Namibdrilus, Kundrata & Packova, 2024

Kundrata, Robin & Packova, Gabriela, 2024, Discovery of a new soft-bodied click-beetle genus from Namibia with a unique morphology leads to a modified diagnosis of Drilini (Coleoptera, Elateridae), ZooKeys 1213, pp. 183-197 : 183-197

Genus Namibdrilus gen. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Type species.

Namibdrilus albertalleni sp. nov.; here designated.

Etymology.

The generic name is derived from the Republic of Namibia, plus Drilus , a genus name in Elateridae : Drilini . Gender: masculine.

Diagnosis.

Namibdrilus gen. nov. can be unequivocally distinguished from its congeners by the robust unidentate mandibles (Fig. 2 A – D ) and the aedeagal median lobe dorsally without a subapical hook (Fig. 4 B, E – G ). Additionally, the following combination of characters can be used to recognize the genus: body (Fig. 1 A, B ) elongate; frontoclypeal region (Fig. 2 A – D ) strongly produced forwards, gradually narrowed toward apex, apically carinate and widely rounded; eyes (Fig. 2 A – D ) large, their frontal separation 1.15 times eye diameter; antenna (Fig. 2 E ) robust, strongly serrate; pronotum (Fig. 3 A, B ) roughly subrectangular, 1.30 times as wide as long, lateral carina not developed; prosternum (Fig. 3 C ) distinctly transverse, without well-developed prosternal process; scutellar shield (Fig. 3 A ) apically subtruncate and medially emarginate; mesoventrite (Fig. 3 C ) narrow, v-shaped; elytra (Figs 1 A , 3 E ) elongate, with relatively rough surface and without any apparent striae or rows of punctures; abdomen (Figs 1 B , 4 A ) with eight free visible sternites, the first of which is partly membranous medially; abdominal sternite IX and tergite X (Figs 4 C, D ) not apparently elongate, about 1.5 times as long as wide. Based on its morphology, Namibdrilus gen. nov. is similar to genera of the clade D ( Drilus clade) defined by Kundrata and Bocak (2019). For more information and the comparison of Namibdrilus gen. nov. with presumably related genera see the identification key and discussion below.

Distribution.

Namibia.

Figures

Figure 1. Namibdrilus albertalleni gen. et sp. nov., holotype, male A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, ventral view. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

Figure 2. Namibdrilus albertalleni gen. et sp. nov., holotype, male A head with basal antennomeres, dorsal view B head, frontolateral view C head, frontal view D head, ventral view E left antenna, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A – D); 2.0 mm (E).

Figure 3. Namibdrilus albertalleni gen. et sp. nov., holotype, male A head and prothorax, dorsal view B head and prothorax, lateral view C prothorax and mesothorax, ventral view D metathorax, ventral view E apical portion of elytra, dorsal view F right protarsus, dorsal view G left mesotarsus, dorsal view H left metatarsus, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, D); 0.5 mm (B, C, E, F – H).

Figure 4. Namibdrilus albertalleni gen. et sp. nov., holotype, male A abdomen, ventral view B male genitalia (undissected), dorsal view C abdominal tergites IX and X, dorsal view D abdominal sternite IX, ventral view E male genitalia, dorsal view F male genitalia, lateral view G male genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: 3.0 mm (A); 0.2 mm (B); 0.5 mm (C – G).