Africaphes, Jałoszyński, 2025

Africaphes gen. nov.

Type species: Africaphes quadripunctatus sp. nov. (here designated).

Diagnosis. Body ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 ) with distinct constriction between head and pronotum and between pronotum and elytra; thick bristles present on lateral genal regions and lateral regions of pronotum ( Figs 8–9 View FIGURES 8–9 ); head ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ) with transverse frontovertexal region; eyes situated closer to mandibular bases and antennal fossae than to occipital constriction ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ); antennal fossae narrowly separated at middle by distance subequal to width of scape; antenna ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 ) with trimerous club and rimmed circular structures of unknown function on all flagellomeres ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 3–7 ); frontoclypeal groove lacking; frontal region in both sexes with pair of pits behind supraantennal tubercles ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ); posterior margin of vertex ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ) not bulging posterodorsad, weakly impressed at middle; submental region ( Figs 8–9 View FIGURES 8–9 ) demarcated laterally by deep and posteriorly converging lateral submental sulci, area between sulci subtriangular; hypostomal sulci ( Figs 8–9 View FIGURES 8–9 ) extending posterad behind hypostomal regions to level of posterior tentorial pits, each dividing genal region into setose lateral (outer) part and asetose inner part; occipital constriction much narrower than width of vertexal region ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ); maxillary palpomere 3 ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 17–19 ) not enlarged (i.e., not clearly broader than scape); labrum with two sublateral ventral rows of peg-like labral sensilla ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 10–13 ); pronotum ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ) approximately round, broadest near middle, with two pairs of antebasal pits, lacking lateral and sublateral carinae; prosternum ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ) with precoxal region much shorter than procoxal rests, with narrow, weakly elevated prosternal carina in natural position hidden between procoxae; notosternal sutures ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ) complete; procoxal cavities ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ) closed by postcoxal prosternal lobe overlapped by (but not fused with) postcoxal mesal lobe of hypomeron; hypomeral ridges ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ) lacking but inner region of each hypomeron differs from outer setose region in lacking setae; mesoventral intercoxal process ( Figs 14–15 View FIGURES 14–16 ) carinate, weakly elevated, narrow and extending from middle of mesoventral procoxal rests to level of posterior margins of mesocoxae, posteriorly fused with metaventrite; posterior margins of mesocoxal rests ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 14–16 ) with dense setae; metaventral intercoxal process ( Figs 14–15 View FIGURES 14–16 ) composed of pair of narrow pointed katepisternal spines narrowly separating metacoxae; each elytron ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ) with two deep asetose basal foveae; mesoscutellar shield exposed between elytral bases ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 3–7 ); aedeagus ( Figs 20–25 View FIGURES 20–25 ) with symmetrical thin-walled median lobe and asymmetrical endophallus composed of elongate sclerites, with subapical ventral ostium and with free, slender parameres. Males with secondary sexual characters on vertexal region of head, with circular or elongate glandular pits and/or tubercles.

Description. Body form ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 ) elongate, moderately slender, strongly convex, with distinct constrictions between head and pronotum and between pronotum and elytra; in known species body length ~ 1 mm.

Head ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 , 8–9 View FIGURES 8–9 , 17 View FIGURES 17–19 ) only slightly narrower than prothorax, distinctly transverse; compound eyes situated much closer to mandibular bases and antennal fossae than to occipital constriction, genal regions in dorsal view (= tempora) rounded; vertex not bulging posterodorsad, confluent with frons, its posterior margin demarcated from occiput and slightly impressed at middle. Occipital constriction ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 17–19 ; occ) much narrower than vertexal region; ‘neck’ broadening posterad. Antennal fossae small and situated anterolaterally, narrowly separated at middle by median longitudinal frontal area subequal to width of scape. Frontoclypeal groove lacking; clypeus short, subtrapezoidal, with lateral margins converging towards labrum. Genal region ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–9 ; gen) on each side of head divided by long ventral longitudinal or oblique extension of hypostomal sulcus ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–9 ; hs) into asetose inner and setose outer area. Gular plate ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–9 ; gp) subtrapezoidal, covered with transverse microsculpture, with indistinct gular sulci clearly discernible only in anteriormost region; posterior tentorial pits ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–9 ; ptp) situated slightly in front of transverse impression demarcating ventrally ‘neck’ region, each elongate and narrow.

Submentum ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–9 ; smn) subtriangular, laterally demarcated by deep lateral submental sulci ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–9 ; lss) converging posterad; mentum ( Figs 10–11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; mn) subtrapezoidal, broadest near base; prelabium ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 17–19 ; prl) short, with pair of small lateral premental sclerites ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 10–13 ; prms), each bearing minute seta; region between and anterior to insertions of labial palps (ligula) broader than width of palpiger and anteriorly bearing pair of setae; labial palpomere 1 ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 10–13 ; lp1) annulate, palpomere 2 ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 10–13 ; lp2) broader than 1 and strongly elongate, palpomere 3 ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 10–13 ; lp3) narrow, elongate and distinctly shorter than 2, tapering distad and straight. Maxilla with small transverse cardo ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; cd), subtriangular basistipes ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; bst), elongate mediostipes ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; mst), elongate lacinia ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; lac) and galea ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; gal), each with thick and not very numerous setae along distomesal margin, palpifer ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; ppf) elongate, maxillary palp with distinctly elongate and subcylindrical palpomere 1 ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; mxp1), long, clavate and weakly curved palpomere 2 ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; mxp2), elongate and relatively slender palpomere 3 ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; mxp3), and minute subconical and conspicuously slender palpomere 4 ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; mxp4). Mandibles ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 10–13 ; md) symmetrical, each broadly subtriangular, with short and broad minute mesal teeth. Labrum strongly transverse, slightly emarginate anteriorly, and with sparse, symmetrically distributed dorsal setae; ventrally with two sublateral groups of four peg-like labral sensilla ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 10–13 ).

Antenna ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 , 5 View FIGURES 3–7 ) short in relation to body length, slender, with scape and pedicel each elongate and slightly broader than proximal flagellomeres; antennal clubs trimerous and slender. Each flagellomere with several large circular rimmed impressions of unknown function (modified campaniform sensilla?).

Males with secondary sexual modifications on vertexal region ( Figs 4, 7 View FIGURES 3–7 ) in form of presumably glandular pits or elongate inflections and/or modified setae.

Prothorax in dorsal view ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ) approximately round, broadest near middle. Anterior and lateral margins confluent, without anterior angles; lateral margins rounded; posterior corners feebly marked, blunt; posterior margin weakly bisinuate or weakly convex posteriorly. Pronotal base with two pairs of distinct circular antebasal pits, lacking sublateral and lateral carinae. Lateral regions of pronotum with thick bristles. Hypomeral ridges lacking, but asetose inner region of hypomeron clearly differs from setose outer region ( Figs 8–9 View FIGURES 8–9 ). Prosternum ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ; pst) about as long as 1/3 length of prothorax, with precoxal region much shorter than coxal rests; notosternal sutures ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ; nss) complete. Prosternal process developed as weakly elevated narrow carina in intact specimens hidden between procoxae; posterior margin of furcasternum with shallow median emargination. Procoxal cavities ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 17–19 ; pcc) broadly closed; postcoxal hypomeral lobe overlapping (but not fused to) postcoxal prosternal lobe.

Mesonotum with broadly subtriangular scutellar shield ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 3–7 ; mss) visible between elytral bases in intact specimens.

Mesoventrite transverse, with short prepectus, transverse and setose anteromedian impressions functioning as procoxal rests ( Figs 14–15 View FIGURES 14–16 , 19 View FIGURES 17–19 ; pcr) separated at middle by anterior extension of carinate mesoventral intercoxal process ( Figs 14–15 View FIGURES 14–16 , 19 View FIGURES 17–19 ; msvp), its posterior end fused with metaventrite.

Metanotum not studied.

Anterior region of pterothorax with one pair of moderately deep ventral foveae ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–19 ; vf).

Metaventrite ( Figs 14–15 View FIGURES 14–16 , 19 View FIGURES 17–19 ) with anterior metaventral process completely fused with mesoventral process; metaventral intermetacoxal process ( Figs 14–15 View FIGURES 14–16 , 19 View FIGURES 17–19 ; mtvp) composed of pair of long, slender and pointed katepisternal spines narrowly separating metacoxae. Posterior margins of mesocoxal rests with dense setae. Metanepisterna and metepimera fully demarcated and narrow, not exposed in ventral view. Metendosternite with slender and strongly diverging lateral furcal arms ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 17–19 ; lfa) inserted on short subquadrate stem.

Legs ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 ) short, lacking peculiar features, all femora clavate, tarsi ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 14–16 ) with massive claws.

Elytra ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 , 3, 6 View FIGURES 3–7 ) together oval, with elongate humeral calli, each elytron with two deep asetose basal foveae ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 3–7 ; bef) well-discernible in intact specimens.

Hind wings functional.

Abdomen lacking peculiar characters.

Aedeagus ( Figs 20–25 View FIGURES 20–25 ) with symmetrical and thin-walled median lobe, ventral subapical ostium, weakly sclerotized and asymmetrical endophallic structures with tubular flagellum, and slender parameres with setose apices.

Etymology. Africaphes combines the continent name with - phes used in generic names of several Stenichnini. Gender masculine.

Composition and distribution. Africaphes includes two nominal species known to occur in Burundi and Rwanda; one specimen presumably representing one more species from Rwanda was also seen.

Remarks. Africaphes is externally most similar to the cosmopolitan Microscydmus , but clearly differs in deep lateral submental sulci, which Microscydmus lacks. Moreover, Microscydmus has partly obliterated notosternal sutures visible only near the procoxal cavity and at the anterior prosternal margin (notosternal sutures complete in Africaphes ), and complete hypomeral ridges (lacking in Africaphes ) (for characters of Microscydmus , see Jałoszyński (2014, 2015b, 2017) and Jałoszyński & Newton (2017)). The only other continental Afrotropical genus with lateral submental sulci is Stenichnodes . Morphology of this genus was described and illustrated in Jałoszyński (2015c). Stenichnodes differs from Africaphes in numerous characters:eyes situated posteriorly, closer to occipital constriction than to mandibular bases (anteriorly, closer to mandibular bases in Africaphes ), the occipital constriction about as wide as vertexal region (much narrower in Africaphes ), the lack of ‘stenichnine bristles’ (present in Africaphes ), complete hypomeral ridges (lacking in Africaphes ), each elytron with one vestigial basal fovea (two deep foveae in Africaphes ), and a peculiar structure of the aedeagus, which has a basal membranous area bearing a median lentiform sclerotized plate internally connected to a long apodeme aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the aedeagus, to which a muscle (membranous area retractor) is attached (in Africaphes membranous area is ventral and subapical, lentiform sclerotized plate and internal apodeme are lacking).

Africaphes can be distinguished from all world Stenichnini genera by a combination of synapomorphies: antennae with trimerous clubs; eyes situated anteriorly; occipital constriction much narrower than vertex; genal regions divided by posterior extensions of hypostomal sulci into mesal asetose and outer setose portions; lateral submental sulci present; pronotum with two pairs of antebasal pits, lacking lateral carinae; prosternum demarcated from hypomera by complete notosternal sutures, precoxal region of prosternum vestigial; hypomeral ridges lacking; mesoventral intercoxal process carinate and fused with metaventrite; metaventral intermetacoxal process composed of a pair of spines narrowly separating metacoxae; each elytron with two asetose basal foveae; and aedeagus with parameres. The only structure found in Africaphes and not known in any other Stenichnini is a unique set of large circular rimmed impressions on each flagellomere, found by SEM studies in both included species.

Africaphes can be identified using the following keys (to facilitate identifications a separate key to only Afrotropical continental genera is given after a worldwide key). Reasons why some genera are not included in the key, and some names are treated as possible synonyms pending clarification, were discussed in Jałoszyński (2024a).