Singilis (s.str.) puchneri, Anichtchenko, 2014

Anichtchenko, Alexander, 2014, Two new species of genus Singilis Rambur, 1837 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiini) from Namibia, Baltic Journal of Coleopterology 14 (2), pp. 137-140 : 137-138

Singilis (s.str.) puchneri sp.n.

Type material. Holotype: male - Namibia, Karas, Str. zw. Helmeringhausen und Bethanie, C 14 20 km östlich Helmeringhausen Farm Mooifontein , 1230m S26°00’5 E16°59’1, leg. A. Puchner 5.III.2014 18 (cPS) . Paratypes: 2 males, 3 females – idem. (cPS, DUBC, MRAC) ; 1 female - South Namibia, Karas, S slope of Namuskluft , 21.IX. 2013. 1035m, 27°52’596S, 16°52’753E (cPB) .

Diagnosis. This species belongs to the dorsalis -group, and is most similar to S. dorsalis (Peringuey, 1896) , which is of similar size, body form and colouration pattern. The two species can be diagnosed easily by the apex of the aedeagal median lobe, in which the apical third of the median lobe is subangulately downturned in S. puchneri sp.n., ventral surface almost straight to apex in S. dorsalis .

Description. Length 4.5-5.0 mm. Yellowish brown, elytra with black sutural spot behind middle on 1-4 intervals ( Fig. 1 ).

Frons and back of head smooth, without punctures, sometimes very sparsely and feebly punctate near the eyes. Clypeus smooth. Head and clypeus with strong, almost isodiametric microsculpture throughout. Eyes moderately large and bulging. Temples short, smooth, without microsculpture. Scape with a very long subapical seta and several small setae; pedicel and antennomere III with one apical band of setae. Antennae pubescent from the basal third of antennomere IV. Apical labial palpomere faintly securiform ( Fig. 5 ).

Pronotum 1.18-1.29 times as wide as head, 1.42- 1.45 times as wide as long, widest in the middle. Anterior margin straight, anterior angles effaced, sides broadly and regularly rounded, weakly sinuate at base, posterior angles rectangular or slightly acute. Lateral explanate margin rapidly widened from marginal setae, broad and flat at base. Basal grooves indistinct, flat. Pronotal base extended in a rounded median lobe. Microsculpture strong, transversely polygonal. Elytra subparallel, 1.53 – 1.68 times as long as wide, with polygonal microsculpture. Striae deep and narrow, impunctate. Intervals flat. Anterior discal pore in elytral stria 3, median and posterior pores in center of interval 3.

Protarsomere V with 3 pairs of ventral setae. Claws with 3 long teeth. Abdominal sternae smooth, shiny, with sparse short setae. Propleuron, mes- and metepisterna smooth.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 3 ). Aedeagal median lobe moderately broad, median shaft straight on ventral surface, apical third of lobe subangulately downturned.

Name derivation. Named after Alfred Puchner ( Austria), the collector of the new species.

Distribution. Namibia.

Figures

Figs. 1-6. 1-2 – Habitus of Singilis: 1– S. (s.str.) puchneri sp.n., Holotype; 2 – S. (Protosingilis) bulirschi sp.n., Holotype; 3-4 – Aedeagus: 3 – S. (s.str.) puchneri sp.n., 4 – S. (Protosingilis) bulirschi sp.n.; 5-6 – Apical labial palpomere: 5 – S. (s.str.) puchneri sp.n., 6 – S. (Protosingilis) bulirschi sp.n.