Chaetocnema (Udorpes) afghana Gruev, 1988

Ruan, Yongying, Yang, Xingke, Konstantinov, Alexander S., Prathapan, Kaniyarikkal D. & Zhang, Mengna, 2019, Revision of the Oriental Chaetocnema species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), Zootaxa 4699 (1), pp. 1-206 : 129

52. Chaetocnema (Udorpes) afghana Gruev, 1988

( Fig. 73 )

Chaetocnema afghana Gruev, 1988: 155 . TL: Afghanistan, “ Nangarhar, Band-e-Darunta, 590m ”. TD: HNHM.

Distribution: India (new record), Pakistan (new record), Afghanistan ( Gruev, 1988).

Host plants: Unknown.

Description: Body length: 1.80–2.10 mm. Body width: 0.90–1.10 mm. Ratio of length of antenna to length of body: 0.60–0.65 mm. Ratio of elytron length (along suture) to width (maximum): 2.10–2.20. Ratio of pronotum width (at base) to length: 1.40–1.50. Ratio of length of elytron to length of pronotum (along middle): 2.10–2.20. Ratio of width of elytra at base (in middle of humeral calli) to width of pronotum at base: 1.10–1.15.

Dorsum and head finely reticulated. Dorsum bronzy. Antennomeres 1–4 yellow, 5 partially brown, 6-11 brown, apical ones being darker. All tibiae and tarsi yellow brown. Pro- and mesofemora light brown. Metafemora deep brown.

Head hypognathous. Frontal ridge normally wide and flat. Frontolateral sulcus absent. Suprafrontal sulcus deep, forming a pit in middle. Orbital sulcus deep. Ratio of width of frontal ridge (excluding margin) to width of antennal socket (excluding margin): 2.10–2.20. Number of punctures on vertex: more than 80. Number of punctures on orbit: 4–6 on each side. Number of punctures on frons (triangular area surrounded by frontolateral sulcus and clypeus): numerous. Number of setae on clypeus: more than 20. Number of setae on labrum: 6. Anterior margin of labrum slightly and evenly concave.

Pronotum without longitudinal impressions near basal margin. Deep row of large punctures at base of pronotum absent. Pronotal base evenly convex. Lateral margins of pronotum almost straight, only slightly converging forward.Anterolateral prothoracic callosity protruding laterally, truncate. Posterolateral prothoracic callosity poorly developed. Diameter of pronotal punctures 1.5 to 2.5 times smaller than distance between them.

Elytra with convex lateral sides. Elytral punctures slightly larger than pronotal punctures, arranged in single rows, except peri-scutellar row doubled and appearing confused. Interspaces between striae of punctures smooth and glabrous. Humeral calli poorly developed.

First male protarsomere slightly larger than second. First male protarsomere, length to width ratio: 1.30–1.40, width at apex to width at base ratio: 2.20–2.30. Excavation on metatibia moderately deep. Large lateral denticle on metatibia sharp. Metatibial serration proximal to large lateral denticle absent.

Apex of aedeagus in ventral view narrowing gradually. Ventral longitudinal groove present. Apical denticle in ventral view absent. Minute transverse wrinkles on ventral side absent. Aedeagus in lateral view unevenly curved, straight in apical half. Maximum curvature in lateral view situated near base.

Spermathecal receptacle slightly sinuated. Spermathecal duct coiled. Spermathecal pump much shorter than receptacle, with apex cylindrical. Receptacle basally narrower than apically. Vaginal palpus with narrowly rounded apex, with outer side slightly convex; posterior sclerotization longer than wide. Posterior sclerotization as wide as anterior.

Type: 1 male (Paratype) ( USNM), labels: 1) Afghanistan, Nangarhar, Band–e, Darunta , 590m, 2) No.86, 8.5.1974, leg. L. Papp, 3) Chaetocnema afghana Gruev , det. B. Gruev, 4) Paratype, 5) Konstantinov .

Material: 1♂ ( USNM), India, Deli, alt. 240m, Chaetocnema cognata , det. Döberl , Chaetocnema afghana det. Ruan; 1♀ ( USNM), India, Rajasthan Bharatpur Nat. Park , 07.IV.1998, Chaetocnema cognata , det. Döberl , 1998, Chaetocnema afghana det. Ruan; 1♀ ( USNM), India, Meghalaya State, West Garo Hills alt. 450m, 25.v.1996, leg. JENDEK ; 1♂ ( USNM), India, New Delhi, 23.X.1966, leg. K. E. Gibson, light trap ; 2♂ 4♀ ( USNM), West Pakistan, Lahore, VII–VIII.1957, J. Maldonado .

Remarks: C. afghana closely resembles C. bella and C. cognata in the body shape, punctation and color, however, it may be distinguished from the latter two species by the shape of aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURE 73. Chaetocnema afghana. A Male habitus. B Pronotum. C Head, frontal view. D Aedeagus, ventral view. E Aedeagus, lateral view. F Apex of aedeagus, ventral view. G Vaginal palpi. H Spermatheca. I Pygidium (tergite 7) of female.