Ptinella Motschulsky, 1844

Darby, Michael, 2019, Studies of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) in the Spirit Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, 6: New species and records collected by W. C. Block in Kenya and Uganda, 1964 - 1965, Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 155, pp. 239-257 : 250-252

Ptinella Motschulsky, 1844

Remarks: The form of the spermathecae of the new Ugandan species immediately separates them from all other described Ptinella spp. except P. concinna Britten , and in some respects places them closer to Ptinellodes and the new genus Nelloptodes described above. This suggests that they belong in a separate genus (or two – on

grounds of elytral chaetotaxy, Figs 10E , 13E ?), but they are placed for the time being in Ptinella until more species become available for study and more is known about the genus. Their smaller size, more flattened, less rounded, less shining form, and the shape of the pronota, quickly distinguish them from Nelloptodes . From P. concinna (Britten, as re-described by Johnson 1985) the new species are distinguished by having a secondary part to the spermathecal receptacle larger than that of the basal part to which the pump is attached.

Figures

Fig. 10. — Ptinella katyae sp. n. A, habitus; B, spermatheca; C, pronotum ×595; D, meso- and metaventra ×445; E, elytral chaetotaxy ×1100.

Fig. 13. — Ptinella subconcinna sp. n. A, habitus; B, spermatheca; C, pronotum ×475; D, meso- and metaventra (image partly obscured by glue) ×580; E, elytral chaetotaxy ×475; Ptinella sp. F, secondary receptacle.