Distega montium Konow, 1907

Koch, Frank, Pauly, Alain, Hora, Zewdu A. & Boevé, Jean-Luc, 2015, Sawflies of Ethiopia (Hymenoptera: Argidae, Tenthredinidae), Zootaxa 4021 (1), pp. 119-155 : 149

Distega montium Konow, 1907

( Fig. 21 A–B)

Distega montium Konow, 1907: 2 . Locus typicus: Africa or. [ Tanzania], Kilimandjaro [Kilimanjaro]. Lectotype hereby designated by F. Koch: ♀. Africa or., Kilimandjaro (SDEI). Paralectotypes: 3 ♀ from the same locality, 1 ♀. Meru (NHRS). Distega braunsi Enslin, 1911: 667 , syn. n. Locus typicus: South Africa, Transvaal (North West Province), Lichtenberg [sic!] [Lichtenburg]. Holotype: ♀. Lichtenburg, Transvaal, 01.I.1906, Dr. Brauns; teste: F. Koch, 2002 (TMSA).

Distega brunniventris Enslin, 1913: 314 , syn. n. Locus typicus: Tanzania, Atusha [Arusha]-Ju. Holotype: ♀. Africa or., Arusha-Ju, 1906, Katona; teste: F. Koch, 2013 (HNHM).

Ethiopian material. Lake Tana, Bahar Dar [11°36'N 37°23'E] (1 ♀), leg. Schäuffele ( SMNS); Holeta, 09°04'N 038°30'E, 2450 m, with yellow pan traps, 28.VI.2012, P3679a (1 ♀), 03.VII.2012, P3684a (1 ♀), 12.VII.2012, P3692a (1 ♀), 17.VII.2012, P3696a (1 ♀), 20.VII.2012, P3697a (1 ♀), P3684b (1 ♀), leg. Z. A. Hora, A. Pauly & J.-L. Boevé ( RBINS); near Lake Chamo, 05°56’N 037°32’E, 1140 m, 21.IX.2012, P3634 to P3638 (5 ♀), leg. J.-L. Boevé ( RBINS).

Distribution. Burundi, Ethiopia ( Fig. 8 F), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa.

Remarks. Distega montium is a very widely distributed species in the Afrotropical Region. Apart from negligible differences in colouration, it was not possible to find any morphological difference, especially in their genitalia, between the specimens from southern Africa and those from East Africa. The holotypes of Distega braunsi and D. brunniventris have been examined, and it was impossible to find any differences to D. montium , which are relevant for distinguishing them as different species; thus, they are synonymized with D. montium . Near Lake Chamo, adults were flying among understory plants ( Fig. 6 E). The species may prefer humid habitats, since also the older record is related to a lake.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Biotopes in which sawflies were collected. A, Nech Sar N. P. (19. IX. 2012); collected: Arge deckerti and Neacidiophora brevifalcata. B, Ineseno (14. IX. 2012); collected: Athalia obsoleta and Athalia vollenhoveni. C, Ghedo (05. XII. 2013); collected: Athalia spp. D, Holeta HBRC forest (13. IX. 2012); collected: Arge massajae. E, near Lake Chamo (21. IX. 2012); collected: Distega montium. F, Senkele N. P. (17. IX. 2012); collected: Trisodontophyes aethiopica.

FIGURE 8. Distribution maps of six sawfly species. A, Arge massajae. B, Athalia aethiopica. C, Athalia obsoleta. D, Athalia vollenhoveni. E, Xenapates nigritus. F, Distega montium.

FIGURE 21. Distega montium. A, dorsal view. B, lateral view. A – B, female (P 3635, one fore wing failing), body length: 7.0 mm.