Thyreocephalus semipiceus Bernhauer 1937
Creators: name: Janák, Jiří
name: Bordoni, Arnaldo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Thyreocephalus
Thyreocephalus semipiceus

description: Thyreocephalus semipiceus Bernhauer, 1937
(Figs. 187–194)
Thyreocephalus semipiceus Bernhauer, 1937a: 610; Levasseur, 1968: 52; Herman, 2001: 3767; Janák, 2010: 142.
Type locality. Tanzania, Daressalam.
Type material examined. Holotype ♀: TANZANIA: “D. O. Africa, Daressalam, leg. Methner“, “ semipiceus, Brh. Typ. un.”, “ semipiceus, Brnh. Typus, unic. Thyreocephalus ” (FMNH).
Additional material examined. ANGOLA: 2 spec.: Huila Prov., 10 km S Kacula, 1557 m, 14.35 S – 14.03 E, 4.xi.2011, E-Y 3910, at light, Ruth Müller (TMSA). CAMEROON: 1 ♀: Cameroun, Joko (HNHM). ETHIOPIA: 1 ♂: Kaffa Prov., near Bebka, 1300 m, 8.iv.2008, A. Kudrna jr. (ABFI); 1 ♀: near Tepi, 6.v.2002, Werner & Sudre (DEI). KENYA: 3 spec.: Bura, Taita Region, i.1991, Werner (DEI, ABFI); 2 spec.: Sagala Hills, Taita, i.1993, Werner (DEI, ABFI); 2 spec.: Mtito Andej, 900 m, Tsavo Park, i.1990, Werner (DEI); 1 spec.: Tsavo Nat. Park, Umg. Voi, 550 m, 19.iv.2006, A. Puchner (NHMW); 2 spec.: Sosoma, 202 km E Thika, 26.iv.2008, Snizek (ABFI); 1 spec.: Nguni, N Ngomeni, 27.iv.2008, Snizek (ABFI); 1 spec.: N of Nguni, Ngomeni, 19-22.iv.2007, Snížek (JJRC); 1 spec.: Mtito Andej, 900 m, Tsavo Park i.1990, Werner (DEI); 3 ♀: Mtito Andej, Tsavo Park, i.1990, Werner (DEI, JJRC); 1 spec.: Kenya CE, Eastern, Mwingi env., 4.xii.1997, M. Snížek (JJRC). MALAWI: 1 ♂: Malawi S., Mulanje Mts. env., 22.-26.xii.2001, Bezděk (JJRC). MOZAMBIQUE: 5 spec.: Parc Nat. Gorongosa, 17–18.xii.2003, Werner & Lizler (NHMW, ABFI); 3 ♀: Gorongosa Nat. Park, 25–26.xii.2004, A. Dorchin (MFNB, ABFI); 1 ♀: Manica prov., 50 km S Inohope, 23–27.xii.2003, A. Kudrna jr. (NHMW). TANZANIA: 1 spec.: near Mikumi, Morogoro Prov., 9.xii.1999, Werner & Lizler (MFNB); 2 spec.: Muheza, iv.1996, Lizler (MFNB); 1 spec.: 30 km SW Morogoro, iv.1998, Lizler (ABFI); 2 spec.: Same Park, Kilimanjaro Prov., 1000 m, i.1990, Werner (DEI, ABFI); 3 spec.: Uluguru Mts, iv.1991, Werner; 1 ♀: Pangani, U. Poggensee, 16.vii.1996 (MFNB); 1 ♂: Tanzania, NE, Handeni, Makinda env., 14.iii.2002, M. Snizek (JJRC). SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1 spec.: Natal, Mseleni Mission, W of Lake Sibayi, 27 20 S, 32 34 E, at light in night, i.1986, P. Atkinson (SANC); Limpopo: 1 spec.: Tvl [Transvaal], Mogol Nat. Reserve, 23.58 S, 27.45 E, 21.xii.1987, E. v. der Linde (SANC); Mpumalanga: 1 spec.: Tvl [Transvaal], Barberton, 25.48 S, 31.03 E, iii.1979, C. G. Moolman (SANC); 1 ♂: Transvaal, Lisbon Citrus Estate, Clanor, 27.xi.1981, R. Toms (TMSA); 1 ♀: Kruger Nat. Pk, Skukuza res. camp, 25.00 S, 31.35 E, 19.ii.1995, Endrödy-Younga (TMSA); North-West: 1 spec.: Tvl (Transvaal), Klipvoordam Res., 25.08 S, 27.48 E, 27.x.1981, R. Oberprieler (JJRC). ZAMBIA: 1 ♂: NW Zambia, North Western Pr., 40 km SW Kabompo, 1100 m, 15–16.xii.2007, A. Kudrna Jr. (JJRC). ZIMBABWE: 1 spec.: Kyle Recr. Park at Lake Mutiriwki, 20.13S, 31.00E, 1–5.xii.1993, M. Uhlig (MFNB).
Cited material (not examined). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Katunda, 950 m; Vitshumbi, S Lac Eduard, 925 m (Cameron, 1950).
Redescription. Body length 18–20 mm; length from anterior margin of head to posterior margin of elytra: 10– 12 mm. Reddish brown, with head and pronotum sometimes brown black (Fig. 187). Head and pronotum with traces of micro-punctation. Head and pronotum and related punctation as in Figs. 188, 190; labrum as in Fig. 191. Head with two or (on one side) three postocular punctures (Figs. 188, 190). Elytra markedly longer and wider than pronotum, sub-rectangular, slightly dilated posteriad, with slightly rounded sides and very marked humeral angles. Surface with fine, moderately dense punctation, arranged in numerous series, some punctures with long setae..
Male. Tergite 10 and sternite 9 of male genital segment as in Figs. 192, 193. Aedeagus (Fig. 194) ovoid, elongate, 2 mm long, with sub-ovoid median lobe with very narrow apex; parameres symmetrical; inner sac narrow and long, apparently devoid of scales.
Differential diagnosis. Thyreocephalus semipiceus differs from the other species of the T. mocquerysi group in larger, reddish brown body and apically pointed median lobe of the aedeagus.
Distribution. The species is distributed in Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Fig. 189).
Remarks. An exceptional third postocular puncture was observed on one side of head of one specimen.
description: Published as part of Janák, Jiří & Bordoni, Arnaldo, 2015, Revision of the genus Thyreocephalus and description of Afrus gen. nov. of Africa south of the Sahara (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), pp. 1-94 in Zootaxa 4038 (1) on pages 73-76, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4038.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/289876