Eudicella nana

Seidel, Matthias, 2016, Morphology and DNA barcoding reveal a new species of Eudicella from East Africa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), Zootaxa 4137 (4), pp. 535-544 : 541

Comparison of Eudicella nana with similar species

Material examined: Eudicella morgani : 1 Cameroon, Obout, V.2013; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Cameroon, Banguem, XII.2007; 2 ♀, Togo, Forêt de Bala, X.2011; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Gabon, Kinguele, XI.2011; 2 ♀, Togo, 4 Ƌ, Togo, Forêt de Missahoe, X.2014; 5 ♀, Togo, Forêt de Missahoe, X.2014. Eudicella grallii : 2 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Uganda, Lamwo, XII.2012; 1 Ƌ, Uganda, Budongo, 06.I.1996; 1 Ƌ, 2 ♀, Kenya, Aberdares Mountains, X.2011; 2 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Burundi, Kigwena, 01.VII.2009; 1 Ƌ, Burundi, Kigwena, VI.1994; 1 Ƌ, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sud Kivu, 28.IV.–10.V.2010; 1 ♀, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kyankwale, VI.2004. E. pauperata : 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Uganda, Lamwo, XII.2012; 1 Ƌ, Democratic Republic of Congo, Likasi, II.2011; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kolwezi, XI– XII.2009; 1 ♀, Uganda / Democratic Republic of Congo, Goma, XI.2010; 1 Ƌ, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nord Kivu, XII.2006; 2 Ƌ, Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga, II–III.2008; 2 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Uganda, Mpigi, V.2010; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Central African Republic, Mbaiki, 2013.

Eucidella nana can be confused with species with green body colour and yellow elytra with green discal bands. Eucidella morgani (sensu De Palma 2009) resembles E. nana but is only known to occur in West Africa ( Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon). Eudicella pauperata and E. grallii are sympatric with E. nana . Large to small-sized male specimens of the former species can be easily distinguished from E. nana by the shape and development of the clypeal horn. The horns of the similar taxa are often more elongate and do not possess green iridescence at the clypeal base ( Figs. 19–20 ). Furthermore, the horns of large E. grallii specimens can possess denticulate branches ( Fig. 20 ). In contrast to its resembling species, E. nana females have strongly rugose labia. In female E. pauperata the labiae are deeply puncture, sometimes slightly rugose. Eucidella grallii females possess deeply punctate labiae.

Figures

FIGURE 17 – 20. Clypeal horns of Eudicella (Eudicella). 17. Eudicella nana new species. 18. Eudicella darwiniana Kraatz, 1880. 19. Eudicella pauperata Kolbe, 1884. 20. Eudicella grallii (Buquet, 1836).