Strotocera rufoapicalis Gerstmeier & Weiss

Gerstmeier, Roland & Weiss, Ingmar, 2009, Revision of the Genera Diplocladus Fairmaire and Strotocera Schenkling (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Tillinae), Zootaxa 2242, pp. 1-54 : 45

Strotocera rufoapicalis Gerstmeier & Weiss , n. sp.

(Figs. 31, 86–87)

Specimens examined:

Holotype: Ƥ. Elfenbeinküste, Daloa, 4.4. (9.9.UNREADABLE) 81; H. Politzer, Tillus spec? (CRG) Paratypes: Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Divo, 7.IV.1964, J. Decelle (1 3, MRAC); Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Divo, 7.IV.1964, J. Decelle (1 Ƥ., CRG); Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Bingerville, IV.1962, J. Decelle (2 ex., MRAC); Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Bingerville, V.1962, J. Decelle (1 ex., CRG); Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Bingerville, VI.1962, J. Decelle (1 ex., MRAC); Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Bingerville, IV.1964, J. Decelle (1 ex., MRAC); Coll. Mus. Tervuren, Côte d’ivoire: Andé, Bongouganou, J. Decelle IV/ V.1962 (1 ex., MRAC); Nigeria: Ile-Ife, I Mar 1973, Student Coll., CX-38, Coll. Mus. Tervuren Strotocera (1 Ƥ., MRAC).

Length: 9.1mm – 12mm (10 specimens).

Head: Black; finely and diffusely punctate.

Antennae: Dark reddish brown to black; not reaching base of pronotum when laid alongside; A6–A10 serrate.

Pronotum: Black; dilated anteriorly and slightly constricted towards base; with more or less six conspicuously elevations on disc and two elevations at base (in middle), very finely and diffusely punctate; length:width ratio 1.48:1.

Scutellum: Black.

Elytra: Black; each elytron with a white lateral spot in the basal third (in some specimens missing) and a narrow white transverse fascia (bordered brown) beyond middle spanning from lateral to sutural margins, apical fifth reddish brown; punctate, diameter of punctures partly larger than interstices, punctures within fascia small and sparsely distributed, punctures elongate behind fasciae; length:width ratio 2.08:1. Legs: Black, tarsi brown.

Lower surface: Head and thorax dark brown, first abdominal ventrite brown, the remainder light brown. Vestiture: With white to yellowish hairs.

Distribution: Ivory Coast, Nigeria.

Etymology: Named after the reddish brown apical part of elytra.