Cholovocera brevicornis Johnson, 1977

Delgado, Juan A. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2023, A revision of the genus Cholovocera Victor, 1838 (Coleoptera: Endomychidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 906, pp. 1-71 : 59

Cholovocera brevicornis Johnson, 1977

Johnson (1977: 123) described two new species which he placed in the genus Cholovocera , both with exactly the same collecting data, i.e., locality, altitude, date and collector. The first species was Cholovocera afghana Johnson, 1977 , which we have dealt with in detail above. Johnson (1977: 124) named his second species as Cholovocera brevicornis . We have examined the holotypes of both these species and concluded that, while Ch. afghana is a valid taxon and correctly placed in the genus Cholovocera , “ Cholovocera ” brevicornis not only belongs to another genus but is also a junior synonym.

The brief description of “ Ch. ” brevicornis includes the following features: length as 1.25 mm, colour reddish-yellow, eyes twice as long as broad, short antennae, shape of pronotum, fine punctuation, width as 0.72 mm, and last visible sternite not impressed. The host is given only as “ant”.

Our study of the holotype of “ Ch. ” brevicornis revealed that it had six ocelli on each ocular area ( Fig. 24D ), while all the other species of Cholovocera have only one ( Fig. 24E ); this diagnostic generic character, in addition to its small size, its general habitus ( Fig. 24C ) and its association with ants of the genus Pheidole , indicate that it belongs to the genus Displotera . Furthermore, our detailed comparison of non-sexual features of the holotype of “ Ch. ” brevicornis against two female syntypes of D. beloni showed that they belong to the same taxon. Therefore, we propose that Cholovocera brevicornis Johnson, 1977 should be regarded as a junior synonym of Displotera beloni ( Wasmann, 1899) .

Material examined

Syntypes of Displotera beloni

INDIA – Maharashtra • 1 ♀; Ahmednagar, Wallon; Heim leg.; [associated with a Pheidole worker ant, labelled as: “ Pheidole poonensis For. [Forel]”]; SDEI 12049 • 1 ♀; Ahmednagar, Wallon; Heim leg.; [associated with a worker ant labelled as “ Pheidole poonensis For. [Forel]”]; SDEI 12050.

Holotype

AFGHANISTAN – Nuristan • 1 ♂; “ Afghanistan, Nuristan, Bashgutal ”; 1100 m a.s.l.; 14 Apr. 1953; J. Klapperich leg.; [with a Pheidole indica worker ant, X. Espadaler det.]; ZFMK COL–1000131.

Figures

Fig. 24. A. A syntype of Cholovocera formicaria Victor, 1838, dorsal view (courtesy of K.V. Makarov). B. Same specimen, ventral view (courtesy of K.V. Makarov). C. Holotype of Ch. brevicornis Johnson, 1977 (= Displotera beloni (Wasmann, 1899)), dorsal view. D. Same specimen, ocular area, lateral view. E. Ocular area of Ch. formiceticola (Rosenhauer, 1856) (Lisbon), lateral view. F. Aedeagus of Ch. formicaria major, lectotype, ventral view. G. Same specimen, lateral view. H. Aedeagus of Co punctata sardoa, lectotype, ventral view. I. Same specimen, lateral view. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D–I = 0.1 mm.