Orphnus (Phornus) ferrierei, Frolov & Akhmetova, 2016

Frolov, Andrey V. & Akhmetova, Lilia A., 2016, Revision of the subgenus Orphnus (Phornus) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Orphninae), European Journal of Taxonomy 241, pp. 1-20 : 11-13

Orphnus (Phornus) ferrierei sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BB79E7BA-8F60-4A97-BCFF-40017A1FBCD0

Figs 1O , 4 , 6

Diagnosis

Orphnus ferrierei sp. nov. is most similar to O. valeriae sp. nov., but can be separated from it in having pronotum smaller and more sparsely punctate with rounded punctures, distinct medial longitudinal stria basally on pronotum, frontoclypeal process tubercle-shaped, and less sclerotized parameres with angulate apices (in lateral view).

Etymology

This species is named after Pierre-Alfred Ferrière, collector of the type series.

Material examined

Holotype

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: ♂, “MUSEUM PARIS CONGO FRANC. HAUTE-SANGA [South-Western Central African Republic ] P. A. FERRIÈRE 106-97 / Brachyorphnus ferrierei n.sp. R. Paulian det. / HOLOTYPE ” ( MNHN).

Paratypes

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 2 ♂♂ with the same locality label as the holotype ( MNHN).

Description

Holotype ( Fig. 4A )

Body length 14 mm. Colour uniformly brown.

Anterior margin of frontoclypeus slightly convex in middle, slightly sinuate each side of medial convexity, rounded laterally, with a narrow border ( Fig. 4 H–I). Frontoclypeus with conical, tubercleshaped transverse process medially approximately in middle of line connecting anterior margins of eyes and anterior margin of frontoclypeus. Frontoclypeus somewhat rugose anteriad of process and coarsely punctate posteriad of process.

Eyes relatively large: width about 1/5.6 distance between eyes in dorsal view. Antennae 10-segmented, without malformed segments.

Pronotum widely rounded laterally, almost as wide as elytra, 1.6 times wider than length, 0.55 length of elytra ( Fig. 1O ). Anterior border wide, with almost smooth posterior margin. Basal border narrow, keel-shaped, separated from pronotal disc by a smooth groove. Pronotal disc anteromedially slightly flattened. Surface of pronotum covered with double puncturation composed of large rounded and minute punctures; large punctures cover sides of pronotum and a smaller area anteromedially.

Scutellum rounded apically, about 1/16 length of elytra.

Elytra 1.08 times wider than long, with feeble marked humeral humps. Elytra widest approximately in middle, with widely rounded lateral margins. First six striae faintly visible as very shallow grooves, without distinct rows of punctures. Elytra covered with sparse punctures becoming slightly coarser towards base.

Brachypterous. Wings vestigial, narrow, about ¾ length of elytra.

Stridulatory field: carinae separated by 1/30 length of field in central ¼ rd ( Fig. 4J ).

Abdominal sternite 8 medially slightly longer than sternites 6 and 7 combined; sternites 6 slightly longer than sternite 7. Pygidium visible from above, rounded apically. Plectrum trapezoidal, elongated ( Fig. 4E ). Lateral plate of second abdominal sternite relatively small, shorter than plectrum, with rounded apex.

Aedeagus with relatively long parameres (0.53 length of phallobase). Apices of parameres narrowly rounded in dorsal view and lateral view, without excavations ( Fig. 4 F–G).

Female

Unknown.

Variation

Paratypes ( Fig. 4 C–D) are lighter coloured than holotype, with smaller frontoclypeal processes. Body length 10.0 and 12.5 mm.

Distribution

O. ferrierei sp. nov. is known from Haute-Sangha, modern Mambéré-Kadéï prefecture of the Central African Republic ( Fig. 6 ). The region is a low-elevation plateau and a transition zone between Northern Congolian forest-savannah mosaic and Northwestern Congolian lowland forests ecoregions.

Figures

Fig. 1. — A–M. Orphnus giganteus Paulian, 1948. A–B. Habitus. C–D. Head in dorsal and apical view. E–G. Antennae. H. Aedeagus in lateral view. I. Parameres in dorsal view. J. Abdomen in dorsal view. K–L. Stridulatory field. M. Habitus. — N. O. renaudi sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — O. O. ferrierei sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — P. O. valeriae sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — Q. O. parastrangulatus sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — R. O. strangulatus Paulian, 1948, habitus. M–R = not to scale.

Fig. 4. Orphnus ferrierei sp. nov. A, C–D. Habitus. B. Labels of holotype. E. Abdomen in dorsal view. F. Aedeagus in lateral view. G. Parameres in dorsal view. H–I. Head in dorsal and apical view. J. Stridulatory field. A–B, F–I. Holotype. C–E. Paratypes.

Fig. 6. Orphnus (Phornus) spp. Locality map. Orphnus parastrangulatus sp. nov. is not mapped, because there are no more or less precise locality data available for this species.