Scopaeus niger Cameron, 1918

(Figs 25, 179)

Scopaeus niger Cameron, 1918: 77, 78.

Type specimens examined: Lectotype ♀, Singapore, Mandai, by present designation; labeled ‘Type’ (round, printed label with red margin), ‘Type’ (red, handwritten), ‘Mandai, / Singapore. / Dr. Cameron.’ (printed), ‘Bank of Stream’ (printed), ‘ M. Cameron. / Bequest. / B.M.1955- 147.’ (printed), ‘Syntype / S. niger Cam. / (original det. label / missing? / M. T. O. Brendell. ii. 2000 ’ (handwritten); ‘Lectotype / Scopaeus niger / Cameron 1918 / label by J. Frisch, 2022 ’ (red, printed) (NHML) . Paralectotypes: 3 ♀, same labels as lectotype except for type label; subsequent paratype label ‘Paratype / Scopaeus niger / Cameron 1918 / label by J. Frisch, 2022 ’ (red, printed) (NHML) .

Cameron (1918: 77, 78) described Scopaeus niger based on four female specimens without designating a holotype, which thus are syntypes. As no male syntype is available, I designate a female specimen as lectotype to stabilize the name S. niger Cameron, 1918 according to ICZN 1999, Article 74.1.

Redescription: Habitus as in Fig. 25. Head subcircular. Penultimate antennal segment elongate. Mesotibia slender. Body surface subnitid with fine, dense, setose punctation; microreticulation absent. Pubescence of body surface short, decumbent, without conspicuous macrosetae. Body color of type specimens reddish medium brown to dark brown; maxillary palpi medium brown; antennae medium brown proximally, gradually lighter towards yellow-brown terminal segments; legs yellow-brown with light brown femora. Type specimens probably bleached during last century, because Cameron (1918: 77) described the coloration as follows: ‘Black, moderately shining; antennae with first six segments pitchy-testaceous, the others clear testaceous; legs testaceous, the femora more or less infuscate.’ Total body length 3.4 – 4.0 mm; forebody length 2.0 – 2.1 mm.

Male: Unknown.

Female: Chamber segment of sperm pump short, circular, not projecting from large apopysis towards bursal duct (Fig. 179); bursa membranous.

Phylogeny: Judging from the body shape with long, slender antennae and legs, Scopaeus niger is expected to belong to the S. gracilis species group (Frisch et al. 2002: 39). Male specimens are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Distribution: Scopaeus niger is hitherto known from Singapore only, but might be found in Sumatra as well, which is why it is included in this contribution.