A revision of African Psammoecus (Coleoptera, Silvanidae) and descriptions of two new species from the collection of the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale

Michael Karner

doi:10.5852/ejt.2012.17

Abstract

A revision of the known African species of Psammoecus is given, including redescriptions and illustrations of diagnostic characters. Extensive material from the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale (Tervuren) is studied. Two new species are described: Psammoecus leleupi sp. nov., and Ps. luchti sp. nov. Four specific names are synonymized: Psammoecus excellens Grouvelle, 1908 = Ps. trimaculatus Motschulsky, 1858; Ps. alluaudi Grouvelle, 1912 = Ps. trimaculatus Motschulsky, 1858; Ps. longulus Grouvelle, 1878 = Ps. longicornis Schaufuss, 1872; Ps. nitescens Grouvelle, 1914 = Ps. laetulus Grouvelle, 1914. A key to the African species is provided.

Highlights

While examining extensive material of African Psammoecus Latreille, 1829 from the collection of the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale (Tervuren, Belgium) it came clear that any attempt to determine the material at hand required studies of type material
Since the studies of Grouvelle, no work was done on African species of this genus
Specific identification of Psammoecus is often possible by use of external characters, viz. general body shape, the pattern and form of pronotal teeth, and the puncturation of the body surface

Summary

Introduction

While examining extensive material of African Psammoecus Latreille, 1829 from the collection of the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale (Tervuren, Belgium) it came clear that any attempt to determine the material at hand required studies of type material. The available papers, were found to be of little practical help, reflecting the taxonomic standards of the late 19th century. They frequently show a lack of detail in descriptions and diagnostic content. The present paper gives redescriptions, illustrations, and diagnoses for the known African species of Psammoecus. Two species contained in the material from the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale are new to science

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Results

Conclusion