Afromicracis setifera

Afromicracis setifera (Schedl, 1957)

(Figs 14, 17, 20, 54)

Mimips setifer Schedl, 1957 (original spelling)

Mimiocurus setifer (Schedl, 1957) (combination by Wood 1984)

Mimiophthorus setifer (Schedl, 1957) (combination by Schedl 1979, a generic synonym of Mimiocurus by Wood (1984)

Type material. Lectotype, sex?: [Tanzania] Tanganyika, Lushoto [GIS: -4.77, 38.31], 15.X.1955, JCM Gardner (NHMW). Paratype (1): same data as HT (NHMW).

Diagnosis. Length 1.2–1.5 mm, 2.4–2.6 × as long as wide. Frons flattened, smooth, shiny and impunctate on lower central half, sharply granulated above, with scant, short setae; eyes separated above by 3 × their width; antennal club glabrous and shiny on basal three-fourth, with one procurved suture near apical margin. Pronotal asperities on anterior half mainly separated, subcontiguous at summit; vestiture hairlike. Elytral striae not impressed, interstriae with spatulate and partly truncated setae spaced by their length, strial setae minute. Protibiae with three lateral and apical denticles. Ventral setae several times longer than elytral setae.

Distribution. Congo (new country), Tanzania.

New records. Tanzania, Morogoro province, Uluguru Mts., Tchenzema vill. S07°06’44’’, E037°36’16’’ [-7.10, 37.61], 13.xi.2010, 2258 m, sifting 14, V. Grebennikov, leg. (1, ZMUB); Congo, Massif Ruwenzori, Kirivata (Migeri) [GIS: 0.26, 29.79], 1760 m, 20.iv.1953, P. Vanschuyetbroeck & J. Kekenbosch (RMCA).

Remarks. Additional specimens to the holotype were collected in the Uluguru mountains in Tanzania, and Congo west of the Ruwenzori, both between 1700 and 2300 m altitude. The record from Congo is a new country record. The type locality in the Usambara mountains is situated at 1500 m altitude. Schedl (1977) reported this species, subsequent to his original description, as Dendrochilus setifer and the type is also located together with Dendrochilus (sensu Schedl) in the NHMW collection. This species is very similar to A. jasminae but is clearly differentiated by the sharp granules on the upper frons. A more complete sampling of males and females from A. mikaniae, A. jasminae and A. setifera is needed to confirm species status for this complex.