Nucleotops endroedyi, Perkins, Philip D., 2004

Perkins, Philip D., 2004, A revision of the South African endemic humicolous beetle genus Nucleotops Perkins and Balfour­Browne (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 559, pp. 1-12 : 7-8

Nucleotops endroedyi , new species

( Figures 4 , 7 , 10)

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa, S.W. Cape, Pearly Beach, 5 km NE, 34.38S­ 19.33E, groundtrap with faeces bait, 63 days, 28 August 1983, Endrödy, Penrith, (#1984); deposited in the TMSA. Paratypes (18): Cape Province: Same data as holotype (5 TMSA). Arniston, inland, groundtrap with banana bait, 59 days, 34°39' S, 20°13' E, 29 August 1983, Endrödy­Younga & Penrith (#1994) — (2 TMSA); Arniston, inland, groundtrap with faeces bait, 59 days, 34° 39' S, 20° 13' E, 29 August 1983, Endrödy­ Younga & Penrith (#1995) — (2 TMSA); S.W. Klippe Rugt farm, groundtrap with banana bait, 60 days, 34°42' S, 20°12' E, 28 August 1983, Endrödy­Younga & Penrith (#1993) — (5 TMSA); S.W. Struisbaai, cemetery, groundtrap with banana bait, 60 days, 34°48' S, 20° 2' E, 28 August 1983, Endrödy­Younga & Penrith (#1990) — (4 TMSA).

Diagnosis. Recognized by the frons which has a convex central tumidity ( Fig. 4 ). Differing additionally from N. interceps by having the elyra more parallel­sided, more strongly costate, and more strongly punctate; the median sulcus of the pronotum is deeper and wider than that of N. interceps , and the summit of the posterior declivity of the elytra is located more posteriorly, near the posterior 0.25.

Description. Size (length/width, mm.): Holotype body 1.49/0.63, head 0.22/0.41, pronotum 0.33/0.48, elytra 0.94/0.63. Head and pronotal disc dark brown, elytra brown, sides of pronotum light brown to testaceous; venter with head and prosternum dark brown, remainder brown to rufo­brunneous.

Labrum deflexed downwards from plane of clypeus, concealed in dorsal aspect, straight in middle of anterior edge. Clypeus with sides weakly upturned, simple. Frontal gibbosity evenly convex, larger than dorsal aspect of eye; finely sparsely setose; each each side with minute point opposing similarly sized medially directed point. Ocelli each about equidistant from gibbosity and inner edge of eye. Temples from above linear, posterior face concave.

Pronotum cordiform, anterior angles oblique; median furrow deep and attaining base and apex with elongate anterior and oval posterior fovea in furrow, lateral costae bounding median furrow rounded over middle 0.33, subcarinate to carinate anteriorly and posteriorly; deep round fovea and equally sized callosity in basal 0.5, lateral to each costa; lateral depressions flat, delimited internally by almost vertical wall of median elevation of pronotum, wall with deep pit in anterior and posterior.

Elytra serial punctures moderately large, deeply impressed. Longitudinal costae of intervals rounded, as follow: of 2nd high at base, decreasing in height posteriorly and disappearing at top of apical declivity; of 4th arising gradually well behind base and extending to apex; of 6th of equal height throughout arising at shoulder but not quite attaining apex. Sutural margin raised similar to carina on 4th interval. Elytra appearing slightly inflated in posterior 1/2; summit of posterior declivity at about midlength. Sides moderately explanate. Posterior fovea of metasternum deep, metasternum microreticulate.

Aedeagus: Length 0.24 mm.; main­piece thickest near base, with irregular row of weak setae over distal 0.5; parameres reaching beyond tip of main­piece; distal piece reaching slightly beyond tip of parameres ( Fig. 7 ).

Etymology. Named in honor of the late Sebastian Endrödy­Younga.

Distribution. Restricted to the extreme southern tip of the Cape of Good Hope (Fig. 10).

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 4. Nucleotops holotypes, dorsal and lateral habitus. — 3. N. interceps. — 4. N. endroedyi.

FIGURES 5 – 7. Nucleotops, aedeagi of holotypes. — 5. N. nimbaceps. — 6. N. interceps. — 7. N. endroedyi.