Adapterops Frieser 2010

Adapterops Frieser, 2010

Type species. Adapterops nasalis Frieser, 2010: 18 (by original designation).

Diagnosis. Head small, eyes large, situated laterally, conspicuously convex, separated from each other, not emarginate. Dorsal pronotal transverse carina basal, sinuate laterally, most lateral part curved posteriorly. Posterolateral edges of pronotum somewhat protruding posteriorly in lateral view, more or less acutangulate, lateral carina absent, sides of pronotum rounded.

Male terminalia. Pygidium (= tergite VII) heavily sclerotized, approximatelly as long as wide (Figs. 9, 16). Segment VIII: tergite VIII robust, heavily sclerotized, sternite VIII consists of pair of sternal lobes (= laterosternites) and robust medial part (= mediosternite) bearing long apodeme (Figs. 10, 17). Apodeme of sternite VIII as long (Adapterops dimbyi, Fig. 17) or longer (A. mamyi, Fig. 10) than segment VIII. Sternite IX (= spiculum gastrale) composed of long, apically curved apodeme. Tegmen robust, basal piece slightly shorter than apodeme, tegminal plate very wide, from ventral and dorsal views almost parallel-sided, its lateral parts weakly sclerotized, contrasting with roughly sclerotized medial part (Figs. 8, 15). Basal margin of tegminal plate with strongly sclerotized process (arrows on Figs. 8, 15) protruding towards apodeme. Body of aedeagus strongly sclerotized, tectum small, shorter than pedon in lateral view. Apodemes longer than body of aedeagus, bridge wide. Body of aedeagus from ventral view of almost rectangular shape with strictly narrowed apical part (Figs. 6, 13). Internal sac consists of ventral lobe, dorsal lobe missing or rudimentary, not visible in studied specimens. Ventral lobe beset with cuticular teeth (Figs. 5–6, 12–13).

The genus Adapterops is similar to the genus Pilitrogus Frieser, 1980 (both classified in the tribe Araecerini) which is known from three species from Réunion Island (Frieser 1980). From the latter, Adapterops can be distinguished by antennal scrobe large, carinate on dorsal margin, reaching towards middle of rostrum; rostrum with lateral margins strongly sinuate at antennal scrobes, strongly narrowed between antennal scrobes, minimum distance between scrobes about half of the eye width (see Trýzna & Baňař 2012: Figs. 8–12).

In the study of male terminalia, the basal margin of tegminal plate with strongly sclerotized process (arrows on Figs. 8, 15) protruding towards apodeme is a feature not seen in other Anthribidae.