Apophylia neavei, Bezděk, 2005

Bezděk, Jan, 2005, Revisional study on African Apophylia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae). Part 4., Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 45, pp. 165-182 : 75-77

Apophylia neavei sp. nov.

( Figs. 20-22 )

Type locality. Malawi, SW of Lake Chilwa.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, ‘ Nyassaland / S. W. of / Lake Chilwa. / 9 Jan. 1914. / S. A. Neave. [w, p] // 1914-416. [w, p]’ ( BMNH) . PARATYPES: 2 JJ 1♀, same label data as holotype ( BMNH) ; 1 J, ‘ SOUTH AFRICA, Tvl. / Kruger National Park / mopaneveld near / Crooke´s

Corner / 22.23S 31.14E 200m / 02.ii.1994 R. Oberprieler [w, p] // NATIONAL COLL. / OF INSECTS / Pretoria, S. Afr. [w, p]’ ( SANC); 1 J 4 ♀♀, ‘ SOUTH AFRICA: KZN / Makatini Flats / 27°15´S 32°13´E / iii.1998 PE Reavell [w, p] // NATIONAL COLL. / OF INSECTS / Pretoria, S. Afr. [w, p]’ ( SANC); 1 J, ‘S. Afr: Kruger Nat. Pk. / Pafuri research ca. / 22.25 S – 32.12 E [w, p] // 18.11.1994; E-Y: 3054 / kerosene light / Endrödy & Bellamy [w, p]’ ( TMSA). The specimens are provided with additional, printed red labels: ‘ HOLOTYPUS [or PARATYPUS], / Apophylia / neavei sp. nov., / det. J. Bezděk 2005’.

Description. Body length: males 5.65-7.05 mm (holotype 6.70 mm); females 6.25-7.30 mm.

Male: Body flattened, parallel, densely pubescent, dull. Head yellow, vertex with large black spot touching inner margin of eyes and covering also posterior half of frontal tubercles, apices of mandibles darkened.Antennae yellow. Pronotum yellow with three black spots (one median and two lateral). Scutellum black, elytra metallic green. Prosternum yellow with darkened anterior margin. Mesosternum yellow with black median spot, mesoepisterna black, mesoepimera yellow. Metasternum black with paler posterior margin, metaepisterna yellow. Abdomen dark brown to black, posterior margin of ventrite 4 yellowish in middle, last ventrite with yellow posterior margin. Legs yellow, outer sides of tibiae occasionally darkened, last two tarsomeres of all tarsi infuscate.

Labrum transverse, laterally covered with several pale setae, anterior margin shallowly but distinctly incised. Anterior part of head semiopaque, sparsely covered with long pale setae. Frontal tubercles small, subtriangular, semiopaque. Vertex dull, with large feeble groove behind frontal tubercles, coarsely and densely punctate and covered with short pale hairs. Antennae filiform, 0.70 times as long as body, length ratio of antennomeres 1 to 11 equal to 22- 11-19-26-21-21-19-17-15-14-19.

Pronotum tranverse, 1.80 times as broad as long, widest at anterior third, narrowed posteriad, semiopaque, densely covered with coarse punctures and pale hairs. Surface with two large lateral depressions.Anterior margin widely and shallowly concave, lateral margins round- ed, posterior margin straight. Anterior and posterior margins thinly bordered, lateral margins indistinctly so. Anterior angles widely rounded with distinct small teeth, posterior angles obtusely angulate and only indicated; all angles bearing one long pale seta.

Scutellum subtriangular with rounded apex, semiopaque, densely covered with small punctures and short pale hairs. Elytra parallel and dull. Humeral calli well developed. Elytral surface covered with small and very dense, confluent punctures and short pale hairs. Epipleura distinct but narrow, disappearing before apex. Macropterous.

Ventral surface lustrous, finely punctate and covered with pale hairs. Last visible ventrite with deep subtrapezoidal incision.

Hind tarsomere 1 as long as following two tarsomeres combined. Middle and hind tarsomeres 1 robust ( Fig. 22 ). Claws bifid.

Shape of aedeagus as in Fig. 20 .

Female: Abdomen yellow. Last ventrite with shallow semicircular incision ( Fig. 21 ). Tarsomeres 1 of middle and hind legs slender. Claws appendiculate.

Differential diagnosis. Apophylia neavei sp. nov. is characterized by the shape of the aedeagus, which is relatively robust with a widened apical part ( Fig. 20 ) and can be compared only

with A. oborili sp. nov.; the latter however has a narrower apex ( Fig. 23 ). The last visible female ventrite of A. neavei sp. nov. is widely but shallowly incised ( Fig. 21 ).

Etymology. Dedicated to Sheffield Airey Neave, collector of a part of the type series.

Bionomy. Unknown.

Distribution. Malawi and South Africa.

Figures

Figs. 20-22. Apophylia neavei sp. nov. 20 – aedeagus (a – dorsal view; b – lateral view); 21 – last ventrite of female; 22 – male metatarsus. Scale: 1 mm.

Figs 1-5. Apophylia nobilitata Gerstaecker, 1871. 1 – aedeagus (a – dorsal view; b – lateral view); 2 – last ventrite of female; 3 – last ventrite and pygidium of female, lateral view; 4 – male metasternum; 5 – male metatarsus. Scale: 1 mm (Figs 1-3 and 5); 2 mm (Fig. 4).

Figs. 23-24. Apophylia oborili sp. nov. 23 – aedeagus (a – dorsal view; b – lateral view); 24 – male metatarsus. Scale: 1 mm.