Kenyacus similis, Kataev, 2019

Kataev, Boris M., 2019, A review of the Afrotropical genus Kenyacus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalini) from the Rwenzori Mountains, with description of seven new species, Zootaxa 4679 (3), pp. 463-498 : 488-490

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4679.3.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5723773A-49BD-4CDB-99CD-B3A0AFC24F66
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FD87C3-FFAF-D51C-DE8E-EB50FDCDFC2C
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Kenyacus similis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Kenyacus similis View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 53 View FIGURES 52–54 , 66–73 View FIGURES 55–81 , 82a View FIGURE 82 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, “ UGANDA, Western Region, Kasese District, 8 km W Nyakalengija, Rwenzori Mts. National Park, Mahoma Lake , 0°20.735’N 29°58.108’E, accuracy 5 m, extent 10 m, h = 2959 m, Hagenia , Podocarpus , bushes, grass, lianas, sifting leaf litter [3598] [Garmin 60CSx; WGS84] V.I. Gusarov 18.viii.2008 U164”. GoogleMaps

Paratypes: 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, same data as holotype ( ZMUN); 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, “ UGANDA, Western Region, Kasese Dis- trict, 8 km W Nyakalengija, Rwenzori Mts. National Park, trail from Nyabitaba Hut to Mahoma Lake, 0°20.748’N 29°58.085’E, accuracy 6 m, extent 15 m, h = 2988 m, bamboo, Podocarpus , sifting leaf litter [3600] [Garmin 60CSx; WGS84] V.I. Gusarov 18.viii.2008 U165” ( ZMUN, ZIN); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, “ UGANDA, Western Region, Kasese District, 8 km NWW Nyakalengija, Rwenzori Mts. National Park, trail from Nyabitaba Hut to Mahoma Lake, 0°21.036’N 29°58.100’E, accuracy 7 m, extent 10 m, h = 2957 m, Podocarpus , Erica , bamboo, on the ridge, sifting leaf litter [3601] [Garmin 60CSx; WGS84] V.I. Gusarov 18.viii.2008 U166” ( ZMUN); 1 ♀, “ UGANDA: Western Region, Kasese District, 9.5 km NWW Nyakalengija, Rwenzori Mts. National Park, main trail from John Matte Hut to Nyabitaba Hut, 0°21.97’N 29°57.58’E, accuracy 200 m, extent 15 m, h = 2800 m, Hagenia , Hypericum , Rubus , Impatiens , big gaps with bushes and grass, sifting leaf litter [3596] [Garmin 60CSx; WGS84] V.I. Gusarov, 17.viii.2008, U162” ( ZMUN); 4 ♂♂, “ UGANDA, Western Region, Kasese District, 10 km NWW Nyakalengija, Rwenzori Mts. National Park, main trail from John Matte Hut to Nyabitaba Hut, 0°22.071’N 29°57.378’E, accuracy 15 m, extent 15 m, h = 2999 m, Hagenia , Hypericum , Rubus , Impatiens , big gaps with bushes and grass, sifting leaf litter [3595] [Garmin 60CSx; WGS84] V.I. Gusarov 17.viii.2008 U161” ( ZMUN, ZIN, cWR).

Description (5 males and 5 females measured). Habitus as in Fig. 53 View FIGURES 52–54 . Body length 3.0– 3.6 mm, width 1.3–1.6 mm. Characters as described for K. angustatus sp. n. except as follows:

Head, on average, relatively smaller, in males HWmax/PWmax 0.74–0.80 (m = 0.76) and HWmin/PWmax 0.65–0.69 (m = 0.67); in females these indices respectively 0.71–0.77 (m = 0.75), and 0.63–0.70 (m = 0.67). Eyes smaller and less convex, HWmax/HWmin 1.11–1.16 (m = 1.13) in males and 1.08–1.13 (m = 1.11) in females. Microsculpture on frons finer, slightly obliterate. Antennae slightly shorter, in male at most surpassing basal edge of pronotum by half of apical antennomere, with antennomeres 7–9 approximately as long as wide; in female antennae slightly shorter than in male, usually only reaching basal pronotal edge.

Pronotum less strongly narrowed basally: PWmax/PL 1.23–1.34 (m = 1.30), PWmax/PWmin 1.27–1.33 (m = 1.34). Sides more or less markedly sinuate before basal angles. Basal margin slightly narrower than or as wide as apical margin. Basal angles obtuse or almost right, rather sharp, at most only slightly blunted just at tip.

Elytra, on average, shorter and wider, in males EL/EW 1.35–1.38 (m = 1.36), EL/PL 2.50–2.57 (m = 2.53), and EW/PWmax 1.37–1.50 (m = 1.46); in females these indices respectively 1.37–1.41 (m = 1.39), 2.52–2.61 (m = 2.56), and 1.38–1.43 (m = 1.40). Humeri in most specimens less widely rounded. Sutural angle in both sexes sharper, at most only very slightly blunted at tip. Basal edge more or less markedly sinuate, usually less widely curving inside humerus. Lateral furrow occasionally slightly widened at humeral angle.

Male genitalia: Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 66, 68, 73 View FIGURES 55–81 ) stouter, in lateral view more markedly arcuate and more strongly bent at or behind middle. Terminal lamella in dorso-caudal view more widely rounded at apex ( Fig. 67 View FIGURES 55–81 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 69–72 View FIGURES 55–81 ): laterotergite (hemisternite) relatively smaller and wider, almost symmetrical. Apical stylomere in ventral view with narrower base, in lateral view almost parallel-sided, with rounded apex ( Figs 69, 71 View FIGURES 55–81 ).

Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective meaning “similar”, because this species is very similar in appearance to K. angustatus sp. n. and K. pusillus sp. n.

Distribution ( Fig. 82a View FIGURE 82 ). Like the preceding species, K. similis sp. n. is found in the same localities in vicinity of the Mahoma Lake, and in the Bujuku valley at altitudes of 2800–2999 m in the south-eastern part of the Rwenzori Mountains, where it occurs sympatrically with K. angustatus sp. n. and K. ruwenzorii .

Bionomics. According to the label data, beetles were collected by sifting leaf litter in forest with Podocarpus , Erica , Hagenia , Hypericum and bamboo ( Fig. 91 View FIGURE 91 ).

Comparison. In size and many other characters, this new species is very similar to the sympatric K. angustatus sp. n., but distinctly differs from it as follows: pronotum ( Fig. 53 View FIGURES 52–54 ) with wider base; pronotal sides more or less markedly sinuate basally; basal angles obtuse or almost right, rather sharp, at most only slightly blunted just at tip; elytral sutural angle sharper, at most only very slightly blunted at tip; apical stylomere ( Figs 69–72 View FIGURES 55–81 ) in ventral view with narrower base, in lateral view almost parallel-sided, with rounded apex; and median lobe of aedeagus stouter, in lateral view more markedly arcuate and more strongly bent at or behind middle ( Figs 68, 73 View FIGURES 55–81 ). For additional differences between K. similis sp. n. and K. angustatus sp. n. —see Description of the former species above. In size and general habitus, K. similis sp. n. is also similar to the allopatric K. pusillus sp. n. and K. ruwenzoricus . From these species it differs in pronotum with sides more or less markedly sinuate basally and with basal angles obtuse or almost right, rather sharp at tip; also elytral sutural angle of K. similis sp. n. is sharper, at most only very slightly blunted at tip. In addition, it is distinct from K. pusillus sp. n. in elytral striae impressed at most only apically. Kenyacus similis sp. n. markedly differs from K. ruwenzoricus in having elytral striae more distinct, often impressed apically, apical stylomere in lateral view parallel-sided, and median lobe of aedeagus stouter, with much larger basal bulb and with apex not curved dorsally.