UNDESCRIBED SPECIES OF MEZIUM
(PTININAE) FROM SOUTHWEST AFRICA
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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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