Philhammus ambouli Schawaller and Steiner, 2018

Schawaller, Wolfgang & Steiner, Warren E., 2018, Philhammus ambouli Schawaller and Steiner (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Cnemeplatiini), New Species from Djibouti, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (1), pp. 129-133 : 129-132

Philhammus ambouli Schawaller and Steiner , new species

zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:12EC9BC5-B9AB-4392-B457-497DC71E2D18 ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type Material. Holotype, dissected male ( USNM), and one paratype ( SMNS) labeled “ DJIBOUTI: Djb. Region; Camp Lemonnier, E. end of base in scrub flats, 5 km SSE Djibouti, 11°32 ′ 38″N, 43°10 ′ 08″E, 2 m.; 13 May 2014 / At black [ultraviolet] light in open Prosopis & Acacia scrub on dry sandy soil; Colls. W. E. Steiner, S. W. Gotte, et al.” One paratype ( USNM) labeled “ DJIBOUTI: Arta Region; Ambouli River valley 5.5 km SW Balbala near Chabelley Airfield , 11°31 ′ 10″N, 43°04 ′ 52″E, 70 m.; 7 May 2014 / At black [ultraviolet] light, rocky edge of drying wadi, sparse Acacia scrub; W. E. Steiner, et al.”

Description. Body length 2.3–2.5 mm. Body and all appendages unicolorous yellow-brown, all surfaces dull ( Fig. 1 ). Head evenly covered with dense but nonconfluent granulation; margin of clypeus and genae with equally upturned margins and dentate (altogether about 20 teeth); clypeus with a pair of distinct impressions; genae not surpassing eyes; eyes large, with diameter of about length of last 2 antennomeres combined. Pronotum subquadrate, lateral margins parallel, anterolateral angles rounded and not protruding, posterolateral angles distinctly dentate; surface with same dense granulation as on head; disc with deep and nearly complete, medial, longitudinal furrow. Elytra 1.4 times longer than wide, with nonstriate rows of punctures; internal row of punctures somewhat impressed, so 1 st interval slightly convex, all other intervals completely flat; punctures of rows separated from each other by more than their diameter; surface of elytra smooth, with only traces of granules; microgranules visible along suture. Prosternum not prominent. Epipleura, metasternum, and ventrites with traces of fine granulation. Anterior tibiae very short, nearly as wide as long, broadly triangular with rounded inner apical corner and outer apical angle (burrowing tooth), this polished dorsally; outer margin sinuate; inner apical spur large, as long as tarsus, curved and polished (similarly described and illustrated by Medvedev (2005) for Philhammus brincki Ferrer [as P. triplehorni ]). Aedeagus ( Fig.2 ) 0.6 mm long, slender, gently curved dorsally; fused parameres parallel-sided along base to middle in dorsal view, gradually narrowing to a rounded apex; basal piece short, half length of parameres.

Diagnosis. Philhammus ambouli can be recognized by the shape of the pronotum with parallel sides, distinctly marked posterolateral angles, and nearly complete, medial, longitudinal impression. Philhammus ferenczi Kaszab, 1967 from central Africa is the only other known species of the genus with distinct posterolateral angles of the pronotum, but to a lesser extent. Additionally, in P. ferenczi the punctures of the elytral rows are closely spaced, the elytral intervals are slightly convex, and the pronotal medial impression is diminished. Philhammus aharonii (Reitter, 1910) from adjacent Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Israel has completely rounded posterior corners of the pronotum, the median furrow is limited to the basal third of the pronotum, the eyes are smaller, with the genae surpassing the eyes, and the elytra have denser rows of punctures as in P. ambouli . For other differences in general habitus, compare figures of other species ( Schawaller et al. 2014). The aedeagi of most species are unknown, so we cannot determine if the form of the genitalia in P. ambouli is distinctive or diagnostic. The aedeagus of a related North American species, Lepidocnemeplatia sericea (Horn) , has a similar slender form but is not parallel-sided, with the parameres narrowing from the base to the acuminate apex, and the basal piece is nearly as long as the parameres.

Etymology. Used here as a noun in apposition, Ambouli is the Latin-like name for the town near Camp Lemonnier, the type locality south of Djibouti City, and the river valley where one paratype was collected.

Figures

Fig. 1. Philhammus ambouli, paratype, dorsal and ventral views. Scale line = 1 mm.

Fig. 2. Philhammus ambouli, aedeagus of holotype, lateral and dorsal views. Length 0.6 mm.