Mentophilonthus seriatipennis (Bernhauer, 1928) stat. restit.

(Figs. 88–94)

Philonthus (Philonthus) seriatipennis Bernhauer, 1928: 114

Philonthus (Philonthus) seriatipennis: LEVASSEUR (1966: 211) (as synonym of Mentophilonthus dilutior Bernhauer, 1928).

Type locality. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mongende.

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE (here designated): ♁, ‘ Congo Belge, Mongende, 19.iv.1921, Schouteden, Chicago NHMus, M. Bernhauer, collection // Type Philonthus seriatipennis Bernhauer [ochre oblong label, handwritten]’ (FMNH). PARALECTOTYPE: ♁, same label data as holotype (FMNH).

Note. Original description mentions only locality data without the specification of number of specimens and designation of the holotype.As for M. schoutedeni (see above), I therefore consider both specimens as syntypes irrespective of the type indication attached to them and hereby designate the lectotype of this species.

Additional material examined. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: ‘Libenge, 29.iv.1948, R. Cremer & M. Neuman’ (LHPC).

Redescription. Body length 6.4–6.7 mm, length of fore body (to end of elytra) 3.0– 3.3 mm.

Colouration. Head black, pronotum, scutellum and abdomen black-brown, lateral margins of scutellum narrowly brown-yellow, posterior margin of all tergites narrowly red-brown, elytra dark brown, palpi and mandibles brown-yellow, antennae brown, antennomeres 1–2, femora and tarsi yellow-brown, tibiae somewhat darker.

Head as long as wide, lateral margins slightly rounded, eyes large and flat, slightly longer than temples (ratio 8: 7). Posterior angles each with two long, black bristles. Anterior margin of each eye with one coarse puncture, posterior margin of each eye with two coarse punctures, temporal area with several punctures of unequal size. Surface with distinct microsculpture consisting of transverse and oblique waves.

Antennae stout, reaching posterior third of pronotum when reclined.Antennomeres 1–3 and 11 longer than wide, antennomeres 4–5 as long as wide, antennomeres 6–10 slightly wider than long. Relative lengths of antennomeres: 1 = 7; 2 = 3.5; 3 = 3; 4–10 = 2.5; 11 = 3.5.

Pronotum highly convex, somewhat longer than wide (ratio 27: 25), slightly widened posteriad.Anterior angles obtusely rounded, posterior angles markedly rounded. Each dorsal row with two punctures, each sublateral row with one puncture, anterior puncture situated in anterior fourth, posterior puncture in posterior fourth of pronotum. Microsculpture similar to that on head.

Entire scutellum exceedingly finely and sparsely punctate, punctures smaller than eyefacets, separated by two puncture diameters in transverse direction.

Elytra combined wider than long (ratio 38: 29), distinctly widened posteriad, finely and densely punctate, punctures as large as eye-facets, separated mostly by a puncture diameter in transverse direction. Longitudinal row of four larger punctures situated at midwidth of each elytron. Surface between punctures without microsculpture. Setation greyish.

Legs. Metatibia somewhat longer than metatarsus (ratio 19: 17). Metatarsomere 1 as long as metatarsomeres 2–3 combined, metatarsomere 5 somewhat longer than metatarsomeres 3–4 combined. Relative lengths of metatarsomeres: 1 = 5; 2 = 3; 3 = 2; 4 = 1.5; 5 = 4.

Abdomen: First four visible tergites with two basal lines, elevated area between basal lines with scattered punctures. Punctation of visible tergites somewhat finer than that on elytra, surface without microsculpture. Setation of the same colour as that on elytra.

Male. Protarsomeres 1–3 simple, not conspicuously dilated, a little wider than long, protarsomere 4 very small. Sternite VIII (Fig. 92), sternite IX (Fig. 93) aedeagus (Figs. 94–91).

Female. Unknown.

Differential diagnosis. Mentophilonthus seriatipennis is very similar to M. tristichus, from which it may be distinguished by the darker maxillary and labial palpi, different punctation of the elytra and by the different shape of the aedeagus.

Note. Based on the examination of the type specimens of both species, P. seriatipennis and P. dilutior differ very distinctly in the shape of the male genitalia (compare Figs. 34–38 and 88–93). Therefore, I consider P. seriatipennis as a valid species and remove it from synonymy with M. dilutior.

Bionomics. Unknown.

Distribution. Democratic Republic of the Congo.