Bambara Vuillet, 1911

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 : 242

Bambara Vuillet, 1911

( Figs 4 A–I)

Remarks: Genus of small, fragile and weakly sclerotised insects, which are very difficult to mount and dissect without damage. As no reliable features have been detected in the external skeleton, differences in the form of the spermathecae have always been considered to be the best method of determining species. But there is undoubtedly considerable variety present in these organs, particularly amongst the parthenogenetic species, presumably as they evolve towards extinction (Darby 2014), so that these determinations require to be viewed with caution. Also, the spermathecae are often very faintly sclerotised and do not show up in dissections even when a microscope with differential interference contrast is used. Sometimes the presence of an air bubble is the only guide to shape. As a result it is possible that future research may show some of the species, particularly in the frosti, invisibilis group for example, to be varieties of the same species.

In dorsal view Bambara species are only likely to be confused with Babrama Johnson in the Ptiliini , from which they may be separated by the possession of adjacent metacoxae, and in the Acrotrichinae with some of the smaller, paler Acrotrichis from which they may be separated by the proportionately longer elytra covering the abdomen.

Figures

Fig. 4. — Bambara spp. Bambara fragilis sp. n., A, habitus; Ba, Bb, spermathecae. Bambara lyrae sp. n., C, habitus; D, spermatheca.?Bambara problematica Darby, E, spermatheca.?Bambara subjoannis Darby, F, spermatheca. Bambara magnifica Darby, G, spermatheca. Bambara gabela Darby, H, spermatheca. Bambara frosti (Dybas), I, spermatheca.