UNDESCRIBED SPECIES OF MEZIUM (PTININAE) FROM SOUTHWEST AFRICA
 
Mezium # 4: Specimens from Namibia, Gobabis District, in a cave.  Characterized by distinct shallow grooves on elytra and pronotal setae relatively sparse anteriorly except for two longitudinal lines.  Also relatively rounded body, not laterally flattened like some of the other species.

 
 

Mezium # 1: Specimen from Namibia, Rosh- Pinah (27.53 S, 16.50 E).  Pronotum relatively evenly setose, except for the dense band at the base.  Body relatively flattened laterally.

 
 

Mezium #5:  Specimen from S. Africa, Cape, in Kongo Caves (33.17 S, 22.19 E).  Pronotal setal longitudinal lines with setae distinctly longer at base.  Elytra completely smooth and body distinctly laterally flattened.

 
 
 
Mezium # 7: Two specimens only- One from S.A., SE Cape Mountains, Baviaanskloofberg (33.36 S, 24.23 E), the other is from Nkandla [guld?], (28.37 S, 31.05 E).  Species with distinct pronotal setation with the setal pointed tuffs near the base on the longitudinal lines and relatively thick antennomeres.  Elytra completely smooth and slightly laterally flattened.

 
 

Mezium near andreaei (or M. andreaei): 5 specimens from Richtersveld and one from Holgate (28.56 S, 16.46 E) (SW of Richtersveld near the coast).  Setae at base is very long and three areas dorsally at anterior 1/3 with flattened scale- like setae.

 
 
Mezium # 6 (near M. gracilicornis): Specimens are all from SW or S Angola.  There is some variability in the pronotal shape but not enough to warrent separate recognition, in my opinion.  This is close to M. #3 which is M. namibiensis (I think- see below) but the pronotum is distinctly more robust and a fair bit wider in specimens of similar body size

 
Mezium # 3 (M. namibiensis):  Various localities around Namibia; also two specimens from SA- Richtersveld and similar to specimens I collected from Obib Mt. near Rosh-Pinah in Namibia.

 
 
 

Mezium near # 3:  From Namibia, Uri-Hauchab (25.21 S, 15.10 E) and Ganab (23.07 S, 15.32 E).  Similar to M. namibiensis but the antennae are distinctly longer- more than I have seen in any other Mezium species.  Antennae are notorious variable in length in spider beetles but I would be tempted to call this a separate species as there are no specimens with intermediate antennal lengths that I have seen.

 


 
 

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