Afrotarus scotti ( Basilewsky, 1948 )

Rasool, Iftekhar, Felix, Ron F. F. L., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Aldhafer, Hathal M., 2017, A review of subtribe Cymindidina Laporte, 1834 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiini) in Southwestern Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4236 (1), pp. 157-171 : 163-164

Afrotarus scotti ( Basilewsky, 1948)

Cymindis scotti Basilewsky, 1948: 128

Type locality. Yemen

Type depository. BMNH Type material. 1 ♂ labelled “[Orange label] Paratype ” / “[White label] R. M. Exp. to S.W. Arabia. II Scott and E.B. Britton. B.M. 1938-246” / “[White label yellow underlined] YEMEN Jebel Sumara, ca. 9,200 ft. 2.i.1938 ” / “[White label handwritten] Afrotarus scotti Basilw, P. Basilewsky det., 1956” / “[White label handwritten] Cymindis (Eremocymindis) scotti Basil. det. Emetz 1977” / “[White label] COLL . MUS . CONGO Col P. Basilewsky” [ MRCA] .

Recognition. Medium sized beetles ( Fig. 23 ) with TBL 8 mm. Color: head and pronotum rufo-testaceous, elytra castaneous medially, testaceous marginally, and with large testaceous humeral mark. Head. elongate ( Fig. 11 ), HL 1.44 mm and HW 1. 3 mm, smooth, eyes small, barely prominent; temples long; antennae long, slender, three antennomeres bypassing the base of pronotum; median tooth of mentum broad, rounded apically. Pronotum. almost as long as wide ( Fig 11 ) PL 1.38 mm and PW 1.4 mm; not punctate, lateral margins elevated, hind angles with pair of setae, angles slightly sinuate and weakly pointed. Elytra. subovoid, intervals markedly flattened, marginal grooves deep, lateral margins elevated, microsculpture of intervals distinct. Aedeagus without hook ( Basilewsky 1962; Ball & Hilchie 1983). Shape of aedeagus ( Fig. 17 ).

Geographical distribution. This species was only recorded from Yemen.

Variation among species. The manifestation of altitude probably not only limits the species richness or abundance, but tends to change the colour pattern too. Basilewsky (1962) documented the relation between altitudinal range and variation within Afrotarus species especially pattern elytra and colour of species. It was found that the specimens of A. kilimanus ( Kolbe 1898) , collected from different elevations, ranging from 1500 m to 4000 m, have different color: species tend to be darker with increasing altitudes. At altitude less than 3000 m, elytrae of A. leleupi and A. meruanus are more or less dark brown with humeral spots at intervals 5, 6 and 7 and macula at intervals 3 near apex; while between 3000–4000 m or higher, elytra turns blackish without any macula ( Basilewsky 1962). However not in all species colour variation is noticed in relation to altitude. It was found that Afrotarus soudaensis sp. n. collected from two elevation have variable colour and pattern. The specimens recorded at 2404 m are light reddish to brownish in colour and sometimes with pale macula at apex, while those specimens collected at altitude more than 2800 m are more dark red without any macula. This species had reduced wings or micropterous with limited dispersal ability.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 25. Habitus of Afrotarus and Cymindis: 20 – 21 Males of A. fadli sp. n. 22 male of A. soudaensis sp. n. 23 Paratype of A. scotti (Basilewsky, 1948) 24 C. andreae Menetries, 1832 25 C. suturalis Dejean, 1825.

FIGURES 9 – 14. Head and pronotum of Afrotarus and Cymindis: 9 A. fadli sp. n. 10 A. soudaensis sp. n. 11 A. scotti (Basilewsky, 1948) 12 C. andreae Menetries, 1832 13 C. laevistriata Lucas, 1846 14 C. suturalis Dejean, 1825 (Figures 13 and 14 taken by Jan Muilwijk in RMNH).

FIGURES 15 – 19. Aedeagus of Afrotarus and Cymindis: 15 A. fadli sp. n. 16 A. soudaensis sp. n. 17 A. scotti (Basilewsky, 1948) 18 C. laevistriata Lucas, 1846 19 C. suturalis (Dejean, 1825). (Figure 18 taken by Jan Muilwijk in RMNH).