Aferos (s. str.) natalensis, Kazantsev, Sergey V., 2005

Kazantsev, Sergey V., 2005, Review of Aferos Kazantsev (Coleoptera, Lycidae), with a note on Staepteron cyanoxanthum (Bourgeois), Zootaxa 830, pp. 1-23 : 9-10

Aferos (s. str.) natalensis sp. n. ( Figs. 19–21 )

Description

Male. Dark brown. Pronotum testaceous.

Head with shallow roundish impression behind antennal prominence. Antennal sockets separated by approximately third their transverse diameter. Eyes small (interocular distance ca. 5 times as long as the radius). Labrum transverse, straight anteriorly. Mandibles relatively small, only slightly curved. Labial and maxillary palpi slender, with ultimate joints almost parallel­sided and flattened distally. Antennae attaining to elytral middle, with antennomeres 3–11 slightly flattened and nearly parallel­sided; antennomere 3 2.2 times longer than antennomere 2 and ca. 1.3 times shorter than antennomere 4 ( Fig. 19 ); antennal pubescence sparse and decumbent.

Pronotum square, with conspicuous median areola and inconspicuous transverse carinae, noticeable near lateral margins; anterior margin slightly convex; lateral margins almost parallel­sided, with hind angles slightly produced laterally ( Fig. 19 ). Scutellum elongate, narrowing distally, rounded at apex.

Elytra long, 3 times longer than wide at humeri and 3.9 times longer than pronotum, almost parallel­sided, with 4 equally developed primary costae; interstices with double rows of irregular elongate cells. Erect pubescence distributed along longitudinal costae. Legs relatively slender, with conspicuously curved tibiae; metatrochanters produced posteriorly into acute spines ( Fig. 19 a); tarsomeres 1–4 provided with plantar pads.

Aedeagus with laterally flattened parameres and bifurcate apex of distal median process ( Figs. 20–21 ).

Length: 5.0– 5.8 mm. Width (humerally): 1.3–1.5 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Type material

Holotype male: S. Afr., Zululand Empangeni Univ ., 10.VII. 1976, P. C. Reavell leg. ( TMNH); paratype male: same label ( ICM).

Diagnosis

A. natalensis sp. n. differs from all species of Aferos by the erect hairs of its elytral pubescence, spinose metatrochanters and the shape of the aedeagus (Figs. 20–21).

Etymology

Named after the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 21. Details of Aferos spp. 17 — A. (s. str.) endroedyi sp. n., aedeagus, ventrally; 18 — same, laterally; 19 — A. (s. str.) natalensis sp. n., habitus; 19 a — male metatrochanter with metafemur; 20 — same, aedeagus, ventrally; 21 — same, laterally.