Brachyplatys hemisphaerica (Westwood, 1837)

(Fig. 28)

Material examined. MAYOTTE: Boungoudranavi, 21.x.2021, 1♀, V. Nicolas lgt. & det. (VNBF) .

Biology. Listed as a pest species in rice fields of Lake Alaotra, Madagascar (Rafarasoa et al. 2015, as Brachiplastis hemisphaeryca [sic!]).

Distribution. Comoros: Mayotte (new record), Madagascar (e.g., Reuter 1887, as Brachyplatys Stumpffii sp. nov.; Brancsik 1893; Montandon 1897; Bergroth 1907; Cachan 1952; Rafarasoa et al. 2015), Mauritius (Orian 1956, no exact record), Réunion (Orian 1956, no exact record; Vayssières et al. 2001).

Comment. Westwood (1837: 17) described Plataspis hemisphaerica with note ‘Habitat in Brasilia?’ In the catalog part of the same paper the distribution is given as ‘Ind, Orient. [= India orientalis, East India]’ (Westwood 1837: 5, as Platycephala hemisphaerica). In both cases the given distribution is an apparent error. Stål (1876) stated the distribution of the species as unknown (‘patria ignota’).