Hesperus gridellianus BERNHAUER 1928

Hromádka, L., 2012, Revision of the Afrotropical species of the genus Hesperus FAUVEL (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Philonthina), Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (1), pp. 551-589 : 562-563

Hesperus gridellianus BERNHAUER 1928 (Figs 35-37)

T y p e m a t e r i a l: not studied.

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l: Ghana, 21 spec., Votta Region, Kvete 400 m, N G 6 52-E O 31, 29.viiii,1967, nNr. 265 siffting, Dr.S. Endrödy – Younga HMNH, cHPC), 18 spec., Western region, Pretsea, 30 m, N 4 55-W 1 52, 6.vi.1966, siffting Nr. 172, Dr. S. Endrödy – Younga (HNMH, cHPC), Guinea-Bissau, 2 spec., Sérédoux, lux, 7.-8.i.1975, leg., Zott, (cHPC), Republic of Congo, 21 spec., Sibits IRHO oilpalm plantation, 23.ii.1963, Nr. 224, sifted fallen oilpalm fruits, Soil Zoological Exp., Congo Brazzaville, leg., Dr. S. Endrödy – Younga (HNMH, cHPC).

R e d e s c r i p t i o n: Body length 12.3 mm, length of fore body (to end of elytra) 5.5 mm.

C o l o u r a t i o n: Body black, abdomen very slighly blue iridescent, maxillary and labial palpi, base of antennomere 2 and legs dark brown, mandibles and antennomere 1 black, remaining antennomeres brown.

Head transverse, wider than long (ratio 47: 37), parallel- sided, posterior angles obtusely rounded bearing one long black bristle and several short bristles. Eyes very slightly convex, shorter than temples (ratio 12.5: 17.5), entire head densely and coarsely punctate, except clypeus and narrow midline. Surface without microsculpture.

Antennae long, reaching posterior third of pronotum when reclined. Antennomere 1 twice as long as antennomere 11, antennomere 2 shorter than antennomere 3.

Pronotum approximately as long as wide, distinctly narrowed posteriad. Anterior angles almost rectangular, each bearing three long and several short bristles, posterior angles slightly marked, base of pronotum straight. With wide impunctate midline, each side very densely, coarsely and irregularly punctate. Surface without microsculpture.

Scutellum very densely and coarsely punctate. Diameter of punctures twice as large as one eye-facet, separated much less than a puncture diameter.

Elytra wider than long (ratio 57: 53), very slightly widened posteriad, very coarsely and densely punctate, punctures slightly smaller than that on scutellum, separated by a puncture diameter or slightly less. Sides and posterior margin bearing several variably long bristles. Surface between punctures without microsculpture, setation black.

Legs. Metatarsus shorter than metatibia (ratio 27: 31). Metatarsomere 1 longer than metatarsomere 5.

Abdomen from visible tergite 3 very gradually narrowed posteriad, first three visible tergites with two basal lines. Elevated area between basal lines densely punctate. Punctation at base of all tergites finer and denser than that on elytra, gradually becoming finer and much sparser towards posterior margin of each tergite. Surface without microsculpture, setation similar to that on head.

Male. Protarsomeres 1-3 simple, moderately dilated, each covered with modified pale setae ventrally, protarsomere 4 narrower than preceding ones. Aedeagus (Figs 35-37).

Female. Unknown to the author.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Hesperus gridellianus is similar to H. schedli , but may be distinguished by the shorter antennae and eyes, abdomen not iridescent.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Guinea-Bissau ( HERMAN 2001).