Aphanocephalus Wollaston, 1874, 1873

Aphanocephalus Wollaston, 1874

Aphanocephalu s Wollaston, 1873: 278.

Type species: Aphanocephalus hemisphaericus Wollaston, 1873 – by monotypy.

Eleopthreptus Blackburn, 1895: 235. Type species: Eleopthreptus punctulatus Blackburn, 1895 – by monotypy. Synonymized by Arrow 1920: 3.

Redescription. Length 1.2–2.5 mm. Body broadly ovate ( Figs 7J View FIGURE 7 , 8E View FIGURE 8 ) to elongate ( Figs 7C View FIGURE 7 , 9C View FIGURE 9 ), sub-hemispherical ( Fig. 8D, F View FIGURE 8 ) to more or less flattened ( Figs 7D View FIGURE 7 , 9D View FIGURE 9 ); dorsal surfaces covered with short or long hairs (sometimes hairs are very short and surface appears glabrous – Figs 7J, L View FIGURE 7 , 8C, D View FIGURE 8 ), decumbent or suberect.

Head deeply retracted into prothorax and often concealed from above by pronotum ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ), with well-developed temples about twice as long as length of an eye. Eyes small, elliptical, distinctly protuberant, coarsely facetted ( Figs 1I View FIGURE 1 , 2B, D View FIGURE 2 ), without interfacetal setae. Antennal insertions in front of eyes, widely separated and exposed from above ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ). Subantennal grooves well developed, deep, extending slightly behind eyes ( Figs 2C, D, E View FIGURE 2 ). Usually, a pair of glandular openings present close to inner margin of antennal socket ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ). Frontoclypeal suture distinct, straight to slightly arcuate posteriorly ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ). Clypeus large, slightly rostrate, expanded laterally ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ), together with genal extensions (lateral ridges) forming a frame surrounding mouthparts ( Figs 2C, D, E View FIGURE 2 ); clypeal apex truncate to emarginate ( Fig. 1I View FIGURE 1 ). Labrum free, strongly transverse, broadly rounded or sub-truncate apically ( Figs 1I View FIGURE 1 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Antennae 9-segmented with a 1-segmented club ( Figs 2B, G View FIGURE 2 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Mandible sub-triangular, bidentate apically; incisor area with one subapical tooth very close to apex; mola well developed without molar tooth; prostheca well developed, mostly membranous with distinct fringe of setae, but on left mandible an additional tridentate or quadridentate sclerotised projection is present ( Fig. 3F, G View FIGURE 3 ) (reduced on right mandible – Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ). Maxilla ( Figs 2A View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ) with semicircular cardo, stipes with well visible sutures between palpifer, basistipes and mediostipes; with setose galea and slightly narrower, setose lacinia, the latter without uncus. Maxillary palp with four palpomeres ( Figs 2A View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ); first very small, reduced; second large, inflated; third reduced, ring-like; apical one somewhat conical. Submentum tansverse ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ); mentum transverse ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ), rectangular, anterolateral portions slightly depressed to accommodate labial palps in repose, median sub-triangular portion slightly prominent; prementum sub-rectangular to elongate with anterior margin broadly rounded and slightly expanded laterally ( Figs 2A View FIGURE 2 , 3D View FIGURE 3 ); ligula setose; labial insertions placed basally, separated by a narrow carina. Labial palp with three palpomeres ( Figs 2A View FIGURE 2 , 3D View FIGURE 3 ); first very small, reduced, ring-like; second large, inflated; apical one somewhat conical. Corpotentorium present ( Fig. 3H View FIGURE 3 ), anterior tentorial bridge absent. Cervical sclerites absent.

Prothorax. Pronotum transverse, widest at base ( Figs 1D–F View FIGURE 1 ); anterior margin arcuate posteriorly, lateral margins moderately ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ) to strongly ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ) rounded, narrowly explanate, posterior margin strongly sinuate; lateral pronotal carinae complete, without raised margin or bead, anterior (except A. bimaculatus – Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ) and posterior margins not bordered; anterior angles broadly rounded, not produced, posterior angles acute; pronotal disc simple. Lateral pronotal margins with two pairs of glandular pores ( Figs 1D, E View FIGURE 1 ), one at anterior angle and one near base. Notosternal sutures absent; notosternal ridge visible ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ) or indistinct ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Prosternum moderately to distinctly longer than procoxal cavity ( Figs 2C–E View FIGURE 2 ), flattened or slightly convex; anterior prosternal margin broadly arcuate posteriorly. Prosternal process broad, broader than visible procoxal diameter; prosternal apex broadly laterally expanded ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ), posteriorly closing procoxal cavity; surface flat with apex depressed to accommodate mesoventral process; without lateral carinae, sometimes with short subparallel, lateral grooves ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Procoxal cavities circular, widely separated, externally closed, internally open. Procoxae with long concealed lateral extensions; trochantins concealed. Hypomeron smooth ( Figs 2C–E View FIGURE 2 ).

Pterothorax. Scutellar shield large, triangular and apically acute ( Figs 1A–C View FIGURE 1 ). Elytra with sides strongly rounded ( Figs 1A–C View FIGURE 1 ); disc irregularly punctate with punctures of double size ( Figs 1K, L View FIGURE 1 ), lateral edge with six glandular pores ( Fig. 1G View FIGURE 1 ), sometimes with additional row of pseudoporse ( Fig. 1H View FIGURE 1 ); lateral margins narrowly explanate, well visible throughout from above ( Figs 1A–C View FIGURE 1 ), anteriorly with oblique indentation to receive posterior corners of pronotum ( Fig. 1J View FIGURE 1 ). Epipleura broad ( Figs 1I, J View FIGURE 1 ), sharply defined and complete, inner margin with complete carina fading before base of elytra. Mesoventrite transverse, fused with mesanepisterna, sutures not visible ( Figs 2D, I View FIGURE 2 ); visible part of mesepimera very narrow, visible as a small triangle adjacent to postero-lateral portion of metaventrite ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ); anterior portion of mesoventrite on much lower level than mesoventral junction, forming a transverse fold to accommodate posterior margin of prosternal process; externally visible anterior mesoventral margin broadly arcuate anteriorly ( Figs 2C–E, I View FIGURE 2 ); mesoventral process truncate. Mesocoxae with long concealed lateral extensions; trochantins concealed or absent. Mesocoxal cavities circular, laterally closed. Meso-metaventral suture visible, junction forming a straight ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ) or posteriorly arcuate line ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ). Metaventrite flat to slightly convex, without discrimen, with mesocoxal marginal line complete or almost complete laterally ( Figs 2D, J View FIGURE 2 ); exposed portion of metanepisternum very long and narrow ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ), sometimes hardly visible ( Fig. 2J View FIGURE 2 ) or only in posterior part. Metacoxae strongly transverse but mostly concealed by metaventrite and appearing globular, widely separated. Metendosternite with transverse stalk ( Fig. 4E View FIGURE 4 ), with long lateral arms, without laminae or anterior process and with anterior tendons not apparent. Hind wing well-developed.

Legs with trochanters large, narrowly sub-triangular ( Figs 2C, D, I View FIGURE 2 ); femora stout ( Figs 2C, I View FIGURE 2 ), grooved for reception of tibiae in repose ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ); tibiae slender, tibial spurs absent; tarsal formula 3-3-3 ( Fig. 2H View FIGURE 2 ); tarsomeres simple; pretarsal claws simple or appendiculate; empodium bisetose ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ).

Abdomen with five free ventrites; ventrite 1 much longer than 2; intercoxal process slightly emarginated anteriorly ( Figs 2I, J View FIGURE 2 ). Ventrite 1 with metacoxal marginal lines present, separated medially, complete laterally ( Fig. 2J View FIGURE 2 ). Posterior margin of ventrite 5 in males roundly emarginate ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ), in females straight or rounded. Sternite VIII reduced to two lateral lightly sclerotized lamellae. Tergite VIII heavily sclerotized ( Figs 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ), with median groove forming an interlocking mechanism with elytra ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ), slightly bent downwards and visible from below, appearing as narrow, false ventrite 6. Functional spiracles on abdominal segments I–V.

Male terminalia and genitalia. Segments IX and X in male highly reduced and membranous ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ), without spiculum gastrale. Aedeagus symmetrical, lying on side when retracted; tegmen elongate, parameres absent or fused, tegminal strut reduced ( Figs 10–14B, C, E, F, H, I View FIGURE 10 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 View FIGURE 14 ); penis tubular, without penis capsule, stout, with apical sclerotized gonopore ( Figs 10–A, D, G View FIGURE 10 ).

Female terminalia and genitalia. Paraprocts reduced, membranous; proctiger narrow, in form of lightly sclerotized arc ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ); coxites elongate, subtriangular, narrow without styli ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ). Bursa copulatrix membranous ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ), sperm duct long, narrow originating apically; spermatheca slightly coiled, divided into two parts of various diameters ( Figs 15A–H View FIGURE 15 ), basal vermiform and apical bulbous like, with distinct stenosis between both parts.

Distribution. Afrotropic, Australasian and Oriental realms.