Paragonocnemis (Paragonocnemis) seydeli Ardoin 1964

The genus Paragonocnemis s. str. contains reddish-brownish species, all African, close to Gonocnemis and Paragonocnemis (Microgonocnemis), but which differ at least by the presence of transverse carinae on the pronotum. Only 3 species are known to occur in Southern Africa, these are figured in Schwaller 2014: P. angolensis, P. rufus, P. seydeli.
Diagnosis: Anterior femora in both sexes with distinct tooth. Pronotal disc with pattern of distinct, transverse and longitudinal keels.

Key to species of Paragonocnemis s. str in:

Ardoin, P. 1964. Essai de révision des Amarygmini africain (Huitième partie). Bulletin de l’Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (Dakar), sér. A., n° 2, - 26: 809-811. (not available online)

Paragonocnemis s. str. seydeli ARDOIN, 1964
Original description of Paragonocnemis (Paragonocnemis) seydeli in:
ARDOIN, P. 1964d: Essai de révision des Amarygmini africain (Huitième partie). Bulletin de
l’Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (Dakar), sér. A., n° 2, - 26: 824-826.

The similar species P. rufus has a different elytral pattern with more and thinner costae.

Distribution: Congo (Katanga); Kenya; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Botswana; Angola; South Africa (Limpopo; Natal).

Biology: Probably associated with fungi in abandoned termite nests, but beetles leave the nests and are attracted to light.

Illustration (fig. 29) and distribution records in:
Schwaller, W. 2014. Gonocnemis Thomson and related genera (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Amarygmini) in Southern Africa. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A, Neue Serie 7: 219–234.
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Stuttgarter-Beitraege-Naturkunde_NS_7_A_0219-0234.pdf

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/159599216

Posted on 2024년 02월 11일, 09시 14분 58초 UTC by traianbertau