Acylophorus allardi Levasseur, 1968

Lott, Derek A., 2012, Further studies of African Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zootaxa 3168, pp. 39-52 : 46-47

Acylophorus allardi Levasseur, 1968

( Figs 17–21 )

The recognition of A. janaki as a distinct species among a series of specimens referred by Lott (2010) to A. allardi makes it necessary to revise the diagnostic characters previously given for this species.

Diagnostic characters. Length 8mm. Head large (pronotum 1.6x wider than head), 1.05x wider than long with rounded but evident temples behind somewhat large eyes ( Fig. 17 ). Head produced in front of antennae insertion point. Covered with dense micro-punctures. Dense pale pubescence behind eyes. Two pairs of interocular setae. Four postocular setae visible on each side, additional seta on hind margin of eye absent. Mandibles not examined. Maxillary palpi with terminal segment densely pubescent, markedly asymmetric, and longer than very short, triangular, glabrous penultimate segment ( Fig. 18 ). First segment of antenna longer than next four ( Fig. 17 ). Segments I to VIII elongate, X to XI transverse.

Pronotum weakly transverse (1.1x wider than long) with rounded sides and widest in basal half. Covered with dense micro-punctures. Marginal setae short. Elytra strongly transverse (1.7x wider than long) with short, bright yellow pubescence. Fringe of bristles on hind margin longer than the hairs on the rest of the elytra. Pubescence on abdominal tergites also bright yellow and relatively short, arising from fine and dense asperate punctures, which are much denser at the base of each tergite than toward apex ( Fig. 20 ).

Male with apex of sternite IX entire. Median lobe of aedeagus strongly flattened with a broadly incised apex ( Fig. 21 ). Paramere bilobed, each lobe twisted round side margin of median lobe, pegs arranged in rows along each margin, basal lip absent.

Type material. Syntype 3: “ CONGO BELGE 8.54 D.V. ALLARD / H. KATANGA COLL. LEVASSEUR / LUENA HT LOMAMI / CROTTINS D’ELEPHANT / Acylophorus Allardi sp. n. LEVASSEUR DET TYPE ” ( MNHN).

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 21. Acylophorus allardi Levasseur. 17, fore body; 18. maxillary palp; 19, antenna; 20, punctation on abdominal tergite IV; 21, aedeagus (ventral and lateral views).