Somoplatus ivoirensis, Schüle, 2009

Schüle, Peter, 2009, Notes on the genus Somoplatus Dejean, 1829 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), with descriptions of five new species, African Invertebrates 50 (2), pp. 461-461 : 471-472

Somoplatus ivoirensis sp. n.

Figs 6 , 14 , 21 , 28

Etymology: From Côte d’Ivoire [= Ivory Coast].

Diagnosis: S. ivoirensis is distinguished within the genus Somoplatus by the absence of wrinkles or carinae on lateral portions of vertex, fairly long antennae, transverse pronotum and small body size. The marginal impression of pronotum is conspicuously broad. From the closely related S. septentrionalis Burgeon, 1936 the new species differs by the shape of the aedeagus ( Fig. 21 ) and stylomere 2 ( Fig. 28 ).

Description:

Measurements (n = 2; 1 ♂ 1♀): Length 5.0– 5.1 mm, width 2.6–2.7 mm, width/length of pronotum 1.86–1.96.

Colour: Uniform light reddish brown except head dark reddish brown to piceous, pubescence yellowish.

Head: Wide, with large, nearly hemispheric eyes; surface almost plain, frontal sulci shallow, subcircular, dimple-like. Surface with superficial fine microreticulation consisting of dense meshes, superficial fine sparse punctation and irregular wrinkles. Meshes isodiametric in central portions of vertex, longitudinal and narrow along lateral portions near inner margin of eyes. Antennae fairly long, antennomeres approx. 1.5× longer than wide ( Fig. 14 ).

Pronotum: Short and wide, basally slightly wider than apically, widest in front of the middle; lateral margin convex, in apical half slightly more curved; apical angles slightly protruding, rounded off; apical margin concave; basal angles blunt. Surface of pronotum with fine microreticulation consisting of dense transversal meshes, which are twice as wide as long, and distinct, fine regularly seta-bearing sparse punctation. Distance between punctures twice as wide as distance between punctures on elytra. Base and lateral apex indistinctly margined, base more distinctly margined. Hind margin bearing long pubescence. Marginal impression distinct, broad near apical angle, broadly widened to the hind angles. Near basal outer margin a shallow dimple-like basal impression on either side. Base undulate, middle of base slightly convex. Pubescence distant, long.

Elytra: Short and wide, gently widened to the apical third, laterally subparallel. Humeri widely rounded, basal margin indistinct, almost reaching scutellum. Apical truncature indistinct, apex obliquely rounded, outer angles widely rounded off. Surface with fine microreticulation consisting of dense transversal meshes with distinct, fine regularly seta-bearing punctation. Pubescence distant, long. Fully winged.

Median lobe of aedeagus: Median portion subparallel, tapering to apex, simply curved, apex ending in a long simply rounded tip, orifice large on central-left side of apical third, no well defined inner sclerites visible, inner sac partly with microserrulation and folds in relaxed position ( Fig. 21 ).

Stylomere 2: Elongate, regularly curved, with one long straight, acute, ensiform seta on inner side, no seta on outer margin ( Fig. 28 ).

Lower surface: Finely pubescent, pubescence fairly long. Prosternal apophyse with no distant setae but at least 4 insertion pores visible; so it is probable that the setae are broken off in both specimens.

Legs: As in generic diagnosis.

Holotype: ♂ ‘ IVORY COAST, NE, Comoé National Park , v. 2000, Philippe Moretto leg., inside termite hill’ ( PSC).

Paratype: 1♀same data as holotype ( PSC).

Figures

Figs 1–8. Habitus of Somoplatus spp.: (1) S. depilis sp. n., _ holotype; (2) S. pilicollis sp. n., ^paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (3) S. morettoi sp. n., _ holotype; (4) S. fulvus ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (5) S. septentrionalis, ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (6) S. ivoirensis sp. n., _ holotype; (7) S. girardi, _; (8) S. genierorum sp. n., _ holotype. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Figs 9–16.Antennae of Somoplatus spp.: (9) S. depilis sp. n., _ holotype; (10) S. pilicollis sp. n., ^paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (11) S. morettoi sp. n., _ holotype; (12) S. fulvus, ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (13) S. septentrionalis, ^, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (14) S. ivoirensis sp. n., _ holotype; (15) S. girardi, _; (16) S. genierorum sp. n., _ holotype. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 17–23. Aedeagi of Somoplatus spp.: (17) S. depilis sp. n., holotype; (18) S. pilicollis sp. n., holotype; (19) S. morettoi sp. n., holotype; (20) S. fulvus (after Basilewsky 1986); (21) S. ivoirensis sp. n., holotype; (22) S. girardi, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (MRAC); (23) S. genierorum sp. n., holotype. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Figs 24–30. Stylomere 2 of Somoplatus spp. ^: (24) S. depilis sp. n., paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (25) S. pilicollis sp. n., paratype, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (26) S. fulvus, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (27) S. septentrionalis, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (28) S. ivoirensis sp. n., paratype; (29) S. girardi, Ivory Coast, Comoé National Park (PSC); (30) S. genierorum sp. n., paratype, Burkina Faso, Forêt de Nazinga. Scale bar = 0.5 mm in Figs 24, 25, 28–30; 2 mm in Figs 26, 27.