To the knowledge of the African subgenus Planeteros of the genus Melaneros (Coleoptera: Lycidae).

Abstract

Nine new species, Melaneros (Planeteros) crucifer n. sp., M. (P.) flos n. sp., M. (P.) drymophilus n. sp., M. (P.) terrier n. sp., M. (P.) petrovi n. sp., M. (P.) helicofer n. sp., M. (P.) helicophilus n. sp., M. (P.) arndti n. sp., and M. (P.) zerchei n. sp., are described. The varieties Planeteros sibutensis v. burgeoni Pic, 1924, P. soppoensis v. bonneviei Pic, 1924 and P. bequaerti v. nigrithorax Pic, 1935, are raised to species rank. Seven taxa are synonymized: Planeteros atriventris Pic, 1922 (= M. (P.) flavus Bourgeois, 1905); P. soppoensis Pic, 1922 (= M. (P.) escalerai Bourgeois, 1905); P. asperatus Kleine, 1940 (= M. (P.) ablutus Bourgeois, 1908); P. salubris Kleine, 1940 (= M. (P.) collarti Pic, 1922); P. bredoi Kasantsev, 1997 (= M. (P.) burgeoni Pic, 1924, n. stat.); P. gigas Kleine, 1940 (= M. (P.) bilineatus Pic, 1931) and P. zairicus Kasantsev, 1997 (= M. (P.) chirindanus Kleine, 1933). Several poorly known species are illustrated.

Keywords

Coleoptera, Lycidae, Melaneros, new species, synonymy, Tropical Africa.

Nomenclatural Acts

arndti Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
bicoloripes Pic, 1923 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), Lectotype
bonneviei Pic, 1924 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), Lectotype; stat. n. hitherto Planeteros sappoensis var. bonneviei
bredoi Kasantsev, 1997 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), syn. n. of Melaneros (Planeteros) burgeoni Pic, 1924
burgeoni Pic, 1924 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), Lectotype; stat. n. hitherto Planeteros sibutensis var. burgeoni
congoensis Kleine, 1930 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), Lectotype
crucifer Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
drymorphilus Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
flos Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
helicofer Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
helicophilius Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
nigrithorax Pic, 1935 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), Lectotype; stat. n. hitherto Planeteros bequaerti var. nigrithorax
petrovi Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
terrier Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
zairicus Kasantsev, 1997 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), syn. n. of Melaneros (Planeteros) chirindanus Kleine, 1933
zerchei Kasantsev, 2000 (Melaneros (Planeteros)), spec. n.
asperatus Kleine, 1940 (Planeteros), syn. n. of Melaneros (Planeteros) ablutus Bourgeois, 1908
gigas Kleine, 1940 (Planeteros), syn. n. of Melaneros (Planeteros) bilineatus Pic, 1931
salubris Kleine, 1940 (Planeteros), syn. n. of Melaneros (Planeteros) collarti Pic, 1922