Pterotiltus apicalis Bolívar, 1905

5. Pterotiltus apicalis Bolívar, 1905 View in CoL

Fig. 15 View Fig

Pterotiltus apicalis Bolívar, 1905: 226 View in CoL .

Pterotiltus apicalis View in CoL – Kirby 1910: 387. — Ramme 1929: 315. — Johnston 1956: 258. — Dirsh 1965: 236. — Hollis 1975: 226, fig. 63; mentions apicalis View in CoL as an examined holotype, thus designating it as lectotype by inference of type.

non Pterotiltus apicalis View in CoL – Ramme 1929: 315 (erroneously synonomized, actually Pterotiltus nigroantennatus Bolívar 1908 nom. rev. et stat. nov.).

non Pterotiltus apicalis View in CoL – Ramme 1929: 315 (misidentified, Ramme erected Pterotiltus apicalis rubroantennatus View in CoL for this specimen, now P. rubroantennatus stat. nov.).

non Pterotiltus apicalis View in CoL – Johnston 1956: 258 (erroneously synonomized, actually Pterotiltus nigroantennatus Bolívar 1908 nom. rev. et stat. nov.).

non Pterotiltus apicalis View in CoL – Hollis 1975, fig. 63 (the figure shows an epiphallus, but no male specimen has ever been recorded, it is not known what species Hollis drew).

Type material

Lectotype

EQUATORIAL GUINEA • ♀; Bioko island , Sta. Isabel; [3°44′44″ N, 8°46′28″ E]; Jul. 1901; Escalera leg; MNCN; MNCN_Ent 119719 .

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Description

Bolívar’s original description (here in translation) is largely devoid of discriminating specific characters:

[Body blackish brown. Anterior part of head, pronotum (except for the large medial transverse surface), first abdominal segment, but not the apical half, yellow, the feet olive yellow; hind knee red; hind tibia olive, except for blue-black spines; condyle reddish with a small brown ring underneath it. Antenna brown with white tips. Eyes chestnut brown]. From the photo of the Madrid lectotype ( Fig. 15 View Fig ) the following addition can be made: posterior margin of 6 th abdominal segment, and all more distal segments of abdomen, red in colour.

The antennae were originally described as brown with white tips; Fig. 15 View Fig shows that the antennal tips have now aged to yellow-brown.

We could not borrow the lectotype and so are unable to refine further the original description.

Measurements

Bolívar (1905) gives the following values: length of body 22 mm; pronotum 4 mm; hind femur 14 mm.

Remarks

Photographs of the lectotype have been obtained ( Fig. 15 View Fig ), but the type itself could not be physically examined. Bolívar (1905) is explicit that his name “ apicalis ” referred to the pale colouration of the tips of the antennae of his type specimen. Unfortunately, this is a character that occurs repeatedly elsewhere in the genus, and so is not diagnostic of this species. His name does not refer to the striking red colouration of the tip of the abdomen or of the hind knees of his type specimen, as might otherwise be assumed. Since 1905, this name has been applied erroneously to several diverse specimens, that are here re-assigned to other taxa.

Distribution

Bioko was formerly known as Fernando Po, and Santa Isabel is now a district of Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea. As the lectotype is a female, and there are no other members of the type series, we have no knowledge of the male phallic structures or terminalia and therefore cannot determine whether this species is confined to Bioko, or occurs also on the nearby African mainland, e.g., in mainland Equatorial Guinea or in Cameroon or Gabon. However, there is currently no material from these countries to suggest that apicalis might be found there; at present it appears that apicalis is indeed endemic to Bioko.

Status of taxonomic material

Poor. Male unknown, unique lectotype female. Further collections of P. apicalis on Bioko, especially of males, are essential to define this species adequately.