Coelometopon zulu, Perkins, 2005

Perkins, Philip D., 2005, A revision of the African hygropetric genus Coelometopon Janssens, and description of Oomtelecopon new genus (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 949 (1), pp. 1-103 : 1-103

Coelometopon zulu new species

(Figures 36, 37, 85)

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Natal Prov. , Zulu Drakensberg, Nogome For. Res., 7 km N, natural wet rockface, 27° 50' S, 31° 21' E, 24 February 1997, Endrödy­ Younga (3282); deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes: Same data (16 TMSA). Representative specimens deposited in AMG and MCZ .

Diagnosis. Refer to the diagnosis of C. granulatum .

Description. Size (length/width, mm x 100) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 256/107, head 59/63, pronotum 56/86, elytra 156/107. Dorsum black. Maxillary palpi short, length subequal width of anterior margin of clypeus, last three palpomeres length ratios as 1/0.8/1, each mere slightly wider than preceding. Mentum weakly produced apicomedially; depressed on each side of midline near base. Granules on frons and pronotum similar in size and density, those on clypeus slightly smaller and sparser. Pronotum with granules comparatively uniformly distributed, although absent from very narrow area in middle of median groove; sides emarginate in front of and behind roundly produced middle part, some marginal tubercles widely spaced in posterior emargination; sides of median groove strong in anterior 1/2.

Elytral intervals: 2nd raised in three or four sections, first section longest, second much shorter and third shorter again and decreasing in size posteriorly to form ill­defined fourth; 4th with four very short raised areas, one basal and one opposite each non­ raised area of 2nd interval, raised unilinear row of granules continuing from fourth raised area to elytral apices; 6th with two short raised areas, one each opposite raised area two and three of 4th interval; odd numbered intervals each with unilinear row of granules; 7th raised very slightly, except near basal 1/3.

Metasternum with elongate oval depression. Female last sternite apicomedially emarginate, subapical depression not rimmed posteriorly; last tergite bilobate, with strong short spines divided into two groups.

Aedeagus length 0.57 mm; mainpiece nearly straight in ventral aspect, moderately sinuate in lateral aspect, gradually widened from midlength to distal end, ridged process short; gonopore process long, proximal 1/3 of upper surface with crest; membranous process wide, length about 0.7 length of gonopore process, widened at tip (Fig. 37).

Etymology. Named in reference to the Zulu people of Natal.

Distribution. Currently known only the type locality in the Zulu Drakensbergs of Natal Province(Fig. 85).