Abstract
The members of the endemic African genus EndochilusWeise, 1898 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Chilocorini) are redescribed, diagnosed, and illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for Endochilus compater Weise, Endochilus minor Weise, Endochilus plagiatus Sicard, Endochilus rubicundus Weise, and Endochilus styx Sicard. One new species is described: Endochilus abdominalissp. nov. Notes on the genus and nomenclatural history for each species are provided. A key for iden- tification of all species is presented. Adult characters concerning similarities of Endochilus to other genera of African Chilocorini are discussed.
Highlights
Endochilus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Chilocorini) was established by Weise (1898) for three new species from Central Africa, Endochilus cavifrons, Endochilus minor, and Endochilus rubicundus, distinguished by dark and explanate elytral margins covered with setae
This study was based on examination of the type and non-type specimens, borrowed from the following museums: Malwina Roszkowska (MIZ) – Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa, Poland MNHUB 2010.” (MNB) – Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany MNHN – Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France NHM – The Natural History Museum, London, England RMCA – Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium ZSM – Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany
Within the tribe Chilocorini, Endochilus can be distinguished from other taxa by the following combination of characters: labrum hidden under clypeus; clypeus expanded laterally deeply into eyes and almost dividing each eye into two parts; antennae 8-segmented, short; distinct and deep antennal grooves for reception of 3rd and 4th antennomeres; pronotum wholly or partly covered with setae; margins of elytra broadly explanate, but not abruptly reflexed, and covered with setae
Summary
Endochilus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Chilocorini) was established by Weise (1898) for three new species from Central Africa, Endochilus cavifrons, Endochilus minor, and Endochilus rubicundus, distinguished by dark and explanate elytral margins covered with setae. Weise placed Endochilus in the subfamily Chilocorinae, which included hemisphaerical beetles, usually glabrous and irregularly punctate with very short antennae, with clypeus expanded laterally and dividing the eyes, and elytral epipleura more or less foveolate. According to Ślipiński (2007), who proposed only two subfamilies for the family Coccinellidae, Microweiseinae and Coccinellinae, Endochilus belongs in the tribe Chilocorini of the subfamily Coccinellinae. This classification was subsequently supported by molecular and combined analyses by Giorgi et al (2009) and Seago et al (2011), and was followed and implemented by Ślipiński and Tomaszewska (2010) in a comprehensive synopsis of the family Coccinellidae. Species belonging to Chilocorini are characterized by distinctly hemispherical body, expanded clypeus, and short appendages received in repose in various fossae on ventral surfaces of the body (Chapin 1965; Kovař 1995)
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