Ammoecius franzi ( PETROVITZ, 1964 ) DellacaSa & DellacaSa, 2002

DellacaSa, M. & DellacaSa, G., 2002, Systematic Redefinition Of Taxa Belonging To The Genera Ahermodontus Báguena, 1930 And Ammoecius Mulsant, 1842, With Description Of The New Genus Vladimirellus (Coleoptera: Aphodiidae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 48 (4), pp. 269-316 : 295

Ammoecius franzi ( PETROVITZ, 1964) , comb. n.

( Figs 66 , 85–88 )

Aphodius (Ammoecius) franzi PETROVITZ, 1964: 185 ; PETROVITZ 1968: 230 (male description); BARAUD 1971: 62; DELLACASA M. 1988: 131.

Type locality: “Hoher Atlas, Ostseite, Circle de Jaffar ”. [ Morocco.]

Type depository: FRANZ H. collection, Wien.

Description – Length 5.0–6.0 mm. Oblong, strongly convex, shiny, glabrous ( Fig. 66 ). Black; clypeal margin and legs brownish; antennal club dark testaceous. Head with cupuliform epistoma finely, distinctly and rather densely punctured; punctation somewhat denser laterally and almost irregular granulo-rugose in front of the rather short and moderately raised anterior transverse carina; clypeus subtriangularly sinuate at middle, subdenticulate at sides, latter distinctly bordered and regularlyarcuatetogenaethatarefeeblybutdistinctlyauriculate,obtuselyrounded,elongatelyciliateand protruding more than eyes; frontal suture distinct, finely impressed; frons finely and subregularly punctured, punctures somewhat sparser and coarser than those on epistoma; epipharynx: Fig. 85 ; apex of corypha: Fig. 86 . Pronotum moderately transverse, strongly convex, doubly punctured; larger punctures irregularly and sparsely scattered only on basal third of disc; much smaller ones regularly and densely sparse throughout, punctation slightly denser on sides; latter feebly arcuate, distinctly bordered; anterior margin finely bordered; hind angles obtusely rounded; base feebly bisinuate, distinctly bordered. Scutellum flat, finely and sparsely punctured near base. Elytra oval-elongate, strongly convex, not denticulate at shoulder; striae fine, faintly crenulate; interstices nearly flat, sparsely and almost imperceptibly punctured. Hind tibiae with superior apical spur distinctly longer than first tarsal segment; latter somewhat longer than following three combined. Male: inferior apical spur of middle tibiae shortened, apically truncate and inwardly abruptly bent; metasternal plate incavate; aedeagus: Figs 87–88 . Female: inferior apical spur of middle tibiae elongate and regularly acuminate toward apex; metasternal plate nearly flat.

Distribution: Morocco (Haut Atlas, Moyen Atlas)

Figures

Figs 65–68. Habitus of: 65 = Ammoecius numidicus MULSANT, 1851 (male, length 4.5 mm, Algeria: Mahouna), 66 = A. franzi (PETROVITZ, 1964) (male, length 5.5 mm, Morocco: Oukaïmeden), 67 = A. amplicollis (PEYERIMHOFF, 1939) (male, length 5.0 mm, Morocco: Oukaïmeden), 68 = A. meur-

Figs 85–95. Epipharynx (85, 89, 93), apex of corypha (lateral view) (86, 90) and aedeagus (dorsal and lateral view) (87–88, 91–92, 94–95) of: 85–88 = Ammoecius franzi (PETROVITZ, 1964), 89–92 = A. numidicus MULSANT, 1851, 93–95 = A. incultus (PETROVITZ, 1961)