Kochogaster gerardi, Kamiński, Marcin Jan & Iwan, Dariusz, 2013

Kamiński, Marcin Jan & Iwan, Dariusz, 2013, Taxonomy of the genus Kochogaster Kamiński et Raś, 2011 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), with description of a second known species, Zootaxa 3669 (1), pp. 27-36 : 29-35

Kochogaster gerardi sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2, 4, 6 , 14 )

Type data. Holotype, female (deposited in Robiche Gérard Collection): "COLLECTION / Robiche Gérard", " Kenya. Env. Garissa. / 11.V.2001. / Leg. K.Werner" ( Fig. 1 ).

Locus typicus. Garissa ( Kenya).

Etymology. We dedicate this species to Gérard Robiche (Vernouillet, France).

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters separate Kochogaster gerardi sp. nov. from the type species: smaller female body size (13.5 mm vs. 16.0– 17.5 mm); dull surface of the dorsal side of head, pronotum and elytra; sparse punctation of pronotal and elytral disc ( Figs 4–7 ).

Description. Measurements. Body—length (female) ca. 13.5 mm; width ratio elytra / pronotum ca. 1.1; length ratio elytra / middle of pronotum ca. 2.4. Clypeus—clypeal emargination width / depth ratio ca. 10.0. Antennaelength ratio of antennomere 3rd / 2nd ca. 2.9. Maxillary palp—ratio length of apical segment of maxillary palp/3rd antennal segment ca. 1.2 (female). Pronotum—middle of pronotum length / width ratio ca. 0.7; length ratio middle of pronotum length/anterior pronotal angles (from tip of anterior pronotal angle to tip of posterior pronotal angle) ca. 0.9. Elytra—elytra length / width ratio ca. 1.5. Scutellum—width ratio anterior margin of elytra / scutellum at base ca. 3.3. Metaventrite—length ratio cavity of hind coxa/metaventrite between the insertions of mid and hind coxae ca. 1.9. Abdomen—width ratio process of I abdominal ventrite / process of metaventrite ca. 2.0. Female legs—protibiae length / width ratio ca. 5.0; profemora length / width ratio ca. 3.5.

FIGURES 8–12. Chosen body elements of K. impressicollis . Bursa copulatrix with ring-shaped sclerite in distal part (8); spermatheca (12); aedeagal tegmen: general proportions (11), structure of clavae and penis (10); male 5th abdominal ventrite (9).

Habitus as in Fig. 2 .

Dorsal side of head dull, with conspicuous punctures (1 diameter apart). Frontoclypeal suture distinct. Clypeal emargination shallow. Eye slightly constricted in the middle by epistomal canthus (3 facets between gena and temple). Mentum with median part narrow. Submentum with elongated base.

Pronotal disc dull, with visible punctures (1–4 diameters apart). Anterior pronotal angles rounded and moderately protruding towards apex. Anterior border of pronotum interrupted in the middle. Lateral sides marginated; rounded on the whole length. Posterior pronotal angles sharp; protruding towards elytra. Pronotal base with lateral arcuate indentations; marginated laterally (as in K. impressicollis , see Fig. 13 ). Pronotal hypomeron dull, with conspicuous punctures (1 diameter apart).

Elytral rows with visible punctures (2 diameters apart). Intervals dull, with fine punctures (4–5 diameters apart). Elytral base sinusoidal; intervals from 4th to 6th forms an appendix at elytral base ( Fig. 14 ). Elytral humeri rounded, not protruding laterad. Scutellum triangular. Epipleura without punctation.

Intercoxal process of prosternum straight with incomplete bordering.

Female abdominal process without tubercle. Punctuation of to first abdominal ventrites sparse (punctures setose).

Female legs. Pro-, meso- and metatarsi narrow. Legs without denticles.

Distribution. This species has been collected in the following ecoregion: Northern Acacia - Commiphora bushlands and thickets ( Fig. 20 ).

Figures

FIGURE 20. Distribution of the species of Kochogaster. The division of Afrotropical Realm into ecoregions was adopted after Olson et al. 2001. Different hues of green were used to distinguished the adjacent ecoregions.

FIGURES 1 – 7. Primary type labels (1); body structure (2, 3); punctuation of pronotal (4, 5) and elytral disc (6, 7) of Kochogaster gerardi sp. nov. (1, 2, 4, 6) and K. impressicollis (3, 5, 7).

FIGURES 13 – 16. Structure of the chosen body elements: pronotal (13) and elytral (14) base; upper edge of elytral epipleuron with visible elytral slope (15, 16). Kochogaster impressicollis (13, 15), K. gerardi sp. nov. (14), Anchophthalmops maximus Koch, 1956 (16).