Pocapharaptinus aboakyer Akotsen and Philips

Akotsen-Mensah, Clement & Philips, Keith, 2009, Description of a new genus of spider beetle (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 2160, pp. 51-67 : 61-64

Pocapharaptinus aboakyer Akotsen and Philips , new species

Figs. 21, 22 & 31

Type material. Holotype: S. Africa, W. Cape Province, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, 33.42 S- 21.57 E / 1.7.1998; E-Y: 3240, Groundtraps, leg. Tom Berry.

Diagnosis. This species can be characterized by the visible pronotal surface extending posteriorly between setal tufts in a narrow triangular shape and forming an ~45˚angle posteriorly (Fig. 31); a lack of distinctive thick bristle like setae laterally on the pronotum separate from the flocculent pronotal setae (similar to P. soutpanensis ); pronounced humeral and apical patches of white setae on elytra ( Figs 21, 22 ).

Description. Color reddish brown; body oval, convex. Length 2.2–2.3 mm. Head dorsally mainly smooth but with scattered setose tubercles in a band between eyes, setae small and erect; tubercles distinct; setae short, recumbent and erect; convergent setal tufts on either side of midline between eyes present; carina posterior to antennal fossae absent. Pronotum with visible surface extending posteriorly between setal tufts broadly triangular, forming an ~45° angle posteriorly; base of setal tufts arising distinctly above cuticular surface on curved carinae, carinae angled ~45° from surface, anterior margin swollen, especially at middle; lateral spines distinct from but blending into tufts, thickness similar to erect elytral setae. Elytra moderately convex, apex pointed, projecting; erect setae yellow, moderately long anteriorly and posteriorly, moderately thick and straight; four large round patches of slightly flattened recumbent white setae located anteriorly within puncture rows 5–8 and posteriorly within rows 3–5. Male genitalia not observed.

FIGURES 29–32. Pronota; 29. P. soutpanensis ; 30. P. lachnos ; 31. P. aboakyer ; 32. P. acanthos .

FIGURES 33–39. Male genitalia. 33. P. müllerae ; 34. P. h a r r i s o n i; 35. P. akotsenorum ; 36. P. ca p e n s i s; 37. P. soutpanensis ; 38. P. la ch no s; 39. P. acanthos .

Etymology. Specific epithet derived from the Fanti (a tribe in Ghana) word “ aboakyer ”, meaning “to catch an animal”, and is phenetically pronounced “a-boa-che’ar.” The name was chosen because further exploratory work is needed since only one specimen is currently known.

Figures

FIGURES 21 – 24. Dorsal and ventral habitus views; 21 – 22. P. aboakyer; 23 – 24. P. acanthos. Scale bar = 1.0 mm