Siopelus (Neosiopelus) aethiopicus Clarke, 1973

Kataev, B. M., Yeshitla, M. A. & Schmidt, J., 2020, Systematic position of Omostropus rotundatus and notes on some other species of Harpalina (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Ethiopia, Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 29 (2), pp. 195-204 : 202-203

Siopelus (Neosiopelus) aethiopicus Clarke, 1973

Material examined. Ethiopia, Oromia: 1 male, 1 female, Bale Mts., Web River N of Dinsho, 3000 m, 07°07 ʹ 18 ″ N 39°46 ʹ 03 ″ E, 5.II.2019, R. Emmerich, J. Schmidt and M. Yeshitla leg. (cJS) ; 1 female, Bale Mts., Dinsho , 3200 m, 07°05.750 ʹ N 39°47407 ʹ E, 19.II and 2.III.2013, J. Hagge, Y. Teklu and J. Schmidt leg. (cJS) ; 1 female, Mt. Kaka, E-slope above Meraro , 3300–3420 m, 07°24 ʹ N 39°12 ʹ E (env. Camp 1), 23–28. XI.2017, D. Hauth, J. Schmidt and M. Yeshitla leg. (cJS) .

Wing status. In the investigated specimens, the hind wings are reduced to short stubs and the metepisterna are about as wide as long. Consequently, S. aethiopicus has to be considered an obligatory wingless species. As we noted above for H. rougemonti, Clarke (1973: 4) also considered S. aethiopicus a winged species, but he did not indicate that he has investigated the hind wing development and metathoracal morphology.

Distribution. The species is probably endemic to the mountains of central southern Ethiopia. In the Bale Mountains, it seems to be restricted to the drier northern face. Type locality is the northern slope of the Bale Mountains, 10 km west of Dinsho (about 07°07 ʹ N 39°43 ʹ E). Clarke (1973: 6) additionally noted a collecting site along the slopes of Mt. Gara Tita, 20 km SW of Deder (about 09°15 ʹ N 41°20 ʹ E). Siopelus aethiopicus was collected at altitudes between 2550 and 3200 m.

Siopelus (Africobatus) harpaloides (Guérin-Méneville, 1847)

Material from Ethiopia examined. 1 male, Oromia, S-slope Bale Mts., S of Rira, Katcha , 2380 m, 06°42 ʹ 58 ″ N 39°43 ʹ 25 ″ E, 3.III.2015, J. Hagge leg. (cJS) .

Wing status. Hind wings are fully developed.

Distribution. A common species widely distributed over tropical Africa including Ethiopia where it occurs in a wide altitude range of 1200 to 2750 m ( Basilewsky, 1950, 1953).