Blaiseus nothoafricanus Douglas

Douglas, Hume, 2009, Revision of Blaiseus Fleutiaux, a Genus Now Known from Asia, Africa and North America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Cardiophorinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (1), pp. 86-100 : 97

Blaiseus nothoafricanus Douglas , new species

( Figs. 2 , 14 , 25 )

Material examined. Two males.

Holotype: Male labeled: ‘‘ Lydenburg dist. / Transvaal’’; ‘‘ Janson coll./ 1903- 130.’’; [red] ‘‘ HOLOTYPE / Blaiseus / nothoafricanus/ Douglas 2006’’ ( NHM) . Paratype: 1 male labeled: [handwritten] ‘‘Ayres’’; [handwritten] ‘‘P.B. Spei/ Transvaal’’; ‘‘Fry Coll./ 1905-100’’; [yellow] ‘‘ PARATYPE / Blaiseus / nothoafricanus/ Douglas 2006,’’ with genitalia in microvial attached to pin ( NHM) .

Type locality: South Africa, Mpumalanga Province (formerly Transvaal), Lydenburg District.

Diagnosis. Pterothorax: Elytra with apices not upturned ( Fig. 11 ). Legs: Femora and tibiae expanded (fossorial); protibiae without posterior tooth at midlength or apex (Fig. 6, although strong spurs present).

Description. Male: Length 6.0 mm. Integument brown without lighter coloured patches on elytra. Head: Nasale with circular pits antero-mesad of antennal fossae; antennae reaching beyond mesocoxae; labrum convex. Prothorax: Posterior edge of pronotum with 2 apices mesally; hypomeron with hind edge with semicircular emargination immediately meso-ventrad of hind angles ( Fig. 2 ). Prosternum with ventral surface of prosternal process surface not carinate laterally. Pterothorax: Scutellum with sides straight before rounded posterior apex. Elytra not upturned at apex; interval 6 costate apically; epipleurae not serrate. Hind wings with CuA1 forked at junction with MP3+4, forming an additional closed cell (Fig. 7). Legs: Femora and tibiae expanded (fossorial); protibiae without posterior tooth at midlength or apex (Fig. 6, although strong spurs present); tarsi simple. Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe broadest near apex, not concave medially ( Fig. 25 ); parameres with dorsal (setose) and ventral apices both more than twice longer than broad (width at measured at midlength of free portion). Female: Unknown.

Comments. The hypothesis that this species is distinct from all other known Blaiseus is supported by its unique combination of diagnostic characters. The known distribution of this species is limited to the vaguely defined type locality, and may include higher elevation forests in Lydenburg District. This is the only Blaiseus species known from Africa.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Lateral view of pronotum of Blaiseus spp. 1) B. malayensis new species; 2) B. nothoafricanus new species. Arrows indicate concavity of hypomeron immediately mesoventrad of hind angles. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Figs. 3–4. Dorsal view of scutellum of Blaiseus spp. 3) B. mexicanus new species; 4) B. bedeli Fleutiaux. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Figs. 5– 6. Dorsal view of protibia of Blaiseus spp. 5) B. mexicanus new species; 6) B. guatemalensis new species. m 5 tooth at midlength; a 5 apical tooth. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Fig. 7. Wing of Blaiseus bedeli Fleutiaux. Arrows indicate forked vein CuA1. Scale bar 5 2 mm.

Figs. 8–16. Dorsal habitus of Blaiseus spp. 8) B. bedeli Fleutiaux; 9) B. chiapasensis new species; 10) B. daklakensis new species; 11) B. daklakensis new species, side view; 12) B. malayensis new species; 13) B. mexicanus new species; 14) B. nothoafricanus new species; 15) B. zamoranoensis new species female; 16) B. zamoranoensis new species female, side view. Scale bar 5 1.0 mm. All photos are dorsal view of male specimens unless specified otherwise.

Figs. 17–26. Dorsal view of aedeagi of Blaiseus spp. 17) B. bedeli Fleutiaux; 18) B. chiapasensis new species; 19) B. daklakensis new species; 20) B. fujianus new species; 21) B. guatemalensis new species; 22) B. laoensis new species; 23) B. malayensis new species; 24) B. mexicanus new species; 25) B. nothoafricanus new species; 26) B. zamoranoensis new species. d 5 dorsal apex of parameres; i 5 inner apex; v 5 ventral apex. Scale bar 5 1.0 mm.