http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/eit.2015.13Q
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2015 • Karner M., Salvato G. & Uliana M.
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Research article
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 5212C89A-6BD1-4433-A841-9639830F 6E36
A new genus and new species of Telephanini
(Coleoptera: Silvanidae) from Gabon
Michael KARNER 1 *, Gi a nfranco SALVATO 2 & Marco ULIANA 3
1 Section Entomology I, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25,
D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
23 Museo di Storia Naturale, Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venezia, Italy.
1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:48E64F07-CDD3-4B4B-9C9A-24CBFCBBCB3D
2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:50EBE48B-63DA-427A-B3F4-0C852E7DF7A8
3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:D5BE9B7E-F44F-4CE8-9BFA-lF498B0382D7
Abstract. Anew genus and new species of Telephanini FeConte, 1861 are described based on specimens
recently collected by an Italian expedition to Gabon. Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov. is characterized
in particular by the presence of a longitudinal median groove along the head.
Key words. Africa, Silvanidae, Bolianus giannae , taxonomy
Karner M., Salvato G. & Uliana M. 2015. A new genus and new species of Telephanini (Coleoptera: Silvanidae)
from Gabon. European Journal of Taxonomy 130: 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/eit.2015.13Q
Introduction
In their diagnosis of Telephanini (Coleoptera, Silvanidae), Thomas & Nearns (2008) list nine genera
within the tribe. Aplatamus Grouvelle, 1912, Euplatamus Sharp, 1899 and Australophanus Thomas
& Nearns, 2008 are restricted to the New World, Indophanus Pal, 1981 was only found in India, and
species of Megapsammoecus Karner, 1995 were recorded from India and China, respectively. For
Africa, Madagascar and the Reunion Islands, members of three genera were recorded: Psammoecus
Fatreille, 1829, Telephanus Erichson, 1846 (Madagascar, Reunion) and Psammaechidius Fairmaire,
1882 (Madagascar). Cryptamorpha desjardinsi (Guerin-Meneville, 1844) is a cosmopolitan species
(Thomas & Nearns 2008); no other members, however, of Cryptamorpha Wollaston, 1854 have been
recorded from Africa; therefore, we don’t consider Cryptamorpha to be native to Africa.
A sample of beetles recently collected in Gabon by Silvano Biondi and Maurizio Pavesi contained a
remarkable new species of Telephanini, representing a new genus that is described here.
Material and Methods
The specimens were collected during expeditions to the National Park of Ivindo, Gabon, organized by
the Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento, Calimera, Italy in collaboration with CENAREST (Centre
National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, Gabon). The park is located in the northeastern
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European Journal of Taxonomy 130: 1-10 (2015)
part of Gabon at an altitude of about 500 m. The material was collected at light, close to the Ipassa
Research Station, in a somewhat degraded forest location (but surrounded by well-preserved primary
forest) in the northern part of the park. Durante (2012) provides more detailed information on the locality
and ecological circumstances.
For dissection of genitalia, the method described by Karner (2012) was used. One male paratype was
dissected for examination of mouthparts and coxal cavities. For photography, the dissected body parts
were temporarily embedded in glycerol gelatin to enable precise orientation. After study, structures were
embedded in dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde resin (Steedman 1958) on cellulose acetate labels and
attached to the pins of the respective specimens.
Observations and measurements were made with an Olympus SZX16 stereo microscope. Macro
photographs were taken with a Canon EOS 650D digital camera and an MP-E 65 mm macro objective.
Higher magnifications were obtained with Mitutoyo M Plan 10x and 20x apochromatic microscope
objectives mounted on Asahi Takumar 200 mm and Carl Zeiss MC Sonnar 135 mm telephoto lenses
in varying combinations. Photographs of genitalia were taken with a Canon EOS 650D digital camera
attached to an Olympus CH microscope. Images and image layers were processed with Zerene Stacker
(Version 1.04 Build T201311272225), Adobe Lightroom 5.7 and GIMP (Version 2.8.0) software.
Results
Taxonomy
Class Hexapoda Blainville, 1816
Order Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family Silvanidae Kirby, 1837
Subfamily Brontinae Erichson, 1845
Tribe Telephanini LeConte, 1861
Bolianus gen. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2D779708-0649-41F3-A501-0594D14F7775
Type species
Bolianus giannae sp. nov.
Differential diagnosis
Within the Telephanini, Bolianus gen. nov. is closely related to Psammaechidius Fairmaire, 1882, but
differs by the distinct median frontal groove, large eyes, short and moderately curved temples, maximum
width of pronotum near middle, and the tuberculate lateral margins of the pronotum.
Etymology
The peculiar median groove along the head prompted us to derive the generic name from the ‘Bohans’,
a fictitious species from the universe of the science fiction series ‘Star Trek’, characterized by a vertical
suture running along the midline of head and face.
Description
The genus shares the characteristics of Brontinae: Telephanini as described by Thomas & Nearns (2008),
plus: apical maxillary palpomere securiform (Fig. 7); apical labial palpomere large, rounded (Fig. 8);
antennal scape elongate; frons with two lateral lines and one median line; eyes large; temples evenly
curved, narrowed immediately behind eyes; maximum pronotal width near middle; lateral margins
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KARNER M. et al ., New genus Telephanini from Gabon (Africa)
of pronotum tuberculate; anterior coxal cavities closed (Fig. 9); anterior and middle coxae separated
narrowly (Fig. 10); scutellum with transverse carina; elytra with 10 rows of punctures; scutellary striole
present; 2 nd and 3 rd tarsomeres with single ventral lobe (Fig. 11); abdominal ventrites simple (Fig. 12);
aedeagus inverted, parameres well developed.
Bolianus giannae sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org: act: 668CE306-2286-429C-A65F -17CEE811417E
Figs 1-14
Diagnosis
As for genus.
Etymology
The species is dedicated by Gianfranco Salvato to his wife, Gianna Polo.
Material examined
Holotype
GABON: S, Ipassa-Makokou, 0°30’43” N, 12°48’13” E, 500 m, 25 Nov. 2013, leg. M. Pavesi (Museo
di Storia Naturale di Venezia, Venice, Italy).
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Fig. 1 . Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov.,
holotype, habitus. Scale bar = 2.0 mm.
European Journal of Taxonomy 130 : 1-10 ( 2015 )
Figs 2-4. Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov., holotype. 2. Head and pronotum. 3. Right antenna. 4. Detail
of head. Scale bars: 2-3 = 1.0 mm . 4 = 0.5 mm.
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KARNER M. et al ., New genus Telephanini from Gabon (Africa)
Paratypes (3c? c?, 3 $$)
GABON: 3 c?c?, 2 $ §, same data as holotype (1 $ [dissected] and 1 5 in coll. Museo di Storia Naturale
di Milano, Milan, Italy; 1 $ in coll. Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento, Calimera, Italy; 1 $ in
coll. Gianfranco Salvato; 1 $ in coll. Michael Kamer, later in coll. Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg,
Frankfurt, Germany); 1 §, same locality as holotype, 16 Feb.-l Mar. 2012, leg S. Biondi (in coll.
Silvano Biondi, Vicenza, Italy).
Description of holotype
Body (Fig. 1). Castaneous, elongate oval, total length from apical margin of clypeus to apex of
elytra 4.55 mm. Elytra darkened near base, with dark transverse maculae near middle. Antennae
light castaneous, apical % of 6 th antennomere darkened, 7 th —10 th antennomeres blackish brown, 11 th
ante nn omere yellowish brown. Legs brown.
Head (Figs 2-3). Eyes prominent, rounded, eye length from anterior to posterior margin 0.30 mm, eye
distance across vertex 0.64 mm. Temples well defined and moderately curved, angle between temple and
longitudinal axis of head 64°; head width across eyes 0.97 mm, length from apical margin of clypeus
to imaginary line between hind margins of eyes 0.68 mm. Punctures on vertex 0.5 times as large as an
eye facet diameter, spaces between punctures irregular, between 0.5 and about 1.5 times their diameter,
somewhat irregular. Pubescence composed of semierect setae about 0.25 times as long as eye length,
directed anteriorly. Microsculpture shallow, reticulate. Lateral frontal lines deep, straight, slightly
converging anteriorly, almost attaining posterior margins of eyes. Central frontal line deep, anterior end
not attaining frontoclypeal suture, posterior end attaining basal ridge of head. Additional impressions
running close to dorsal margins of eyes from anterior fifth of eyes to basis of head. Antennae long,
slender, attaining almost middle of elytra, length 2.75 mm; antennomere proportions, starting from
scape, as follows: 3.1 : 1.0 : 1.3 : 1.6 : 1.7 : 1.6 : 1.5 : 1.4 : 1.4 : 1.4 : 2.6 (Fig. 3).
Pronotum (Fig. 2). Widest near middle, about 1.1 times as wide as head; moderately wider than long;
maximum width 1.10 mm, length 1.00 mm Area near posterior margin slightly depressed. Lateral
margins with minute tubercles, which are slightly larger near anterior and posterior angles. Anterior
part of lateral margin almost straight, slightly diverging towards middle, slightly sinuate from middle
to base. Punctures on pronotal disk larger than on vertex, slightly smaller than an eye facet, somewhat
irregular with distances between punctures ranging from 0.5 times to 2 times their diameter. Pubescence
composed of semierect setae about 0.3 times as long as eye length, directed anteromedial. Microsculpture
shallow, reticulate.
Legs. Simple, slender; 2 nd and 3 rd tarsomeres lobed and with dense pubescence on soles.
Elytra. Oval, 1.68 times as long as pronotum, widest just in front of middle, length along suture
including scutellum 2.84 mm, combined maximum width 1.68 mm. Rows of punctures on elytral disk
about % as wide as interstices; pubescence composed of long, semierect setae; strial setae as long as
interstrial setae; interstrial setae predominantly in single rows, in several, irregularly distributed places
also in double rows; 10 th stria with 7 distinctly enlarged, deep punctures. Microsculpture absent.
Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites simple.
Aedeagus (Figs 13—14). Parameres of holotype wide, parallel-sided, almost three times as long as
wide; median lobe slender, lancet-shaped. Fig. 14C shows the parameres of a male paratype that were
temporarily flattened under a cover slip to exhibit their shape in perpendicular view.
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European Journal of Taxonomy 130 : 1-10 ( 2015 )
Variation
The paratypes vary in body length from 4.65 to 5.10 mm. Elytra of females slightly more rounded than
those of males, widest behind middle.
Figs 5-8. Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov., paratype. 5. Ventral view of head (left mandible, maxillae
and labium removed). 6. Left mandible, ventral view. 7. Left maxilla, ventral view. 8. Labium, ventral
view. Scale bars: 5 = 0.5 mm, 6-8 = 0.2 mm.
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KARNER M. et al ., New genus Telephanini from Gabon (Africa)
Discussion
The new genus is very closely related to PsammaechidiusVmxmmrQ, 1869, but can easily be distinguished
from all other genera of Telephanini by the presence of three frontal lines. It differs from Psammaechidius
(Fig. 15) also by the character states given in the differential diagnosis.
Figs 9-12. Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov., paratype. 9. Pronotum, ventral view (right anterior leg
removed). 10. Meso- and metathorax, ventral view. 11. Right anterior tarsus. 12. Abdominal ventrites.
Scale bars: 9-10, 12 = 1.0 mm, 11 = 0.2 mm
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European Journal of Taxonomy 130: 1-10 (2015)
Thomas & Nearns (2008) provide a key to the genera of Telephanini. Bolianus could easily be placed in
that key by inserting a couplet ‘O’ before couplet 1 as follows:
0 Frons with median groove . Bolianus
- Frons without median groove .1
Since the remaining key given by Thomas & Nearns (2008) remains unchanged, it is not reproduced
here to avoid redundancy.
Fig. 13. Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov., holotype, aedeagus. A. Ventral view. B. Lateral view.
C. Dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.
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KARNER M. et al ., New genus Telephanini from Gabon (Africa)
Fig. 14. Bolianus giannae gen. et sp. nov. A-B. Holotype, detail of aedeagus. A. Parameres, ventral view.
B. Median lobe, dorsal view. — C. Paratype, parameres, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.
Fig. 15. Psammaechidius spinicollis
Fairmaire, 1862, specimen from Fampa-
nambo, Madagascar, Sep. 1959, leg. Vadon
(coll. Michael Karner), head and pronotum.
Scale bar =1.0 mm.
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European Journal of Taxonomy 130: 1-10 (2015)
Acknowledgements
Our gratitude goes to Maurizio Pavesi, who collected the largest part of the type series and proposed the
study of this species to Gianfranco Salvato, and to Silvano Biondi, who entrusted an additional specimen
to us. We also wish to thank Antonio Durante (Museo di Storia Naturale del Salento) for providing
information on the area where the material was collected. Furthermore, we thank Michael C. Thomas
(Gainesville, Florida) for constructively criticizing our manuscript.
References
Durante A. 2012. The genus Afrasura Durante, 2009 in Gabon, with description of five new species and
a new species group (Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini). Zootaxa 3478: 383-398.
Karner M. 2012. A revision of African Psammoecus (Coleoptera, Silvanidae) and descriptions of two
new species from the collection of the Musee royal de V Afrique centrale. European Journal of Taxonomy
17: 1-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2012.17
SteedmanH.F. 1958. Dimethyl hydantoin formaldehyde: Anew water-soluble resin foruse as aMounting
medium. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 99: 451—452.
Thomas M.C. & Nearns E.H. 2008. A new genus of telephanine Silvanidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea),
with a diagnosis of the tribe and key to genera. Insecta Mundi 0048: 1-14. Available from http://
digitalcommons .uni.edu/insectamundi/576 [accessed on 30 Mar. 2015]
Manuscript received: 30 March 2015
Manuscript accepted: 9 June 2015
Published on: 23 July 2015
Topic editor: Koen Martens
Desk editor: Kristiaan Hoedemakers
Printed versions of all papers are also deposited in the libraries of the institutes that are members of
the EJT consortium: Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France; Botanic Garden Meise,
Belgium; Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium; Natural History Museum, London,
United Kingdom; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; Natural History
Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, De nm ark
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