Serraphula mpumalangaensis, Biondi, Maurizio & D’Alessandro, Paola, 2010

Biondi, Maurizio & D’Alessandro, Paola, 2010, Revision of the Afrotropical flea beetle genus Serraphula Jacoby and description of Bechynella, a new genus from Western and Central Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), Zootaxa 2444, pp. 1-44 : 19-20

Serraphula mpumalangaensis sp. n. ( Figs 12 , 22 , 50 , 74 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype 3, South Africa, Houtenbek Farm, NW of Dullstroom, Macabelel Lodge, 25°18’S 30°03’E, 1980 m, 02-03.xii.2002, adults collected from Vernonia hirsuta (Asteraceae) , E. Grobbelaar leg. ( SANC). Paratypes: same locality, date, host plant and collector of the holotype, 1 3 and 2 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC).

DIAGNOSIS. For the diagnosis of this new species we refer to that reported for S. alticola sp. n.

DESCRIPTION. Holotype 3. Dorsal integument blackish, with evident blueish metallic reflection.

Body shape elliptical (LB = 1.80 mm), little convex. Maximum pronotal width at distal third (WP = 0.71 mm); maximum elytral width at basal third (WE = 0.88 mm).

Frons and vertex with finely punctulate; a large setigerous pore and some setigerous punctures near each upper ocular margin; frontal dimples moderately impressed; frontal grooves distally finely impressed along upper ocular margin; frontal tubercles dorsally distinctly delimited; frontal carina weakly raised, apically rounded; labrum sub-trapezoidal, blackish; palpi blackish; eyes sub-elliptical, normally sized; antennae shorter than body length (LAN = 1.64 mm; LAN/LB = 0.91), with segments 1–4 pale, segment 5 slightly darkened, segments 6–11 clearly darkened; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 20:9:9:11:14:14:15:15:15:16:20 (right antenna).

Pronotum sub-trapezoidal, slightly larger anteriorly, moderately transverse (LP = 0.55 mm; WP/LP = 1.30), laterally weakly rounded; basal and lateral margin finely bordered; punctation densely and uniformly distributed with small but strongly impressed punctures; surface finely and irregularly microreticulate and wrinkled, sparsely punctulate. Scutellum sub-triangular, apically widely rounded, with microreticulate surface.

Elytra moderately elongate (LE = 1.24 mm; LE/LP = 2.25), covering entirely pygidium, laterally clearly rounded, apically obtuse-rounded; punctation arranged in 9 (+ 1 very short scutellar) regular rows, with medium-sized and strongly impressed punctures; elytral interstriae clearly keeled, with sub-opaque and finely punctulate surface; humeral calli absent; sub-apterous metathoracic wings.

Legs with pale tibiae, tarsi and anterior and middle femora; hind femora dorsally darkened; hind tibiae weakly externally bent. Apical spur of hind tibiae long about as half of hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 1.93), apically internally curved; dorsal furrow proximally narrow and gradually and clearly open towards distal part; denture dense and partially irregular, generally formed by large teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres distinctly dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side (cf. Figs 77,79, 81–82 ).

Ventral surface brown; apical margin of last abdominal sternite medially weakly hollow, without pubescence.

Median lobe of aedeagus (LAED = 0.71 mm; LE/LAED = 1.74), in ventral view sub-parallel, clearly narrowed in apical fifth, apically moderately rounded, with thin median small tooth; ventral sulcus apically visible; in lateral view, median lobe clearly and regularly curved, apically weakly sinuous; dorsal sulcus visible in apical 2/5s, basally strongly narrowed and V-shaped; dorsal ligula apically rounded.

VARIATION. 3 (n = 2; mean and standard deviation): LE = 1.24 ± 0.01 mm; WE = 0.86 ± 0.03 mm; LP = 0.55 ± 0.01 mm; WP = 0.71 ± 0.01 mm; LAN = 1.64 ± 0.01 mm; LAED = 0.71 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 1.81 ± 0.01 mm; LE/LP = 2.26 ± 0.02; WE/WP = 1.21 ± 0.02; WP/LP = 1.28 ± 0.02; LE/LAED = 1.76 ± 0.03; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.92 ± 0.01; LHT/LHTS = 2.08 ± 0.21. Ƥ (n = 2): LE = 1.42 ± 0.04 mm; WE = 0.93 ± 0.03 mm; LP = 0.62 ± 0.01 mm; WP = 0.78 ± 0.01 mm; LAN = 1.56 ± 0.04 mm; LSP = 0.12 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.11 ± 0.05 mm; LE/LP = 2.29 ± 0.04; WE/WP = 1.20 ± 0.03; WP/LP = 1.25 ± 0.02; LE/LSP = 11.99 ± 1.26; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.76 ± 0.01; LHT/LHTS = 2.15 ± 0.01.

Paratypes. Paratypes very similar in shape, sculpture and color to the holotype. Female bigger than male (2.08 ≤ LB ≤ 2.15 mm) with shorter antennae (0.73 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.74). Spermatheca with sub-globose basal part; distal part medially bent with collum not separated from apex, distally narrowed; small appendix present; ductus short and weakly arcuate, sub-ventrally inserted.

ETYMOLOGY. This new species is named after Mpumalanga, north-eastern province of Republic of South Africa.

DISTRIBUTION. Republic of South Africa (Mpumalanga). Southern-Eastern African chorotype (SEA) (cf. Biondi & D’Alessandro, 2006).

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. This new species was collected on Vernonia hirsuta (DC.) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. ( Asteraceae ). Biome: Grassland (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld type: North-Eastern Sandy Highveld (cf. Acocks, 1988).

Figures

FIGURE 22. Geographical distribution of: Serraphula audisiana sp. n.; S. bulirschi sp. n.; S. colonnellii sp. n.; S. elongata Jacoby; S. mpumalangaensis sp. n.; S. natalensis sp. n.; S. puncticollis Bryant; S. wittmeri sp. n.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Habitus of: S. elongata Jacoby (9); S. grobbelaariae sp. n. (10); S. monticola sp. n. (11); S. mpumalangaensis sp. n. (12).

FIGURES 43 – 60. Median lobe of aedeagus of Serraphula Jacoby; lateral, ventral and dorsal view: S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, Southwell area (43 a); S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, nr Thornhill (43 b); S. colonnelii, Kwazulu- Natal, Ifafa Mouth (44); S. debiasei, Eastern Cape Province, 4 km S Barkly Pass (45); S. uysi, Transvaal, Palala (46); S. puncticollis, Eastern Cape Province, Port St. John (47); S. natalensis, KwaZulu-Natal, Blesberg (48); S. oberprieleri, Zimbabwe, Bunga Forest (49); S. mpumalangaensis, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (50); S. alticola, Mpumalanga, Mount Sheba area (51); S. audisiana, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (52); S. aenea, Mashonaland (53); S. drakensbergensis, Kwazulu-Natal, Cathedral Peak (54); S. grobbelaariae, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Boskrans Dam (55); S. duplessisi, Limpopo, Entabeni Forest Reserve, Soutpansberg (56); S. bulirschi, Kwazulu-Natal, Ntendeka Wilderness Area, Ngomi Forest (57); S. transvaalensis, Eastern Transvaal, Nelshoogte Pass (58); S. osellai, Kwazulu- Natal, Ngele Forest (59); S. wittmeri, Limpopo, Branddraai (60).

FIGURES 61 – 76. Spermatheca of Serraphula Jacoby: S. natalensis, KwaZulu-Natal, Blesberg (61); S. audisiana, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (62); S. osellai, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (63); S. alticola, Mpumalanga, Mount Sheba area (64); S. oberprieleri, Zimbabwe, Bunga Forest (65); S. grobbelaariae, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (66); S. transvaalensis, Eastern Transvaal, Nelshoogte Pass (67); S. uysi, Transvaal, Palala (68); S. duplessisi, Limpopo, Entabeni Forest Reserve, Soutpansberg (69); S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, nr. Grahamstown (70); S. debiasei, Eastern Cape Province, 4 km S Barkly Pass (71); S. colonnelli, Kwazulu-Natal, Umzinto Vernon Crookes N. R. (72); S. wittmeri, Limpopo, Branddraai (73); S. mpumalangaensis, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (74); S. monticola, Kwazulu-Natal / Free State, Botha’s Pass (75); S. drakensbergensis, Kwazulu-Natal, Monk’s Cowl (76).

FIGURES 77 – 82. Ventral side of first anterior and middle tarsomeres in male and female of Serraphula elongata Jacoby: male with differentiated adhesive structure (77, 79, 81 – 82); female without differentiated adhesive structure (78, 80).