Type material. Total 12 specimens: HOLOTYPE, 1 ♂ in KSMA, point-mounted, labeled: “ KSA, Baha, Biljurashi, Al Qumma, N19°48.042' E41°41.978' Alt. 1963 m, 9.XII.2014, (HP), H.H. Fadl, M.S. Abdel-Dayem, A. Elgarbawy & I. Rasool ” / “ Holotype Afrotarus fadli sp. n.; det. I. Rasool, R.F.F.L. Felix, & M.S. Abdel-Dayem, 2015” [red label]. Paratypes: Total 11 specimens, sex and label data as follows. 1 ♂ 7 ♀, same as holotype”. 1 ♀, same as holotype except “ Biljurashi, Bani Kabir, N19°56.671' E41°32.145' Alt. 2164 m 14.IV.2016, I. Rasool ”. All paratypes with second label reading “ Paratype Afrotarus fadli sp. n.; det. I. Rasool, R.F.F.L. Felix, M.S. Abdel- Dayem, 2015” [yellow label] [KSMA].
1 ♂ same as holotype except “ 2.I.2012, (HP), M. El Hawagry” [RMNH].
Specific epithet. The specific epithet is a Latinized noun in the genitive case in the masculine form based on honorific name Prof. Hassan H. Fadl (one of the collector’s name).
Recognition. This new species can be distinguished from those of other species of the genus by the combination of characters like, head and pronotum rufo–testaceous, finely and sparsely punctate; pronotum not transverse but about as long as wide, lateral margin with one pair of setae before anterior angles, hind angles widely rounded not protruded; elytra with fine yellow pubescence; aedeagus hooked apically.
Description.
Habitus. body forms (Figs. 20, 21), elongate subovoid species, TBL male 8.5–8.9 mm, female 9–10 mm.
Colour. head, mouthparts, antennae, pronotum and ventrum rufo–testaceous except mandibles which are darkened apically; margins of frons and clypeus black; elytra pale testaceous, with brunneous spot along the suture turning up from the apex up to the middle of elytra leaving one or two lateral intervals, sometimes bands joined with suture at post middle leaving pale testaceous spot near apex and suture; legs pale testaceous.
Microsculpture. head, elytra and ventrum smooth; labrum with mesh pattern isodiametric; short transverse microlines effaced on disc of pronotum along median longitudinal impression.
Luster. body shiny.
Head. elongate (Fig. 9), HL 1.75–1.95 mm, HW 1.55–1.75 mm; finely punctate along with micropuncture; two pairs of supraorbital setae present; neck constricted; temples long with irregular pubescence; eyes small and less prominent; two ridges near eyes reaching to clypeo-ocular surface; clypeus and labrum transverse, almost equal in size, surface of clypeus with few fine scattered punctures and a pair of lateral setae; anterior margin of labrum slightly concave, with row of hairs and median tooth of mentum broad and rounded at apex; antenna extending beyond base of pronotum by almost 3 antennomeres, antennomeres I, IV and XI equal in length, II shorter than others, III longer than others, V–X subequal but each one is shorter than I, IV and XI; pubescence of antennae starts from distal half of antennomere III.
Pronotum. as long as wide (Fig. 9), PL 1.62–1.85 mm, PW 1.62–1.85 mm; pronotal disc finely and sparsely punctate, median longitudinal impression clear and not deep; one pair of lateral setae before anterior angles, anterior margin slightly concave with rounded angles; lateral margins of pronotum constricted posteriorly but not sinuate, posterior angles not protruded, without setae, base of pronotum straight.
Elytra. elongate subovoid. EL 4.75–5.35 mm, EW 2.9–3.5 mm, widened posteriorly; disc of elytra densely pubescent, intervals strongly punctate, striae clear and deep; 18–19 setiferous pores situated on the interspace attached to striae VIII; humeri and lateral apical margin of elytra rounded, apex of elytra obliquely truncate, lateral margin elevated; epipleurae reaching up to apex, narrowed posteriorly.
Legs. elongate and slender; mesotibiae with row of spines on outer margin; tarsomere I in fore legs shorter than last, in mid legs equal, in hind legs longer; tarsomeres I–III of fore legs dilated in male; claws 3–4 denticulate at the middle.
Abdomen. six visible abdominal ventrites, very finely punctate, laterally pubescent; lateral margins of apical two ventrites with lateral setae; apical margin of last ventrite almost rounded in both sexes; surface of last abdominal segment with dense pubescence; 4 setiferous punctures at apical margin of ventrites, two medially and two laterally.
Aedeagus. shape of aedeagus (Fig. 15). In lateral view male genitalia gently curved, hooked apically; both ends narrowed, base thicker than apex; broadened in the middle; apical plat sharply narrowed.
Affinity. This new species seems to be most closely related to Afrotarus scotti (Basilewsky, 1948) based on body size and general appearance; but can be differentiated by combination of characters: head elongate, eyes small and slightly prominent, temples elongate, antennae surpassing base of pronotum by 3 antennomeres, mentum with median tooth broadly rounded apically; pronotum as long as wide, hind angles of pronotum not protruding, setae at hind pronotal angles absent, pronotal disc finely punctate; aedeagus hooked.
Geographical distribution. Known only from the type locality: National Park of Al Qumma, Biljurashi, Al Baha Provence, southwestern of Saudi Arabia (Fig. 29)
Ecological note. Apterous species that was collected from 1963 m elevation in mixed Juniper and Acacia woodland by hand (Fig. 28). All specimens were found under stones in moist and humid places. One beetle was also collected under the bark of tree. Adults seem to be crepuscular or nocturnal. The specimens were collected during December and January.