Stegopterus lamellus, Ricchiardi & Perissinotto & Strümpher, 2025

Stegopterus lamellus sp. nov.

Fig. 12 View Figure 12

Type material.

Holotype. South Africa – WCP • ♂; Cloete’s Pass ; Oct. 1937; SAMC: SAM-COL-A 043587 .

Paratypes. South Africa – WCP • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; SAMC: SAM-COL-A 043587 • 3 ♂ Vreyersberg ; Oct. 1937; SAMC: SAM-COL-A 043586 .

Diagnosis.

Stegopterus lamellus sp. nov. differs from S. septus , the closest species, by its protibia being externally tridentate, with the first two teeth closer to each other than to the third and the metatibia lower spur being shorter than the upper (about 73 %). Its antennae are peculiar, with clubs longer than the clypeus l (1.7 times) and notably bent in their apical third. The shape of its parameres is also distinctive (Fig. 12 F, G View Figure 12 ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Measurements. Total length = 12.9 mm; maximum width = 6.8 mm. Body. Stocky, with a melolonthinoid shape; black to brownish, with greenish-purple metallic hue on head, pronotum and scutellum; pygidium black with greenish-purple metallic hue; antennae brownish; elytra fulvous with lateral margins, fringed with thin black band and another larger black band with greenish-purple metallic hue along sutural margin and juxtascutellar area, widening on juxtascutellar-sutural side; humeral humbones prominent. Head. Clypeus glabrous but vertex with long, scattered, testaceous setae; clypeus wider than long (2.2 times), hollowed, covered with thick, round punctures, confluent at sides; anterior margin slightly retuse, broadly and mildly indented at centre; anterior corner rounded (about 40–55 % of clypeal length); lateral margins strongly reborded and slightly narrowing towards base; antennal clubs longer than clypeus (1.7–1.8 times), markedly bent at apical one-third. Pronotum. Wider than long, with maximum width posteriorly; covered with thick, long, testaceous setae and deep round punctures, sometimes irregularly confluent at sides. Scutellum. Glabrous, covered with dense, round punctures. Elytra. With apicosutural corner rounded and posterior border exhibiting some scattered, round punctures; discal striae visible and punctuated with large, round, locally confluent punctures; second interstria with or without short line of round points at middle. Pygidium. Wider than long, surface imbricate, covered with long, testaceous, scattered and flattened setae. Legs. Black; protibia externally tridentate, distal two teeth closer to each other than to third; mesotibia curved ventrally, with upper spur straight and lower one-third shorter; second metatarsal segment as long as first. Venter. Abdomen black, with greenish metallic hue, covered with very long, backwards flattened testaceous setae.

Type series variability.

All the type specimens are identical; however, in all four paratypes, the pygidium is dark fulvous rather than brown-black like in the holotype.

Etymology.

The name of this species is derived from the unique and typical shape of its antennal clubs. Adjective in the nominative singular case.

Distribution.

The few available records indicate that this species may be restricted to the mountain area between the southeastern end of the Langeberg and the western section of the Outeniekwaberge (Fig. 21 View Figure 21 ).

Remarks.

The female is unknown and there is no available information on the biology / ecology of this species.