Acylophorus grandis Bernhauer

Lott, Derek A., 2010, The species of Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) in continental sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 2402, pp. 1-51 : 31-32

Acylophorus grandis Bernhauer

(Figs 24, 73, 100, 134)

Acylophorus grandis Bernhauer, 1929: 124 ; Scheerpeltz, 1933: 1466; Herman, 2001: 3031.

Redescription. Length 9.5–10.5mm. Body black. Legs, antennae and palpi dark brown. Head somewhat large (pronotum 1.6x wider than pronotum) more or less as wide as long, temples rounded, with pigmented area of head extending in front of antennal insertion (Fig. 24). Micro-punctures very sparse. Short pubescence behind eyes. Three pairs of interocular setae. A line of five postocular setae visible from above on each side. Maxillary palpi with two terminal segments pubescent, terminal segment very elongate, slightly asymmetric, longer than penultimate segment, which is also elongate ( Fig. 73 ). First segment of antenna as long as next five ( Fig. 100 ). Segments I to III elongate, X transverse.

Pronotum almost as long as broad (1.03x wider than long) with rounded sides and widest in basal half. Shining with no micro-punctures. One pair of dorsal and one pair of lateral setae. Marginal setae very long and more numerous than in A. orientalis . Elytra transverse (1.75x wider than long) with long pubescence, punctures normal, not asperate, less dense than A. orientalis . Apical fringe of bristles shorter than hairs on rest of elytra. Hind margins more diagonal than in other species, so forming a deeper “V”. Abdominal tergites also with long pubescence, with slightly asperate punctures much sparser on apical half of tergites than on basal half. Apical fringe of bristles on each tergite of equal length.

Male sternite IX with apex entire. Aedeagus with paramere bilobed, each lobe short and expanded medially, base lipped ( Fig. 134 ). Medial lobe slightly longer than paramere, somewhat flattened with truncate apex.

Type material. Bernhauer described the species from specimens collected by Gérard at Niemba – Kalembe in 1918. Two specimens from the type series have been located and one of these is here designated as the lectotype in order to fix the identity of the species. Lectotype 3: “ TYPE / MUSÉE DU CONGO; MANYEMA 1918 Niemba – Kalembe; Dr. Gérard / R. DÉT. O 879 / Acylophorus grandis Bernh. Typ. / LECTOTYPE Acylophorus grandis Bernhauer 3 det. DA Lott ” ( MRAC). Paralectotype Ƥ: “ MUSÉE DU CONGO / MANYEMA 1918 Niemba - Kalembe / Dr. Gérard / grandis Brh. Typ / Acylophorus grandis Brh. Typus./ Chicago NHMus M. Bernhauer Collection / PARALECTOTYPE Acylophorus grandis Bernhauer Ƥ det. DA Lott” ( FMNH).

Further material examined. R.D. CONGO: Haut-Uelé: Watsa, L. Burgeon, 1922, 13 ( MRAC).

Distribution and bionomics. Known from two localities in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( Fig. 147 ). There are no ecological data.

Comparative notes. Instantly recognisable by the large size, long setae, quadrate pronotum, simple punctures and the distinctive aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURE 147. Distribution of species in the Acylophorus trigonocephalus group = A. trigonocephalus Cameron, = A. setiger new species, = A. usambarae Bernhauer, = A. grandis Bernhauer; = A. bafutensis Levasseur).

FIGURES 51 – 76. Terminal segments of the maxilliary palpi of Acylophorus species. 51, A. orientalis Fauvel; 52, A. nitens new species; 53, A. rossii Bordoni, 54, A. bumbunae Bordoni; 55, A. capensis Cameron; 56, A. dankalensis Bordoni; 57, A. tshuapensis new species; 58, A. makhoreae new species; 59, A. densipennis Bernhauer; 60, A. antennalis Cameron; 61, A. collarti Cameron; 62. A. micans new species; 63, A. allardi Levasseur; 64, A. congoensis Cameron; 65, A. ziloensis Levasseur; 66, A. mareei Bernhauer; 67, A. salifi new species; 68, A. lomaensis Levasseur; 69. A. minor new species; 70, A. trigonocephalus Cameron; 71, A. setiger new species; 72, A. usambarae Bernhauer; 73, A. grandis Bernhauer; 74, A. bafutensis Levasseur; 75, A. kambuiensis Bordoni, 76. A. lualabaensis Levasseur.

FIGURES 97 – 103. Antennae of Acylophorus species. 97, A. trigonocephalus Cameron; 98, A. setiger new species; 99, A. usambarae Bernhauer; 100, A. grandis Bernhauer; 101, A. bafutensis Levasseur; 102, A. kambuiensis Bordoni, 103. A. lualabaensis Levasseur. FIGURES 104 – 107. Details of Acylophorus delphinus Fauvel. 104, forebody; 105, terminal segments of maxilliary palpi; 106, antenna; 107, aedeagus. FIGURE 108. Lateral view of head of Acylophorus salifi new species.

FIGURES 134 – 137. Aedeagi of species in the Acylophorus trigonocephalus group. 134, A. grandis Bernhauer; 135, A. trigonocephalus Cameron; 136, A. setiger new species; 137, A. bafutensis Levasseur (reproduced from Levasseur, 1968 and not drawn to scale). FIGURES 138 – 139. Aedeagi of species in the Acylophorus kambuiensis group. 138, A. kambuiensis Bordoni, 139. A. lualabaensis Levasseur.