Somoplatus genierorum, 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 : 472-473

Somoplatus genierorum sp. n.

Figs 8 , 16 , 23 , 30

Etymology: Dedicated to Francois Génier and his son Simon, Canadian specialists in Scarabaeidae and collectors of the type series of this species.

Diagnosis:A small species closely related to S. fulvus , but distinguished by its glabrous pronotum and the missing long setae on dorsal portions of the elytra.

Description:

Measurements (n = 5; 2 ♂ 3♀): Length 3.5–3.8 mm, width 1.7–1.9 mm, width/length of pronotum 1.82–1.90.

Colour: Uniform light reddish brown, microsetae pale yellowish. Elytral surface dull. Head: Wide, with large, hemispheric eyes; surface plain, frontal sulci missing. Surface of head with superficial fine microreticulation consisting of dense meshes and very fine sparse punctation. Microsculpture isodiametric in central portions of vertex, elongate and narrow along lateral portions near inner margin of eyes. Antennae short, central antennomeres approximately as long as wide ( Fig. 16 ).

Pronotum: Short and wide, basally wider than apically, widest near the middle; lateral margin regularly convex; apical angles protruding, fairly distinct; apical margin concave; basal angles blunt. Surface of pronotum with fine microreticulation consisting of dense transversal meshes and extremely fine sparse punctation, glabrous. Base, lateral margins and apex finely marginate, with faint lateromarginal impression in basal portions. Hind margin glabrous. Near basal outer margin a small basal impression on either side. Base distinctly undulate, middle of basal margin distinctly convex.

Elytra: Short and wide, gently widened to the apical third, laterally subparallel. Without striae. Humeri widely rounded, basal margin indistinct, almost reaching scutellum.Apical truncature indistinct, apex oblique very gently sinuated, outer angles widely rounded off. Dorsal surface with extremely fine punctation and traces of microsetae, laterally and apically with sparse pelage of very fine setae; microsculpture consisting of highly superficial transversal microreticulation.

Median lobe of aedeagus: Median portion subparallel, tapering to apex, simply curved, a short simply rounded tip, orifice large on central-left side of apex ( Fig. 23 ).

Stylomere 2: Elongate, regularly curved, inner side with one foliform, apically acuminate seta, with subapical seta on outer margin ( Fig. 30 ).

Lower surface: Very finely pubescent. Prosternal apophyse with 6 distant setae.

Legs: As in generic diagnosis.

Holotype: ♂ ‘ Burkina Faso, Nahouri , Forêt de Nazinga, Akwazena, 275m, 11°09'24"N: 1°36'44"E, 21.vii.2006, zone soudanienne, savane boisée, piège lumineux, F. & S. Génier, 2006-53’ ( FGC).

Paratypes: 1 ♂ 2♀same data as holotype ( FGC, PSC); 1♀‘ Burkina Faso, Nahouri , Forêt de Nazinga, Barka, 265m, 11°08'30"N: 1°36'35"E, 25.vii.2006, zone soudanienne, savane boisée, piège malaise, F. & S. Génier, 2006-71’ ( FGC).

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.