Monodius malaisei Koch, 1956

Kaminski, Marcin Jan, 2014, A cladistically based reinterpretation of the taxonomy of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Platynotina), ZooKeys 415, pp. 81-132 : 108-112

Monodius malaisei Koch, 1956 Figs 9, 17, 38, 43, 55

Monodius malaisei Koch, 1956: 188.

Selinus malaisei (Koch, 1956). - Iwan 2002a: 101, 2002b: 302.

Studied material.

Twelve syntypes of Monodius malaisei malaisei are available. Lectotype designation is needed to fix the taxonomic status of the species and the subspecies. Lectotype designated here, male (TMNH): "Paratype No: 3224, Monodius malai-, sei Koch", "Ob. Volta, Pundu, Olsufiew"; Paralectotypes, male (TMNH): same data as holotype, except the number referring to paratype (3226, 3227). Other material: 12 males and 15 females (MNHN): “Muséum Paris, Haute Volta, Gaoua, H. Labouret 1924", 2 males and 2 females (ZMAS): "Poundou, Hante, Volta, Afr. Occ. Fr., Oлϲуфъев 927", male and female (ZMAS): "Ouagadougou, Afrique Occ. Fr. Oлϲуфъев VII. VIII 927", 3 males and 4 females (MRAC): "Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Haute Volta: Bobo-Dioulasso, 10.V.1964, R. Siffointe", 2 males (MNHN): "Oyo Yoruba P. François”, “Muséum Paris, Coll. L. Fairmaire", 2 males (MNHN): “Abétifi, Côte d’Ivoire”, “Muséum Paris", 2 males (MNHN): "Tortiya, Cte Ivoire, II.59, R. Villemain", “Muséum Paris", 2 males (MNB): "Togo, Station Ho, Schroder S.", male (MNHN): “Muséum Paris Soudan Franc Région Volta Sikasso- Bobo-San A. Chevalier 1900", “Mai-Juin”, 2 males (MNHN): “Muséum Paris coll. P.Ardoin 1978", "Monodius Selinus malaisei Koch ssp. nigeriensis Koch P. Ardoin det.1972", "Niamey-Niger Leg. Loups", 2 males and 2 females (MNHN): “Muséum Paris, Coll. P. Ardoin, 1978", "IX.1971, Pabré, Haute Volta, R.P. Fernandez".

Redescription.

Habitus as in Fig. 55. Body length = 13.0-14.0 mm. Elytra wider and longer than pronotum (width ratio elytra / pronotum = 1.2-1.3; length ratio elytra / the middle of pronotum = 2.2-2.4).

Dorsal side of head dull, with fine punctures (the intervals between the punctures are smaller than the diameter of the puncture). Frontoclypeal suture fine. Clypeal emargination relatively shallow (clypeal emargination width / depth ratio = 10.0-11.5). Mentum with median part wide. Submentum with short base. Maxillary palp not widened (width of maxillary palp / length of 3rd antennomere = 1.1-1.2). Length of antennae greater than pronotal length (ratio antenna / pronotum from tip of anterior pronotal angle to tip of posterior pronotal angle = 1.2-1.3). 3rd antennomere relatively long (length ratio of antennomere 3rd / 2nd = 2.8-2.9).

Pronotal disc transverse (middle of pronotum length / width ratio = 0.5-0.6), dull, with fine punctures (the intervals between the punctures are smaller than the diameter of the puncture). Anterior pronotal angles sharp and strongly protruding towards front. Lateral margins of pronotal disc rounded. Apophyseal and basal depressions on pronotal disc present; apophyseal depressions trapezoidal. Pronotal hypomera dull, without punctures.

Elytra oblong (elytra length / width ratio = 1.1-1.2). Elytral striae with fine punctures; impressed on the whole length. Elytral intervals dull, non-convex, with fine punctures (the intervals between the punctures are greater than the 4 diameters of the puncture). Elytral base slightly sinusoidal. Elytral humeri slightly protruding laterad. Wings absent. Scutellum rounded.

Intercoxal process protruding towards mesoventrite. Metaventrite reduced (length ratio cavity of hind coxa / metaventrite between the insertions of mid and hind coxae ca. 2). In both sexes abdominal process without tubercles, relatively narrow (process of 1st abdominal ventrite / process of metaventrite = 2.1-2.3). 5th abdominal ventrite without bordering; punctures fine (the intervals between the punctures are greater than the 2 diameters of the puncture).

Male legs. Protarsi slightly widened. Protibiae as in Fig. 38. Mesotibiae with a large denticle at the apex. Metafemorae with an hair fringe. Female legs. Protarsi slightly widened. Other leg parts simple.

Male genitalia. Parameres extended towards apex; length equal to the 0.2 of the rest of aedeagal tegmen (Fig. 17). Clavae straight (Fig. 17). Female genitalia. Paraproct equal to coxites. Bursa copulatrix with two sacs. Spermatheca with narrow ducts.

Distribution.

This species has been collected in the following ecoregions of West Africa (Republic of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Niger): Eastern Guinean forests, Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, West Sudanian savanna (Fig. 43).

Key to the subspecies of Monodius malaisei