Psammoecus longicornis Schaufuss, 1872

Karner, Michael, 2012, A revision of African Psammoecus (Coleoptera, Silvanidae) and descriptions of two new species from the collection of the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale, European Journal of Taxonomy 17, pp. 1-31 : 22-23

Psammoecus longicornis Schaufuss, 1872

( Fig. 10 )

Psammoecus longulus Grouvelle, 1878: 265 . syn. nov.

Material examined

Holotype

‘Type’, ‘ Coll. L. W. | Schaufuss’, ‘Type’ [red label], ‘longicornis | Schauf | N.Germany | Caffr’, ‘longicornis | Schauf | Caffraria.’ ( ZMHB).

Other material

2♀♀, mounted on single card label ‘Port natal | H. Deysolle’ [Grouvelle’s hand; second line hardly readable], ‘Type’, ‘TYPE’ [red label], ‘MUSEUM PARIS | 1917 | Coll. GROUVELLE’ [blue label], ‘identique au | longicornis | Sch. | comp. au ty.’ [Grouvelle’s hand], ‘ Psammoecus | longulus | Grouv’ [Grouvelle’s hand] ( MNHN). The specimen that is mounted on the right side is hereby designated to be the lectotype of Ps longulus . 1 spm ‘Coll. Mus. Congo | Urundi: Kitega 1600- | 1700 m. 3/ 4-III-1953 | P. Basilewsky’ ( MRAC). 1 spm ‘Recolté dans | l’humus’ [blue label], ‘I.R.S.A.C.-Mus. Congo | Kivu: Terr. Kalehe | Contr. S. du Kahuzi, | 2200 m. 27-VII-51 | N. Leleup’ ( MRAC). 1 spm ‘Coll. Mus. Congo | Kivu: Ibanda | 1952 | M. Vandelannoite’ ( MRAC). 1 spm ‘I.R.S.A.C.-Mus. Congo | Kivu: Lemera, terr. Uvira | 1600 m. XII-1956 | N. Leleup’ ( MRAC). 1 spm ‘Recolté sous | détritus | végétaux’ [blue label]’, ‘I.R.S.A.C.-Mus. Congo | Kivu: Terr. Uvira, | Mulenge 1950 m. | (Mavaisroselier) 4-IX-51 | N. Leleup’, ( MRAC). 1♂ ‘I.R.S.A.C.-Mus. Congo | Kivu: Terr. Uvira, Mu- | lenge 1880-2010 m. | (Vert. For. Ombroph.) V-1951 | N. Leleup’, ‘Recolté dans | l’humus’ [blue label] ( MRAC). 1 spm ‘Recolté dans | racines | (plantes basses)’ [blue label], ‘I.R.S.A.C.-Mus. Congo | Kivu: Mwenga, | S.-O. Itombwe, Luiko | 1900 m (Sav.herb.) I-1952 | N. Leleup’ ( MRAC). 2 spms ‘Coll. Mus. Congo | Elisabethville | II-1940 | H. J. Bredo’ ( MKF).

Differential diagnosis

Ps. longicornis resembles Ps. lateralis , but differs by coarser puncturation of head, pronotum, and elytral discs and by the shorter antennae. It differs from Ps. grandis by absence of lateral teeth of pronotum and by parameres with wide bases and distinct, slender extension.

Redescription

BODY. Elongate oval, total length 2.60-3.40 mm ( Fig. 10A ). Surface bright yellowish or reddish brown, elytra with dark brown maculae at the beginning of posterior half, near margin; the elytral suture and margins in apical third often darkened; some specimens lacking elytral maculae. Antennae yellowish brown; 8 th to 10 th antennomeres slightly to moderately darkened, in some specimens also the 7 th antennomere darkened; 11 th antennomere of same color as basal antennomeres or only slightly brighter.

HEAD. Broad, temples curved, head width 0.65-0.75 mm, length 0.38-0.45 mm, 1.67-1.83 times as wide as long. Eyes only moderately protuberant, 0.18-0.20 mm long, distance of inner margins 0.44-0.53 mm. Puncturation on vertex dense and coarse. Pubescence composed of short, recumbent setae, directed anteriorly; microsculpture well defined, reticulate. Longitudinal impressions on vertex distinct, attaining second fourth of eyes. Antennae as in Fig. 10B , 1.30-1.50 mm long. Antennae of holotype missing; antennomere proportions of lectotype of Ps. longulus as follows: 2.5: 1.2: 1.5: 1.5: 1.2: 1.2: 1.1: 1.1:1.0: 1.2: 2.3.

PRONOTUM. Almost as long as wide; width 0.64-0.78 mm, length 0.58-0.73 mm, 1.01-1.15 times as wide as long. Lateral teeth absent, anterior and posterior angle with small groups of teeth. Puncturation and pubescence as on vertex; microsculpture well defined, reticulate.

ELYTRA. Oval, length 1.68-2.10 mm, width 0.95-1.50 mm, 1.40-1.80 times as long as wide. Rows of puctures somewhat wider than interstices. The pubescence of the studied specimens almost completely damaged, as far as visible, the setae are short and recumbent; microsculpture absent.

PARAMERES. With wide base and slender apical extension. Inner margin with numerous short setae, apex with single long seta ( Fig. 10C ).

Figures

Fig. 10. Pammoecus longicornis Schaufuss, 1872. A. Habitus of specimen from Port Natal (= lectotype of Ps longulus Grouvelle, 1878). B. Right antenna of specimen from Port Natal. C. Parameres of specimen from Kivu. Scale line A, B: 1 mm; C: 0.2 mm.