Acylophorus uhligi Lott

Lott, Derek A., 2012, Further studies of African Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zootaxa 3168, pp. 39-52 : 45-46

Acylophorus uhligi Lott , new species

( Figs 12–16 )

Description. Length 7–8 mm. Body black. Abdominal tergites with transverse microsculpture, but not iridescent. Antennae dark brown except for paler segments I and XI. Maxillary palpi pale brown with slightly darker terminal segment. Femora and tibiae dark brown. Tarsi reddish brown.

Head rounded, large (pronotum 1.6x wider than head), as wide as long with temples rounded behind somewhat large eyes ( Fig. 12 ). Head produced in front of antennal insertion, covered with micro-punctures. Short dense pubescence behind eyes. Two pairs of short and pale interocular setae arising from foveate punctures much closer to eyes than each other. A line of four postocular setae visible from above on each side. No additional seta on hind margin of eye. Maxillary palpi with terminal segment pubescent, more rounded on outer margin than inner margin and asymmetric, longer than glabrous penultimate segment which is triangular ( Fig. 13 ). First segment of antenna as long as next five. Segments I to VI elongate, IX to X transverse ( Fig. 14 ).

Pronotum relatively narrow with sides less rounded, almost quadrate (1.1x wider than long) and widest toward basal half ( Fig. 12 ), covered with micro-punctures, but more sparsely than on head. Dorsal, lateral and marginal setae relatively short. Elytra strongly transverse (1.65x wider than long) ( Fig. 12 ) with short pale pubescence that is not shining, arising from fine dense asperate punctures. Apical fringe of bristles longer than hairs on rest of elytra. Abdominal tergites with short, sparse pubescence, barely overlapping in centre of tergite III, though longer on apical tergites. Punctures evenly distributed across basal tergites, more sparsely distributed toward apex of tergite VII.

Male with apex of sternite IX entire. Paramere bilobed and divergent, twisted round side margin of median lobe, which is flattened and broadly incised at apex ( Fig. 15 ). Pegs confusedly arranged at apex of each lobe ( Fig 16 ).

Type material. Holotype 3: “ ZIMBABWE 7–9. xii.1993 18 O17’S / 32O43’E Nyanga NP: Rhodes Dam, reed + fern sievings, leg M. Uhlig / HOLOTYPE Acylophorus uhligi sp. n. 3 det. DA Lott” ( ZMBH). Paratypes 3Ƥ same data as holotype ( ZMBH).

Comparative notes. This species is similar to A. janaki , but can be distinguished by the strongly transverse elytra. The aedeagi are similar except for an apparent difference in the shape of the apex of the median lobe and a sparser distribution of pegs on the paramere. However, the extent of infraspecific variation in these features is as yet unknown.

Etymology. This species is named after Manfred Uhlig, who collected the type series. The species name is the genitive case of a Latinised version of his name.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 16. Acylophorus uhligi sp. n. 12, fore body; 13. maxillary palp; 14, antenna; 15, aedeagus (ventral and lateral views); 16, internal face of apex of right lobe of paramere.