Pocapharaptinus akotsenorum 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 : 57-59

Pocapharaptinus akotsenorum Akotsen and Philips , new species

Figs. 13, 14 , 27 & 35

Type material. Holotype: S. Africa, Pofadder 20 km N, 29.01S- 19.27E / 24.8.1977, E-Y: 1328, singled, leg. Endrödy-Younga / groundtraps with banana bait. Paratype: same data as holotype (6).

Diagnosis. This species can be characterized by: a broadly obtusely angled cuticle between pronotal anterior setal tufts ( Fig. 27 ); male genitalia with expanded posterior portion of parameres,and elongate median lobe (Fig. 35).

Description. Body reddish brown to brown; body oval, convex. Length 1.5–1.8 mm. Head dorsally smooth but with scattered setose tubercles in a band between eyes, tubercles distinct; setae short, recumbent and erect; setal tufts on either side of midline between eyes present; carina posterior of antennal fossae absent. Pronotum with visible surface extending posteriorly between setal tufts broadly triangular, forming an obtuse angle posteriorly; base of setal tufts arising from just slightly above cuticular surface by height equal to that of tubercles on curved carinae, anterior margin swollen, especially at middle; lateral spines distinct from but blending into tufts, thickness similar to erect elytral setae. Elytral surface moderately convex, apices rounded, not projecting; erect setae yellow, moderately long; six round patches of slightly flattened recumbent white setae located anteriorly within puncture rows 5–8 and posteriorly within rows 4 and 8. Male genitalia with parameres thinnest near apical 1/3, strongly curved inwards near apex, apices distinctly expanded; median lobe parallel sided except near apex, total length 87% of that of parameres measured from base (Fig. 35).

Etymology. The specific epithet honors the parents of the first author, whose efforts and motivation helped to make his studies at Western Kentucky University and elsewhere possible.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 16. Dorsal and ventral habitus views; 13 – 14. P. akotsenorum; 15 – 16. P. c a p e n s i s. Scale bar for Figs. 13, 15 – 16 = 1.0 mm and Fig. 14 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 25 – 28. Pronota; 25. P. müllerae; 26. P. harrisoni; 27. P. akotsenorum; 28. P. c a p e n s i s.