Hycleus lactimalus (Marseul, 1879)

Bologna, Marco A., Amore, Valentina & Pitzalis, Monica, 2018, Meloidae of Namibia (Coleoptera): taxonomy and faunistics with biogeographic and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4373 (1), pp. 1-141 : 73-74

Ce) Hycleus lactimalus species group

This group is not well defined and could be an artificial assemblage of species with mesosternum of Mesoscutatus - type and yellow, modified male maxiillary stipes. We grouped tentatively in this unit three species: H. lactimalus ( Marseul, 1879) , from Angola and Namibia , H. maculicornis (Voigts, 1902) , from southern and eastern Africa (we examined specimens from Zimbabwe and Tanzania, CB; and from southwestern R.D. Congo, RMCA), and H. maxillaris ( Kaszab, 1956) from Tanzania. We suspect that H. maxillaris could be a synonym of H. maculicornis , because of the same antennal colouration (antennomere I and II black, and apex of XI with black spots) and the similarly modified shape of male maxillary stipes.

Hycleus lactimalus ( Marseul, 1879) ( Fig. 4U )

Mylabris lactimala Marseul, 1879

Mylabris (Gorrizia) lactimala, Pardo Alcaide 1963

Distribution. Southwestern Angola, western Namibia .

Material examined and literature records. [Kunene] Opuwo: Kaokoveld, Anabib (Orupembe), 100 miles W Ohopoho, 18.1833°S 12.5167°E ( Kaszab, 1956). [Erongo]: Dâures: Brandberg ( MSNF); Arandis: C14, Kuiseb River, 23.3046°S 15.7718°E (CB).

Other records: Namibia ( Bologna, 2000a) .

Remarks. Types of this species was examined at MNHN.

The male of this species is easily distinguishable by the maxillary stipes yellow, inflated and with a middle keel. The colour of this mouth parts were described as white by Marseul (1879), but, as evidenced by Pardo Alcaide (1963), actually it is yellow. Females are more difficult to distinguish from the species of the group of H. dicinctus , because they have the same size and elytral pattern, but in both sexes the pronotum is slender, parallel in the basal half and narrowed in front, and the antennomere III is slightly longer than IV; in male temples are slightly convergent posteriorly.

Hycleus lactimalus differs from H. maculicornis-maxillaris (see above) because of the colour of antennomeres (I–II completely black and XI orange) and the male maxillary stipes more widened ventrally.

Figures

FIGURE4. A.Hycleus bifucatus;B. Hycleusburmeisteri; C. Hycleusdamarensis; D. Hycleusderosus; E.Hycleusmimulus; F. Hycleuspruinosus; G. Hycleussvakopinus; H.Hycleus transvaalicus; I. Hycleus adamantinus; J.Hycleus amoenus; K.Hycleus bushmanicus; L. Hycleus deserticolus; M. Hycleus devylderi; N. Hycleus kochi; O. Hycleus planitiei; P. Hycleus politus; Q. Hycleus hilaris; R. Hycleus villosus; S. Hycleus haemactus; T. Hycleus plagiatus; U. Hycleus lactimalus; V. Hycleus scalaris; W.Hycleus complex tricolor (kakamas?); X. Hycleus tricolor; Y.Hycleus versutus.