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)

Description: Body oblong-oval, ca. 1.9 longer than wide, convex; colour light reddishbrown, hind margin and two narrow transversal spots on disc of pronotum, antenna! joints 8 to 10, metathorax, as well as partly abdomen and legs dark reddish-brown to brown, elytra (Fig. 5) brownish with numerous light reddish-brown spots partly coalescing into fascia; antennae (except joints 8 to 10) and maxillary palpi reddish-yellow. Pronotum and basal portion of elytra rather shining. Body clothed with thin decumbent grey-yellowish pubescence. — Head rather finely and moderately densely puncured. Eyes large, rather coarsely faceted, anteriorly deeply emarginate; distance between eyes 2.2 times less than their height. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed; joint 2 narrowly triangular, distinctly longitudinal, longer and thinner than short and transversal 3rd one; joint 4 large, roundly securiform, approximately 2.6 times longer and 1.5-1.7 times broader than joint 3. — Antennae 11 - jointed, rather short, exceeding a little base of elytra; joints 1 and 2 rather large, longitudinal, 2nd just a bit longer than 1st one; joint 3 short and thin, not less than 2.5 times shorter and 2.0 to 2.2 times thinner than joint 2; joints 4 to 6 subequal, short, small, slightly transversal, a little shorter than 3rd one; joints 7 and 8 a little longer and broader than joint 6; joints 9 to 11 forming a club, 9th very slightly longitudinal, 1.6 to 1.7 times broader and 1.8 to 2.0 times longer than 8th; joint 10 approximately as long as wide, a little shorter than 9th; joint 11 oblong-oval, 1.8 times longer than 10th one; club 1.6 to 1.7 times longer than both joints 1 and 2 and around twice as long as joints 3 to 8 taken together. — Pronotum much transversal, twice as long as wide, broadest basally, forwards laterally much roundly narrowed; its hind angles roundly rectangular; surface utterly sparsely and finely punctured, smooth in appearance, very finely transversely shagreen. — Scutellum short, transversely triangular. - Elytra oblong-oval, along sutures 1.65 times longer than wide, broadest at anterior third of length ; surface finely and moderately densely punctured at basal part and much more densely and coarsely at apical portion, very finely transversely shagreen. — Legs rather short ; procoxae divided by a prothoracic triangular process reaching approximately to posterior third of their length ; mesocoxae narrowly divided by a mesothoracic process reaching to about posterior third of their length and set against a shorter and broader metathoracic process, not projected above level of thorax and directed forwards. Mesotarsal joint 1 rather long, just a bit shorter than joints 2 to 4 taken together. Metatibial spurs a little different in length, longest one reaching to terminal third of tarsal joint 1 ; latter very large, distinctly longer than tibia and a little longer than tarsal joints 2 to 4 taken together; joint 2 and 4 subequally long, 3rd 1.5 times shorter than 2nd. Lateral parts of metathorax moderately densely punctured; distance between punctures there 1.1 to 1.3 times exceeding diameter of a puncture. Median depression of metathorax more or less lanceolate, continuing forwards by a narrow depressed line (Fig. 14). Metepisterna well developed, backward triangularly narrowed, not less than 3.2 times longer than wide at anterior part. 2.1 mm long. Derivatio nominis. This species is dedicated to its collector, Dr. J. BALOGH. Microscapha maculata sp. n. Locality: New Guinea, Mt. Kaindi, Wau, 2 rfç? (holotype and paratype), 24-25. 08. 1968, lrg. J. BALOGH. The holotype and paratype have been deposited in the Hungarian Museum of Natural History, Budapest. Description: Body oval, 1.76 to 1.84 times longer than wide, very convex, more or less shining, light reddish brown, pronotum usually with black or brown a thin basal marginal band and a transverse fascia at middle, not reaching lateral borders; apex of antenna! joint 6, joints 7 to 10, partly metathorax and abdomen, as well as less darkened, dark reddish brown to brown; basal portion of antennae reddish-yellow; colouration of elytra variable, light markings well developed (Fig. 3) and presented usually by 7 large spots on both elytra; anterior spot connected with a transverse light reddish basal fascia broadened at humeral parts and at scuttellum and coalescent with a light band running along suture; sutural pre-apical spot common to both elytra, other spots separated from the suture and lateral margins by darker parts. Body clothed with thin decumbent greyyellowish pubescence, 2.3 to 2.4 times longer than high. — Head rather finely and densely punctured, distinctly transversely shagreen. Eyes large, deeply emarginate anteriorly, rather coarsely faceted, covered with pubescence ; distance between eyes 1.4 times greater than their height. — Antennae rather short, exceeding a little base of elytra; antennái joints 1 and 2 large, 2nd distinctly longitudinal, 1.3 to 1.4 times longer than 1st; joints 3 to 5 very short and thin, 3rd about twice thinner and 3 to 3.5 times shorter than 2nd; joints 6 to 8 short, gradually thickened, 8th approximately as long as wide, distinctly larger and wider than 7th; joints 9 to il form a rather loose club, 9th joint 1.4 to 1.5 times broader and ca. 1.3 to 1.4 times longer than 8th; joints 9 and 10 each approximately as long as wide, 11th more or less oval, rounded at apex, ca. 1.4 times longer than