Pocapharaptinus harrisoni Akotsen and Philips

Akotsen-Mensah, Clement & Philips, Keith, 2009, Description of a new genus of spider beetle (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 2160, pp. 51-67 : 57

Pocapharaptinus harrisoni Akotsen and Philips , new species

Figs. 11, 12 , 26 & 34

Type material. Holotype: S. Afr., S. Cape Mt, Matjisfontein Mt, 33.16S- 20.30E / 3.12.1978; E-Y: 1516, groundtrap, 40 days, leg. Endrödy-Younga / groundtraps with faeces bait (20). Paratypes: same label as holotype (20). Same data as holotype except 25.10.1978; E-Y: 1478, 39 days (16). S. Afr., S. Cape Mt, Grootberg, W 1450m 33.55S- 20.51E / 2.11.1978; E-Y: 1528, groundtraps, 91 days leg. Endrödy-Younga / groundtraps with meat bait (18). Same except faeces bait (24). S. Afr., Cape Swartberg, 33.20S- 22.02E / 18- 22.1979; WB: 116 / groundtraps leg. W. Breytenbach (2). S. Afr., S. Cape, Swartberg Pass, 33.54S- 22.01E / 1.8.1979; E-Y: 1643, sifted, 1770 m, leg. Breytenbach (1+?).

Diagnosis. This species can be characterized by: visible pronotal surface between pronotal setal tufts triangular in shape when viewed anteriorly ( Fig. 26 ), visible pronotal cuticle anteriorly curves gradually and smoothly to the base of the pronotal tufts (that of P. c a p e n s i s curves up more abruptly), apex of parameres slightly expanded (Fig. 34) ( P. capensis possesses parameres distinctly expanded apically).

Description. Color reddish brown; body oval, convex. Length 1.8-2.0 mm. Head dorsally smooth but with scattered setose tubercles in a band between eyes; setae dense, long, recumbent and erect; setal tufts on either side of midline between eyes present; carina posterior to antennal fossae usually absent or indistinct. Pronotum with visible surface extending posteriorly between setal tufts broadly triangular, forming a <90˚ angle posteriorly; base of setal tufts arising distinctly above anterior cuticle surface on curved carinae, carinae angled ~45° angle from surface, anterior margin swollen, especially at middle; lateral spines distinct from but blending into tufts, similar in thickness to erect elytral setae. Elytral surface slightly convex, apices slightly projecting; erect setae yellow, moderate in length; six longitudinally elongate patches of slightly flattened, recumbent white setae anteriorly within puncture rows 6–8, and posteriorly within rows 3–4 and 7- 8. Male genitalia with parameres thinnest near apical 1/3, strongly curved inward near apex, apices slightly expanded; median lobe with sides gradually converging towards apex, total length 86% of that of parameres measured from base (Fig. 34).

Variation. Some specimens lacking posterior white setal patch on elytral interval 8.

Etymology. The specific epithet honors James Harrison, current curator of Coleoptera at the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria, South Africa. He was an office companion and collaborator of the second author during post-doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 12. Dorsal and ventral habitus views; 9 – 10. P. müllerae; 11 – 12. P. h a r r i s o n i. Scale bar for Fig. 9 = 1.0 mm and Figs. 10 – 12 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 25 – 28. Pronota; 25. P. müllerae; 26. P. harrisoni; 27. P. akotsenorum; 28. P. c a p e n s i s.