Phoberus nigrociliatus

Strümpher, Werner P. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2017, A new brachypterous species of Phoberus MacLeay (Coleoptera: Trogidae) and status changes of species in the East African P. nigrociliatus group, Zootaxa 4216 (3), pp. 292-298 : 293

Phoberus nigrociliatus group

The four species are grouped together on the basis of the general shape and structure of the male genitalia. All species have distinctive external morphology and reliable characters for distinguishing species are the shape and sculpture of the pronotum and elytra. The male genitalia are not sufficiently diagnostic for species identification without reference to other characters. We stress that species in the P. nigrociliatus group are grouped together intuitively, on the basis of overall similarity; groupings therefore do not necessarily reflect phylogenetic relationship.

Diagnosis. Size: Length 9–15 mm, width 5–13 mm; Colour: Black or reddish brown. Head: Frons with paired, rounded, setose ridges. Pronotum: Variable from smoothly rounded to prominently ridged with large tubercles, median depression deep or absent; attenuate anteriorly; lateral margins irregular; fringes and tufts of yellow or black setae. Elytra: Lateral margins serrate; humeral calli prominent; sutural margin with small tubercles; costae separated from intercostae by distinct elevated bands; elytral tubercles on even-numbered costae large, shiny, and evenly spaced, or partially fused forming a distinct ridges with tufts of yellow or black setae; odd-numbered costae with small tubercles; intercostae smooth or with distinct longitudinal ridges, with undulate depressions separated by transverse ridges; elytral profile slightly convex to convex, attaining maximum height at or behind midlength. Metathoracic wing: Complete or reduced. Male genitalia: See Figs, 1C; 3B–C; 4B–C; 5B–C.