Romanaeclerus vitellinus Opitz, 2017

Opitz, Weston, 2017, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Orthopleurinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part VI. The New Genera Coadnatus Opitz, Furcadia Opitz, and Latupusillus Opitz, One New Species of Funicula Opitz, and Four New Species of Romanaeclerus Winkler, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (3), pp. 421-433 : 431-432

Romanaeclerus vitellinus Opitz , new species ( Figs. 7, 19, 20, 24, 36)

Type Material. Holotype: Ƌ. UGANDA, Kabarole, Kibale Nat. Park, 25 km se Fort Portal , U. Kanyawara ( MUBFS) , 26.VII–22.VIII 1998, 1600 m, leg. Schmidt ( RGCM) . Paratypes: One specimen . CAMEROON, N. Kolbisson, XI-1969, N. Berti ( MNHN, 1) .

Diagnosis. The members of this species are very similar to those of Romanaeclerus rufus Kraaz , but

in specimens of R. vitellinus the body is much more depressed and the phallic plates are not denticulated laterally.

Description. Size: Length 3.0 mm; width 1.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 36. Color: Testaceous, except capitulum and funicular antennomeres 5–8 brown. Head: Antennal capitulum well-developed ( Fig. 7), capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 transverse, antennomere 11 suboval, funicular antennomeres progressively more serrate; maxillary and labial terminal palpomeres acuminate; eyes much narrower than frons (EW/FW = 10/25). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 24) transverse (PW/PL = 65/55), lateral margins evenly arcuate; asetiferous elytral punctation small and extending to elytral subapex, punctation subseriate, interstitial spaces smooth and shiny; sutural margin narrows to elytral apex. Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform; aedeagus ( Figs. 19, 20) with phallobasic lobes minute, phallobasic rod linear, short; phallic plates slender, long.

Variation. Size: Length 3.0–4.0 mm; width 1.0- 1.8 mm. Other than body size, the type specimens are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. The holotype was collected in July at 1,600 m, whereas the paratype was collected during November.

Distribution. This species is known from Uganda and Cameroon ( Fig. 38).

Etymology. The specific epithet vitellinus (= yellow) refers to the color of this beetle.