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

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

and almost reaching scutellum. Pygidium transverse at apex. Last labial palpomere subcylindrical, about 2.5 times as long as wide. Mentum more than half as long as wide. Prosternai process scarcely widened before rounded apex, about 2/3 as wide as antennái club. Submetacoxal line somewhat arcuately deviating from posterior edge of cavities along inner part and returning at the middle of posterior edge. Legs of usual shape. Protarsus 2/3 as wide as protibia and as wide as antenna! club, claws long and with a distinct and weak tooth at base. Aedeagus moderately sclerotized. Female - Differs from male in widely rounded apex of pygidium and narrower protarsus. Ovipositor weakly sclerotized. Variability - Length 1.9-2.9 mm. Most specimes from Macias Nguema Biyogo are smaller than 2.0 mm, but most specimens from continent are larger. Coloration is comparatively stable: reddish to straw yellow or to light brownish, but without infuscation on elytra. Dorsal pubescence is also somewhat variable (rather reduced among specimens from Macias Nguema Biyogo), although on elytra 2 rows of shorter hairs between rows of longer hairs are always expressed. A comparatively great level of variability is observed in length of head and sometimes it almost as long as distance between eyes with very steep curve offrons narrowing.before antennái insertions. Besides, the specimens with the longer head have labral lobes with more arcuate outline and more projecting anteriorly than those in the specimens with the shorter head. Apex of pygidium of some males is clearly emarginate. Diagnosis- This species differs from all African members of the subgenus in longer head and pronotum. The specimens of this new species with shortened head are somewhat similar to those of A. (C.) africana, although they always differ from the latters in longer pronotum [pronotum of A. ( C.) africana is less than half as long as wide]. Besides, curve offrons narrowing before antennái insertions in the new species has a more arcuate outline, while the lateral edges of frons of A. (C.) africana are angularly excised at antennái insertions. Head of the new species usually is more or less longer than distance between eyes, but in A. (C.) africana it always is shorter and with very slightly exposed labral lobes. Finally, specimens of the new species, as a rule, are certainly larger than those of A. (C.) africana, although the sizes of the extremes in both more or less coincide [range of length of the latter is within 1.8-2.7 mm]. Genitalia of both sexes of this new species are rather similar to those in A. (C.) africana and many other species of the subgenus. Notes - The specimens of this new species sometimes have been collected together with specimens of A. (C.) africana or with those regarded here as A. (C.) parvula sp. n. Therefore the further study should clarify the problem of the distinctness of these "species". Etymology - The name of this species is formed from the Latin "longus" (long) and "collis" (thorax, rise, hill).