Zonitoschema sp. cf. genicularis (Wellman, 1910)

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 : 248-250

Zonitoschema sp. cf. genicularis (Wellman, 1910)

( Figs 20 , 29 , 38, 39 , 50, 51 )

Zonitoschema griseohirta nec PIC (1914: 107): KASZAB (1983: 187) (misidentification).

Material examined. SAUDI ARABIA: 1♀ ( NHMB), Al Alayah [Asir, 19°55ʹN, 41°52ʹE ( BÜTTIKER 1980:26)], 1950 m, 9.x.1979, W. Büttiker lgt. [identified as Z. griseohirta by Z. Kaszab, 1983] . YEMEN: 1 ♀ ( NMPC), Shawbah gov., S of An Nuqbah, Al Aram vill., 970 m, 14°13ʹ48″N, 47°04ʹ59″E, 22.x.2005, D. Král lgt.; 2 ♀♀ ( NMPC), NEE Al Hudayah, Jabal Bura, 14°52ʹN, 43°24ʹE, 225−600 m, 30.x.−1.xi.2005, S. Kadlec lgt. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( JBCP), 35 km E of Ndélé, 450 m, 08°29ʹN 20°57ʹE, 17.v.2009, J. Halada lgt.; 1 ♂ ( JBCP), 40 km S of Kaga Bandoro, 530 m, 06°41ʹN 19°07ʹE, 14.iv.2010, J. Halada lgt.; 1 spec .. ( MBCR), Bamingui-Bangoran Rd., 45 km SSW Bamingui, 15−23.iv.2010 A. Kudrna lgt. CHAD: 1 spec. ( MRAC), N’Gouri, distr de Kanem, ix.1958, P. Renaud lgt. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 1 spec. ( MRAC), Kivu: Buseregenye (Rutshuru) ix.1923, Ed. Luja lgt.; 1 spec. ( MRAC), Bassin Lukuga, iv.–vii.1934, De Saeger lgt.; 1 spec. ( MRAC) , Kivu: Luvungi, xii.1932, L. Burgeon lgt.; 1 spec. ( MRAC), Mayidi 1945, P. Van Eyen lgt.; 4 spec. ( MRAC), Kivu, Kavimvira (Uvira) (à la lumière) 1.−15.v.1955, G.Marlier lgt.; 1 spec. ( MRAC), idem x.1955; 2 spec. ( MRAC), idem xii.1954 ; 1 spec. ( MRAC), Elisabethville (à la lumière), 1957−1958, Ch. Seydel lgt.; 1 spec. ( MRAC), Lulalaba, Ruwe (piège lumineuse), i.−ii.1960, V. Allard lgt.; 1 spec. ( MBCR), P.N. Virunga, Tongo, 21.vii.1990, 1600 m, G. Carpaneto lgt. ETHIOPIA: 1 spec. ( MBCR), Sidamo prov., 50 km NE Yabello, 22.−23.iv.2007, 1550 m,A. Kudrna lgt.; 1 spec. ( MBCR), Gamo Gofa prov., 15 km SW Arba Minch, 12.−16.iv.2007, 1200 m, A. Kudrna lgt. KENYA: 1 spec. ( MBCR), SE Voi, 12.xii.2009, M. Snížek lgt.; 1 spec. ( MBCR), Meru distr., 5.xi.1980, D. Gianasso lgt.; 4 spec. ( MBCR), Meru distr., Materi, Mitunguu, 5.−13.xi. 1983, 800 m, R. Mourglia lgt.; 1 spec. ( MBCR), Meru, Mkubu, 1.−10.i.1987, 1500 m, R. Mourglia lgt. MOZAMBIQUE: 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( JBCP), Mozambique centr. occ., 45 km NW of Chimoio, Manica env., 12.−15.xii.2003, J. Halada lgt.; 1 ♀ ( JBCP), same data, but M. Snížek lgt.; 1 ♀ ( JBCP), Mozambique NW, 65 km S of Vlongné, 15°13ʹS 34°19ʹE, 1250 m, 8.xii.2005, J. Halada lgt. NIGERIA: 1 ♂ ( JBCP), 30 km SE of Serti env., Gashaka Gumfi NP, 380−560 m, 07°21ʹN 11°32ʹE, 24.iv.−8.v.2011, J. Halada lgt. RWANDA: 1 spec. ( MRAC), contraf Est Muhavure 2100 m, 8.i.53, P. Basilewsky lgt. SENEGAL: 14 spec. ( MBCR), Niokolo-Koba N.P., 13°01.1ʹN− 13°18,5ʹW, 15.vii.2004, M. Halada lgt. SIERRA LEONE: 1 ♀ ( MBCR), North prov., Kangai hills, nr. Baoma, 3.xi.1991, W. Rossi lgt. SOMALIA: 2 spec. ( MBCR), Lower Shebelli, Abarey, Lake Joware, 13.−14.v.1988, M. Bologna lgt. SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( JBCP), RSA E, KwaZulu Natal NE, Maputoland, Ndumo, W border Tembe Elephant Park, 80 m, 29.xii.2007 − 9.i.2008, M. Snížek lgt. ; 3 ♀♀ ( JBCP), Limpopo prov., 35 km W of Hoedspruit, 24°23ʹS 30°40ʹE, 470 m, 19.xii.2009, J. Halada lgt. ZAMBIA: 2 ♂♂ ( JBCP), Zambia NW, E of Chisasa, W of Solwezi, 24.x.2008, M. Snížek lgt.; 1 ♂ ( JBCP), Zambia NW, 15 E of Solwezi, 17.x.2008, M. Snížek lgt.; 1 ♀ ( JBCP), Zambia N, 50 km W of Chingola, 1.−2.i.2003, J. Halada lgt.

Remarks. After the examination of the holotype of Zonitoschema griseohirta (MSNG) and one paratype (MNHN), we suspect that almost all citations of this species must refer to a different species, probably new; we believe this taxonomic decision has to be made in the context of a broader revision of the genus. The true Z. griseohirta , described from Somalia, and known so far only from this country, is well characterized by the following colouration: antennomeres completely black, femora red except at apex, tibiae and tarsomeres black. The specimens from other countries in Africa and from the Arabian Peninsula identified as Z. griseohirta , have antennomere I clearly yellow. No Palaearctic species has antennomeres completely black and, in the Afrotropical species with this feature, legs are completely black [ Z. atrimembris (Fairmaire, 1894) ; Z. nigrimembris Pic, 1913 ; Z. nitidicollis Borchmann, 1942 ] or, in an undescribed species from Kenya, femora completely red.

The species erroneously named Z. griseohirta , widely distributed in Africa and in the western part of the Arabian Peninsula, seems related to Z. genicularis (Wellman, 1910) from the Congo basin, due to the shape of the apex of parameres, hooked posteriad ( Figs 50, 51 ). Zonitoschema genicularis (replacement name for Zonitis geniculata Fairmaire, 1888 , homonym of Zonitis geniculata Fairmaire, 1887 , another Zonitoschema from Sulawesi) is known to us only after the description and only the revision of types could define its status. A very similar characteristic shape of parameres is common in other Afrotropical species, such as Z. coccinea (Fabricius, 1801) and Z. cf. capensis Kaszab, 1961 (sensu PARDO ALCAIDE 1966), both well distinctive by their body colouration, which probably form a natural group.

Moreover, there is another species with similar colouration, which differs from Z. sp. cf. genicularis (as herein defined) in spathulate metatibial spurs (narrow in Z. genicularis ) and male genitalia (genitalia of specimen from eastern Kenya, Nguni, N of Ngomeni (JBCP) are figured in Fig. 55 ). We tentatively identify this species as Z. eborina (Fåhraeus, 1870) . Both species apparently overlap extensively in their distribution, but whether or not Z. sp. cf. genicularis as herein defined represents more than one species (only females are available from the Arabian Peninsula), is yet to be investigated.

Differential diagnosis. This species is distinguishable from the remaining species distributed in the transitional Saharo-Sindian Region by the characters listed in the key (see below). Its body colouration is similar to that of Z. eborina from eastern, southern and central Africa which, according to the shape of gonoforceps, belongs to a different group of species.

Distribution. Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia and Saudi Arabia ( KASZAB 1983). First records from Central African Republic, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Yemen and Zambia.

Figures

Figs 19–21. 19 – Zonitoschema pallidissima (Reitter, 1908), dorsal habitus of the male from Morocco. 20 – Z. sp. cf. genicularis (Wellman, 1910), dorsal habitus of the female from Yemen. 21 – Z. iranica Kaszab, 1959 dorsal habitus of the male from the U.A.E.Not on the same scale.

Figs 28–34. Heads. 28 – Zonitoschema iranica Kaszab, 1959 from Iran. 29 – Z. griseohirta Pic, 1914 from Yemen. 30 – Z. pallidissima (Reitter, 1908) from Morocco. 31–32 – Z. pallidissima from Egypt: 31 – female; 32 – male. 33 – Z. arabica sp. nov., holotype (male). 34 – Z. kaszabi sp. nov., paratype (female). 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.

Figs 50–59. Male genitalia, lateral view (57 and 59, dorsal view). 50–51 – Z. genicularis (Wellman, 1910): 50 – specimen from Zambia; 51 – specimen from Somalia (parameres only). 52 – Z. iranica Kaszab, 1959 from Israel. 53 – Z. pallidissima (Reitter, 1908). 54 – Z. gibdoana (Kaszab, 1956) from Kenya.55 – Z. sp. from Kenya (a species similar in colouration to Z. sp. cf. genicularis (Wellman, 1910)). 56–57 – Zonitoschema arabica sp. nov., holotype. 58–59 – Zonitoschema chourriba sp. nov., paratype. Not to the same scale.