Thyreocephalus interocularis ( Eppelsheim, 1895 )

Janák, Jiří & Bordoni, Arnaldo, 2015, Revision of the genus Thyreocephalus and description of Afrus gen. nov. of Africa south of the Sahara (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zootaxa 4038 (1), pp. 1-94 : 64-66

Thyreocephalus interocularis ( Eppelsheim, 1895)

( Fig. 147 , 158–165 )

Xantholinus interocularis Eppelsheim, 1895: 131 ; Fauvel, 1903: 239.

Thyreocephalus interocularis ; Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 313; Bernhauer, 1942: 361; Cameron, 1950: 33; Tottenham, 1956: 259; Koppenhöfer, 1994: 388; Herman, 2001: 3764.

Thyreocephalus diversiceps Bernhauer, 1936: 21 ; Herman, 2001: 3762, syn. nov.

Type locality. Togo (without additional data).

Type material examined. Xantholinus interocularis Eppelsheim, 1895 . It was not possible to find the type /s of Xantholinus interocularis , described from Togo. All reasonable steps were exhausted to trace the original type material of this taxon. Eppelsheim type specimens are housed in the NHMW. The curator of NHMW 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 Eppelsheim (1895) and falls within the area of original type locality ( Togo). Neotype (by present designation) ♂: TOGO: “ Togo ” ( DEI). The specimen is chosen as neotype. The labels “ Neotypus Xantholinus interocularis Epp., Bordoni des. 2014” and “ Thyreocephalus interocularis (Epp.) , Bordoni det. 2014” were attached to this specimen.

Thyreocephalus diversiceps Bernhauer, 1936 . Lectotype (by present designation) ♀: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: “Musée du Congo, Lulua: Kapanga”, “ III.1933, G. F. Overlaet”, “ Thyreocephalus diversiceps Brnh. Typus.” (FMNH). The specimen is chosen as lectotype of the species. It is identical to T. interocularis . The labels “ Lectotypus Thyreocephalus diversiceps Bh., Bordoni des. 2011” and “ Thyreocephalus interocularis (Epp.) , Bordoni det. 2012” were attached to the specimen.

Additional material examined. BURUNDI: 1 ♂: 10 km W Bujumbura, 9.ii.1992, Arndt ( NME). CAMEROON: 4 spec.: Lolodorf, 1895, L. Conradt ( DEI, ABFI); 1 ♂: Joko ( JJRC); 1 ♂: Joko, Colin ( JJRC). 1 spec.: Joh.-Albrechtshöne, 20.viii–13.ix.1898, Conradt ( ABFI). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 spec.: Odzala Nat. Park, ii.1997, leg.? ( MSBG); 27 spec.: Lulua, Kapanga, ii–iv.1933, F. Overlaet ( MRAC, ABFI); 11 spec.: Kivu, Kavumu, Kahunga, 82 km (Mingazi), viii.–ix.1951, H. Bomans ( MRAC, ABFI); 1 ♀: Ed Luja Kondué ( NHMW); 1 ♂: Ukaika, i.1911, Grauer ( NHMW); 1 ♀: Urw. Mawambi [Haut-Zaire, pr. Mambasa], 1910, Grauer ( NHMW); 1 spec.: Ukaika, xii.1910, Grauer ( NHMW); 1 ♂: Urwald-Beni, Grauer xi.1910 ( NHMW); 1 spec.: Haut Uelé: Watsa, 1922, L. Burgeon ( NMPC). EQUATORIAL GUINEA: 2 spec.: Span. Guinea, Nkolentangan, xi.1907 – v.1908, S. Tessmann. ( MFNB, ABFI). FERNANDO PO: 1 ♂: Sa. Isabel, 25.vi.1900, L. Conradt S. ( JJRC). GUINEA: 1 ♂: N’Zerekoré, 1–5.x.51, S. H. Olsen ( JJRC). GUINEA-BISSAU: 2 spec.: Port. Guinea, Rio Geba ( FMNH); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Guinée Portug., Rio Geba, Chime, 1906 ( NHMW); 2 ♀: Port. Guinea, Rio Geba, W. Afrika, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 1966, A. Bierig ( FMNH). GHANA: 1 spec.: Wenchi road, 37 mi N Kumasi, 18.ix.1973, R. Linnavuori ( ZMH); 1 spec.: Umg. Daaman, 1.52W, 3.30N, 18.vii–18.viii.1986, O. Schermann ( NHMW); 1 ♂: Ashanti region, Abofour, Opro river, 320 m, 7.07 N, 1.48 W, 2.iv.1966, S. Endrődy- Younga ( HNHM); 1 ♂: Ashanti, region Mampong scarpe, 600 m, 7.00 N, 1.22W, 1.i.1966, S. Endrődy-Younga ( HNHM); 1 ♂: Ashanti region, Kumawu, 274 m, 6.55N, 1.17W, 12.viii.1967, S. Endrődy-Younga ( HNHM); 2 ♂: Volta region, Kpeze, 400 m, 6.52N, 0.31W, 29.viii.1967, S. Endrődy-Younga “ ( HNHM, JJRC); 1♂: Volta region, Amedzofe, 830 m, 6.52N, 0.26W, 1.ix.1967, S. Endrődy-Younga ( JJRC); 1 ♂: Western region, Pretsea, 30 m, 4.55N, 1.52W, 8.ii.1966, S. Endrődy-Younga ( JJRC); 1 ♂: Western region, Pretsea, 30 m, N 4.55N, 1.52W, 15.ii.1966, S. Endrődy-Younga ( HNHM). KENYA: 1 spec.: Kakamega For., Udo's Bandas, 00°21'38.2''N, 34°51'24.9'', 9–11.xi.2001, E. V. Grebennikov ( FMNH); 1 ex.: Kakamega, 1500–1600 m, i–iv.2006, local people leg. ( NHMW). SIERRA LEONE: 1 spec.: Northern Prov., near Bumbuna, 17.i.1989, W. Rossi ( ABFI); 1 spec.: Simikoro, 31.xii.1982, W. Rossi ( ABFI). TOGO: 1 spec.: Bismarckburg [=Konkoa], 13.II–20.iii.1893, L. Conradt ( MFNB); 1 spec.: without other data, Conradt ( DEI). UGANDA: 1 spec.: Budongo Forest N. P., 1.43N, 31.32E, 1224 m, 12–29.i.1997, U. Göllner ( MFNB); 1 spec.: British Uganda, Graver ( DEI); 2 ♀: Uganda W, SW of Hioma, Rwera env., 30.xi.2001, M. Snížek ( JJRC); 1 ♂: Uganda occ., Fort Portal, 15 km or. Sebitoli, 1400 m, 23.xi.– 5.xii.1994, M. Snížek ( JJRC); 1 ♂: Tororo Bugirl, 20.XII.1984, Mühle ( MFNB).

Cited material (not examined). GABON ( Fauvel 1903); CAMEROON: Dschang ( Bernhauer 1942).

Redescription. Body length 15–19 mm; length from anterior margin of head to posterior margin of elytra: 9– 11 mm. Black with bluish elytra and abdomen slightly reddish. Shiny. Head and pronotum with micro-punctation. Head and pronotum and related punctation as in Fig. 158 ; labrum as in Fig. 159 . Elytra longer and wider than pronotum, squared, slightly dilated posteriad, with rounded humeral angles. Surface with wide and superficial punctation, arranged in three series, one near suture, one median and one lateral. Abdomen with feeble or evident traces of transverse micro-striation, with fine and very spaced punctation, arranged in a few series.

Male. Tergite 10 and sternite 9 of male genital segment as in Figs. 160, 161 . Aedeagus relatively small, 1.9–2.6 mm long, median lobe generally wide, sub-triangular ( Fig. 162 ), rarely markedly narrower and variably shaped, but always apically pointed ( Figs. 163, 164 ); parameres symmetrical ( Figs. 162, 165 ); inner sac ribbon-like, wide and long, folded on itself, covered with little scales.

Differential diagnosis. Thyreocephalus interocularis differs from the similar T. basilewskyi in disc of head generally sparsely and finely punctured and in paramere of aedeagus relatively long. The punctation of the head in extreme specimens of both species is very similar.

Distribution. Distributed in West, Central and East Africa ( Fig. 147 ).

Remarks. This species is variable in dimensions of the body and aedeagus, and in punctation as well. For example the specimens from Kivu have a larger aedeagus (about 2.6 mm long). The most constant character is the length of paramere in relation to the length of aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURE 147. Distribution of species in Thyreocephalus coeruleipennis group (● = T. interocularis Eppelsheim, Δ = T. raptor Tottenham).

FIGURES 158 – 165. Thyreocephalus interocularis (Eppelsheim); 158, head and pronotum (iop—interior ocular puncture, pop—postocular punctures); 159, labrum; 160, male tergite 10; 161, male sternite 9; 162, aedeagus; 163, 164, median lobe (extreme shapes); 165, paramere (extreme shape).