Somoplatus pilicollis, Schüle, 2009

Schüle, Peter, 2009, Notes on the genus Somoplatus Dejean, 1829 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), with descriptions of five new species, African Invertebrates 50 (2), pp. 461-461 : 468-469

Somoplatus pilicollis sp. n.

Figs 2 , 10 , 18 , 25

Etymology: From Latin pilus (a hair) and collum (the neck), referring to the pubescent pronotum.

Diagnosis: The only species of the genus with pubescent pronotum and glabrous elytra with extremely fine microsetae.

Description:

Measurements (n = 9; 3 ♂ 6♀): Length 3.10–3.55 mm, width 1.60–1.80 mm, width/ length of pronotum 1.74–1.82.

Colour: Uniform light reddish brown, pubescence yellowish. Elytral surface dull.

Head: Wide, with large, nearly hemispherical eyes; surface plain, frontal sulci missing. Surface with superficial fine microreticulation of dense meshes and very fine sparse punctation. Meshes isodiametric in central portions of vertex, elongate and narrow along lateral portions near inner margin of eyes. Antennae short, antennomeres approximately 1.2× longer than wide ( Fig. 10 ).

Pronotum: Short and wide, basally wider than apically, widest near middle; lateral margin regularly convex; apical angles slightly protruding, fairly distinct; apical margin concave; basal angles blunt. Surface of pronotum with fine microreticulation of dense transversal meshes and with very fine sparse setae-bearing punctation. Base, lateral margins and apex margined. Marginal impression shallow, narrow near apical angle, broadly widened to basal angles. Hind margin glabrous. Near basal outer margin a small basal impression on either side. Base undulate, middle of base slightly convex.

Elytra: Short and wide, gently widened to the apical third, laterally subparallel. Humeri widely rounded, basal margin indistinct, almost reaching scutellum. Apical truncature indistict, apex oblique very gently sinuated, outer angles widely rounded off. Surface glabrous with highly superficial microreticulation, much finer than pronotal microreticulation, consisting of dense transverse meshes.

Median lobe of aedeagus: Median portion subparallel, tapering to apex, simply curved, apex ending in a long acuminate tip. Apex with keel-like extension on lower side, outer tip rounded; orifice large on dorsal side ( Fig. 18 ), inner sac without rectangular sclerotised elements.

Stylomere 2: Elongate but short, outer margin almost straight in middle portions, inner side with triangular extension bearing one foliform, apically acuminate seta, without subapical seta on outer margin ( Fig. 25 ).

Lower surface: Very finely pubescent. Prosternal apophyse with 4 distant setae.

Legs: As in generic diagnosis.

Holotype: ♂ ‘ IVORY COAST, NE, Comoé National Park , v. 2000, Philippe Moretto leg., inside termite hill’ ( PSC).

Paratypes: 1 ♂ 6♀same data as holotype ( PSC, MRAC, TMSA); 1 ♂ ‘ BURKINA FASO: NAHOURI, Forêt de Nazinga , Akwazena, 275 m, 11°09'24"N: 1°36'44"E, 26.vii.2006, zone soudanienne savane boisée, piège lumineux, F. & S. Génier, 2006-76’ ( FGC).

Figures

Figs 1–8. Habitus of Somoplatus spp.: (1) S. depilis sp. n., _ holotype; (2) S. pilicollis sp. n., ^paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (3) S. morettoi sp. n., _ holotype; (4) S. fulvus ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (5) S. septentrionalis, ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (6) S. ivoirensis sp. n., _ holotype; (7) S. girardi, _; (8) S. genierorum sp. n., _ holotype. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Figs 9–16.Antennae of Somoplatus spp.: (9) S. depilis sp. n., _ holotype; (10) S. pilicollis sp. n., ^paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (11) S. morettoi sp. n., _ holotype; (12) S. fulvus, ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (13) S. septentrionalis, ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (14) S. ivoirensis sp. n., _ holotype; (15) S. girardi, _; (16) S. genierorum sp. n., _ holotype. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 17–23. Aedeagi of Somoplatus spp.: (17) S. depilis sp. n., holotype; (18) S. pilicollis sp. n., holotype; (19) S. morettoi sp. n., holotype; (20) S. fulvus (after Basilewsky 1986); (21) S. ivoirensis sp. n., holotype; (22) S. girardi, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (MRAC); (23) S. genierorum sp. n., holotype. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Figs 24–30. Stylomere 2 of Somoplatus spp. ^: (24) S. depilis sp. n., paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (25) S. pilicollis sp. n., paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (26) S. fulvus, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (27) S. septentrionalis, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (28) S. ivoirensis sp. n., paratype; (29) S. girardi, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (30) S. genierorum sp. n., paratype, Burkina Faso, Forêt de Nazinga. Scale bar = 0.5 mm in Figs 24, 25, 28–30; 2 mm in Figs 26, 27.