Odontolochus gestroi ( Clouët, 1900 ), Clouet, 1900

Stebnicka, Zdzisława T., 2009, A revision of the African species of Odontolochini Stebnicka & Howden, 1996 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Zootaxa 2230, pp. 1-15 : 11

Odontolochus gestroi ( Clouët, 1900)

( Figs 10, 16 )

Material examined. Holotype (sex not determined), [ Sierra Leone] 'Freetown’/, ‘ Odontoderus Gestroi det. L. Clouët des Pesruches’/ ( IRSNB).

Other specimens (29). The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Haut-Uele, Watsa, 1922, L. Burgeon; Haut-Uele, Tuku, IV.1915, P. Van den Plas; Equateur, Bokungu, 8.X.1951, P.Lootens; Leopoldville, 1930, E. Devroey; Ojombo, 25.X.1912, R. Mayne ( MRAC); Odzala, X. Mission A. Descarpentries & A. Villiers 1963– 1964 ( MHNG, labeled by Pittino as O.villiersi ). Ghana: Ashanti Reg Kwadsso 320 m, 12.V.1969, merkury vap. S. Endrödi -Younga ( MHNG); Kumasi Ashanti, 29.VII.1960, Imp. Coll. Ghana Exp. 1960 ( MZLU); Western Reg. Pretsea 30 m, 15.II.1966, sifting, S. Endrödi -Younga ( MHNG). Cameroon: N’ Kolbisson, 28.II.1966 ( FSCA); 11.IV.1965, 25.II, 30.III, 1, 11.IV.1966, Ph. Bruneau de Mire ( PBC). Sierra Leone: Makeni, 12.03W, 8.53N, 27.XI.1993, light trap, Lund Univ. Sierra Leone Exp. 1993 ( MZLU). Guinea: Kindia, 28.VI.1951, Exp. Mus. G. Grey, leg. Bechyne ( CNC). Central African Republic: Ndoki Nat. Park, 16.III–16.IV.1996, Ph. Moretto ( PBC). Ivory Coast: Man, 18.XI.1978, at light, P. Bordat ( PBC).

Diagnosis. Pronotum quadrate, median anterior area moderately elevated, side sinuate, converging to basal angulation ( Fig. 10 ). Elytra convex, striae deep with moderate punctures; intervals 1–5 convex, wider than striae, intervals 6–10 obtusely carinate, nearly as wide as adjacent striae; in some specimens intervals 2, 4, 6 less convex than the remained intervals or even flat. Odontolochus gestroi is similar externally to O. ferenczi , but differs from that species in having the pronotal punctures larger and lateral pronotal angulalions more prominent than in O. ferenczi .

Description. Length 2.5–3.0 mm. Body dark brown to piceous, dull. Head finely punctate throughout, clypeal margin slightly reflexed. Pronotum quadrate, median anterior area moderately elevated, anterior angles right-angled, protruding laterad, side sinuate, converging to basal angulation, base straight with row of punctures; surface with lateral oblique fossulae filled with close punctures, moderate punctures evenly distributed, in anterior one-third of pronotum fine, close, becoming larger and less close toward base. Elytra convex, humeral denticles very minute; striae deep with moderate punctures; intervals vary in height, usually similarly developed, in some specimens intervals 2, 4, 6 less convex than the remained intervals or even flat; intervals 1–5 convex, wider than striae, intervals 6–10 obtusely carinate, nearly as wide as adjacent striae. Ventral surface alutaceous; mesosternum deplanate, lower than metasternum, with wide obtuse longitudinal carina and deep groove on each side; metasternal disc concave, lateral area with coarse close punctures; sternites moderately fluted in anterior two-thirds, penultimate sternite arcuate. Mesofemora and metafemora parallel-sided, with scattered minute punctures; protibia in both sexes similarly shaped ( Fig. 16 ); basal metatarsomere nearly as long as upper tibial spur and equal in length to following three tarsomeres together.

Male. Disc of pygidium longer than in female.

Distribution. Central African Republic, Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone. Recorded by Paulian (1942) from Togo.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 21. Figs 6 – 13, pronotum, lateral outline, 6. O. basilevskyi Endrödi; 7. O. spinicollis (Harold); 8. O. oberthueri (Clouët); 9. O. costatus Endrödi; 10. O. gestroi (Clouet); 11. O. burgeoni Boucomont; 12. O. setulosus Endrödi; 13. O. villiersi Petrovitz; Figs 14 – 19, right protibiae, 14. O. oberthueri (Clouët), male; 15. O. oberthueri (Clouët), female; 16. O. gestroi (Clouët), male; 17. O. ferenczi Endrödi, male; 18. O. villiersi Petrovitz, male; 19. O. villiersi Petrovitz, female; Figs 20 – 21, aedeagus in lateral view, 20. O. spinicollis (Harold); 21. O. paucus Schmidt.