Craspedophorus strachani (Hope, 1842)

Häckel, Martin, 2017, A contribution to the knowledge of the subfamily Panagaeinae Hope, 1838 from Africa. Part 3. Revision of the Craspedophorus strachani and C. brevicollis groups (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 4330 (1), pp. 1-67 : 41-43

Key to species of Craspedophorus strachani group

1) Pronotum cordiform, lateral margins narrowed posteriorly with a distinct sinuosity, hind angles more closed, rectangular in some species, commonly indentated, with a small incisure near the base, rarely rounded ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72a–c, e)...........2

- Pronotum almost hexagonal, lateral margins narrowing towards the base without any distinct sinuosity, hind angles more opened ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72d)..............................................................................19

2) Pronotal base straight, if it changes laterally into a distinct incisure (pedunculated), at least the major central basal part stays straight ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72a–c).............................................................................3

- Pronotal base concave posteriorly, the basal concavity reduced only in its medial third. Pronotum more transverse (length/ width ratio 1.48), almost semicircular, anterior angles completely rounded ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72e). Elytra with a large humeral macula, extending across six to seven intervals. South-central Africa, Angola up to southern DR Congo, Zambia...................................................................................... C. magnicollis ( Quedenfeldt, 1883)

3) Pronotal base pedunculated, straight, laterally changing into a relativelly deep incisure near each margin, posterior angles very sharp, prolonged posteriorly ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72c).............................................................. 4

- Pronotal base without a marginal incisure, not pedunculated, posterior angles rectangular or more opened. ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72a, b)....................................................................................................5

4) Pronotal base with marginal incisure very deep, hind angles strongly prolonged posteriorly, distinctly overlapping the base. Elytra wider (length/width ratio>1.4), more convex and ovoid, striae finely punctuated. A relatively larger species (> 20 mm). Congo (Brazzaville), western DR Congo, Gabon, RCA.............................. C. dicranothorax (Alluaud, 1915)

- Pronotal base with a marginal incisure shallower, hind angles less strongly prolonged posteriorly, reaching up to but not overlapping the base. Elytra narrower (length/width ratio <1.4), flatter and more parallel-shaped, striae grossly punctured. A relatively smaller species (<19 mm). Southwestern Cameroon................................. C. dicranulothorax n. sp.

5) Pronotum weakly transverse (length/width ratio>1.37), hind angle opened (more obtuse), almost rounded, indentated (with a small incisure in its lateral margin near the base) ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72b). Body strongly convex, elytra ovoid, humeral macula reaching up to II interval. A relatively larger species (18–25 mm). RCA to Cameroon and Gabon.................................................................................................... C. chevalieri (Alluaud, 1915)

- Pronotum with hind angles distinct, more closed, almost rectangular ( Plate 9 , Fig. 72a)..............................6

6) Pronotum more transverse (length/width ratio>1.45). Body wider, strongly convex, elytra convex and ovoid. Humeral macula reaching medially up to II or III interval, rarely only up to IV interval, outer (IX.) interval and elytral margin completely black. A smaller to medium-sized species (16–19 mm) . Central Africa : Cameroon to northeastern DR Congo ................................................................................................. C. cuneatus (Alluaud, 1915)

- Pronotum more transverse (length/width ratio <1.4) if narrower, hind angles not jutting out backwards or upwards, pronotal base straight without concavity. Elytra in smaller species with a transverse pronotum with a yellow humeral macula reaching up to the elytral margin and overlapping to metepisterna.......................................................7

7) Body with smaller and wider statue (length <17 mm, elytral length/width ratio>1.38). South-eastern Nigeria, southern Cameroon ( Fig. 135 )........................................................................................8

- Body with larger and narrower statue (length> 18 mm, elytral length/width ratio>1.45)..............................9

8) Palps, tibiae and tarsi distinctly ferruginous. Elytra less convex, especially in the apical third. Intervals flat, completely glabrous, glossy, without microsculpture, striae finely regularly punctuated. Humeral macula anteroposteriorly long, longer than wide, rarely the humeral macula joins the preapical on outer intervals. 16 mm ..................... C. glaber Bates, 1886

- Palps, tibiae and tarsi black, at most terminal parts brownish. Elytra strongly convex, including the apical third. Intervals convex, finely and iregularly punctuated. Humeral macula anteroposteriorly shorter, more rounded, with macular spots shorter on inner intervals, both maculae, humeral and preapical, separated and distantly located. 15.5 mm ..... C. lafertei Murray, 1857 .

9) Species with somewhat lesser statue (length 16–18 mm). Pronotum not too transverse (length/width ratio <1.4). Elytra more parallel-sided. Humeral macula reduced, longer anteroposteriorly than wide, both maculae reaching medially up to VI interval at the most. Equatorial Guinea, Gabon....................................................................10

- Species with somewhat larger statue (length ± 18 mm), humeral macula larger, reaching medially up to V., IV., III, rarely II interval............................................................................................. 11

10) Pronotal surface grossly punctured and furrowed, punctuation finer laterally, almost glabrous near margins. Elytral striae grossly punctured, strial foveae trespassing interval to its outer third, interval punctuated distinctly but finely in its middle.......................................................................................... C. lemariei n. sp.

- Pronotal surface with finer and more sparse punctuation, punctuation laterally infrequent, finer, dorsally absent. Elytral striae punctuated very finely, strial foveolae not trespassing interval margins, intervals flat, completely glabrous, glossy, punctuation absent........................................................................ C. ruficrus ( Chaudoir, 1861) .

11) Ventrites anteriorly without crenulation ( Plate 4 , Fig. 33a). The body of smaller size (<19 mm) and somewhat more prolonged. Pronotal surface sculptured more softly, disc sparsely and finely punctuated in its middle, hind angle more opened, with a very small and shallow indentation on its lateral margin near the base. Elytral colouration eye-catching with a large humeral macula (the largest elytral macula from all species of the group), reaching from III interval to margin, covering more than one quarter of each elytron anteroposteriorly. Central Cameroon................................. C. latemaculatus Alluaud, 1930 .

- Ventrites anteriorly distinctly crenulated at least each on its lateral margins. A species of larger statue (length> 19 mm). Pronotum with surface sculptured more grossly. Elytral maculae strongly more reduced anteroposteriorly, covering distinctly less than one quarter of each elytron. If macula larger in some specimens, pronotal surface grossly punctured...............12

12) Elytra strongly convex, palps and tarsi black. Larger species (20–25 mm)........................................13

- Elytra flatter, palps usually brownish to ferruginous. Lesser and medium-sized species (17–22 mm)...................16

13) Pronotum finely and densely punctuated. Elytral striae almost glabrous, very finely and regularly punctuated. Intervals flat, densely and finely punctuated in three to four lines. Ventrites anteriorly crenulated laterally, each with anterior crenulation indistinct in its middle. The largest species of the whole group (24–25 mm). South Cameroon... C. latipennis Burgeon, 1930 .

- Pronotum usually grossly sculptured, punctured and furrowed. If pronotal and elytral sculpturation is finer, then elytral intervals are usually convex. If elytral intervals are flat, ventrites are distinctly crenulated anteriorly longwise. Species of somewhat smaller body (length <24 mm).......................................................................... 14

14) Pronotum with anterior angles strongly protruded forward, pronotal surface punctured densely but not too grossly. Elytral striae finely impressed, each punctured very finely, almost indistinctly, intervals flat, densely and finely punctuated in about four lines. (19–24 mm) South-eastern Liberia, southern Ivory Coast............................. C. klugii ( Hope, 1842)

- Pronotum with anterior angles weakly protruded forwards, more rounded. Pronotal surface punctured densely and grossly, often furrowed. Elytral striae deeply impressed, grossly punctured, intervals convex, distinctly punctuated..............15

15) Body narrower (elytral length/width ratio>1.4), pronotum less transverse (length/width ratio <1.4), lateral margins less narrowing towards base, with shallower sinuosity. Elytral maculae as long as wide (rounded, quadrate) or longer anteroposteriorly, if maculae are fascia-shaped, reaching at most to IV., rarely to III interval. West Africa, Sierra Leone to Cameroon..................................................................................... C. strachani ( Hope, 1842)

- Body wider (elytral length/width ratio <1.4), more convex. Pronotum more transverse (length/width ratio>1.4), lateral margins narrowing towards base, with deeper sinuosity. Elytral maculae transversal, fascia-shaped, reaching medially at least to III, often to II interval. West Africa, Senegal to northern DR Congo..................... C. tetrastigma ( Chaudoir, 1850)

16) Elytral margins with a flattened rim widening posteriorly with maximum width in its apical fourth, then narrowing and disappearing near the apex, elytral margin here bewelled. Elytra flatter in the apical third, intervals V–VII posteriorly as wide as those intervals near base or wider. Due to flattened elytra in the apical fourth, VIII and IX interval are well recognizable from the dorsal view. Humeral macula widening laterally, preapical macula with outer macular spots as long anteroposteriorly as the inner spots, outer spots more posterior, macula creating an oblique fascia extending from IV to VIII interval leading posteriorly on outer intervals, seems to be more distantly located from the elytral margin because of its widening in the apical fourth. Species of medium size (18–20 mm). Central and southern Cameroon............................... C. phenacoides n. sp.

- Elytral margins with a flattened rim as narrow posteriorly as anteriorly, without widening before the apex. Elytra symmetrically convex longwise, intervals 5–8 narrowing posteriorly and IX interval disappearing in the dorsal view. Preapical macula located less distantly from elytral margin, in about one third of its width at most, without creating any oblique fascia..... 17

17) Body shorter, elytra with humeri more distinct, maximum width in midlength or immediately behind it. West and Central Africa (19–21 mm)..................................................................... C. ruficroides n. sp.

- Body longer, elytra widening posteriorly, maximum width distinctly behind midlength. Central Africa.................18

18) Body narrower and more elongated. Pronotum somewhat more transverse with lateral margins anteriorly more regularly rounded, lateral angles less distinct, posteriorly more sinuate, a shallow small incisure near the posterior angle; elytral intervals more convex, weakly and sparsely punctured; elytral maculae somewhat smaller (humeral macula covers at last 1/8 of the elytral length)..................................................................... C. phenax Basilewsky, 1987

- Body wider, less elongated. Pronotum somewhat less transverse, more convex, with lateral margins less regularly rounded

anteriorly, lateral angles more distinct, posteriorly more sinuate, the small incisure near the posterior angle deeper; elytral intervals less convex, grossly and densely punctured; elytral maculae distintly larger (humeral macula covers about 1/7 to 1/6 of the elytral length).............................................................. C. congoanus Kolbe, 1889 19) Head narrower (pronotum to head maximum width ratio>1.9). Pronotum with lateral margins narrowing straightly towards hind angles, without distinct sinuosity. Sagittal line narrowly and finely impressed, anteriorly almost indistinct, posteriorly hardly distinct. Elytra with humeral macula large, reaching medially to IV interval at least, often to III interval. Length 18–20 mm. Southwestern Africa: Angola..................................................... C. muata ( Harold, 1879) .

- Head wider (pronotum to head maximum width ratio <1.9). Pronotum with lateral margins narrowing not too straightly towards hind angles, with a weak sinuosity. Sagittal line more strongly impressed, distinct on each end, anteriorly and posteriorly. Elytra with humeral macula less wide, reaching medially to V interval at most, usually to VI interval only. Mountain species endemic in the Rift............................................................................... 20

20) Head somewhat wider (pronotum to head maximum width ratio <1.95). Elytra with large maculae covering two to three intervals, four intervals at most (VI–VIII).....................................................................21

- Head somewhat narrower (pronotum to head maximum width ratio>1.95). Elytra with maculae strongly reduced to one small macular spot on VIII interval. 16–17 mm. Endemic species in the East Arc Mountains (Uluguru, Usambara), Tanzania : Morogoro ................................................................... C. montivagus Basilewsky, 1976

21) Elytra with humeral macula longer anteroposteriorly than wide, covering about a quarter of the elytral length. Preapical macula consists of four macular spots on intervals 5–8. Somewhat larger species (19–20 mm). Species endemic in the Rift, inhabiting mountain areas along the Tanganyika Lake, DR Congo : Katanga Province, Tanzania : Kigoma .................................................................................................... C. kaboboanus Basilewsky, 1987 .

- Elytra with a smaller humeral macula, shorter anteroposteriorly than wide. Preapical macula consists of three macular spots on intervals 6–8. Somewhat smaller species (18–19 mm). Species endemic in the Rift, inhabiting mountain areas along the Malawi Lake, Malawi, Tanzania: Mbeya .......................................... C. simplicicollis Burgeon, 1930 .

Figures

PLATE 4. Specimens of C. strachani group I-III, underside. 28. C. klugii (Hope, 1842) female: dorsal habitus (left), ventrites (right); 29. C. klugii (Hope, 1842) male (HT): dorsal habitus (left), ventrites (right); 30. C. tetrastigma milzi (Duvivier, 1891) male: dorsal habitus (left), ventrites (right); 31 a. C. latipennis Burgeon, 1930, male: dorsal habitus (left), ventrites (right); b. left metepisterum, oblique ventral view; 32. C. strachani strachani (Hope, 1842) HT (male): dorsal habitus (left), detail with aedeagus (right); 33 a. C. latemaculatus Alluaud, 1930 HT (female): dorsal habitus (left), ventrites (right); b. left metepisternum, oblique ventral view; left metepisternum outined in yellow.

PLATE 9. Craspedophorus strachani group, C. ruficrus complex. Elytra (left humerus from oblique view): Fig. 61 c. C. glaber Bates, 1886, male, Cameroon; Fig. 67 b. C. ruficrus (Chaudoir, 1861) female Guinea Equatorial. Fig. 68 b. C. lemariei n. sp. HT (male); Fig. 69 b; C. dicranulothorax n. sp., HT (female). Fig. 72. Pronotum in different species of the C. strachani group (design), a-c. C. strachani s. str. subgroup, d, e) C. muata subgroup.

FIGURE 135. Distribution of the Craspedophorus strachani group (II) in the Afrotropical Region. A) 1 – 3 C. ruficrus (Chaudoir, 1861): 1) Cameroon, South: Grand Batanga; 2) “ Rio Muni, Biafra ” (= Guinea Equatorial, Litoral): San Juan Cape; 3) “ Gabon français ” (= Gabon, HT); B) C. dicranulothorax n. sp.: 4) Cameroon, Southwest: Buea (HT). C) 5 – 7 C. glaber Bates, 1886: 5) Cameroon, Centre: Yaoundé; 6) Southwest (HT): ne Bakingili; 7) “ Old Calabar ”. (= Calabar, southeastern Nigeria: Cross River). D) C. lafertei Murray, 1857: 8 (= 7) “ Old Calabar ”. E) C. lemariei n. sp.: 9) Gabon, “ Lac Zonanghé ” (= Onangue Lake, Moyen-Ogooué); F) 10 – 12 C. phenacoides n. sp.: 10) Cameroon, Centre: Mbalmayo env.; 11) East: Lomie env., PT; Littoral: Edéa env., HT.