Odontolochus paucus Schmidt (1916)

Stebnicka, Zdzisława T., 2009, A revision of the African species of Odontolochini Stebnicka & Howden, 1996 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Zootaxa 2230, pp. 1-15 : 8-9

Odontolochus paucus Schmidt (1916)

( Figs 3 , 21 )

Odontolochus paucus Schmidt, 1916: 100 — Paulian 1942: 126, 128; Endrödi 1960: 242 –243; Endrödi 1964: 371 –372, 377; Dellacasa 1988: 286 (catalog).

Material examined. Holotype female, ‘Süd-Afrika’/ ‘ Odontolochus paucus m. Type’ ( NRS, coll. Schmidt). Other specimens (10). The Democratic Republic of the Congo: N Lac Kiwu, Rwankwi, XI.1947, J.V.Leroy ( MRAC, labeled by Endrödi as O. oberthueri ); Elisabethville, XI.1950 – VI.1951, leg. H. Seydel ( HNHM). Kenya: Nairobi, XI–XII. 1911, Alluaud & Jeannel ( MZLU). Tanzania: Usa River, 3900ft, 1.XII.1965, at light, leg. J. Szunuoghy ( HNHM). Rwanda: Mahembe 1400 m, Terr. Nyanza, 13–15.I.1953, leg. P. Basilevskyi ( HNHM). South African Republic: Gauteng, Akasia, Megaliesburg, at „Thabela Africa“, 27– 30.XI. 1995 ( FSCA).

Diagnosis. Pronotum lateral margin in anterior half with two small emarginations and two acutely prominent denticles. Elytra widest in apical third, striae deep, strial punctures larger than adjacent intervals, deep, in some specimens each puncture with minute granules on each side; intervals at the same level, acutely carinate, median carina very minutely crenate. Odontolochus paucus is very similar to O. spinicollis ; it differs from that species in having slightly larger head with shallow median emargination and the elytra more elongate.

Description. Length 4.0–4.5 mm. Body ( Fig. 3 ) oblong oval, brownish black to piceous. Ventral surface alutaceous; mesosternal median area triangular in shape, with few fine punctures at base, lateral furrows deep; metasternum slightly concave, discal punctures moderate, close, lateral area with twice larger, ocellate punctures; abdominal sternites 1–2 with punctures same size as those of metasternum, sternites 4–5 coarsely fluted along sutures with quadrate spaces between longitudinal costulae, surface punctate; disc of pygidium eroded with longitudinal carina. Femora narrow, parallel-sided; protibia with three normal lateral teeth in both sexes; basal tarsomere of metatarsus longer than upper tibial spur and shorter than following three tarsomeres combined.

Male. Disc of pygidium longer than in female; genitalia as in Fig. 21 .

Remarks. Specimens of O. paucus are very similar to those of O. spinicollis and difficult to distinguish. In all probability, the species represents no more than a geographical form of O. spinicollis , however, the material on hand is not sufficient to confidently synonymize these species.

Distribution. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South African Republic, Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Odontolochus, dorsal view, 1. O. raffrayi Paulian; 2. O. spinicollis (Harold); 3. O. paucus Schmidt; 4. O. oberthueri (Clouët); 5. O. ferenczi Endrödi.

FIGURES 6 – 21. Figs 6 – 13, pronotum, lateral outline, 6. O. basilevskyi Endrödi; 7. O. spinicollis (Harold); 8. O. oberthueri (Clouët); 9. O. costatus Endrödi; 10. O. gestroi (Clouet); 11. O. burgeoni Boucomont; 12. O. setulosus Endrödi; 13. O. villiersi Petrovitz; Figs 14 – 19, right protibiae, 14. O. oberthueri (Clouët), male; 15. O. oberthueri (Clouët), female; 16. O. gestroi (Clouët), male; 17. O. ferenczi Endrödi, male; 18. O. villiersi Petrovitz, male; 19. O. villiersi Petrovitz, female; Figs 20 – 21, aedeagus in lateral view, 20. O. spinicollis (Harold); 21. O. paucus Schmidt.