Zonitoschema cf. pallidissima ( Reitter, 1908 )

Batelka, Jan & Bologna, Marco A., 2014, A review of the Saharo-Sindian species of the genus Zonitoschema (Coleoptera: Meloidae), with description of new species from Tunisia, Yemen and Socotra Island, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 241-268 : 261

Zonitoschema cf. pallidissima ( Reitter, 1908)

( Figs 5–9 , 49 )

Material examined. ALGERIA: 3♂♂ ( MNHN, general collection), Sahara, Tassili des Ajjer, Djanet, 18.viii.1934, A. Lhote lgt .

Remarks. As discussed above, this species is similar to Z. pallidissima from Egypt and Israel in the general shape and having antennomere II black, but slightly differs because of the more rounded anterior angles of pronotal disc and by the pale-yellow elytra in contrast to colouration of the head, pronotum and body. It probably represents a new species. However, in all three specimens antennae are almost completely missing (only two and six antennomeres are preserved in two of them) and more specimens from the same locality are needed for comparison with other Zonitoschema species. Both gonoforceps and aedeagus are similar to those of Z. pallidissima and Z. chourriba sp. nov.

Figures

Figs 5–18. 5–9 – Zonitoschema sp. cf. pallidissima (Reitter, 1908) – male from Algeria: 5 – dorsal habitus; 6–8 labels; 9 – head, dorsal view. 10–14 – Z. oculatissima Peyerimhoff, 1929, female holotype: 10 – dorsal habitus; 11–13 labels; 14 – head, dorsal view. 15–16 – Z. rubricolor Pic, 1924 female from Saudi Arabia: 15 – dorsal habitus; 16 – head, dorsal view. 17–18 – Z. cf. gibdoana (Kaszab, 1956), male from Khaybar (Saudi Arabia): 17 – dorsal habitus; 18 – head, dorsal view. Not on the same scale.

Figs 35–49. Pronotal disc, dorsal view. 35–36 – Zonitoschema iranica Kaszab, 1959: 35 – male from the U.A.E.; 36 – female from Iran. 37 – Z. kaszabi sp. nov., paratype. 38–39 – Z. sp. cf. genicularis (Wellman, 1910): 38 – specimen from Somalia; 39 – specimen from Yemen. 40–41 – Z. pallidissima (Reitter, 1908) from Egypt: 40 – male; 41 – female. 42 – Z. pallidissima from Morocco. 43 – Z. rubricolor Pic, 1924 from Kenya. 44–45 – Z. chourriba sp. nov.: 44 – male paratype; 45 – female paratype. 46 – Z. arabica sp. nov., holotype. 47–48 – Z. oculatissima Peyerimhoff, 1929: 47 – holotype; 48 – specimen from Chad. 49 – Z. cf. pallidissima from Algeria. Not to the same scale.