Somoplatus morettoi Schüle 2009, sp. n.

Somoplatus morettoi sp. n.

Figs 3, 11, 19

Etymology: Dedicated to Philippe Moretto, French specialist in African Scarabaeidae and collector of the holotype.

Diagnosis: Distinguished by the presence of dorsal pubescence on basal tarsomeres of hind tarsi, which is unique within the genus.

Description:

Measurements: Length 4.0 mm, width 2.3 mm, width/length of pronotum 1.69.

Colour: Uniform light reddish brown.

Head: Wide, with large, protruding eyes; surface almost plain, frontal sulci shallow, subcircular, dimple-like. Vertex laterally along inner margin of eyes with some weak furrows. Surface of head with superficial fine microreticulation consisting of dense meshes and highly superficial punctation. Meshes isodiametric in central portions of vertex, longitudinal and narrow along lateral portions near inner margin of eyes.Antennae long, antennomeres approximately 2× longer than wide (Fig. 11).

Pronotum: Short and wide, base slightly wider than apex; lateral margin convex in apical half, slightly sinuate in basal portions, widest in front of the middle; apical angles protruding, rounded off; apical margin concave; basal angles distinct but blunt; base undulate, middle of base convex. Surface of pronotum with fine microreticulation consisting of dense transversal meshes, with distinct, fine regularly seta-bearing punctation. Base and apex on lateral portions indistinctly margined. Margin in middle portions of apex and base broadened. Marginal impression distinct, narrow near apical angle, broadly widened to the basal angles, ending in fairly deep dimple-like, basal impression which is situated near hind margin. Hind margin glabrous.

Elytra: Short and wide, gently widened to the apical third, laterally subparallel. Humeri widely rounded, basal margin indistinct, almost reaching scutellum. Apical truncature indistinct, apex oblique very gently sinuated, outer angles widely rounded off. Pubescence semidistant, long. Surface of elytra with fine microreticulation consisting of dense transversal meshes with distinct, fine, regularly seta-bearing punctation. Fully winged.

Median lobe of aedeagus: Median portion subparallel, tapering to apex, simply curved, apex ending in fairly long acuminate tip, orifice large on central-left side of apical fourth, inner sac with rectangular sclerotised element in orifice, partly with microserrulation and folds in relaxed position (Fig. 19).

Lower surface: Finely pubescent, pubescence fairly long. Prosternal process with 4 long distant setae.

Legs: As in generic diagnosis, hind tarsi with sparse pubescence on upper side.

Holotype: ♂ ‘ IVORY COAST, NE, Comoé National Park, v. 2000, Philippe Moretto leg., inside termite hill‘ (PSC).