Micrambe zuluensis Lyubarsky, 2019

Lyubarsky, G. Yu., 2019, New and little-known beetles of Central, South Africa and Reunion Island (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae), Russian Entomological Journal 28 (4), pp. 377-382 : 379-381

Micrambe zuluensis Lyubarsky , sp.n.

Figs 3–5 .

MATERIAL. Holotype: S. Africa: RSA, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton , Malaise trap, 23.10– 12.11.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, ♂. Paratypes: S. Africa: RSA, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton, Malaise trap, 27.09– 13.10.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, 8♂ 41♀; the same data ,

23.10– 12.11.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, 3♂ 2♀; the same data , 13– 23.11.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, 12♂ 13♀; the same data , 23.10– 12.11.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, 26♂ 16♀; the same data , 24.11– 09.12.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, 8♂ 4♀; the same data , 10– 23.12.2003, leg. M. Mostovski, 8♂ 16♀; the same data , 24.12.2003 – 14.01.2004, leg. M. Mostovski, 8♂ 20♀; the same data , 15– 26.01.2004, leg. M. Mostovski, 1♂ 1♀; the same data , 27.01– 16.02.2004, leg. M. Mostovski, 3♂ 4♀; the same data , 17– 29.02.2004, leg. M. Mostovski, 1♂ 3♀; the same data , 29.02– 13.03.2004, leg. M. Mostovski, 7♂ 11♀;

DESCRIPTION. Length: 1.4–1.7 mm. Body oval, moderately convex. Body colored from light yellowish brown to dark-brown with black longitudinal stripe along suture of elytra. Pubescence double (L = 0.05–0.07 mm). Metathoracic wings fully developed.

Head. Eyes normal (L = 0.14 mm), hemispheric, with facets smaller than the punctures of the head. Antennae long (L = 0.65 mm) surpassing the base of the pronotum. 3 th antennomere 1.6 times longer than the 4 th; 3 th antennomere 1.6 times longer than the 5 th; 6 th to 8 th equal and 1.2 times shorter than the 4 th.

Pronotum ( Fig. 2 ) strongly transverse (width/length ratio = 1.5–1.6). Anterior margin in regular curve. Large callosities (1/3 of the length of the side), hardly surpassing the lateral margin of the pronotum. Surface of callosity partly visible dorsally, pitted at centre and with a strong margin. It forms an obtuse angle posteriorly, without spike, and one of 30° with the axis of the body. Lateral margin angular, sides almost parallel to the basal third and convergent toward the base. Lateral margin of pronotum with a callosity strongly prominent laterally, posteriorly lateral margin smooth, then forming three or four teeth with setae. Basal pits absent, basal groove present. Obtuse posterior angles. Basal edge with median lobes. Punctuation moderately strong; punctures ( Fig. 2 ) separated by a distance smaller than their diameter.

Scutellum transverse, trapezoidal. Elytra 2.7 times longer than pronotum. Elytra 1.4 times longer than their combined width and 2.7 times longer than the pronotum. Punctures of same strength as those of pronotum and separated by a distance equal to their diameter. Tarsal formula 5–5– 5 in females and 5–5– 4 in males.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 3 ) expanded apically. This expansion presents a short hooked apex directed outwards. Apical part of aedeagus about 2 times as long as wide. On the sides of the apex of the aedeagus there are protrusions directed outward, similar to those of M. natalensis . Endophallic orifice visible in the base of the aedeagus.

Parameres ( Fig. 3 ) elongated, triangular, with two apical seta and with scarce pores with and without small setae. Length of paramere three times as long as its width. Length of paramere about 1/3 of length of the aedeagus. Apical setae of different lengths, longer seta longer than the length of the paramere. Length of the short seta from less than ½ to about 2/3 of the long seta.

BIOLOGY. Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION. South Africa: RSA: Kwazulu-Natal.

NAME DERIVATION. This species is named after the place of location, the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

REMARKS. In external characters it is very similar, for example, to M.natalensis . It differs in slightly smaller average sizes, somewhat more transverse pronotum, angular lateral edge of pronotum, and callosities hardly surpassing the lateral margin of the pronotum. This species was indicated in Lyubarsky [2011], but without a review of Micrambe species of S. Africa it was impossible to indicate the status of the species. In the works of Otero [ Otero, 2005, 2012; Otero, Pereira 2017, 2018], the fauna of South Africa was well studied and it became possible to indicate the position of this species and its differences from related species.

The species belongs to the group with double pubescence of elytra. From the majority of the species of this group in South Africa, the new species can be distinguished by the presence of two setae of different lengths on the paramere; in the other species the setae are approximately equal in length.

The species of this group (double-pubescent) from South Africa can be identified by the following key:

1. Eyes normal, subhemispheric. Large callosity (length = 1/ 3 to 1/4 of the length of the side) ................................ 2

— Eyes conical, protuberant. Callosity smaller (length = 1/4 of the length of the side) and surpassing a little the lateral margin of the pronotum. Yellowish brown and sometimes with black spots in the elytra. Top of paramere with 2 setae of equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are less than the length of the paramere. Length of body 1.5–1.8 mm ............................ Micrambe plagiata Grouvelle, 1908

2. Tarsal formula 5-5- 5 in both sexes .............................. 3

— Tarsal formula 5-5- 5 in females and 5-5- 4 in males ... 4

3. Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.7). Sides of pronotum converge in a straight line from the callosity to the base. Large callosities (1/3 of the length of the side), surpassing the margin of the pronotum and separated from the disc by a depression. Reddish brown with a dark triangular band along the elytral suture. Top of paramere with 3 long setae of approximately equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are much longer than the length of the paramere. Length of body 1.9–2.1 mm .......................... .............................................. M. endroedyi Otero, 2005

— Pronotum small transverse (width/length ratio = 1.5).Sides of pronotum parallel in the basal third, and from there, convergent toward the base. Elytra yellowish brown with dark spots expanding to the sides. Top of paramere with 2 long setae of approximately equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are much longer than the length of the paramere. Length of body 1.6–2 mm .............................. ......................................... M. hanstroemi (Bruce, 1957)

4. Large callosity surpassing scarcely the lateral margin of the pronotum. Sides of pronotum sinuated from the callosity toward the base .................................................. 5

— Large callosity surpassing the lateral margin of the pronotum, separated from the disc of pronotum by a depression and surpassing strongly the lateral margin of the pronotum. Sides convergent or forming a curve from the callosity toward the base ....................................................... 8

5. Yellowish brown. Eyes normal, subhemispheric. Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.7). Top of paramere with 2 setae of approximately equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are approximately equal to the length of paramere. The corners protruding to the sides at the top of the aedeagus are angular, not hook-shaped. Length of body = 1.7–1.8 mm ............... M. hirta Grouvelle, 1908

— Reddish brown or yellowish brown; legs and antennae yellowish brown. Eyes large, hemispheric, prominent. 6

6. Body large (length = 2.1–2.3 mm). Large callosity (1/3 of the length of the side). Sides of pronotum parallel in the anterior half and then convergent toward the base. Reddish brown. Top of paramere with 2 setae of equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are longer than length of paramere. The corners at the top of the aedeagus are not protruding to the sides, not hook-shaped .. ............................................. M. simoni Grouvelle,1895 — Body smaller, less than 1.8 mm .................................... 7

7. Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.8), without a depression between the callosity and the disc of pronotum. Antennae with 3 rd antennomere only 1.2 times longer than 5 th. Top of paramere with 2 setae of approximately equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are approximately equal to the length of paramere. The corners protruding to the sides at the top of the aedeagus are slightly angular, slightly hook-shaped. Length of body = 1.3–1.8 mm ............................ M. basuto (Bruce, 1957)

— Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.7). Callosity separated from the disc by a depression. Antennae with 3 th antennomere 1.4 times longer than 5 th. Top of paramere with 2 setae of approximately equal length. Setae on top of the paramere are shorter than paramere. The corners protruding to the sides at the top of the aedeagus are slightly angular, slightly hook-shaped. Length of body = 1.7–1.8 mm ...................... M. natalensis (Bruce, 1952)

8. Body larger (length = 1.7–1.8 mm) ............................. 9

— Body smaller (length = 1.4–1.7 mm). Pronotum strongly transverse (width/length ratio = 1.5–1.6). Body colored from light-brown to dark brown with longitudinal black strip along elytral suture. Eyes normal, subhemispheric. Lateral margin angular, sides almost parallel to the basal third and convergent toward the base. Top of paramere with 2 setae of different length. Longest apical seta longer than the length of the paramera. Length of the short seta less than half the length of the long seta. The corners protruding to the sides at the top of the aedeagus are angular, hook-shaped ........................ M. zuluensis sp.n.

9. Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.7–1.8). Elytra reddish brown; head and pronotum dark brown. Eyes large, prominent. Sides of pronotum convergent in a straight line toward the base. Top of paramere with 2 setae of equal length. Setae longer than the length of the paramere. The corners protruding to the sides at the top of the aedeagus are not hook-shaped ....... M. nigrothoracica (Bruce, 1952)

— Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.6–1.7). Large callosity not surpassing the lateral margin of the pronotum. Eyes large, hemispheric, and protuberant. Sides forming a slight angle in the centre. Yellowish brown or ferruginous brown. Top of paramere with 2 setae different in length. The longer seta is approximately equal to the length of the paramere, the smaller seta is 2/3 of the length of the longer seta. The corners protruding to the sides at the top of the aedeagus are rounded, not hook-shaped. Body large, length of body = 2.0– 2.1 mm ..................... ....................................... M. peringueyi Grouvelle, 1908

Figures

Figs 3–5. Micrambe zuluensis Lyubarsky, sp.n.: 3 — total view; 4 — genitalia of male; 5 — paramere. Рис. 3–5. Micrambe zuluensis Lyubarsky, sp.n.: 3 — обЩий вид; 4 — гениталии самца; 5 — парамера.

Figs 1–2.Micrambe hanstroemi (Bruce): 1 — male genitalia; 2 — paramere. Рис. 1–2 Micrambe hanstroemi (Bruce): 1 — гениталии самца; 2 — парамеры.