.) lesnei is bronze with purple frons in female, antennae hardly reaching midlength of lateral pronotal margins, maximum pronotal width is situated at mid-length and meso- and metatibiae are slender, not enlarged posteriorly).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. 1 – 6, dorsal habitus of six new species of Brachelytrium (Brachelytrium): Fig. 1, B. nigrum sp. nov., holotype, 5.6 mm (maximum length); Fig. 2, B. mauritanicum sp. nov., holotype, 4.3 mm; Fig. 3, B. beninense sp. nov., holotype, 4.7 mm; Fig. 4, B. niehuisi sp. nov., holotype, 5.0 mm; Fig. 5, B. purpureiventre; sp. nov., holotype, 5.2 mm; Fig. 6, B. aeneum sp. nov., holotype, 5.8 mm; and Figures 6, 7, dorsal habitus of two new species of Brachelytrium (Elytrobrachium): Fig. 7, B. caeruleum sp. nov., holotype, 3.8 mm; Fig. 8, B. metallicum sp. nov., holotype, 4.6 mm.