Dilatapolochrus Tshernyshev, 2021

Tshernyshev, Sergei E., 2021, Dilatapalochrus gen. nov. - a new species and a new genus of soft-winged flower beetle of the tribe Apalochrini (Coleoptera: Malachiidae) from East Africa, Zootaxa 4966 (3), pp. 376-384 : 378

Dilatapolochrus Tshernyshev gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1C3ACFC3-5C35-45D7-8C0C-D1766E6800C9

Type species: Dilatapolochrus vikhrevi Tshernyshev sp. nov. fixed by monotypy in the present paper.

Diagnosis. Diagnosis is mainly based on male special characters. Size moderately large for Malachiidae (c. 5.3–5.7 mm) with the body elongate, oval and parallel-sided, slightly expanded posteriorly, evenly covered with pale brown long erect pubescence and in part with short semi-erect hairs. Body black-brown with metallic green-blue luster. Antennae strong, filiform with flattened and widened 6th to 11th antennomeres, 2.3 mm long, expanding over the base of elytra. Head narrower than pronotum, flat, interocular area almost completely flat or slightly impressed, eyes simple, not large, slightly protruding, round-oval. Pronotum weakly narrowed at base, almost completely equilateral and sub-oval with evenly rounded angles, slightly depressed and flattened at the base and at the posterior angles, with posterior margin slightly elevate and swollen; anterior and posterior margins straight; lateral sides evenly rounded and flattened, distinctly marginate; surface of the disc very sparsely and finely punctured lacking microsculpture, shining. Elytra subparallel, slightly expanded just behind the base, not covering three apical segments of the abdomen, densely and coarsely punctured with distinct microsculpture, with small distinct and weakly protruding shoulders; apices evenly rounded, simple. Hind wings reduced in females. Anterior tarsi with small but distinct transverse comb above the 2nd tarsomere, anterior femora slightly widened and evenly impressed in the middle, sides of the impression covered with a row of short erect hairs, anterior tibiae dilated and strongly excavate in apical half so the basal lobe is bearing flattened oval plate above, intermediate tibiae stout, with three deep round-oval impressions near apices inwards. Metathorax swollen, lacking appendage or tuft of hairs. Pygidium undivided, evenly rounded distally; 8th ultimate abdominal ventrite looks bilaciniate but both lobes distinctly adjoined, evenly rounded and narrowed distally, with triangular emargination in middle; aedeagus straight and strongly narrowed distally, with spiculate narrow lamella with round and flat tip; two groups of dark long sharp bristles are visible in distal part near both sides of the inner sac. Tegmen narrow, elongate, with long and thin parameres.

Comparison. Species of the genus are comparable with representatives of Hapalochrops Bourgeois, 1908 and differ in the presence of strong emarginations in fore tibiae and stout intermediate tibia with three impressions in the apical part in ventral side, specifically widened and strong antennae with expanded outer edges in intermediate antennomeres, shortened elytra not covering three abdominal segments, wings reduced in females, and aedeagus, straight and extremely narrowed distally.

Etymology. The name of the genus is a combination of two words: dilatatum—(Latin) with regard to the widening of the antennae, and Apalochrus , the name of the nominative genus of the tribe Apalochrini ; this generic name reflects the specific male character of the new genus, namely flabellate and dilated apical intermediate antennomeres.

Notes. A species of the genus is known from two regions of Tanzania, Njombe and Morogoro ( Uzungwa Mountains ) ( Fig. 13 ) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–13. Dilatapolochrus vikhrevi Tshernyshev gen. et sp.n., holotype, male, external appearance, dorsal view (1); external appearance, lateral view (2); left antenna (3); left anterior tarsus (4); tibia and tarsus of left anterior leg, dorsal view (5); tibia and tarsus of left anterior leg, lateral view (6); left leg, dorsal view (7); left leg, ventral view (8); pygidium (9); ultimate abdominal ventrite (10); aedeagus, dorsal view (11); tegmen (12); distribution map (13). Scale bar 0.5 mm.