Prosthetops nitens (Péringuey, 1892), Peringuey, 1892

Bilton, David T., 2013, Prosthetops wolfbergensis sp. nov. — a giant amongst the ‘ minute moss beetles’, with new data on other members of the genus (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 3666 (3), pp. 345-357 : 354

Prosthetops nitens (Péringuey, 1892)

Has the same restricted geographical range as P. megacephalus , but apparently more restricted in habitat.

Additional records: 24/ix/2010 Western Cape, Table Mountain, rock pools on central table below Maclear’s Beacon, 1,200 m ( Fig. 11 C)—abundant (adults +?larvae). On Table Mountain adults of this species can co-occur with those of P. megacephalus , in the same rockpool. In 2010, P. nitens was found in only ca. 10% of pools examined, however, whereas P. megacephalus was found in> 50%. Whilst megacephalus occurred across a range of pool types and sizes, nitens was only present in relatively small pools with a rock/mineral substrate ( Fig. 11 C), and has not been found in other microhabitats.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Habitats of P. megacephalus and P. nitens on Table Mountain, Western Cape, South Africa. A) – B) pools with organic silt occupied by P. megacephalus; C) small rockpools occupied by P. nitens. Photos D T Bilton.