Decarthrocerus jeanneli Orchymont, 1948

Bilton, David T., 2023, New species and new records of minute moss beetles from East Africa (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 63 (1), pp. 103-110 : 109

Decarthrocerus jeanneli Orchymont, 1948

( Figs 3–4 )

Material studied. 1 J 1 ♀, “ MALAWI: Mt. Dedza / Dedza env., 2030 m / S14°21’42.3’’ E34°10’50.0’’ / 28.XI.2018, P.Hlaváč lgt.” ( NMPC); 1 J, “ TANZANIA, Mt. Ha- / nang, S. slope, / S4.46111° E35.39741° / 2383m, 17.xii.2012, sift. 23 V. Grebennikov leg.”, “DNA specimen / E.E. IBE-AN536” ( CRM).

Comments. A species described from Mt Elgon, Kenya ( ORCHYMONT 1948, PERKINS 2009) and not so far reported elsewhere. I have seen material apparently referable to this species from Malawi and Tanzania. Males, together with their aedeagi, are shown in Fig. 3 , alongside a paratype from Mt Elgon (after PERKINS 2009). Whilst there are small differences between specimens, these are much smaller than those seen between described species of Decarthrocerus (see PERKINS 2009). As there do not appear to be any significant, consistent differences between populations, either aedeagal or external, I consider these conspecific, particularly in the absence of genetic data, despite the large geographical distances between them ( Fig. 4 ). Similar situations have been reported in other East African mountain beetle taxa, including hydraenids (see e.g. BILTON 2021).

Figures

Fig. 3. Decarthrocerus jeanneli Orchymont, 1948. A–C – habitus, D–F – aedeagi, lateral view. A & D – Malawi, Mt Dedza; B & E – Tanzania, Mt Hanang; C & F – Kenya, Mt Elgon, paratype (photo © MNHN, Paris, A. Mantilleri; aedeagus after PERKINS (2009)).

Fig. 4. Distribution map for taxa covered in this paper. Red circles indicate localities for Decarthrocerus jeanneli Orchymont, 1948 (bordered circle type locality).