Derelomus baka Haran, 2025

Derelomus baka Haran sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Fig. 27 View Fig

Diagnosis

In the D. ephippiger group, this species can be distinguished by the combination of a rostrum distinctly longer than the pronotum in lateral view, the concolorous club and the elytra with a single dark spot near the middle of the suture. This species is close to D. antonioui , but in the latter species, the protibiae lack a comb of erect setae in the male and the body of the penis is more elongate.

Etymology

The species is dedicated to the Baka people, semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers of central Africa, including Cameroon. These people live in a remarkable and non-destructive equilibrium with forest ecosystems enabling the maintaining of the high biodiversity of these biomes.

Material examined

Holotype

CAMEROON • ♂; “ Foumbot [ 5°30′21.6″ N 10°38′02.4″ E]; fév. [February] 67 [1967]” “Cameroun; B. de Miré [P. Bruno de Miré, french entomologist]” “Holotype ♂; Derelomus baka ; Haran, 2025”; MNHN.

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Description ( ♂)

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 3.0 mm.

COLOR. Body integument pale brown, apex of rostrum and reversed triangular spot extending on middle of length of interstriae 1–4 dark brown, head and pronotum darker than elytra; elytra and pronotum with minute recumbent whitish setae, glabrous in appearance.

HEAD. Rostrum distinctly longer than pronotum in lateral view (1.22 ×), slightly and regularly downcurved; in dorsal view about 4.5 × as long as wide, integument densely punctate, forming 5 longitudinal carinae; antennae inserted near apical ¼ of length; head capsule densely punctate in dorsal view, forehead slightly concave; eyes convex, exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with first segment 2× as long as wide, slightly longer than segments 2–3 together, 3–7 transverse.

PRONOTUM. Wider than long (W: L ratio: 1.32), widest near base, slightly narrower there than elytra at humeral angles (0.85×), side slightly rounded, converging apicad, forming a small notch near middle of length; apical constriction as deep as width of scape in middle of length; integument with punctures rounded, space between punctures rough, shiny, micropunctate, generally narrower than diameter of punctures in middle.

METATHORAX. Metanepisterna with recumbent white setae, non-contiguous.

ELYTRA. Longer than wide (W: L ratio: 0.76); sides convex, widest near middle of length; humeri raised; apex rounded, notched at level of suture; striae with punctures about ⅓ to ¼ as wide as width of interstriae; interstriae flat or slightly convex, 5 raised into carina; scutellar shield rounded, concolorous, coated with small recumbent scales not concealing integument.

ABDOMEN. Underside uniformly pale brown, with minute recumbent whitish setae, not contiguous.

LEGS. Profemora moderately thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, internal bisinuate, with comb of erect setae on apical ½ of length, setae longer than a claw; claws simple.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W:L ratio: 0.27), about 1.5 × as long as apodemes; sides subparallel in basal ⅔ of length, converging in apical ⅓ in dorsal view, forming short spatula in apical 1/7, apex rounded; in lateral view curvature stronger in basal ⅓ of length, width narrowing regularly from middle of length, apex bisinuate ( Fig. 27C View Fig ).

Life history

Host plant unknown, the holotype was collected in February.

Distribution

Cameroon.

Remarks

A unique male specimen is known for this species. The stridulatory plate was damaged during the dissection and is therefore not displayed.