Chiridopsis klapperichi, Świ, 2017

Świ, Jolanta, 2017, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 4. Revision of the genus Chiridopsis Spaeth, Zootaxa 4316 (1), pp. 1-85 : 34-36

Chiridopsis klapperichi sp. nov.

( figs 9 , 85, 86 )

Etymology. Named in honour of L. Klapperich who collected this species.

Description. Le: 5.60 mm, Wi: 4.10 mm, Lp: 2.10 mm, Wp: 3.25 mm, Le/Wi: 1.37, Wp/Lp ratio: 1.55.

Pronotum yellow ( fig. 85 ), disc with four black spots: elongate stripe in front of scutellum, C-shaped laterally and small, transverse in area above head. Scutellum black with yellow centre. Elytra yellow with black suture ( fig. 85 ). Each elytron with black suture, five black spots in row along middle of each elytron, the smallest at base of disc and on slope, and three large in the middle, and three spots in row along sides of disc, first on humeral callus regularly round, remaining two irregular. Clypeus yellow with slightly infuscate base and clypeal groove, thorax black, abdomen mostly black broadly surrounded by yellow. Coxa yellowish-brown, rest of legs and antennae yellow, last antennal segment slightly infuscate apically.

Pronotum regularly elliptical ( fig. 85 ), with maximum width in the middle, sides broadly rounded, no basal corners. Disc moderately convex, microreticulate with very small and sparse pricks but shiny. Explanate margin very broad, almost horizontal, smooth and shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra distinctly wider than pronotum ( fig. 85 ), humeri moderately protruding anterad, subrounded. Disc moderately, regularly convex, without impressions ( fig. 86 ). Punctation regular, very fine, especially on slope, punctures on sides only slightly coarser than on top of disc. Punctures in rows moderately dense, distance between punctures 2–5 times wider than puncture diameter. Punctures in marginal row approximately twice coarser than on sides of disc. Intervals flat, in sutural half of disc 6–7 times, on sides twice to thrice wider than rows, their surface smooth and shiny. Explanate margin narrow, strongly declivous, in the widest part approximately 6.0–6.5 times narrower than disc, its surface with shallow and sparse punctures, shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Clypeus broad, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long, clypeal grooves deep, converging in regular triangle. Clypeal plate only slightly convex, its surface smooth and shiny. Antennal grooves deep and long. Antennae stout, segments 9–10 approximately as long as wide. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:57:80:80:57:50:63:57:60: 57:117, segment 3 approximately 1.4 times as long as segment 2, and approximately as long as segment 4.

Prosternal collar long, with angulation on sides. Prosternal process broad, moderately expanded apically, area between coxa flat, with narrow median line, shiny with few small setose punctures, expanded apex flat with few short longitudinal grooves and several moderately coarse, setose punctures.

Claws with moderate basal tooth.

Distribution. South Africa ( fig. 9 ).

Remarks. Chiridopsis klapperichi ( figs 85, 86 ) belongs to the group of species with spotted pattern of elytra and pronotum. Differs from all such coloured species in clypeus yellow with infuscate base while other species have clypeus from brown to black. Chiridopsis nigrostillata , Ch. tanganikana and Ch. tessellata ( figs 83, 84 , 96– 101 ) differ also in presence at least a pair of black spots behind scutellum close to suture while in Ch. klapperichi first row of black spots runs along fourth interval. Chiridopsis picturata ( figs 94, 95 ) differs also in slimmer body with length/width ratio 1.48–1.49 (1.37 in Ch. klapperichi ). Spotted forms of Ch. aubei ( figs 40–42 ) are the most similar but differ in black clypeus, stouter body with length/width ratio 1.29–1.32 and less declivous explanate margin of elytra.

Types examined. Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: Transvaal, Waterfal Bo, 24 XI 1981, L. Klapperich ( DBET).

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 10. Distribution. 8. Chiridopsis melanocephala; 9. Chiridopsis convexula (black circles) and Chiridopsis klapperichi (white circle); 10. Chiridopsis rorida.

FIGURES 80 – 86. Chiridopsis nigrosepta. Variation of dorsal pattern; 83 – 84. Chiridopsis nigrostillata. 83. Dorsal, 84. Lateral; 85 – 86. Chiridopsis klapperichi. 85. Dorsal, 86. Lateral.

FIGURES 94 – 101. Chiridopsis picturata. 94. Dorsal, 95. Lateral, 96 – 99. Chiridopsis tanganikana. 96. Male dorsal, 97. Male lateral, 98. Female dorsal, 99. Female lateral; 100 – 101. Chiridopsis tessellata. 100. Dorsal, 101. Lateral.

FIGURES 37 – 42. Chiridopsis aubei. 37 – 38. Form described as ab. signaticollis, 39. Form described as ab. baumanni, 40 – 42. Form described as ab. dissoluta.