Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 93. (Budapest 2001)

Kirejtshuk, A. G.: Notes on the systematics of the African Nitidulidae (Coleoptera)

into irregular longitudinal furrows, very narrow interspaces between punctures somewhat smoothed. Metasternum and ventrite 1 with larger and shallower punctures than those on head and pronotum, but with interspaces somewhat smoothed. Middle of prosternum and prosternai process with indistinct and dense, partly contiguous punctures, about as large as eye facets, and narrow interspaces between them somewhat smoothed. Pygidium, sides of prosternum and ventrites with very small, shallow and dense indistinct punctures, narrow interspaces between them with dense and more or less contrasting microreticulation (sclerites of last abominai segment almost microgranulate). Head slightly longer than distance between eyes, its anterior edge looking like smooth stripe, subtruncate and with rounded lateral corners. Antennae scarcely shorter than head width, with club about 1.5 times as long as wide, comprising about 2/7 of total antennái length, antennomeres 3 and 2 subequal in length, and each about twice longer than antennomere 4. Pronotum moderately convex, with truncate anterior and posterior edges, widely rounded anterior and posterior corners, widely arcuate sides, gently sloping to sides as widely explanale as width of antennomere 2. Elytra 1 and 1/6 as long as combined width (about 2 and 1/3 as long as pronotum), moderately steeply sloping at extremely narrowly explanate sides, somewhat suboblique at apex, forming a small suturai corner and with traced suturai lines in distal 1/5. Pygidium rounded at apex. Mentum subpentagonal, with regularly arcuate sides, about 2.5 times as wide as long. Last labial palpomere subcylindrical and more than twice as long as wide. Prosternai process somewhat along median part, arcuately widened before subacute posterior edge, widest part of it slightly wider than antennái club, narrowly bordered at sides and at apex. Distance between mesocoxae about twice and that between metacoxae nearly 4 times as great as that between procoxae. Metasternum shallowly depressed and without clear median line. Protibia subtriangular, about as wide as antennái club and finely crenulate along outer edge; meso- and metatibiae subtrapezoid, 1 and 1/4 as wide as antenna! club; outer edge of meso- and metatibiae with dense row of moderately short and stout setae. Femora of usual shape, about twice as wide as corresponding tibiae. Protarsus about half as wide as antennái club, but meso- and metatarsi about a third as wide as corresponding tibiae, claws simple. Aedcagus moderately sclerotized. Female - Differs from male only in slightly convex metasternum, rounded apex of hypopygidium and protarsus less than half as wide as antennái club. Ovipositor moderately sclerotized. Variability - Length 1.7-2.1 mm. Dorsum of most paratypes are dark green, but some specimens are partly or entirely dark blue or violet. Pronotum of most specimens are crearly widest at base, although pronotum of the paratype from Monument Park is widest before posterior corners. Many paratypes have rather conspicuous pubescence. A small variation is also observed in punctation and sculpture, although punctation of elytra frequently is rather confuse. Diagnosis - This new species due to very dense punctation of elytra, and also dense cellular microreticulation on head and pronotum can be compared only with M.(C.) amicus sp. n.,M.(C.)favus and M. (C.) vitabundus sp. n., although it can be easily diagnosed by the above key. See also the diagnosis M. (C.) amicus sp. n. Etymology - The name of this new species means "dark", "obscure", "confused", "difficult".