Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 74. (Budapest 1982)

Nikitsky, N. B. ; Below, V. V.: The false darkling beetle genus Microscapha LeConte (Coleoptera, Melandryidae)

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 74. Budapest, 1982 p. 141-150. The false darkling beetle genus Microscapha LeConte (Coleoptera, Melandryidae) by N. B. NIKITSKY & V. V. BELOW, Moscow Abstract — The melandryid genus Microscapha LE-C. is revised, with a key to all the 11 species of the world fauna provided, including 5 species described as new : M. af

ricana sp. n. from CongoBrazzaville, M. major sp. n., M. baloghi sp. n., M. maculata sp. n., and M. mutahilis sp. n., all from New Guinea. Therefore the present range of Microscapha covers the Americas, South-East Asia, New Guinea and Equatorial Africa. With 20 figures. The melandryid genus Microscapha LE-C. belongs to the tribe Orchesiini and includes 7 hitherto known species. One more species, M. californica BARRETT, 1928, from California, judging from its diagnosis seems in fact to belong to the genus Lederia and therefore is excluded from the key to the Microscapha species given herein. The species of Microscapha are chiefly restricted to tropical countries, only 2 species inhabit temperate latitudes. The present paper deals with descriptions of 5 new species of this genus: M. major sp. n., M. maculata sp. n., M. baloghi sp. n., M. mutabilis sp. n., all from New Guinea, and M. africana sp. n. from Congo-Brazzaville. A key to all the hitherto known species of Microscapha is elaborated. The present revision is based on a study of the following material: M. africana sp. n. — Içfçf (type series), M. baloghi sp. n. — Içf (holotype), M. bruchiPic, 1931 — 2 syntypes, M. clavicornis LECONTE, 1886 — 2 rf and 1 Ç

, M. maculata sp. n. — 2 çf (type series), M. major sp. n. — 1 çf (holotype), M. malayana CHAMPION, 1916 — holotype, M. minuta CHAMPION, 1889—93 — 2 syntypes, M. mutabilis sp. n. — 2 çf (types series), M. nigronotata Pic, 1930 — 1 $ (? type, labelled „M. nigronotata" by Pic), M. pulicaria CHAMPION, 1916 — holotype. We wish to express our most sincere gratitude to Dr. Z. KASZAB (Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest), Drs. C. M. F. VON HAYEK and M. BRENDELL (British Museum Nat. Hist., London), Dr. J. MENIER (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris) and Dr. P. SPANGLER (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.) for the opportunity to study the materials. Microscapha LECONTE Species of the genus Microscapha are small (1.4 to 3.5 mm long), with oval, oblong-oval or ovoid body (Figs. 1-7) clothed with thin decumbent pallid pubescence. Head small, bent down. Eyes often large, usually distinctly emarginate anteriorly and rather coarsely faceted, always distinctly separated. Terminal joint of maxillary palpi rather large, round securiform or oval, more or less round obliquely truncate at the apex. Antennae short, 3 or 4 apical joints usually forming a well-developed club, two basal joints large, 2nd joint usually not less than 1.8 to 2.0 times broader and 2.0 to 2.5 times longer than 3rd one; joints 3 to 7 rather narrow and short (Figs 15-17). Pronotum without depressions, much transverse (not less than 1.8 to 2.0 times broader than long), broadest at base, forwards roundly narrowed ; lateral borders completely marginated, anterior angles not pronounced, broadly rounded. Posterior margin distinctly bisinuate (Fig. 1), hind angles often roundly rectangular. Surface chiefly finely and sparsely punctured, much finer and sparser than on elytra. — Scutellum distinct, triangular, though small. Elytra oval, oblong-oval or more or less ovoid, their base usually not broader than that of pronotum, usually broader at the 1st third of their length. Suturai stria usually well developed. Surface irregularly and usually finely and (at least posteriorly) densely pinctured. Wings usually well developed. — Pro- and mesothorax relatively short, metathorax large, not shorter than both 1st and 2nd Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung., 74, 1982