Amaurina spoliata ( Harold, 1879 )

Perissinotto, Renzo & Malec, Petr, 2024, Review of the Amaurina Kolbe, 1895 of Angola, with description of a new species (Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae, Leucocelina), Fragmenta entomologica 56 (1), pp. 1-12 : 6

Amaurina spoliata ( Harold, 1879)

( Figs 2 , 4 )

Leucocelis spoliata Harold, 1879: 71 .

Leucocelis (Amaurina) spoliata Harold. Ruter 1967: 39 ; Krajcik 1998: 66.

Leucocelis (Amaurina) cognata Harold. Holm & Marais 1992: 283 (erratim = spoliata ).

Amaurina spoliata (Harold) . Schenkling 1921: 327; Antoine 2000: 24; Beinhundner 2017: 26.

Data records. Type series: LT, Angola: AGO–MAL, Pungo Andongo , A.v. Homeyer, Leucocelis spoliata Har. (ZMHB) . Other records: 10 inds, AGO, box no IX-78 ( MZUC) ; 1 ind., AGO–HUI, Sá da Bandeira (= Lubango), 14º55´S, 13º30´E, 1750 m alt.), 25.XI.1957, Nº 2970, Leucocelis spoliata Harold, Estudos Apícolas do Ultra- mar nº 122, Junta de Investigações Coloniais (Entomologia), IICT ( MHNC) ; 1♂ (TL = 11 mm), AGO–HUI, 10 Km W Lubango , (14º50´32.5´´S, 13º24´06.2´´E, 2103 m alt.), 1.XII.2017, P. Schüle leg. ( PMBC) ; AGO–HUI, 6 Km NW Lubango, Huila Prov., S14°52.181, E13°27.210, 1-7.XII.2017, P. Schüle leg. ( PMBC) ; 1 ind., AGO–HUA, Chianga , 12º44´S, 15º50´E, 1740 m alt., 26.IX.1964, Nº E.5695, nº 606, E. Fonseca leg., JPCC ( MHNC) ; 1 ind., ibidem, 22.X.1964, Nº E.5729, nº 605, E. Fonseca leg., JPCC MHNC); 1 ind., ibidem, 12-X-64, Helder Cardoso 2597 ( MRAC) ; 1 ind., ibidem, 13-XI-71, Armando 2597 ( MRAC) ; 1 ind., AGO-HUA, (MRAC); 1 ind., ibidem, II-1934, Coll. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; 1 ind., AGO–HUA, Bailundo ( MRAC) ; 1 ind., AGO-BIE, Bihe , Coll. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; 1 ind., AGO, Amaso , 9-IV-65, Eulalia Marçal 2597 ( MRAC) ; 2 inds, AGO, Peilunga , 13-X-71, Auazi- us 2571 ( MRAC) ; 1 ind., AGO–BGU, Chioa , 22.X.1964, Nº E.5728, nº 607, C. Matos leg., JPCC ( MHNC) ; 1♂, AGO– BIE, Capingana‒Satchijamba (13º42´47.18´´S, 17º05´23.81´´E, 1507m alt.), 8.IV.2014, A. Serrano leg. ( ASLP) ; 9♂ + 5♀, AGO–LSU, Carima ( Cacuso ‒Pun- gandongo) (09º 35´00´´ S, 15º 42´01´´ E, 1117 m alt., 130), 17.XI.2017, A. Serrano & R. Capela leg. ( ASLP) ; 16♂ + 4♀, ibidem, 20.XI.2017, A. Serrano & R. Capela leg. ( ASLP) ; 2♂ + 1♀, ibidem, 21.XI.2017, A. Serrano & R. Capela leg. ( ASLP) ; 1♂ (TL= 9 mm), AGO– BIE, Cachingues , Kuito Reg., K. Werner Leg. ( TGMF) ; 2 inds, AGO–CUS, Cassoço , 3/ 13.III.2005, leg. M. Hasson & Th. Bouyer ( TBCB) ; 41 inds, COD, Bas-Congo, Mayidi , 1942, Rev. P. Van Eyen ( MRAC) ; 4 inds, ibidem, 1945, Rev. P. Van Eyen ( MRAC) ; 2 inds, AGO–HUI, Tchivin- guire, SE 1513 Ab , 14-17 Nov 1974, H22422 ( NMNW) ; 1♂, ibidem, 3 Dec 1974, H24198 ( NMNW) ; 1 ind. AGOHUA, Bailundo , “ Amaurina spoliata Har. ” ( NMNW) .

Distribution. So far known from the Angolan provinces of Benguela, Bié, Cuanza Sul, Huambo, Huila and Malanje and also from the Kongo-Central Province of Congo-Kinshasa (MRAC specimen labels, Serrano et al. 2020, Beinhundner 2017)( Fig. 4 D ).

Remarks. As pointed out by Antoine (2000), the species described and illustrated in the book of Holm and Marais (1992) as Leucocelis (A.) cognata (Harold) is actually A. spoliata (Harold) . Adults of this species appear to be mainly floricolous or stem/leaf feeders, having been observed on a variety of plants including Pandiaka welwitschii , Monotes calomerus and other unidentified herbs and shrubs ( Serrano et al 2020). Available records indicate that the species may be active throughout the wet season, with a distinct peak in late winter and spring, from September to December. The immature stages remain unknown.

Figures

Fig. 2 – Amaurina spoliata (Harold, 1879): ♂ A, dorsal habitus; B, ♂ ventral habitus; C, ♂ lateral habitus; D, ♂ clypeus; E, ♂ pygidium; F, parameres, dorsal view; G, parameres, lateral view. Photos: Lubos Dembicky.

Fig. 4 – Amaurina spp. in their natural habitat (A-C): A, Amaurina schuelei sp. nov., wetlands upstream of the Cuanavale Source Lake, Moxico, Angola, 6 Nov 2022 (Photo: Craig Peter); B, Amaurina vittipennis Moser, 1909, Lesio-Louna Reserve, Abio II, Republic of the Congo, 8 Oct 2023 (Photo: Tony King); C, Amaurina spoliata (Harold, 21879), Carima Cacusa-Pungandongo, Malanje, Angola, 20 Nov 2017 (Photo: Artur Serrano). D, Distribution of the three species currently known to occur in Angola (Map: Google Earth with data from SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat/Copernicus AfriGIS Pty Ltd IBCAO).