Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri Opitz, 2017

Opitz, Weston, 2017, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Orthopleurinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part VI. The New Genera Coadnatus Opitz, Furcadia Opitz, and Latupusillus Opitz, One New Species of Funicula Opitz, and Four New Species of Romanaeclerus Winkler, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (3), pp. 421-433 : 431

Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri Opitz , new species ( Figs. 2 , 28 , 34 , 38 )

Type Material. Holotype: ♀. ZIMBABWE, 27. XI.2006, Masvingo Pr, Lake Mutirikwe ( Lake Kyle , 20.12S – 31.00E, P. Schüle leg ( RGCM) . Paratypes: Two specimens . REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwa Zulu-Natal , SW Magudu 27°34 ′ S- 31°35 ′ W, 4– 5.1.2009, P. Schüle leg ( WOPC, 1); KWZ Natal, Ndumo Nat. Res, 2654S 3218E, 12.12.2010, at light, 106 m, Ruth Müller ( TMSA, 1) .

Diagnosis. The members of this species are very similar to those of Romanaeclerus adustus Opitz , but in specimens of R. gerstmeieri the funicular antennomeres are more pronouncedly serrate.

Description. Size: Length 6.0 mm; width 2.3 mm. Form: As in Fig. 34 . Color: Black, except maxillae, labium, antennae, and abdomen testaceous. Head: Antennal capitulum well-developed ( Fig. 2 ), capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 transverse, antennomere 11 suboval, funicular antennomeres progressively more serrate; maxillary and labial terminal palpomeres digitiform; eyes much narrower than frons (EW/FW = 20/45). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 28 ) transverse (PW/PL = 120/95), lateral margins evenly arcuate; asetiferous elytral punctation small and extending to elytral apex, punctation subseriate, interstitial spaces smooth and shiny; sutural margin narrows to elytral apex. Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform.

Variation. Size: Length 4.0–6.0 mm; width 1.3–2.3 mm. Except for body size, the type specimens are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. The type specimens were collected during November, December, and January; one was taken at a blacklight at 106 m.

Distribution. This species is known from Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa ( Fig. 38 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet gerstmeieri is a dedicative patronymic to honor Roland Gerstmeier for his many contributions to Cleridology.

Figures

Figs. 1–20. Antennae and male genitalia. Antennae: 1) Coadnatus sakaii; 2) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri; 3) Furcadia sandala, female; 4) Romanaeclerus quadratus; 5) F. sandala, male; 6) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 7); Romanaeclerus vitellinus; 8) Funicula albocapilla; 9) Latupusillus laculatus. Aedeagi and spicular fork: 10) F. albocapilla, phallus; 11) F. albocapilla, tegmen; 12) F. albocapilla, spicular fork; 13) F. sandala, spicular fork; 14) F. sandala, phallus; 15) F. sandala, tegmen; 16) C. sakaii, tegmen, dorsal view; 17) C. sakaii, phallus; 18) C. sakaii, tegmen, ventral view; 19) R. vitellinus, phallus; 20) R. vitellinus, tegmen, ventral view.

Figs. 21–28. Pronota, dorsal view. 21) Funicula albocapilla; 22) Romanaeclerus quadratus; 23) Furcadia sandala; 24) Romanaeclerus vitellinus; 25) Coadnatus sakaii; 26) Latupusillus laculatus; 27) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 28) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri.

Figs. 33–36. Habitus. 33) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 34) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri; 35) Romanaeclerus quadratus;

Fig. 38. Geographic distribution of Romanaeclerus vitellinus, Romanaeclerus quadratus, and Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri.