Thyreocephalus coeruleipennis (Quedenfeldt, 1881)

(Figs. 135–140)

Xantholinus coeruleipennis Quedenfeldt, 1881: 293

Thyreocephalus coeruleipennis; Bernhauer, 1912b: 479; 1915b: 362; 1942: 362; Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 313; Cameron, 1950: 33; Coiffait, 1968: 154; Herman, 2001: 3762; Tottenham, 1956: 256; Scheerpeltz, 1956: 484; 1974: 20.

Type locality. Angola (without additional data).

Type material. It was not possible to find the type /s of Xantholinus coeruleipennis, described from Angola. All reasonable steps were exhausted to trace the original type material of this taxon. According to Horn at al. (1990) the collection should be in Paris (Col. via R. Oberthur 1952 an Mus. Nation. Hist. Nat. Paris). Some Quedenfeldt type specimens have been lost, but some are currently housed in the MNHNP. The curator of MNHNP searched for type material, but without success. The R. Oberthur’s collection is currently deposited in Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn. The curator of this museum Dirk Ahrens searched for type material, but without success. We can only conclude that the type material has been lost. To stabilise the systematic position of this species in this complex species group, we decided to designate a neotype. The specimen selected as the neotype matches the original description of Quedenfeldt (1881) and falls within the area of original type locality (Angola). Neotype (by present designation) ♂: ANGOLA: “Oberssanga, S. Samba's, 30.I.1914, S. Tessmann” (MFNB). The labels “ Neotypus Xantholinus coeruleipennis Qued., Janák & Bordoni des. 2015” and “ Thyreocephalus coeruleipennis Qued., Janák & Bordoni des. 2015” were attached to this specimen.

Additional material examined. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 1 ♂: Lobaye pr. Ngoto forest, 150 km NWW Mbaiki near Grima, 12.–15.vi. 2009, 600m, A. Kudrna (JJRC). CAMEROON: 1 spec.: Johann Albrechtshohe, 3–28.viii.1898, L. Conradt (MFNB); 1 ♂: Johann Albrechtshohe, 29.viii–16.ix.98, L. Conradt (JJRC); 5 spec.: Johann Albrechtshohe, L. Conradt (MFNB, ABFI); 1 spec.: without additional data, Conradt (MFNB); 1 spec.: Joko (MFNB); 1 spec.: Lolodorf, Conradt (MFNB); 1 spec.: Lolodorf, 8.ii–27.iii.1895, Conradt (MFNB); 1 ♂, 1 spec.: Jacum (?), vi.1911, L. Colin (ABFI, JJRC); 2 spec.: Tomo, n/Victoria, Wiper. SKNB 22– 31.i.1980 (DEI, ABFI); 1 ♀: Nkoibisson, Dept. Nyong-Sanaga, x.1963, L. G. Segers (ABFI); 1 ♀: Cameroon spt. (IRSNB); 1 ♀: Tome n/ Victoria, Wypr. 22–31.i.1980 (DEI). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 ♂, 4 ♀: Yangambi (Stan.), V.1960, J. Decelle (MRAC, ABFI); 1 ♂, 5 ♀: Kivu, Costermansville, 1951, H. Bomans (MRAC, ABFI); 1 ♂: Terr. Kalehe, Karambi, 16.ix.1960, N. Leleup (MRAC); 1 ♂: Kisangani, ii.1972, J. Tarverniers (ABFI); 1 spec.: C. Afr., (Kivu See?), 1907–08, S. Gruer (MFNB); 2 ♂: Mawambi, 1910, Grauer (NHMW); 1 ♂, 1♀: Mawambi-Irumu, Grauer (NHMW); 1 ♀: Ukaika, Dez. 1910, Grauer (NHMW); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Ed Luja Kondue (NHMW); 1 ♀: Stanleyfalls, R. P. Kohl (NHMW); 1 ♂: Stanley Pool (IRSNB); 1 ♂: Mafakumba, Col Le Moult (NHMW); 1 ♀: Lulua, Kapanga, ix.1939, G. F. Overlaet (NHMW); 1 ♂, 4 ♀: Yangambi (Stan.), V.1960, J. Decelle (MRAC, ABFI); 1 ♂, 5 ♀: Kivu, Costermansville, 1951, H. Bomans (MRAC, ABFI). EQUATORIAL GUINEA: 1 spec.: Span. Guinea, Makomo, Campogbt., S. Tessmann, (MFNB); 1 ♀: Span. Guinea, Makomo Campogbt., 1–17.ii.1906, G. Tessmann (MFNB); 1 spec.: Span. Guinea, Benitogbt, 15–30.vi.1906, S. Tessmann (ABFI), 1 ♀: Span. Guinea, Benitogbt., 15–30.vi.1906, G. Tessmann (MFNB). FERNANDO PO: 2 spec.: Fernando Poo Is., vi.1900, Conradt (MFNB); 1 spec.: Sa. Isabel, 1900, L. Conradt (MFNB). GABON: 1 ♂: without additional data (NMPC); 4 ♂: Libreville, Mocquerys (MNW); 1 ♂: Libreville (IRSNB); 1 ♂: Loango (Nat. Park), Chutes de Samlia, Riv. N. Gamie (IRSNB); 1 ♀: Chutes de Samlia, Riv. N....amie, Mocquerys (IRSNB); 1 ♀: Ogoué de N'Gola, Lambaréné (IRSNB); 2 ♂: without additional data (IRSNB). GHANA: 1 spec.: Ashanti (ABFI); 1 ♂, 3 ♀: Ashanti reg., Abofour, Opro river, 320 m, 7.07N, 1.48W, 7.IV.1966, S. Endrödy-Younga (ABFI, HNHM); 1 ♀: Western reg., Pretsea, 30 m, 4.55N, 1.52W, 6.iv.1966, S. Endrödy-Younga (HNHM). REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 ♂: Tsingidi, 2° 24' 15.6'' S, 12° 58' 11.0'' E, November 2013, L. J. Niemand (TMSA). SIERRA LEONE: 1 spec.: Kenema, 150 m, II.1972, J. Klapperich (SMNS).

Cited material (not examined). CAMEROON: Ebolowa (Bernhauer 1915b); Yaoundé (Bernhauer 1942); DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Rutshuru, 1285 m (Cameron 1950); Hembe Bitale (Scheerpeltz 1956); GABON: Belinga (Coiffait 1968).

Description. Body length 13–15 mm; length from anterior margin of head to posterior margin of elytra: 7–8 mm. Black with bluish elytra, abdomen sometimes brown or dark reddish brown. Shiny. Head and pronotum with micro-punctation. Head and pronotum and related punctation as in Fig. 136; labrum as in Fig. 137. Elytra scarcely longer and wider than pronotum, slightly dilated posteriad, with rounded humeral angles. Surface with large and deep punctation, most punctures arranged in three series, one near suture, one median and one lateral. Abdomen with transverse micro-striation and very fine and sparse punctation, arranged in some series on each segment.

Male. Tergite 10 and sternite 9 of male genital segment as in Figs. 138, 139. Aedeagus (Fig. 140) 2.1 mm long, with sub-triangular median lobe; parameres symmetrical; inner sac ribbon-like, wide and long, folded on itself, covered with little scales.

Differential diagnosis. Thyreocephalus coeruleipennis differs from the similar T. subcorticalis sp. nov. in densely punctured disc of head with some confluent punctures, in temples behind eyes densely punctured, in slightly smaller body and in smaller and narrower aedeagus.

Distribution. The species is distributed in West, Central and Southern Africa (Angola) (Fig. 135).

Bionomics. The only citation is “sous écorces d'arbres abattus” [under bark of fallen trees].

Remarks. The male (lacking head) recorded from Sudan by Scheerpeltz (1974) has a different aedeagus and may represent the following species (see remarks below).