Mnioticus ruwenzoriensis, Esser & R, 2019

Esser, Jens & R, Afrotropical, 2019, Revision of Mnioticus COOMBS & WOODROFFE, 1962 (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 915-928 : 920

Mnioticus ruwenzoriensis nov.sp. ( figs 7, 8 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype ♂: " Congo: P. N. A., 30-31-XII-1962, R.P. M.-J. Célis, 2106-07 / Massif Ruwenzori, Kiondo, 4.200 m, prarie alpine" [ RMCA] . Paratypes: 3 ♂, 3 ♀ with the same data as the holotype [ RMCA, cES] ; 1 ♂: " Face N Senguye, 3800 m, ds Lobelia morts / Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Zaĩre: N Ruwenzori, VII/ VIII.1974, R.P. M. Lejeune " [ RMCA] .

E t y m o l o g y: Named after the Ruwenzori mountains, where the type material was found.

D e s c r i p t i o n Male, 2.3 mm, yellow-brown, suture somewhat paler, shiny. Covered dense with short and pale hairs, pubescence decumbent. Membranous wings absent. Legs and antennae slender, tarsi 5-segmented, anterior tarsomeres 1-3 widened (only in male), antennae 11-segmented with a 3-segmented club. Segment 3 elongated and pear-shaped, segment 2 somewhat shorter and broader. Segment 1 rounded, segments 4 to 8 more or less long as broad. Segments 9 and 10 moderately transverse, 11 fusiform and asymmetrical. Eyes moderately large with coarse ommatidia, puncture on head fine and sparse. Pronotum moderately transverse (1.4 time broader than long), broadest in the middle, sides narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly, convex. Sides with extremely fine crenulation. Anterior margin nearly straight, basal margin rounded backwards in the medium half. Basal furrow moderate, basal fovea short. Puncture on pronotum fine but dense. Elytra without any features. Puncture fine and dense like on pronotum.

C o m m e n t Similar to M. brucei nov.sp. and M. holmi nov.sp. but pronotum with denser puncture and quite dull. Sides of pronotum entirely convex, pronotum in M. brucei nov.sp. more transverse. Further M. karisimbianus nov.sp. and M. scotti nom.nov. are similar. They are distinguishable by less dull surface, differing shape of pronotum and their distribution outside the Ruwenzori Mts.

Figures

Figs 5-8: (5) Mnioticus scotti nom. nov., female; (6) Mnioticus jeanneli (SCOTT, 1936), male; (7) Mnioticus ruwenzoriensis nov.sp., pale specimen, paratype, male; (8) Mnioticus ruwenzoriensis nov.sp., dark specimen, paratype, female.