Menieroclerus nigropiceus (Kuwert) Kuwert, 2016

Bartlett, Justin S. & Gerstmeier, Roland, 2016, Menieroclerus gen. nov.: A new genus for Thanasimodes nigropiceus (Kuwert, 1893) (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Zootaxa 4168 (2), pp. 395-400 : 398-399

Menieroclerus nigropiceus (Kuwert) comb. nov.

Opilo nigropiceus Kuwert 1893: 472 ; Schenkling 1915: 247 (transfer to Thanasimodes ).

Material examined. TANZANIA: Morogoro Region, Morogoro Route de Malolo, Feb. 2004 (1 ♂, 1 ♀, JSBC) ; Iringa Region, Iyahi Savanna , 1403m, 3.xii.2005 (1 ♂, JSBC) .

Diagnosis. Refer to genus diagnosis above (species differentiation not required as Menieroclerus gen. n. is presently monotypic).

Redescription. Habitus as in Fig. 14 . Body length. Approximately 8.8–14 mm. Head. Head capsule black dorsally, dark orange-brown or deep red-black ventrally; antennae, labrum, palpi and ventral mouthparts brown to orange-brown; vertex and upper frons densely corrugated with longitudinal wrinkles and setiferous punctures, lower frons with circular setiferous punctures which become more irregularly-shaped toward clypeus, narrowest frontal width (= eye separation) approximately 0.5 eye widths; clypeus less densely punctate than frons, anteclypeus semi-transparent, pale orange; genae and submentum wrinkled, gula smooth; antennal flagellum with A 3 filiform, A 4 sub-filiform, A 5 weakly dilated, A 6 sub-cupuliform, A 7–8 cupuliform (though more compressed than A 9–10), A 6–8 approximately equal in length, A 4–5 about equal in length and individually slightly longer than A 6, A 3 slightly longer than A 4. Thorax. Prothorax slightly longer than broad (length to width ratio approximately 1.2:1), sides evenly curved from basal collar to pronotal arch, black dorsally, orange-brown or deep red-black ventrally; pronotal disc relatively flat (as viewed from side), disc and sides dense with circular to ovate setiferous punctures; pronotal arch mostly nitid with very small, well-spaced, seta-associated punctures; sides of distal expansion of prosternal process bent ventrally; mesoventrite orange-brown or deep red-black, heavily punctate, anterior process with medial furrow; elytra almost square at base, sides subparallel (only weakly broader before apices), apices evenly rounded; length to width ratio approximately 2.6–2.75:1, almost entire length of disc punctate, punctures gradually decreasing in diameter towards apices, diameter of punctures across rows not uniform (rows 1–2 and 10 with noticeably smaller punctures); interstrial spaces (most notably between rows 1–4) broadening towards apices; metathoracic wings with MP4 cross vein absent (only an extremely faintly pigmented vestige observable), MP3+4 highly reduced (only evident near wing margin), CuA2 cross vein present; metaventrite orange-brown or deep red-black, shallowly punctate except posterior two-thirds medially, discriminal line visible along entire length (obscured by anterior punctures in some specimens). Abdomen. Ventrites orange. Male genitalia. Tegmen with phallobasic struts short, terminating at approximately half tegmen length ( Figs. 2, 3 ); spicular fork with division occurring at about half its length ( Fig. 5 ); male sixth ventrite with distal margin emarginate ( Fig. 8 ), female sixth ventrite not distally emarginate ( Fig. 9 ); male pygidium as in Fig. 6 , female pygidium as in Fig. 7 .

Sexual dimorphism. Males and females can be recognised on the basis of the distal margin of the sixth ventrite (emarginate in males, plain in females). Additionally, female antennae are proportionately shorter than those of males.

Distribution. Southern and eastern Africa to the southern Arabian Peninsula ( Fig. 16 ).

Remarks. The three specimens that the redescription is based on were collected approximately 275 km (Malolo) and 1000 km (Iringa region) south east of the type locality of Bagamoyo. Male tegmina of additional specimens from Republic of South Africa and Yemen were compared with that of the male from the Iringa region, Tanzania, and no discernible differences were observed.

Additional material (not used for above description other than body length). ETHIOPIA: Oromia, Goba to Sof Omar , 1870m, 10.5.2012, N07°00,532’ E40°26,249’, leg. F. Wachtel (1, RGCM) . KENYA: Bura , Taita Region, 1.1991, leg. Werner (3, RGCM) ; Kenya-S, Voi , 13.–17.xii.1997, M. Snizek leg. (1, SMNS) ; Kenya-S, Voi , 23.xi.1997, M. Snizek leg. (1, SMNS) ; Kenya E., Garissa env., 30.xi.1999, M. Snizek leg. (5, SMNS) ; Kenya: Eastern Meru NP, Bwatherongi Campsite near Park-Headquarter , 620m; 0°09’870”N, 38°12’527”E, 4/5/ 6.XII.2002, leg.: C. Häuser, D. Bartsch & A. Zahm (1, SMNS) ; Kenya, SE, Taita, Mwatate env., 9.xii.1999, M. Snizek (1, SMNS) ; Kenya, Eastern Mwingi, Nguni env., 26.11.1999, Lgt. M. Snizek (1, SMNS) ; Kenya mer., Kasigau mts. env., Rukanga , 26.11.1997, Lgt. M. Snizek (1, SMNS) ; Kenya, Rift Valley Matthews Range, ca. 35km N Wamba, 1300–1400m, 1°10’707”N, 37°18’962”E, 07.–12.XII.2002, leg.: C. Häuser, D. Bartsch & A. Zahm (1, SMNS) ; Kenya-CE, 4.xii.1997, Eastern Mwingi env., M. Snizek leg. (4, SMNS) . NAMIBIA: Waterberg Plateau Park, 9– 11.1.1997, leg. R. Gerstmeier (1, RGCM) . REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo prov., 25km E Tshipise , S22°38’, E30°24’, 540m, 13.12.0 9, leg. Halada (1, RGCM) ; Northern Province, Amatola Farm NE Vivo, 1000m, N Soutpass Mts. , 15.–17.XII.2003, leg. W. Schawaller (4, SMNS) ; Limpopo Prov., Mapungubwe, Little Muck Nature Reserve , 500m, 6.–9.XII.2008, leg. W. Schawaller (2, SMNS) ; Northern Province, 40km NE Vaalwater, Farkenfontein , 27.–28.XI.2002, leg. W. Schawaller (2, SMNS) ; Northern P., Waterberge Mts. , W of Marakele N.P., 2.– 3.12.2003, Ivo Martinu leg. (1, SMNS) ; Northern P., 7km E of Stockpoort at Limpopo riv., 22.– 25.12.2003, Ivo Martinu leg. (1, SMNS) ; Kwa Zulu-Natal, Ndumo G.R. near Pongola riv., 9.– 12.12.2003, Ivo Martinu leg. (1, SMNS) ; Northern P., Soutpassberg Mts., Sand river gorge, Medike res., 4.– 6.12.2003, Ivo Martinu leg. (1, SMNS) ; Limpopo, 80km N Louis Trichard, Blouberg NR, 5.12. 2014, 850m, 22°59.169’S, 029°08.808’E, leg. Mühle (302) (1 ♂, RGCM) . TANZANIA: Kilimanjaro Region, N. Pare Ranges, Vumali Village , 1280m, 3.xi.2005, R. Minetti (1 ♀, JSBC) ; Ruvuma, near Songes , 12. – 17.12.1996, leg. Werner & Lizler (4, RGCM) . YEMEN: Jebel Burra, 25km se Bajil, Jem-Bur , 14°53’N 43°27’E, Primärwald 1000m, 14.4.1997, leg. Wurst & Brechtel (2, RGCM) ; 19.05.1998, Suk Al Dhabab, 6km S Ta’izz, Lichtfang , 13°34’N 43°58’O, Brechtel, Ehrmann, Wurst (1 ♂, RGCM) ; 12.05.1998, 7km NO Hajjah, 1400m, Wadi m. Baumveg., Lichtf., 15°43’N 43°39’O, Brechtel, Ehrmann, Wurst (1 ♂, RGCM; 1, SMNK) ; 12.05.1998, Az Zuhra, W Straße Wadi Mawr, 50m, 15°40’N 43°11’O, leg. Brechtel, Ehrmann, Wurst (1, SMNK). ZIMBABWE: W Zimbabwe, 60km N Bulawayo, Maraposa Rd. , 3.xii.1998, M. Snizek leg. (1, SMNS) ; W Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, S of Marula, Nkukhu env., 11.xii.1998, M. Snizek leg. (1, SMNS) ; Zimbabwe-SE, N of Chisunbanje, Rupisi, Niautsa riv., 28.xi.1998, M. Snizek leg. (1, SMNS) .

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 16. Menieroclerus nigropiceus: (14) female specimen (scale = 1 mm); (15) female mesotarsus showing nonbifid tarsal pads (scale = 0.5 mm); (16) distribution.

FIGURES 1 – 13. Menieroclerus nigropiceus: (1) hind wing (‘ a’ showing basal limit of CuA 1 + 2); (2 – 3) male tegmen (ps = phallobasic strut, pa = phallobasic apodeme), (2) dorsal, (3) lateral; (4) male phallus; (5) male spicular fork; (6) male pygidium; (7) female pygidium; (8) male sixth ventrite; (9) female sixth ventrite; (10) metendosternite; (11) male head with arrows indicating each side of bifurcated labrum; (12) male pronotal and elytral base (lateral view) — (12 a) arrow indicating location of baso-lateral pronotal pit, (12 b) arrow pointing to laterally binodulate elytral puncture; (13) securiform terminal maxillary palpomere [scale bars = 1 mm (Fig. 1), 0.5 mm (Figs. 2 – 12), 0.25 mm (Fig. 13)].