Psammoecus sinuaticollis, Karner, 2014

Karner, Michael, 2014, Three new species and new records of African Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera, Silvanidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 89, pp. 1-18 : 9-11

Psammoecus sinuaticollis sp. nov.

Fig. 6A–F

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A9A3CA72-0F29-490D-8364-8F6DA42FE3A7

Diagnosis

The following combination of character states is diagnostic for this species: lateral margins of pronotum with distinct teeth; 1 st antennomere 2.3 times as long as 2 nd antennomere; interstices of lateral elytral striae with very small tubercles; anterior angle of pronotum without denticle.

Differential diagnosis

This species differs from all other African Psammoecus by lacking the posterior pronotal denticle and by the shape of the male genitalia.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the rounded shape of the pronotum.

Material examined

Holotype

♂ ‘ GHANA: Ashanti region | Jamasi | 289 m, N 6 58 - E 1 28 | Dr. S. ENDRÖDY-YOUNGA’, ‘Nr.310 | beaten | 23. II.1969 [23 Feb. 1969]’ ( HNHM).

Paratypes

1 ♂, 1 ♀, with same data as holotype; antennae of male paratype missing (♂ paratype SMF, ♀ paratype HNHM).

Description of holotype

BODY (as in Fig. 6A ). Oval, total length 2.50 mm; testaceous, elytral disk darker brown. Antennae testaceous; antennomere 6 slightly darker; 7-10 dark brown; 11 yellowish white. Legs yellow.

HEAD (as in Fig. 6B ). Eyes rounded; temples well defined and rounded, narrowed immediately behind eyes, temple angle 49°; head width 0.64 mm, length 0.36 mm. Punctures on vertex as large as an eye facet, separated by about their diameter, but sometimes contiguous; puncturation increasingly smaller and sparse towards frontoclypeal suture; pubescence composed of semierect setae, directed anteriorly; microsculpture absent. Longitudinal impressions on vertex distinct, curved outwardly, attaining anterior fourth of eyes. Eyes well rounded, 0.19 mm long, distance of inner margins 0.43 mm. Antennae 1.30 mm long, attaining anterior fourth of elytra; antennomere proportions of holotype: 2.5: 1.1: 1.3: 1.3: 1.3: 1.3: 1.1: 1.0: 1.0: 1.0: 2.3 ( Fig. 6C ).

PRONOTUM (as in Fig. 6B ). Slightly wider than head, disk convex, rounded, with transverse impression in front of anterior margin; lateral margins evenly curved, widest near middle; width 0.68 mm, length 0.52 mm. Anterior angles with 2 small teeth, lateral margins with 4 teeth whose sizes increase from front to back; posterior angle without tooth. Puncturation and pubescence on pronotal disk as on vertex. Microsculpture absent.

ELYTRA. Oval, widest somewhat behind middle, length 1.60 mm, combined width 1.05 mm. Rows of punctures on disk a bit more than half as wide as interstices; pubescence composed of semierect setae; strial setae slightly shorter than interstrial setae; microsculpture absent.

MALE GENITALIA (as in Fig. 6D–E ). Parameres with wide basis, lateral face evenly curved, mesal face with rounded projection that bears short, stout spines, apical projection short, bearing one long and one short seta. Lateral faces of median lobe curved, narrowed towards the apex; apex in lateral view widened to form a small knob.

Variation

The paratypes are of the same body length as the holotype.

Figures

Fig. 6. Psammoecus sinuaticollis sp. nov., holotype. A. Habitus. B. Head and pronotum. C. Right antenna. D–F. Aedeagus (D = ventral, E = lateral, F = dorsal view). Scale lines: A = 1.0 mm, B–C = 0.5 mm, D–F = 0.2 mm.