Sphrigodellus centralis (Hustache)

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 32-33

Sphrigodellus centralis (Hustache)

(figs 15, 16, 217–229, 365)

Barianus centralis Hustache, 1929: 399 . Sphrigodellus centralis . Marshall (1942: 19).

Diagnosis. Strongly differs from all known species by elytra globose; epifrons lateral edges without longitudinal setal rows; pronotum without anterior transverse setal fringe; setae of elytral intervals short, recumbent (up to a quarter of interval width); antennal funicle squamose, with setae spatulate; median lobe parallel-sided, tubular, in apical 1/4 sharply narrowed anteriorly; spermatheca with very long and slender ramus, collum slender, as long as ramus.

Description.

Measurements. BL: 3.80–4.56 (4.05) mm, BW: 2.08–2.48 (2.2) mm, BH: 1.48–2.08 (1.69) mm.

Vestiture. Body densely covered with overlapping, round weakly concave scales, setose. Setae of head form rows above the eyes (erect). Subocular row consists of 5 setae, without rows along lateral edges of epifrons. Pronotum without anterior transverse setal fringe. Posterior setal fringe consists of spatulate setae, entirely hidden by posterior edge of pronotum. Elytral intervals with almost invisible row of setae. Setae rather short, recumbent (up to a quarter of interval width). Ventral side covered with overlapping, round scales. Ventrites with overlapping scales and short hairs. Basisternum sparsely squamose, mesobasisternum bare. Meso- and metapleura covered with overlapping scales. Antennal scape setose, covered with overlapping, round and oval concave scales; setae spatulate recumbent or subrecumbent. Funicle setose, with slender and spatulate scales; setae slender, suberect, as long as funicular segment 7. Femora and tibiae external surface covered with overlapping scales and suberect setae, internal surface with sparse piliform scales and hairs, distal portion of tibiae internal surface without scales; setae on legs slender, acute. Male metatibiae with small grooming brush; hairs short. Tarsi setose and densely squamose.

Coloration. Integument of body and limbs deep-brown. Background scaling consists of deep-brown and gray scales; scales concave with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head, body and limbs with brown-grayish marmorate pattern. Elytral disc with indistinct dark large spot.

Head. Rostrum weakly elongate RL/RW: 1.18–1.42 (1.31), parallel-sided. Pterygia not extended beyond contour of rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers half-visible. Lateral carinae convex. Epifrons almost parallel-sided, at the level of antennal articulation 1.6x narrower than vertex, distinctly sloping at sides, with median sulcus. Transverse sulcus deep, concealed by dense scaling at dorsal surface and at sides. Anterior portion of epifrons weakly sloped, without median sulcus. Frons steep, glabrous, bare, with 4 frontal setae. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 4 epistomal setae. Eyes orbicular, sublateral, strongly convex, highest at the middle [FW/ELD: 1.52–1.72 (1.60)]. Vertex flat, broad. Frontal fovea concealed by scales.

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, straight, thick. Funicular segment 1 as long as or longer than 2nd; segments 3–4 oblong; segments 5–7 as long as wide. Club egg-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.90–0.94 (0.92)], evenly slightly convex at sides, not constricted at anterior portion, widest at middle. Disc flat. Posterior edge straight. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Elytra globose, anterior edge arcuate, vertical [EL/EW: 1.17–1.24 (1.2)]; disc in male weakly, in female strongly convex [EL/BH: 1.48–1.67 (1.61)]. Subscutellar callosity reaches 2nd elytral interval, with 2 tiny strongly convex tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened at the apex. Interior edge C-shaped, with or without teeth in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae with 2 large teeth and several small ones in between on interior edge. Mucro well developed, thorn-shaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of sparse 7–8 black setae not extending beyond external edge of tibiae, partly hidden by spatulate setae. Bevel of metatibiae narrowly enclosed, its surface densely setose. Tarsi robust; tarsomere 2 transverse, 1.5 x as wide as length; tarsomere 3 with two wide lobes; tarsomere 5 of metatarsus extending beyond apical lobes of 3rd by length of the last one.

Abdomen. Posterior margin of 1st ventrite straight. 2nd ventrite 1.5 x as long as 3rd one, posterior margin of 2nd ventrite straight. 5th ventrite in male flat, in female weakly convex near the apex; apical edge in male broadly rounded, in female acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, tubular, in apical 1/4 sharply narrowed anteriorly; apex attenuate, narrowly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly swollen; 0.7 x as long as apodeme. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium consisting of two stick-shaped lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium elongate. Ligulae membranous. Parameres absent, basal piece of tegmen very broad, tegminal apodeme 0.75 x as long as apodemes of median lobe.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed, stick-shaped, bearing 3 setae. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with very long and slender ramus, collum slender, as long as ramus. Corpus small, slightly swollen. cornus thick, extended beyond corpus. Tergite 8 arcuate with curved fringe of multiple, tenuous, short setae at the apex. Sternite 8 thick. Lamella sharply narrowed and acute, without setae, knife-shaped, heavily sclerotized. Apodeme thick, caput large.

Distribution. Kenya: Nairobi (Karura and Oloolua Forest) ( Fig. 365).

Bionomics. Lowland rain forest; 1600–1700 m a.s.l. Trees and shrubs, canopy.

Type material. Kenya: Lectotype ♂, here designated ( MNHN) “Afrique orient. anglaise / forêt de Nairobi, Alluaud & Jeannel / Nov.-Dec. 1911 - 1700 m., St . 11” . Paralectotype 1♀ ( MNHN), “Afrique orient. anglaise / forêt de Nairobi, Alluaud & Jeannel / Nov.-Dec. 1911 - 1700 m St. 28” .

Material examined. Kenya: 3♂, 1♀ ( TAU) Nairobi , Karura Forest, [S1 14.6 E36 49.7] , L. Friedman leg., 16.x.2007; 1♀ ( BMNH), Nairobi Area , Langata Forest [= Oloolua Forest, Nairobi env.], 1°21'47" S 36°42'14" E , van Someren, xii.1938; 2♂ ( BMNH), Nairobi Area , Nairobi / Kenya Colony / 5450 ft. / 20.iii.1921 , Gedye A.F. leg.; 1♀ ( BMNH) , Nairobi Area , Nairobi, van Someren leg., vii.1937; 1f # ( BMNH), Emali Range / Sultan Hamud / 4900-5900 ft. 3-1940, 2°3'28" S 37°22'32" E .