Saprinus secchii, 2009

Théry, Thomas, Gomy, Yves & Degallier, Nicolas, 2009, Revision of Saprinus (Saprinus) splendens (Paykull, 1811) with description of Saprinus (Saprinus) secchii n. sp. (Coleoptera: Histeridae), Zootaxa 2055, pp. 35-48 : 45-46

Saprinus (s. str.) secchii Théry , n. sp.

( Figs. 2 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 12 )

Diagnosis. Saprinus secchii closely resembles Saprinus splendens but it is less variable. S. secchii mainly differs from S. splendens in the following characters: the eighth ventrite of the male genitalia is more square in S. secchii than it is in S. splendens and the angles of its membranous part are prominent in S. secchii and bear long setae (fig. 12). The aedeagus of S. secchii is narrower than that of S. splendens , with the central part only a slightly expanded or unexpanded (fig. 10). Additional distinctive aedeagal features of S. secchii include the sides of aedeagal apex being more or less elongate and often quite parallel and prominant posterior angles.The internal prosternal striae of S. secchii are distinctive in that they are parallel from the base and meet the external striae close to the anterior margin (fig. 5). The radial veins of S. secchii ’s flight wing are slightly pigmented or not pigmented at all (fig. 8) whereas these same veins are darkly pigmented and clearly visible in S. splendens . In addition, the flight wing membrane of S. secchii is never pigmented which differs from the pigmented membrane in some populations of S. splendens (north-eastern populations of Africa). The marginal stria of mesosternum is never interrupted in S. secchii , whereas it is very often interrupted in S. splendens . The external margin of the metafemora of S. secchii is distinct in having never or at most only a few isolated setae.

Description. Length: 4.72 to 7.65 mm (from anterior edge of pronotum, behind the head, to elytral apex), females generally longer than male specimens (males: 5.72 mm ± 0.34; females: 6.30 mm ± 0.45; n = 173 specimens: 104 males and 69 females).

Oval, quite convex, shiny, head and pronotum green to dark green, antennal scape slightly darker. Elytral color generally blue, blue-cyan or blue-green to dark blue (except for apical margin which is more or less brownish), sometimes with a reddish ground color. Legs and remainder of antennae dark brownish-red.

Head with frons more or less flat, wide and with a fine but distinct punctation. Frons punctures dense but regularly spaced with a stronger point at center of vertex. Frons punctation is quite fine and regular in specimens from West Africa ( Ivory Coast, Benin, Senegal) and Sudan. Nevertheless, it is often stronger and a bit irregular for southerner populations.

Frontal stria entire and curving anteriorly. Epistoma short, punctuate, with punctures a bit denser and more marked than of frons. Labrum transverse (more than 3 times wider than long), with two setae. Mandibles subquadrate, massive, unmargined and punctate. Antennal scape punctate and with three thick setae. Punctures of mandibles and antennal scape close to those of epistoma.

Pronotum about twice as wide as long with somewhat prominent anterior angles. Pronotal punctation especially located on sides with strong and oval punctures, more distinct in a wide but poorly delimited depression where they are larger, denser and oblique. The disk of the pronotum remains largely impunctate apart from a very fine and regularly spaced ground punctation. A band of much finer punctation occurs along the marginal stria. Lateral margins rounded until posterior angles. Marginal stria entire and strong, close to margin, and abbreviated near the base.

Elytra at posterior angles of pronotum between 1.2 and 1.3 times wider than long, regularly curving and widest at their anterior third. Four elytral striae present. First three subequal reaching at least the middle of the elytra, sometimes extending just beyond it. The fourth shorter, measuring generally more than 2/3 of the third one. Fourth elytral stria never joining sutural stria. Sutural stria linked to the apical stria. External subhumeral stria limited to a short basal rudiment. Internal subhumeral stria absent. Humeral stria fairly short, wellmarked, mostly straight and not parallel to the first dorsal stria. Elytral punctation is generally fine for specimens from West Africa ( Ivory Coast, Benin, Senegal) and Sudan but stronger for southerner populations. In the latter case, strong oval punctures occur in the interstriae and the elytral posterior third. This kind of punctation diminishes toward the sides and the apex of elytra. It slightly extends forward into the interstria: on one hand between the first dorsal stria and the humeral stria and on the other hand, between the fourth dorsal stria and the sutural stria. Striolations occur on the first elytral interstria which extend onto the second and sometimes on the third stria. Pygidial punctures oval, elongate, very strong and dense, more so than those of propygidium (diameter of punctures is near two times greater). Middle of the pygidium without an impunctate area.

Prosternum densely covered with regularly spaced punctures, quite similar to those on mesosternum and metasternum. Internal prosternal striae of specimens from West Africa ( Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal) and Sudan parallel and generally joining the external prosternal striae close to the anterior margin. In specimens from Central Africa ( Republic of Congo) and Southern Africa, the area where the internal striae join the external striae is often further from the anterior margin of the prosternum. Mesosternum with a strong, entire and slightly bisinuate marginal stria.

Protibiae with three small apical teeth followed by eight to eleven lateral marginal teeth. Metatibiae similar to mesotibiae but more elongate, curved and with finer marginal teeth.

Profemora with large and shallow punctures which are more marked and larger than those of meso- and metafemora. Metafemora without setal row along external margin; isolated setae only rarely present.

Radial veins of flight wings unpigmented and hardly visible. Alar membrane also unpigmented.

Male genitalia with eighth ventrite with well-marked prominent membranous lobes bearing long setae. Central part of aedeagus only slightly expanded or unexpanded. Sides of aedeagal apex more or less elongate, often quite parallel and with prominent posterior angles.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to François Secchi, friend of the first author and amateur entomologist of the Orleans’ region ( France).

Type Material. Holotype (fig. 2). Male. length: 5.45 mm (from anterior edge of pronotum, behind the head, to elytral apex); width: 4.35 mm (posterior angles of pronotum). The male genitalia and the left flight wing are extracted and separately glued. The different tergites, ventrites and the aedeagus are dissected; with following labels: " Côte d’Ivoire / Parc Nat. de la Comoe / XI.2001 " // " HOLOTYPE / Saprinus (s. str.) / secchii n. sp. / T. THERY des. 2007" (rectangular red label) ( MNHN). Paratypes; 281 ex. - IVORY COAST: " Côte d’Ivoire / Parc Nat. de la Comoe / XI.2001 ", 80 ex.; " Côte d’Ivoire / Parc Nat. de la Comoe / X.2000 ", 27 ex.; " Côte d’Ivoire / Parc Nat. de la Comoe / VI.2000 ", 5 ex.; " Ivory Coast / Parc National / de la Comoe // collection / S. Mazur / MHNG 2003", 19 ex.; " Côte d’Ivoire / Touba / V.2001 ": 15 ex.; " Côte d’Ivoire / Lamto / May 1965 ": 2 ex.; " 09.IX.1979 / Lamto / Côte d’Ivoire // excr. Humain / Y. Cambefort leg. ", 1 ex.; "Bouké / Côte d’Ivoire / P. Malzy rec. ", 9 ex. – BENIN: " Bénin / Attogon / XI.2001 // Dead fish trap / G. Goergen leg.": 16 ex.; " Bénin / Attogon / III–IV.2002 // Dead fish trap / G. Goergen leg.": 26 ex.; "Agouë ( Benin) / Abbé Ménager / 1879", 13 ex. – CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: "Pointe-Noire / XI.1980 ", 2 ex.; "MUSEUM PARIS / CONGO FRANÇAIS / BAHR-SARA/ MONGO / Dr. J. KÉRANDEL 1908 // MAI", 2 ex. – CONGO- KINSHASA: "Congo-Belge / Okodri // MUSÉUM PARIS / 1930 / COLL. G. BABAULT", 1 ex.; "C. De Walsche / Forêt De KAWA / L.Albert. 26.4.29 ", 4 ex. - SENEGAL: " Sénégal / Nianing / 15.VIII.1978 // R. Naviaux leg.", 2 ex.; " Sénégal / Thiès", 52 ex. – SUDAN: " Soudan / Wadi Seidna (Khartoum) / VIII.1962 ", 5 ex. - These specimens are conserved in the following collections: CHTT, CHND, CHYG, CHPK, MNHN, MNHU, NHRS, MHNG, SEHU, ANIC.

Additional material examined (54 specimens): CONGO-Brazzaville: Kintélé, 37 ex., I.1978 ( CHTT / CHND); Odziba, 2 ex., II.1978 ( CHND). – CONGO-KINSHASA: Kolwezi, W-Katanga, 1 ex., X.1962 ( CHND); 1 ex.; Mabwe (rive E. lac Upemba), 585 m, 1 ex., 3–6.I.1949 ( CHYG); Aka aval, 1 ex., 27.III.1950 ( CHYG); Lulua: Tshipaza, 2 ex., III–IV.1934 ( CHYG); Kaswabilenga (r. dr. Lufira), 700m, 1 ex., 6–9.X.1947 ( CHYG). –– SOUTH AFRICA: N. Transvaal, Ny lsvley, hill base, 24.40S – 28.42E, 1 ex., 27.10.1975 ( CHYG). - DJIBOUTI: Obock, 1 ex. ( CHND). - NAMIBIA: Rietmond, 1 ex. ( MNHU); Karibib, 3 ex., V.1901 ( MNHU). – SOUTH AFRICA: Capland, 1 ex. ( MNHU). - SWAZILAND: Luyengo, 1 ex., XI.1994 ( CHPK).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Types of Saprinus splendens (Paykull) and S. secchii n. sp.: 1, Lectotype of S. splendens (Paykull) and its label; 2, Holotype of S. secchii n. sp.

FIGURES 3 – 5. Prosterna of Saprinus splendens (Paykull) and S. secchii n. sp.: 3 - 4, Two prosternal variations of S. splendens (Paykull); 5, Prosternum of S. secchii n. sp.

FIGURES 6 – 8. Flight wings of Saprinus splendens (Paykull) and S. secchii n. sp.: 6 - 7, Two wing variations of S. splendens (Paykull); 8, Wing of S. secchii n. sp. (scale: 1 mm).

FIGURES 9 – 10. Male genitalia (aedeagus) of Saprinus splendens (Paykull) and S. secchii n. sp. in dorsal view: 9, Aedeagus of S. splendens (Paykull) from Senegal; 10, Aedeagus of S. secchii n. sp. from Ivory Coast.

FIGURES 11 – 12. Male genitalia (eighth abdominal ventrite) of Saprinus splendens (Paykull) and S. secchii n. sp.: 11, eighth abdominal ventrite of S. splendens (Paykull) from Senegal; 12, eighth abdominal ventrite of S. secchii n. sp. from Ivory Coast.