Acylophorus makhoreae Lott

Lott, Derek A., 2010, The species of Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) in continental sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 2402, pp. 1-51 : 15

Acylophorus makhoreae Lott , new species

( Figs 8 , 38 , 58 , 84 , 116 )

Description. Length 7mm. Body colour very variable ranging from pale brown to black. Pronotum yellow to red-brown with a dark, diffuse mark covering the disc and sometimes suffused almost to the edges. Abdomen iridescent when dark. Appendages similarly variable in colour, but the terminal segment of the maxillary palpi is always darker than the penultimate segment.

Head of average size (pronotum 1.75x wider than head), more or less as long as wide with rounded temples not very evident ( Fig. 8 ). Pigmented area of head extending well in front of antennal insertion. Micropunctures extending over much of head, but very sparse away from the front of the head and next to the eyes. Dense short pubescence behind eyes. Two pairs of interocular setae arising from foveate punctures much closer to eyes than each other. Only four postocular setae visible from above on each side. Underside of head sparsely pubescent, depressed at base with gular sutures separate, but very proximate toward base. Right mandible with one sharp median tooth; left mandible lacking sharp tooth ( Fig. 38 ). Maxillary palpi with terminal segment densely pubescent, with rounded angle on outer margin, asymmetric and less elongate than A. orientalis , longer than glabrous penultimate segment which is slightly elongate ( Fig. 58 ). First segment of antenna as long as next five. Segments I to IV elongate, VII to XI transverse ( Fig. 84 ).

Pronotum only slightly transverse (1.1x wider than long) with rounded sides and widest in basal half. Shining with no micro-punctures. Dorsal, lateral and marginal setae shorter than in A. orientalis . Elytra transverse (1.7x wider than long) with pubescence arising from asperate punctures. Apical fringe of bristles longer than the hairs on the rest of the elytra. Abdominal tergites with evenly spaced, relatively sparse asperate punctures.

Paramere bilobed, each lobe fairly flat, at least toward apex, pegs concentrated in dense mass at apex ( Fig. 116 ). Median lobe longer than paramere with truncate apex.

Type material. Holotype 3: “Under plants at a stream edge / ETHIOPIA: Kaffa 28km. S. of Jimma 2,000 m’ xi.1971 / R. O.S. Clark B.M. 1973-450 / HOLOTYPE Acylophorus makhoreae sp. n. 3 det. DA Lott, 2009” ( BMNH). Paratypes 13 1Ƥ: “ ETHIOPIA: ILUBADOR 10km. W. Bedelle 0825N 3618E x.1972 1,800 m. / R. O.S. Clark B.M. 1973-450 / PARATYPE Acylophorus makhoreae sp. n. det. DA Lott, 2009” ( BMNH); 4: “Under plants & stones at edge stream / ETHIOPIA: Kaffa Belleta F. 2,100 m 40km. S.W. Jimma 1971 / R. O.S. Clark B.M. 1973-450 / PARATYPE Acylophorus makhoreae sp. n. det. DA Lott, 2009” ( BMNH); 1Ƥ: “ih red ref. / ETHIOPIA: Kaffa Jimma to Addis Rd. 0749-370 iii.1972. / R. O.S. Clark B.M. 1973-450 / PARATYPE Acylophorus makhoreae sp. n. det. DA Lott, 2009” ( BMNH).

Distribution and bionomics. All material seen so far comes from the south-west of Ethiopia ( Fig. 142 ). I have also seen a female specimen collected at “8,000” feet from the Djem-Djem Forest to the west of Addis Ababa that may belong to this species. Most of the specimens were collected along streams.

Comparative notes. Fairly distinct within the A. orientalis species group by virtue of the position of the antennal insertion, the broader, more asymmetric terminal segment of the maxillary palpi and the more transverse medial antennal segments. The form of the aedeagus and the arrangement of medial teeth on the mandibles are also useful characters.

Etymology. Makhore was a legendary queen, who founded the kingdom of Jimma in the area where many of the type specimens were collected. The species name is the genitive case of a Latinised version of her name.

Discussion. A. makhoreae has been placed in the A. orientalis group, because it lacks dense micropunctures on the head and pronotum. However, the form of the maxillary palpi, the mandibles and the aedeagus and the position of the antennal insertion point all suggest that it may be more closely related to some of the species in the A. densipennis group.

Figures

FIGURE 142. Distribution of species in the Acylophorus orientalis group = A. bumbunae Bordoni, = A. tshuapensis new species, = A. makhoreae new species).

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.