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

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

Head with distinct punctures, somewhat smaller than eye facets, interspaces between them less than a puncture diameter, with fine and regular, rather contrasting cellular microreticulation. Pronotum as punctured and sculptured as head, but punctures markedly smaller and sparser. Elytra with obsolete punctation, less regular and somewhat smoothed microrcticulation. Metasternum with small and sparse punctures, and with rather smoothed sculpture. Pygidium, presternum and ventrites with very small and rather sparse punctures, interspaces between them markedly broader than a puncture diameter, with dense and more or less smoothed microreticulation. Prosternai process as punctured and sculptured as rest part of prosternum. Head about 4/5 as long as distance between eyes, its anterior edge narrowly bordered, subtruncate and with subangular lateral corners. Antennae 1 and 1/4 as long as head width, with 4-segmented club, comprising about 1/3 of total antennái length, antennomercs 2 and 3 subequal in length, but each markedly longer than antennomere 4, antennomere 3 about 2.5 times as long as wide. Pronotum moderately convex, with subtruncate anterior and bisinuate posterior edges, widest before distinct posterior corners and with sides as widely explanate as width of antennomere 2. Elytra 1 and 1/8 as long as combined width, moderately steeply sloping at extremely narrowly explanate sides, somewhat suboblique at apex (forming a joint curve, without suturai angle) and with sutural lines almost reaching scutellum. Pygidium subangular at apex. Mentum subclliptic and about 4 times as wide as long. Last labial palpomere subcylindical and about 2.5 times as long as wide. Prosternai process flat along median and subparallelsidcd part, and rather widened before subrhomboid apex, but with arcuate posterior edge, widest part of it about 1 and 1/3 as wide as antennái club. Distance between mesocoxae about twice and that between metacoxae nearly 3 times as great as that between procoxae. Mesosternum with a weak median carina. Metasternum with convex anterior edge between mesocoxae and slightly convex along the middle. Hypopygium with subtruncate apex. Protibia slightly narrower than antennái club and finely crcnulate; metatibia slightly wider and mcsotibia markedly wider than antenna! club; outer edge of meso- and metatibiae with dense row of very short and moderately thin setae. Femora of usual shape, pro- and mesofemora about twice and metafemur about 2.5 times as wide as antennái club. Protarsus 3/5 as wide as protibia, but meso- and metatarsi much narrower, claws simple. Aedeagus moderately sclerotized with well sclcrotizcd armature of inner sac of penis (as shaped as that in P. kenyaensis sp. n.). Female - Differs from male only in 3-segmented and compact antennái club, widely rounded apices of pygidium and hypopygidium as well as slightly narrower protarsus. Besides, female elytral apices are usually with more arcuate outline forming a distinct suturai corner. Ovipositor slightly to moderately sclerotized. Variability - Length 1.9-2.4 mm. Squamosc dorsal pubescence is rather variable in level of conspicuousncss. Coloration is also rather variable. Some paratypes are with darkened prcscutellar and subsutural parts of elytra as well as head. Abdomen in some cases is somewhat darkened; mesoand metasternum can be dark brown. A small variation is also observed in punctation and sculpture. Diagnosis - Squamose and dense greyish golden dorsal pubescence is quite characteristic of this new species. This character has some reminiscence ofthat in P. cinerascens ERICHSON, 1843 (also spread in South Africa), however the new species is very distinct from it in larger and somewhat paler body, much longer, much denser and less conspicuous squamae on dorsum, shorter antennae with