Andrahomanus opacus, Kejval & Cz, 2010

Kejval, Zbyněk & Cz, Domažlice, 2010, Taxonomic revision of the genus Andrahomanus (Coleoptera: Anthicidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 50 (1), pp. 167-188 : 175-177

Andrahomanus opacus sp. nov.

( Figs. 13–18 , 41 )

Type locality. Namibia, 9 km W of Ruacana, Kunene riverside, 17°26′S 14°09′E.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, ‘ NAMIBIA, 24.–26.ii.1994, 17°26′S / 14°09′E, Kunene, 9km W Ruacana , lux, leg. M. Uhlig // Stenidius namibianus Uhmann det. G.Uhmann 1997’ ( NMNW) . PARATYPES (sex not recognized): 7 specimens, same data as holotype (1 NMNW, 3 ZKDC, 3 ZMHB) ; 4 specimens, same data as holotype, without ‘lux’ in the 1st label (1 ZKDC, 3 ZMHB) ; 5 specimens, ‘ NAMIBIA: Kunene, 9km W Ruacana , 17°26′S / 14°09′E, 24.–26.ii.1994, leg. U. Göllner // Stenidius namibianus Uhmann det. G.Uhmann 1997’ (1 NMNW, 1 ZKDC, 3 ZMHB) ; 1 specimen, ‘ NAMIBIA Kunene, 9 km W Ruacana 17°26′S / 14°09′E 24.–25.ii.1994 Kunene banks, sievings: reed+grass+leaf litter+flood refuse, leg. M. Uhlig. ’ ( ZMHB) ; 1 J 2 ♀♀, ‘ S.W.Afr., Kaokoveld Swartbooisdrif 17.19S – 13.49E // 10.2.1975 ; E-Y: 645 shore washing leg. Endrödy, Penrith’ ( TMSA).

Additional material. 1 J, NAMIBIA: Eastern Caprivi, Sangwali, 18°14′S 23°36′E, pitfall traps, 25.xi.–5.xii.1991, E. Marais leg. ( ZKDC).

Description (male, holotype). Body length 4 mm. Head and pronotum dark brown with slight reddish tinge; elytra largely reddish brown, with darker, brown-black apical third behind posterior setose band; legs, antennae and palpi reddish brown, distal portion of femora moderately darker.

Head 1.2 times as long as wide, unevenly rounded posteriorly; posterior temporal angles rounded, at most slightly indicated. Eyes small, moderately convex. Dorsal surface matt, very densely punctate; punctation simple, punctures rather large but shallow, contiguous, evenly spaced. Setation short, appressed, with a few short erect setae. Antennae moderately enlarged in terminal third; antennomere X 1.2 times as long as wide, antennomere XI 1.9 times as long as wide.

Pronotum robust, about as wide as long, distinctly wider than head including eyes, widely rounded anteriorly; pronotal disc rather convex, its basal portion somewhat bulging over antebasal sulcus; dorso-lateral sides of pronotum forming rounded edge, their outlines narrowing and slightly angled posteriorly in dorsal view. Dorsal surface matt, densely punctate; punctation and setation as those on head.

Elytra 1.9 times as long as wide, conjointly rounded apically, rather convex, strongly declivous basally. Surface less glossy, densely punctate; punctation in basal third similar to that on head, becoming finer and sparser towards elytral apices. Setation longer than that on head, mostly pale to brownish, with silvery setae forming two sparse and rather vague transverse/oblique bands; erect setae short and scattered, more distinct than those on head.

Legs simple; setation short and fine, apical margin of meso- and metatibiae with a fringe of stiff setae.

Abdominal sternum and tergum VII simple. Sternite VIII as in Fig. 13 ; paired prongs narrow, moderately curved ventrad, abruptly dilated and flattened apically, with numerous short and stiff setae on dorsal side of dilated apical portion, and with longer, fine, somewhat clustered setae laterally. Tergite VIII angulate posteriorly ( Fig. 14 ). Segment IX as in Fig. 15 .

Aedeagus as in Figs. 16 and 17 ; apical portion of tegmen 0.4 times as long as basal piece, triangular, nearly evenly narrowing towards bluntly pointed apex in ventral view.

Female. Externally identical with male.

Variation (see also Remarks). Body length (J ♀) 3.2–4.3 mm. Moderately variable in body colouration; some specimens nearly unicolourous red-brown, another with elytra largely brown-black. Specimens from Swartbooisdrift have rather long and conspicuous erect setae on the body surface.

Differential diagnosis. Andrahomanus opacus sp. nov. is externally very similar to A. sabulicola sp. nov. Some of the specimens are conspicuous in having rather long, erect setae on the body surface (generally the setae are very short and inconspicuous in the latter species). However, this character is variable and the erect setae may be easily removed by abrasion. On the other hand, A. opacus sp. nov. differs clearly from the latter species in the following male characters: paired prongs of sternite VIII dilated apically and bearing short stiff setae, tergite VIII with posterior margin distinctly angulate.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective opacus (matt, less glossy); named in reference to the matt, densely punctate body surface.

Distribution. Namibia.

Remarks. The male specimen from Sangwali differs from the holotype as follows: head less widely rounded posteriorly; eyes somewhat larger, medium-sized; pronotum nearly angulate anteriorly in dorsal view; body setation with rather long and conspicuous erect setae (as in the paratypes from Swartbooisdrift); paired prongs of sternite VIII identical in general form and setation but strongly narrowed behind mid-length and only moderately dilated and rounded, spoon-shaped apically; apical portion of tegmen more distinctly impressed and sinuous laterally in ventral view. Considering the rather distant location of Sangwali (Eastern Caprivi region), this specimen may well represent a geographical subspecies of A. opacus sp. nov. but additional specimens are needed to confirm this speculation.

Most of the type specimens were previously misidentified as Stenidius namibianus Uhmann, 1994 by Gerhard Uhmann. This is a valid species occurring in Namibia and Botswana; for description of its male characters see KEJVAL (2004).

Figures

Figs. 13–18. Andrahomanus opacus sp. nov. 13–17 – holotype (male): 13 – sternite VIII in dorsal view; 14 – tergite VIII; 15 – segment IX; 16 – aedeagus in ventral view; 17 – aedeagus in lateral view. 18 – paratype (female), ovipositor. Scale = 0.2 mm: A – Fig. 13, 16, 17; B – Fig. 14, 15; C – Fig. 18.

Figs.37–43.Andrahomanus spp., habitus:37 – A. crassicornis sp. nov. (paratype); 38 – A.scholaris sp. nov. (holotype); 39 – A. particularis (Pic, 1932) (lectotype); 40 – A. ovaliceps sp. nov. (holotype); 41 – A. opacus sp. nov. (paratype, Swartbooisdrift); 42 – A. luteipes Pic, 1903 (holotype); 43 – A. sabulicola sp. nov. (paratype, Nyandu sands).