Trechosia kogelbergensis, Geginat, Gernot, 2007

Geginat, Gernot, 2007, A new species group of the genus Trechosia from the Cape region of South Africa (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae), Zootaxa 1469, pp. 43-50 : 47-48

Trechosia kogelbergensis sp. nov.

Differential diagnosis. Similar to T. intermedia and T. humeralis , but smaller, pronotum more transverse, and microsculpture of sutural interval of elytra much more transverse. Apex of aedeagus only slightly elongated, penultimate and antepenultimate spines of internal sack enlarged, but much smaller than in T. intermedia , antepenultimate spine shorter than parameres without setae.

Description. Similar to T. intermedia from which it differs as follows: Length (measured from apex of elytra to anterior edge of labrum) 3.3 mm. Colour of body and appendages similar to T. intermedia but antennal scape dark yellow, antennomeres yellowish brown with bases lighter yellow ( Fig. 2 A). Eyes more protruding than in T. intermedia . Pronotum more transverse (length 0.6, width 0.9 mm, length/width ratio 0.6). Elytra as in T. intermedia moderately elongated (length 2.0 mm, width 1.4 mm, length/width ratio 1.4). Scutellar stria shorter, ending well before level of anterior discal setiferous puncture, elytral stria 7 totally effaced. Microsculpture on elytra more transverse, more transverse in 1st (sutural) than in 2nd elytral interval, length/width ratio of mesh in sutural interval approximately 5:1 to 10:1 ( Fig. 2 B). Macropterous. Aedeagus smaller, length (dorsal view) 0.68 mm ( Fig. 2 C). Apex of median lobe with thickened tip but not elongated. Antepenultimate and penultimate spines of internal sac enlarged, protruding from apical orifice, but antepenultimate spine shorter than parameres (without apical setae). Apex of styles moderately tapered, each with 5 long apical setae.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective “ kogelbergensis ”, inhabitant of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa.

Material examined. Holotype male: South Africa, Western Cape, Kogelberg NR, Oudebos, leg. Geginat 1.12.2002, S 34°20’ E 19°01’, 100 m [a.s.l.] forest, sifted leaf litter [deposited in South African Museum, Cape Town, South Africa ( SAMC)].

Remarks. The type locality of T. kogelbergensis is situated within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve near Kleinmond approximately 40 km east of Cape Town. The single known specimen of T. kogelbergensis was sifted together with numerous specimens of Trechosia monticola from very humid leaf litter at the shores of a small creek within the forest. The Oudebos is a relic forest of afromontane vegetation. Within the reserve these forest patches are confined to fire-resistant ravines and only occur on the more rapidly weathering upper shale band of the Table mountain geological group ( Johns & Johns 2001).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Trechosia kogelbergensis sp. nov., holotype, male. General habitus (A), microsculpture of elytra between the anterior and posterior discal setiferous punctures (B), aedeagus lateral view (C).