Acylophorus nitens Lott

Lott, Derek A., 2010, The species of Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) in continental sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 2402, pp. 1-51 : 9-10

Acylophorus nitens Lott , new species

( Figs 2 , 34 , 52 , 78 , 110 )

Description. Length 7–8mm. Variable in colour. Head black. Pronotum orange-brown with disc sometimes diffusely infuscated, rarely all black. Elytra dark brown to black. In all the Zambian specimens seen, the pronotum is bright orange contrasting strongly with the black head and elytra. Abdomen strongly iridescent. Legs pale. Antennae dark with base of segment I and sometimes segment XI pale. The terminal segment of the maxillary palpi is darker than the penultimate segment.

Head of average size (pronotum 1.7x wider than head), more or less as long as wide with rounded temples and antennal insertion right on front margin ( Fig. 2 ). Micro-punctures very sparse and confined to front of head and inside eyes. Dense short pubescence behind eyes. Two pairs of interocular setae arising from foveate punctures much closer to eyes than each other. A line of five postocular setae plus an additional short seta on hind margin of eye. Underside of head sparsely pubescent, strongly depressed at base with gular sutures separate, but very approximate toward base. Right mandible with three medial teeth; left mandible with two medial teeth ( Fig. 34 ). Maxillary palpi with terminal segment elongate and densely pubescent, more or less symmetric, longer than glabrous penultimate segment which is not elongate ( Fig. 52 ). First segment of antenna as long as next four. Segments I to VIII elongate, X transverse ( Fig. 78 ).

Pronotum only slightly transverse (1.1x wider than long) with rounded sides and widest in basal half. Shining with no micro-punctures. One pair of dorsal setae. One pair of lateral setae. Marginal setae shorter than in A. orientalis . Elytra transverse (1.5x wider than long) with pubescence arising from relatively fine asperate punctures. Apical fringe of thick bristles about as long as the hairs on the rest of the elytra. Abdominal tergites with evenly spaced, relatively sparse asperate punctures and a marginal fringe of bristles similar to those on the elytra.

Paramere bilobed, lobes parallel and proximate, each lobe ridged, though not as strongly as in A. orientalis , pegs arranged along inner margins at apex ( Fig. 110 ). Median lobe longer than paramere with rather narrow, spoon-shaped apex.

Type material. Holotype 3: “S. SUDAN: Bahr el Ghazal Prov. 8 O 30’N-28 O 30’E / C.E. Tottenham collection. B.B. 1974-587 / HOLOTYPE Acylophorus nitens sp. n. det. DA Lott, 2009” ( BMNH); Paratypes 76: same data as holotype. It is almost certain that the type series was collected at Wunatong, near Wau, on 19.iii.1955, as these data were recorded on a label on a specimen in the same tray in the Tottenham collection.

This species was given the manuscript names, A. dollmani and A. nigeriae , by Bernhauer. Types were labelled accordingly, but he never published a description under either name.

Further material examined. R.D. CONGO: Nizi, Blukwa, A Collart, 25.i.1929, 131Ƥ ( ISRNB). NIGERIA: Gombe: Matzoro Lakes, L Lloyd, i.1929, 13 ( BMNH). SIERRA LEONE: Northern Province: Kambai / Binkolo, W Rossi, 16. ii.1993, 13 (cBord). SUDAN: Bahr el Ghazal: Wunatong, near Wau, 8 O 80’N 28 O 30’E 19. iii.1955, 10 ( BMNH). ZAMBIA: Namwala, HC Dollman, iii.1913, 7 ( BMNH & FMNH). ZIMBABWE: Kutsaga near Harare Airport, W Rossi, 18. vi.1997, 2 Ƥ (cBord).

Distribution and bionomics. Widespread in continental Africa ranging from Zimbabwe to Sudan and Sierra Leone ( Fig. 141 ). There are long series of specimens taken at two localities in the Sudd wetlands in the floodplain of the Bahr el Ghazal in southern Sudan. There are no ecological data.

Comparative notes. Similar to A. orientalis , but distinguished by the larger size, shorter marginal setae on the pronotum, the form of the mandibles and the distinctive aedeagus. In addition, the last segment of the maxillary palpi is more elongate as well as the medial segments of the antennae. See also notes under A. rossii .

Discussion. It is possible that particular geographic areas might be populated by distinctive colour forms. Specimens from Zambia were very distinctive by virtue of their contrasting orange pronota. This species and A. rossii appear to be closely related. The co-occurrence of the two species in a series from Sierra Leone, precludes treating the two taxa as subspecies or geographic races.

Figures

FIGURE 141. Distribution of species in the Acylophorus orientalis group = A. nitens new species, = A. rossii Bordoni, = A. capensis Cameron, = A. dankalensis Bordoni).

FIGURES 1 – 8. Forebodies of species in the Acylophorus orientalis group. 1, A. orientalis Fauvel; 2, A. nitens new species; 3, A. rossii Bordoni, 4. A. bumbunae Bordoni; 5, A. capensis Cameron; 6, A. dankalensis Bordoni; 7, A. tshuapensis new species; 8, A. makhoreae new species.

FIGURES 33 – 41. Mandibles of Acylophorus species. 33, A. orientalis Fauvel; 34, A. nitens new species; 35, A. rossii Bordoni, 36, A. capensis Cameron; 37, A. dankalensis Bordoni; 38, A. makhoreae new species; 39, A. antennalis Cameron (RD Congo); 40, A. antennalis Cameron (R Congo); 41, A. collarti Cameron.

FIGURES 51 – 76. Terminal segments of the maxilliary palpi of Acylophorus species. 51, A. orientalis Fauvel; 52, A. nitens new species; 53, A. rossii Bordoni, 54, A. bumbunae Bordoni; 55, A. capensis Cameron; 56, A. dankalensis Bordoni; 57, A. tshuapensis new species; 58, A. makhoreae new species; 59, A. densipennis Bernhauer; 60, A. antennalis Cameron; 61, A. collarti Cameron; 62. A. micans new species; 63, A. allardi Levasseur; 64, A. congoensis Cameron; 65, A. ziloensis Levasseur; 66, A. mareei Bernhauer; 67, A. salifi new species; 68, A. lomaensis Levasseur; 69. A. minor new species; 70, A. trigonocephalus Cameron; 71, A. setiger new species; 72, A. usambarae Bernhauer; 73, A. grandis Bernhauer; 74, A. bafutensis Levasseur; 75, A. kambuiensis Bordoni, 76. A. lualabaensis Levasseur.

FIGURES 77 – 96. Antennae of Acylophorus species. 77, A. orientalis Fauvel; 78, A. nitens new species; 79, A. rossii Bordoni, 80, A. bumbunae Bordoni; 81, A. capensis Cameron; 82, A. dankalensis Bordoni; 83, A. tshuapensis new species; 84, A. makhoreae new species; 85, A. densipennis Bernhauer; 86, A. antennalis Cameron; 87, A. collarti Cameron; 88. A. micans new species; 89, A. allardi Levasseur; 90, A. congoensis Cameron; 91, A. ziloensis Levasseur; 92, A. mareei Bernhauer; 93, A. methneri Bernhauer; 94, A. salifi new species; 95, A. lomaensis Levasseur; 96. A. minor new species.

FIGURES 109 – 116. Aedeagi of species in the Acylophorus orientalis group. 109, A. orientalis Fauvel; 110, A. nitens new species; 111, A. rossii Bordoni, 112. A. bumbunae Bordoni; 113, A. capensis Cameron; 114, A. dankalensis Bordoni; 115, A. tshuapensis new species; 116, A. makhoreae new species.