Bengalia bantuphalla ( Lehrer, 2005 ) Rognes, 2012

Rognes, Knut, 2012, 3553, Zootaxa 3553, pp. 1-79 : 69-72

11. Bengalia bantuphalla ( Lehrer, 2005) , comb. nov.

Figs. 236–256.

Kenypyga bantuphalla Lehrer, 2005: 80 , 81 figs. 35A–E. Holotype male (BMNH, examined), by original designation. Type locality: Kenya ‚ “ S.W. Elgon 6,700 ft. ”.

Diagnosis. Male. Length: 10mm (n=2). Frons at vertex / head width ratio: 0.32–0.33 (mean 0.33, n=2). Not easily diagnosed on external features and examination of the male genitalia is necessary for identification.

In holotype anepimeron with black setulae above and pale setulae on lower half or more. In paratype in TAU anepimeron mostly with dark setulae. The other BMNH specimen (not a type) also has almost only black setulae on the anepimeron, so the amount of yellow setulae varies. Fore femur with 2–3 strong pv spinous setae near middle. Fore tibia with 3–4 strong v spine-like setae, and elongate setulae in distal half. No fringe on mid or hind tibiae .

T4 median marginals very close together. ST5 flap with a broad and deep apical excavation ( Figs. 249, 253).

Cerci with strongly sclerotised prongs, strongly bent downwards distally in lateral view. Surstylus broad with roughly parallel medial and lateral edges, distally weakly flaring, strongly concave on underside. The process of the bacilliform sclerite a narrow pointed well developed hook.

Distiphallus without dorsolateral wings. A strongly developed and oval apical veil, proceeding upwards and forwards on each side, with an even, not serrate, margin. Veil facing mainly forwards, its largest extent seen in apical view. Ventrally each veil is directly continuous with a weakly sclerotised veil process, a large, oval and flat structure with small serrations or denticles near margins and on parts of the surface. External hypophallic lobe strongly denticulate all over, facing anteriorly, with a small dentate process dorsodistally. Internal hypophallic lobe visible as a denticulate ventral ridge in lateral view of basal half of distiphallus. A beak hardly differentiated. Opening of the ejaculatory duct narrow, at the end of an upturned tube, far behind apex of distiphallus. The tube originates in a swollen structure between the dentate processes of the external hypophallic lobe. A long sclerotised vertical rod (v.r.) on each side of the upturned tube carrying the opening of the ejaculatory duct. A pair of small triangular strongly sclerotised projections on underside of fore margin of lamella between base of veils ( Figs. 244, 246, 247, magenta arrows).

Female. Unknown.

Discussion. This species obviously belongs in the B. spinifemorata species-group. In the list of 10 synapomorphies establishing the monophyly of that species-group ( Rognes 2011a: 27), only two are not present in B. bantuphalla , i.e., the anepimeron is not covered only with pale setulae (item 1), and the abdomen is not all yellow, but has broad dark marginal bands on T1+2–T4 (item 4), even though the tip of T5 is all yellow. In the list I failed to mention an eleventh synapomorphy, namely the close position of the T4 median marginals in all B. spinifemorata species-group members. This synapomorphy is also shared with B. bantuphalla ( Fig. 239).

Lehrer (2005) described neither the position of the T4 median marginals, nor the vestiture of the fore femur in any of the species he included in the B. spinifemorata species-group (his “ Maraviola ”). He also omitted to mention the fore femoral spinous seta in B. bantuphalla .

Lehrer (2005: 80) claimed that there are strong setae on the upper posterior part of the anepimeron (“quelques macrochètes sur leur marge supéro-postérieure”). This is an error, as can be seen in Fig. 236, made from a nonsyntypic male. Also, no strong setae are present in this position in the holotype and the paratype.

Lehrer (2005: 80) claimed that the internal hypophallic lobes are absent in B. bantuphalla . This is also an error, it can easily be observed as a dentate ridge, he even illustrated the ridge himself in his figure 35C (reproduced in Fig. 256, i.). Lehrer claimed that the external hypophallic lobes (e.) are reduced to a narrow spinulate zone (“ Les lobes hypophalliques antérieurs sont réduits la [sic] une zone spinulée étroite, mais longue“). This statement refers to a special part of his drawing situated just proximal to the oval veil process. The drawing shows the external hypophallic lobes as they appear when seen edge-on (e.). It is unfortunate that Lehrer studies a complex and almost flat organ from lateral view only, since this leads to errors in interpretation.

The species is clearly very rare, but specimens may be hiding in collections under B. spinifemorata .

Biology. Bengalia bantuphalla appears to prefer high altitudes. The two BMNH specimens were captured between 6500 to 7250 ft. (= 1981–2210m a.s.l.). Dates of capture of examined material are in February, between June and August (“vi–viii”) and August. Material that has now been lost (see below) was captured in late April and/or May.

Distribution. * Kenya.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype male, in BMNH, labelled (1) HOLO- / TYPE. [printed on white circular label with a red rim]; (2) KENYA: / S.W.Elgon. 6,700ft. / vi–viii.1961. / T.H.E.Jackson & / J.Abraham. / B.M.1961-697. [printed]; (3) At / light [printed]; (4) HOLOTYPUS [printed in black on red label]; (5) Bengalia ♂ / bantuphalla Lehrer n. sp. / HOLOTYPUS / Det. Dr. A. Z. LEHRER / 2004 [printed]. The specimen is greasy. The genitalia were in glycerol in a big plastic vial at the reception of the specimen on loan. These were rinsed out of the vial into a 4.2 x 4.2 x 1.2 cm glass microdish by means of a glass dropper filled with glycerol. The three genital items were: ST5 + ST5 flap; aedeagus + hypandrium + phallapodeme + pre- and postgonites (both postgonites were broken near base, ejaculatory sclerite absent); cerci + bacilliform sclerites + surstyli (right cercus was broken midway, right surstylus absent). All pieces were more or less covered or embedded in a whitish substance. The pieces were macerated in cold 10% KOH for 26 hours, transferred to water where they stayed for 16.5 hours, thereafter treated for 4 hours in alcohol, finally transferred to glycerol again. After 2 hours in glycerol, it was possible to bend the aedeagus backwards and expose the gonites. Distiphallus exactly as in paratype in TAU. ST5 flap slightly different from illustration in Lehrer’s book.

Paratype. TAU: 1 male labelled (1) KENYA / Masai Mara / KeekorokLodge / 29–30.VIII.83 / A. FREIDBERG [printed]; (2) Kenypyga n. g. ♂ / bantuphalla n. sp. / Det.Dr. A.Z.LEHRER [printed; pinhole in middle]; (3) holotypus [red label with black print]; (4) Kenypyga n. g. ♂ / bantuphalla n. sp. / Det.Dr. A.Z.LEHRER [printed; pinhole near right end of label]; (5) Not / holotypus / K. Rognes det. 2012 [handwritten in pencil, last line except year is printed]; (6) KR’s determination label. Note. The genitalia (ST5 flap, aedeagus + pre- and postgonites + phallapodeme + ejaculatory sclerite, cerci + surstyli + bacilliform sclerites) were completely dried out in the big plastic vial when I received the specimen. The pieces were treated with 10% KOH for about 30 hours, rinsed in water for 12 hours, transferred to ethanol for 27 hours and then transferred to glycerol. When fist inspected in KOH the genitalia were completely covered by a thin layer of whitish dust-like substance. But after several days in glycerol the genitalia had cleared up very well and were successfully photographed. There appears to be remains of a an unknown substance (bergamot oil?, cf. Lehrer’s description (2011b) of how he prepares the genitalia) which gives the photographs a bluish hue.

According to Lehrer (2005) there are two further paratypes in TAU, both from Kenya (Freidberg & Kaplan leg.). They were captured “ 29.IV–15.V.1991 ” and on “ 12.V.1991 ”. They are no longer present in TAU, and are possibly lost or destroyed (Netta Dorchin, pers. comm.) .

Other material. BMNH: 1 male labelled (1) Pres. by / Imp.Bur.Ent. / Brit. Mus. /1923–454. [printed]; (2) T.J. ANDERSON [printed]; (3) W. of Mt. Kenia. / 6,500 to 7,250 ft. / 19.20.2.11 [printed; = 19–20 February 1911]; (4) black bristles on pteropleuron / Bengalia spinifemorata Vill ? det J.P.Dear 1973 [printed and handwritten text spread over 4 lines]. Note. The pin carries a flat rectangular plastic sheet with the ST5 flap, aedeagus in profile, and the cerci and surstyli mounted flat in Canada balsam under a cover slip. The distiphallus clearly fits this species, as evidenced by the two projecting triangles on the flat lamella between the bases of the veils ( Fig. 254), the peculiar external hypophallic lobes and the leaf-shaped veil processes .