Nelloptodes globulus, Darby, 2019

Darby, Michael, 2019, Studies of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) in the Spirit Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, 6: New species and records collected by W. C. Block in Kenya and Uganda, 1964 - 1965, Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 155, pp. 239-257 : 248-249

Nelloptodes globulus sp. n.

( Figs 7 A–E)

Description

Habitus Fig. 7A, L . 0.78mm (L. including extended abdomen 1.16mm). Shining brown, antennae and pubescence pale yellow. Head foveolate between eyes. Eyes reduced to points, width across 0.29mm. Antennomeres III–XI L. 0.42mm. Mentum and prementum chaetotaxy as Fig. 6I , but the pair of medial setae placed slightly further apart. Pronotum L. 0.29mm, W. 0.44mm ( Fig. 7C ). Elytra L. 0.43mm, W. 0.45mm, truncate, shallowly foveolate. Proventrum ( Fig. 7D ), mesocoxae adjacent. Mesoventrum ( Fig. 7E ), L. 0.18mm. Metaventrum ( Fig. 7E ), L. 0.11mm, distance between metacoxae 0.14mm. ♀, spermatheca ( Fig. 7B ). ♂, not known.

Diagnosis: The form of the spermatheca separates N. globulus from the other Kenyan species.

Etymology: Named after the globular shape of the spermatheca.

Remarks: All specimens without wings and with eyes reduced to small points except one paratype, which shows ±4 ommatidia.

Material examined

Holotype, ♀, KENYA: Aberdares National Park , 64 miles W. Nairobi, 0°30′S, 36°40′E., x.1965, leg. W.C. Block, BM 1978-472 ( BMNH).

Paratypes, 3 exs, same data as holotype, ( BMNH); 1♀, KENYA: Aberdares National Park , bamboo litter, 10,500ft, 1. x.1965, leg. W.C. Block, BM 1978-472 ( BMNH) .

Figures

Fig. 7. — Nelloptodes globulus sp. n. A, habitus; B, spermatheca; C, meso- and metaventra ×505; D, proventrum ×385; E, meso- and metaventra.

Fig. 6. — Nelloptodes blocki sp. n.. A, habitus; B, aedeagus; Ca, Cb, spermathecae; D, terminal abdominal tergites and ventrites showing position of spermatheca and lack of claws; E, pronotum ×400; F, meso- and metaventra ×470; G, terminal abdominal ventrites ×600; H, proventrum ×470; I, mentum and prementum ×840.