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

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

spaces between them somewhat broader, upto 2 puncture diameters on disk, completely smooth. Elytra with irregular fine transrugosity and punctures markedly smaller than those on head and pronotum and disposed behind these wrinkles, distance between them about 2 diameters of pronotal punctures. Sterna and ventrite 1 with distinct punctures, smaller than eye facets, interspaces between them 3-5 puncture dismeters and more or less smoothed. Sclerites of last abdominal segment with very small and moderately dense punctures, interspaces between them densely and contrastingly microreticulated. Head shorter than distance between eyes, its anterior edge unbordered, widely and shallowly emarginate and with rounded lateral corners, a distinct line stretched from the middle of inner edge of eye to antennái insertion. Antennae about 2/3 as long as head width, with almost round club, comprising about 1/4 of total antennái length. Pronotum moderately convex, with trapezoid emargination at anterior edge and gradually convex posterior edges, widely rounded anterior and blunt posterior corners, widest at posterior corners and arcuate regularly arched forwards, rather steeply sloping to narrowly bordered lateral edges. Elytra about as long as combined width, rather steeply sloping at extremely narrowly explanate sides, suboblique to subtruncate at apex, forming a small and open suturai corner, and without traced suturai lines. Pygidium widely rounded at apex. Mentum subpentagonal and subparallel sided, about 2.5 times as wide as long. Last labial palpomerc slightly narrower to apex and about 2.5 times as long as wide. Antennái gooves extended on prosternum. Prosternai process very wide, slightly convex along median part, arcuately widened before widely rounded posterior edge, widest part of it 2.5 times as wide as antennái club, narrowly bordered at sides, but not at apex. Distance between mesocoxae about twice and that between metacoxae about 2.5 times as great as that between procoxae. Metasternum moderately emarginate at anterior edge between coxae and slightly convex in the middle. Hypopygidium with apical welldefined smooth transverse area concave from side to side and twice wider than long, its width somewhat less than that of prosternai process and about twice greater than that of antenna! club. Protibia subtriangular, nearly 1.5 times as wide as antennái club and crenulate along outer edge, with gradual increasing of teeth size to apex; meso- and metatibiae subtrapezoid, almost twice as wide as antenna! club; outer edge of meso- and metatibiae with moderately dense row of moderately long and rather thin setae. Femora of usual shape, about 1.5 times as wide as corresponding tibiae. Protarsus somewhat narrower than antennái club, but meso- and metatarsi narrower, claws simple. Aedeagus moderately sclerotized. Female - Differs from male only in rounded apex of hypopygidium lacking concave smooth place and protarsus less than half as wide as antennái club. Ovipositor weakly sclerotized. Variability - Length 1.5-1.8 mm. The smallest paratype has unicoloured brown pronotun and head somewhat more infuscate in comparison! with other ty specimens. Diagnosis - This new species is a member of the ruficollis (including gloriosus and spissus) group. It is very different from other species of the group in rather wide and robust body and very wide prosternai process. Besides, it is characterized by entirely smooth dorsum, elytra and underside much paler (straw yellowish) than pronotal disk, slight transrugosity on elytra, simple tarsal claws, convex male metasternum and male hypopygidium with a rather large apical well-defined smooth transverse area concave from side to side. Due to combination of these characters this new species differs from all the members of the group, namely: M. (C.) asig-