Prionotolytta Péringuey, 1909

Bologna, Marco A., Amore, Valentina & Pitzalis, Monica, 2018, Meloidae of Namibia (Coleoptera): taxonomy and faunistics with biogeographic and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4373 (1), pp. 1-141 : 31-33

Genus Prionotolytta Péringuey, 1909

The taxonomy of this genus, studied by Kaszab (1955b, 1981), remains not completely clarified and possibly some species could be synonymized. Bologna & Di Giulio (2003) described the first instar larva.

Prionotolytta binotata (Péringuey, 1888) ( Fig. 2 A )

Lytta binotata Péringuey, 1888

Distribution. Botswana, Namibia , western South Africa, and southern Zimbabwe.

Material examined and literature records. [Caprivi] Kongola: Singalamwe, 17.6500°S 23.4167°E ( SMWN) . [Kavango] Mukwe : Kavango, Popa Falls , 18.1167°S 21.5833°E (MNB); Tondoro, Okavango , 17.78°S 18.79°E ( Kaszab, 1955b). [Oshikoto] Omuthiyagwiipundi: Grootfontein: Etosha Pan N.P., Namutoni , 18.7667°S 16.9500°E (MNB). [Kunene] Outjo: Ike 346 , 19.7533°S 16.6244°E (SMWN). Kamanjab: Otjitambi 19.8167°S 15.1667°E ( SMWN). [Otjozondjupa] Omatako: Waterberg, C 22-D2512 , 20.6333°S 17.1500°E (CB). Okahandja: Okahandja, 21.9833°S 16.9167°E ( Kaszab 1955b; SMWN). [Erongo] Omaruru: C33, 30– 20 km N Karibib , 21.6833°S 15.9667°E (Bologna & Di Giulio 2003; CB); Karibib: B2, 16 km W Karibib, 21.9358°S 15.7056°E (CB); Karibib, D 1953, 100 m jct. C32, 21.9552°S 15.8493°E (CB). [Khomas] Windhoek Rural: Excelsior 286 , 22.4500°S 17.4667°E (SMWN); Richthofen 126, 22.5667°S 17.7500°E (SMWN); (Rehoboth) D1228, 7 km ENE Rehoboth, 23.2833°S 17.2333°E (CB). Windhoek East: Windhoek, 22.5700°S 17.0836°E ( SMWN). [Omaheke] Aminius: C20, Gobabis-Leonardville 5 km S of Aais , 23.2593°S 18.7237°E (CB). [Hardap] Mariental Rural: M29, 25 km E Mariental , 24.7825°S 18.1612°E (CB); Viljoenskroon 507, 25.1667°S 19.9667°E ( SMWN). [Karas] Keetmanshoop Rural: Wildheim Ost 384 , 26.4833°S 19.5667°E (SMWN); Naute Dam, 26.9333°S 17.9333°E (SMWN); Karas district, 27.1352°S 19.4941°E (CB). Karasburg: 50 km E of Karasburg , bridge on Oab River, 28.0500°S 19.2333°E ( SMWN) .

Other records: Namib Sand Sea desert ( Seely 2012); Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014). Remarks. Types of this species were examined at SAMC.

Prionotolytta eremita Kaszab, 1955 ( Fig. 2B )

Distribution. Western Botswana, central Namibia , and western Zambia.

Material examined and literature records. [Caprivi] Katima Mulilo , 17.50°S 26.27°E ( Kaszab, 1955b). [Kavango] Tondoro , 17.78°S 18.79°E (Kaszab, 1955). [Kunene] Outjo: Abachaus , 19.7167°S 16.5800°E ( Kaszab 1955b, type locality). [Khomas] Windhoek East: Windhoek , 22.5700°S 17.0836°E ( SMWN). Other records: Namibia ( Bologna 2000a) .

Remarks. Types of this species were examined at NHP.

Prionotolytta hayekae Kaszab, 1955 ( Fig. 2C )

Distribution. Northwestern Namibia (endemic).

Material examined and literature records. [Omusati] Okahao: C35, 25 km NW of Kamanjab, 18.4775°S 14.6977°E (CB); C35, 77 km NW of Kamanjab, 19.2528°S 14.4442°E (CB). [Otjozondjupa] Otjiwarongo: Kalkfield, 20.8833°S 16.1833°E ( Kaszab 1955b, type locality). [Erongo] Omaruru: Omaruru, 21.4333°S 15.9333°E ( Kaszab 1955b).

Other records: Namibia ( Bologna, 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

Remarks. Types of this species were examined at NHP.

Prionotolytta melanura (Erichson, 1843) ( Fig. 2D )

Oenas melanura Erichson, 1843

Lytta benguellana Pic, 1911a syn. n.

Types. The holotype of Lytta benguellana Pic, 1911 was examined at MNHN.

Distribution. Southern Angola and western Namibia .

Material examined and literature records. [Kunene] Epupa: Hartmann's Valley, 17.3833°S 12.2500°E (SMWN); Kaokoveld ( Kaszab 1955b); Kaokoland Dunes, 17.4500°S 12.2000°E (CB; SMWN). Opuwo: Opuwo town, 18.0500°S 13.8333°E (CB). Kamanjab: Kamanjab, 19.6333°S 14.8333°E (CB; SMWN); C39, 25 km E Khorixas, 20.3061°S 15.1867°E (CB). Sesfontein: Kamanjab on D2650, 19.8087°S 14.5128°E (CB). [Omusati] Okahao: C35, 77 km NW of Kamanjab, 19.2528°S 14.4442°E (CB). [Otjozondjupa] Otavi: Otavi, 19.6500°S 17.3333°E ( Kaszab, 1955b). Okahandja: Okahandja, 21.9833°S 16.9167°E ( Kaszab, 1955b); Gross Barmen, 22.1000°S 16.7500°E (JP). [Erongo] Dâures: Brandberg, Messum valley, 21.2215°S 14.5163°E ( Bologna 2000a; CB; SMWN); C35, 2 km E Uis, 21.2325°S 14.8973°E (CB). Omaruru: Omaruru, 21.4333°S 15.9333°E (CB); C33, 3– 9 km S of Omaruru, 21.4948°S 15.9705°E (CB). Karibib: Karibib, Okahandja, 21.9333°S 15.8333°E (JP); B2, Usakos-Karibib, 16 km W of Karibib, 21.9358°S 15.7056°E (CB); Usakos: D1935, 6 km N jct. B2, 21.9475°S 15.5851°E (CB); D1953, near Karibib, 100 m jct. C32, 21.9552°S 15.8493°E (CB); B2, 8 km W Usakos, 21.9876°S 15.5057°E (CB); B2, 2 km W Usakos, 21.9992°S 15.5696°E (CB); Usakos, 22.0000°S 15.6000°E ( Kaszab 1955b); C32, 42 km S Karibib, 22.2945°S 15.8351°E (Bologna vidit); C32, 54 km S Karibib, Swakop River, 22.3954°S 15.8343°E (CB).

Other records: Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

Remarks. Types of Oenas melanura Erichson, 1843 , were not examined, but specimens compared with type were studied at HMNH.

After the examination of the Type of Lytta benguellana Pic, 1911 (MNHN), described from the extreme southwestern Angola (Benguela), we propose here its synonymy with P. melanura . Lytta benguellana remained unknown in the literature after its description and the type specimen was identified as P. melanura by Kaszab only in 1962, buth the Hungarian specialist did not publish the new synonymy.

Prionotolytta streyi Kaszab, 1955 ( Fig. 2E )

Distribution. Northern Botswana (Kasane, CB; new species record for this country) and northeastern Namibia . Material examined and literature records. [Kavango] Tondoro, 17.78°S 18.79°E (Kaszab 1955, type locality). [Otjozondjupa] Omatako: near Otjahevita road to Grootfontein, 20.3400°S 17.5500°E (CB). Other records: Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

Remarks. The holotype of this species was examined at NHP.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Prionotolytta binotata; B. Prionotolytta eremita; C. Prionotolytta hayekae; D. Prionotolytta melanura; E. Prionotolytta streyi; F. Prolytta coriacea; G. Prolytta namibensis; H. Prolytta pseudolucida; I. Cyaneolytta affinis; J. Cyaneolytta depressicornis; K. Cyaneolytta granulipennis; L. Cyaneolytta maculifrons; M. Cyaneolytta resplendens; N. Epicauta designata; O. Epicauta ovampoa; P. Epicauta rufifrons; Q. Epicauta velata; R. Psalydolytta gessi; S. Psalydolytta lorigera; T. Actenodia chrysomelina; U. Actenodia mirabilis; V. Mimesthes maculicollis; W. Mimesthes nigricollis; X. Paramimesthes namibicus; Y. Namylabris adamantifera.