Phrator Semenov, 1922

Anichtchenko, Alexander & Valainis, Uldis, 2024, To the knowledge of the subgenus Phrator Semenov, 1922 of the genus Omophron Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 5447 (1), pp. 77-90 : 78

Key to the species of the subgenus Phrator Semenov, 1922

1 Mandibles short, their external margin without wedge-shaped extension. Metafemora and mesofemora slightly exceeding the elytral margin.............................................................. Omophron (s.str.) Latreille, 1802

- Mandibles longer, their external margin with wedge-shaped extension. Metafemora and mesofemora strongly exceeding the elytral margin. Subgenus Phrator ........................................................................ 2

2 Elytra with 14 striae, ‘ variegatum’ group.................................................................. 3

- Elytra with 15 striae, ‘ vittulatum’ group................................................................... 6

3 Aedeagus moderately curved apically ( Figs 45–49, 53–54 ).................................................... 4

- Aedeagus strongly curved apically ( Figs 50–52 ). ( Algeria, Portugal, Sardinia, Spain)......... O. variegatum Olivier, 1812

4 Elytral striae more or less strongly punctate. Species from Africa............................................... 5

- Elytral striae weakly punctate. Species from Madagascar (Fig. 20)...................... O. grandidieri (Alluaud, 1899)

5 Intervals 1-3 on the disc of elytra usually slightly convex ( Figs 9–16 ). Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Mozambique............ O. multiguttatum s. str. Chaudoir, 1850

- Intervals 1–3 on the disc of elytra usually flattened ( Figs 17–19 ). Southern third of the African continent ( Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa)................................ O. multiguttatum ssp. depressum Klug, 1853 stat. nov.

6 Elytra elongated oval. Punctures on elytral striae well developed. Dark elytral pattern without metallic lustre ( Figs 23–26 ).. 7

- Elytra almost circular. Dark elytral pattern with metallic lustre. Striae slightly punctate on disc and smooth on base. (Figs 21–22). ( Nigeria, Cameroon).................................................... O. barsevskisi Valainis, 2011

7 Body size 8–9 mm. Elytral pattern blurred ( Figs 23–25 ). (West Africa).................. O. vittulatum Fairmaire, 1894

- Body size 11–12 mm. Elytral pattern distinct ( Fig. 26 ). ( Democratic Republic of Congo)...... O. schoutedeni Deleve, 1924

Figures

FIGURES 45–54. Aedeagus structure. (a)—lateral view; (b)—apex, dorsal view. (45)—O. (P.) multiguttatum s.str., Egypt; (46)—O. (P.) multiguttatum s.str., Kenya; (47)—O. (P.) ethiopiensis syn. n., holotype = O. (P.) multiguttatum s.str.; (48)—O. (P.) multiguttatum s.str., Cameroon; (49)—O. (P.) multiguttatum depressum, Namibia; (50)—O. (P.) variegatum sardous syn. n. = variegatum s.str.; (51)—O. (P.) variegatum boiteli syn. n. = variegatum s.str.; (52)—O. (P.) variegatum seurati syn. n. = variegatum s.str.; (53)—O. (P.) vittulatum, holotype; (54)—O. (P.) alluaudi syn. n. = O. (P.) vittulatum. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 9–19. Variability of Omophron (Phrator) multiguttatum, dorsal view. (9–16) O. multiguttatum s.str.; (17–19) O. multiguttatum depressum. (9)—Egypt; (10)—Eritrea; (11)—Syntype of rotshildi syn.; (12)—Holotype of O. ethiopiensis syn. n.; (13)—Kenya; (14)—Angola; (15–16)—DR Congo; (17)—Namibia; (18)—South Africa; (19)—Mozambique, Zambezi riv., loc.typ. Scale bar = 5 mm.

FIGURES 23–26. Habitus, dorsal view: (23)—O. (P.) alluaudi, holotype, syn. n. = O. (P.) vittulatum; (24)—O. (P.) vittulatum, holotype; (25)—O. (P.) vittulatum, Libenge, DRC; (26)—O. (P.) schoutedeni, Paratype. Scale bar = 5 mm.