Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984)

Lackner, Tomáš, 2010, Review of the Palaearctic genera of Saprininae (Coleoptera: Histeridae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (suppl.) 50, pp. 1-254 : 66-69

Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984)

( Figs. 31 , 47 , 81 , 109 , 179–197 )

Hypocacculus (Nessus) neftensis Olexa, 1984: 377 , Figs. 1–7 .

Hypocacculus (Nessus) neftensis: MAZUR (1984) : 90; MAZUR (1997): 254.

Alienocacculus neftensis: KANAAR (2008) : 187.

Type locality. Tunisia, Nefta.

Type material examined. PARATYPE: ♁, ‘ Tunisia / Nefta / 9.–10.vi.1982 / A. Olexa lgt. [printed] // PARATYPUS / H. neftensis sp.n. / A.Olexa det. [red label, printed-written] // 06–031 [light-blue label, written] // D07–017 [pink label, written] // D08–011 [yellow label, written]’ ( TLAN). Three paratypes (2 ♁♁ 1 ♀), same data and collector ( TLAN).

Redescription. Body length: PEL: 2.25 mm; APW: 0.75–0.875 mm; PPW: 1.625–1.75 mm; EL: 1.375 mm; EW: 1.875 mm.

Body ( Figs. 179–180 ) elongate oval, convex, elytral humeri slightly prominent; cuticle castaneous brown, with distinct metallic luster, legs, antennae and mouthparts light-brown, antennal club yellow. Antennal scape ( Fig. 184 ) thickened and dilated, resembling a trapezoid with several long setae; club ( Figs. 182–183 ) rounded, without visible articulation, apical surface with sensory area covered with very short sensilla, intermingled with sporadic longer erect sensilla; surface apart from the sensory area imbricate, glabrous; sensory structures of antennal club including one large apical sensory area, two small round sensory areas on ventral side and one stipe-shaped vesicle ( Fig. 31 ).

Mouthparts. Mandibles ( Fig. 81 ) thin, rounded, coarsely and densely punctate, apically pointed, sub-apical tooth of both mandibles large; labrum ( Fig. 47 ) flattened, rugulose-lacunose; labral pits well developed, with two labral setae; terminal labial palpomere thickened, its width about half its length; penultimate labial palpomere with single long seta; cardo of maxilla with several short setae, stipes triangular, with three long setae; terminal maxillary palpomere thickened, its width about half its length, about twice as long as penultimate; mentum sub-trapezoid, anterior margin ( Fig. 109 ) with deep emargination, disc in apical third with several long setae, medially glabrous; lateral margins with one row of sparse microscopic setae.

Clypeus ( Fig. 184 ) rectangular, lateral margins depressed, rugulose-lacunose; structure of frontal disc ( Fig. 184 ) similar to clypeus; frontal stria largely interrupted medially; supraorbital stria fine, arcuate, elevated above eyes, posteriorly connected with complete occipital stria; eyes flattened, almost invisible from above.

Pronotum ( Fig. 179 ) distinctly convergent apically; pronotal foveae absent; anterior angles acute; anterior incision for head deep; marginal pronotal stria complete, slightly carinate; disc laterally with dense and coarse punctures forming elongate rugae, medially punctation becomes finer and sparser; pronotal hypomeron with long amber setae.

Elytral epipleuron with scattered punctures with amber setae ( Fig. 185 ); marginal epipleural stria well impressed, complete; marginal elytral stria complete, carinate, continued as complete apical elytral stria; elytra with well impressed dorsal striae 1–4, all subequal in length, reaching about three-fourths of elytral length apically, all striae vaguely connected basally; fourth dorsal elytral stria basally connected to sutural elytral stria; sutural elytral stria weakly impressed, connected to apical elytral stria. Humeral elytral stria well impressed on basal third; inner subhumeral stria present medially, rather short; outer subhumeral stria present as short basal fragment; elytral surface with scattered deep punctation, punctures separated by 2–4 times their diameter; apically forming a band of much denser punctures; lateral margins and elytral humeri with much sparser and finer punctation; extreme apex of elytra impunctate.

Propygidium almost completely exposed, with dense and coarse punctures, becoming confluent along apical margin; pygidium long, convex, with sparser and finer regular punctation.

Anterior margin of median portion of prosternum ( Fig. 181 ) rounded; marginal prosternal stria complete; pre-apical foveae well impressed, deep, situated outside lateral prosternal striae next to their lateral bend; prosternal process dorsally rounded, slightly concave, dorso-laterally substrigulate-punctate; carinal prosternal striae present only on prosternal apophysis, thence obliterated; lateral prosternal striae well impressed, parallel on their basal half, suddenly strongly convergent anteriorly, finer, united in front.

Anterior margin of mesoventrite shallowly emarginate medially; discal marginal mesoventral stria complete, slightly carinate; disc of mesoventrite with scattered fine punctures; meso-metaventral sutural stria well impressed, straight, crenulate.

Intercoxal disc of metaventrite convex, with fine scattered punctures; band of much coarser punctures present along base; lateral metaventral stria well impressed, slightly carinate, extending obliquely and shortened apically; longitudinal suture of metaventrite fine, distinct; lateral disc of metaventrite ( Fig. 185 ) concave, with deep sparse setiferous punctures; metepisternum on apical half with even coarser punctation with dense setae, apical third and fused metepimeron mostly glabrous, with very sparse punctures, several of them with setae. Intercoxal disc of the first visible abdominal sternite with complete striae laterally; disc basally with scattered round punctures, separated by 2–4 times their diameter, becoming finer and sparser apically.

Protibia ( Figs. 187–188 ) dilated, outer margin with six low teeth topped by short denticle, diminishing in size in proximal direction; protibial groove deep; tarsus short but not rudimentary; protibial spur stout, bent, articulated near tarsal insertion; apical margin posteriorly with two minute denticles; outer part of posterior surface of protibia ( Fig. 187 ) areolate-rugose with intermingled microscopic punctures, clearly separated from glabrous median part of posterior surface by complete stria, median part separated from inner part by complete posterior protibial stria; inner margin with one row of moderately dense strongly sclerotized setae.

Mesotibia ( Fig. 186 ) not particularly dilated, outer margin with two sparse rows of short denticles growing abreast each other, posterior surface with two rows of setae: outer row consisting of long dense setae and median row consisting of much shorter and sparser setae; posterior mesotibial stria reaching about two-thirds of mesotibial length apically; anterior surface almost glabrous, with scattered microscopic punctation; apical margin of mesotibia with prominent long mesotibial spur surrounded by numerous shorter inner anterior denticles; claws of apical tarsomere bent, about half its length; metatibia more slender than mesotibia but otherwise similar; denticles on outer margin sparser.

Male genitalia. Eighth sternite ( Figs. 189–190 ) longitudinally separated medially, apically with inflatable membrane (velum) with dense brush of moderately long setae. Eighth tergite and eighth sternite not fused laterally ( Fig. 191 ). Morphology of ninth tergite ( Figs. 192–193 ) typical for the subfamily; spiculum gastrale (ninth sternite) expanded on both ends ( Figs. 196–197 ). Basal piece of aedeagus ( Figs. 194–195 ) well- developed, ratio of its length to length of parameres approximately 1: 1.5; parameres fused almost along basal half; aedeagus strongly curved ventrad ( Fig. 195 ).

Figures

Figs. 29–38. Saprininae, sensory structures of the antennal club (vesicles marked with grey; sensory areas shaded): 29 – Xenophilothis choumovitchi (Thérond, 1965); 30 – Zorius funereus (Schmidt, 1890); 31 – Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984); 32 – Philothis (Philothis) arcanus Reichardt, 1930; 33 – Philothis (Atavinus) atavus (Reichardt, 1931); 34 – Philothis (Farabius) hexeris Reichardt, 1930; 35 – Euspilotus (Neosaprinus) perrisi (Marseul, 1872); 36 – Gnathoncus rotundatus (Kugelann, 1792); 37 – Eremosaprinus vlasovi (Reichardt, 1941); 38 – Microsaprinus therondianus (Dahlgren, 1973).

Figs. 47–73. Saprininae, labral structures, dorsal view (left half showing external and right half showing internal structures): 47 – Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984); 48 – Ammostyphrus cerberus Reichardt, 1924; 49 – Chalcionellus amoenus (Erichson, 1834); 50 – Chivaenius kryzhanovskii Olexa, 1980; 51 – Eopachylopus ripae (Lewis, 1885); 52 – Eremosaprinus vlasovi (Reichardt, 1941); 53 – Euspilotus (Neosaprinus) perrisi (Marseul, 1872); 54 – Exaesiopus grossipes grossipes (Marseul, 55); 55 – Gnathoncus rotundatus (Kugelann, 1792); 56 – Hypocaccus (Hypocaccus) rugiceps (Duftschmid, 1805); 57 – Hypocacculus (Hypocacculus) metallescens (Erichson, 1834); 58 – Hypocacculus (Colpellus) praecox (Erichson, 1834); 59 – Hypocacculus (Nessus) rubripes (Erichson, 1834); 60 – Microsaprinus therondianus (Dahlgren, 1973); 61 – Myrmetes paykulli Kanaar, 1979; 62 – Paravolvulus lateristriatus (Solskij, 1876); 63 – Philothis (Philothis) arcanus Reichardt, 1930; 64 – Philothis (Atavinus) atavus (Reichardt, 1931); 65 – Philothis (Farabius) hexeris Reichardt, 1930; 66 – Pholioxenus phoenix (Reichardt, 1930); 67 – Reichardtiolus duriculus (Reitter, 1904); 68 – Saprinus (Saprinus) semistriatus (Scriba, 1790); 69 – Saprinus (Hemisaprinus) subvirescens (Ménétries, 1832); 70 – Saprinus (Phaonius) pharao (Marseul, 1855); 71 – Styphrus corpulentus Motschulsky, 1845; 72 – Xenonychus tridens (Jacquelin-Duval, 1852); 73 – Xenophilothis choumovitchi (Thérond, 1965).

Figs. 81–89. Saprininae, mandibles, ventral view: 81 –Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984); 82 – Ammostyphrus cerberus Reichardt, 1924; 83 – Chalcionellus amoenus (Erichson, 1834); 84 – Chivaenius kryzhanovskii Olexa, 1980; 85 – Ctenophilotis chobauti (Théry, 1900); 86 – Eopachylopus ripae (Lewis, 1885); 87 – Eremosaprinus vlasovi (Reichardt, 1941); 88 – Euspilotus (Neosaprinus) perrisi (Marseul, 1872); 89 – Exaesiopus grossipes grossipes (Marseul, 1855).

Figs. 109–141. Saprininae, anterior margin of mentum, ventral view: 109 – Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984); 110 – Ammostyphrus cerberus Reichardt, 1924; 111 – Axelinus ghilarovi Kryzhanovskij, 1976; 112 – Chalcionellus amoenus (Erichson, 1834); 113 – Chivaenius kryzhanovskii Olexa, 1980; 114 – Ctenophilotis chobauti (Théry, 1900); 115 – Eopachylopus ripae (Lewis, 1885); 116 – Eremosaprinus vlasovi (Reichardt, 1941); 117 – Euspilotus (Neosaprinus) perrisi (Marseul, 1872); 118 – Exaesiopus grossipes grossipes (Marseul, 1855); 119 – Gnathoncus rotundatus (Kugelann, 1792); 120 – Hypocaccus (Hypocaccus) rugiceps (Duftschmid, 1805); 121 – Hypocaccus (Baeckmanniolus) dimidiatus dimidiatus (Illiger, 1807); 122 – Hypocacculus (Hypocacculus) metallescens (Erichson, 1834); 123 – Hypocacculus (Colpellus) praecox (Erichson, 1834); 124 – Hypocacculus (Nessus) rubripes (Erichson, 1834); 125 – Microsaprinus therondianus (Dahlgren, 1973); 126 – Myrmetes paykulli Kanaar, 1979; 127 – Paravolvulus ovillum (Solskij, 1876); 128 – Philothis (Philothis) arcanus Reichardt, 1930; 129 – Philothis (Atavinus) atavus (Reichardt, 1931); 130 – Philothis (Farabius) hexeris Reichardt, 1930; 131 – Pholioxenus phoenix (Reichardt, 1930); 132 – Reichardtiolus duriculus (Reitter, 1904); 133 – Saprinillus paromaloides Kryzhanovskij, 1974; 134 – Saprinus (Saprinus) semistriatus (Scriba, 1790); 135 – Saprinus (Hemisaprinus) subvirescens (Ménétries, 1832); 136 – Saprinus (Phaonius) pharao (Marseul, 1855); 137 – Styphrus corpulentus Motschulsky, 1845; 138 – Turanostyphrus ignoratus Tishechkin, 2005; 139 – Xenonychus tridens (Jacquelin-Duval, 1852); 140 – Xenophilotis choumovitchi (Thérond, 1965); 141 – Zorius funereus (Schmidt, 1890).

Figs. 179–188. Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984), SEM micrographs: 179 – habitus, dorsal view; 180 – ditto, ventral view; 181 – prosternum; 182 – antennal club, ventral view; 183 – ditto, dorsal view; 184 – head, dorsal view; 185 – lateral disc of metaventrite, metepisternum and fused metepimeron; 186 – mesotibia, dorsal view; 187 – protibia, ventral view; 188 – ditto, dorsal view.

Figs. 189–197. Alienocacculus neftensis (Olexa, 1984), male terminalia: 189 – 8th sternite and tergite 8, ventral view; 190 – ditto, dorsal view; 191 – ditto, lateral view; 192 – 9th tergites and 10th tergite, dorsal view; 193 – ditto, lateral view; 194 – aedeagus, dorsal view; 195 – ditto, lateral view; 196 – spiculum gastrale, lateral view; 197 – ditto, ventral view.

Fig. 1. Saprininae, biometric measurements.

Fig. 2. Saprininae, habitus, dorsal view.

Fig. 3. Saprininae, head, dorsal view, schematic.

Fig. 4. Saprininae, antenna, dorsal view, schematic.

Figs. 5–7. Saprininae, 8th antennomere: 5 – Paravolvulus ovillum (Solskij, 1876); 6 – Philothis (Atavinus) atavus (Reichardt, 1931); 7 – Turanostyphrus ignoratus Tishechkin, 2005.