Actenodia Laporte de Castelnau, 1840

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 : 40-42

Genus Actenodia Laporte de Castelnau, 1840

The genus was revised by Bologna et al. (2008a), and we refer to that study for taxonomical and phylogenetic details. Actually, recent molecular studies (Salvi et al., in preparation) pointed out that probably the Palaearctic and the Afrotropical phyletic lines distinct in that revision ( Bologna et al. 2008a) represent two distinct genera or subgenera.

The two Namibian species belong to very distinct groups: A. chrysomelina to a group which includes five species distributed from Ethiopia to South Africa and Namibia ; A. mirabilis refers to a greatly distinct monotypic group, distributed only in the Succulent Karoo desert of both SW Namibia (Diamond area) and northwestern South Africa (Richtersveld).

Actenodia chrysomelina (Erichson, 1843) ( Fig. 2T )

Mylabris (Actenodia) chrysomelina Erichson, 1843 Actenodia wahlbergi Fåhraeus, 1870

Actenodia schultzei Pic, 1908

Actenodia discrepans Péringuey, 1909 Actenodia multimaculata Pic, 1932

Distribution. Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia , and northern South Africa.

Material examined and literature records (all the following Namibian records were cited by Bologna et al. 2008). [Kunene] Epupa : Okakatuwo , 17.4000°S 12.7333°E ( SMWN) ; Hippo Pool on Kunene River 20 km W of Ruacana , 17.4092°S 14.2185°E (CB); Okakatuwo , 17.4500°S 12.7000°E (SMWN). Opuwo: Opuwo town , 18.0500°S 13.8333°E (CB) ; 6 km NE Orumana , 18.2167°S 13.9500°E ( SMWN) ; C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana 46 km S of cross-road for Opuwo , 18.3280°S 14.3035°E (CB); Okumutati , 18.8667°S 14.3500°E (SMWN); C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana , 18.9027°S 14.3903°E (CB). Sesfontein: Warmquelle , 19.1833°S 13.8167°E (SMWN); D2650, near Kamanjab , 19.8087°S 14.5128°E (CB). Kamanjab: Beulah 256 , 19.6000°S 14.9167°E (SMWN); Kamanjab , 19.6333°S 14.8333°E ( SMWN) ; C40, 26 km E Kamanjab, 19.6957°S 15.1046°E (CB); Outjo- Kamanjab, 95 km N of Outjo , 19.8040°S 15.3290°E (CB); Otjitambi, 19.8167°S 15.1667°E (SMWN); C39, 25 km E Khorixas, 20.3061°S 15.1867°E (CB). [Omusati] Ruacana: C46, Ruacana Falls , 17.4000°S 14.2833°E (CB); outside Ruacana Town , 17.4500°S 14.3667°E (SMWN); Ekango , 18.6833°S 14.3167°E ( SMWN). Outapi: Mahanene Agric . Research Station , 17.4333°S 14.7833°E ( SMWN). Ogongo: C46, Ruacana-Oshakati 5 km E of Ombalantu (= Uutapi) , 17.5405°S 15.0403°E (CB); Ogongo Agric. College, 17.6833°S 15.2833°E ( SMWN). Elim: C46, near Uutapi, 15 km NW Oshakatioad , 17.6833°S 15.5167°E (CB). Etayi: C46, Ruacana-Oshakati, 20 km W of Oshakati , 17.6937°S 15.5476°E (CB). Okahao: C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana, 25 km NW of Kamanjab , 18.4775°S 14.6977°E (CB); Etosha N.P., site 5/Row D, 18.9797°S 15.1128°E ( SMWN); C35, Kamanjab-Ruacana 77 km NW of Kamanjab , 19.2528°S 14.4442°E (CB). [Oshana] Okatana: D3609, Oshakati-Ongenga 3 km N of jct. with C46 , 17.7377°S 15.6727°E (CB). [Kavango] Kapako: Fontein Omuramba , 17.8833°S 19.7000°E (SMWN). Rundu Rural: Rundu , 17.9333°S 19.7667°E (CB) ; West Okawango, 18.50°S 19.50°E ( SMWN) . Mukwe: Shadikongoro , 18.0167°S 21.3667°E ( SMWN). [Caprivi] Linyandi: 100 km SW Katima Mulilo , 17.6082°S 24.2324°E (CP). [Oshikoto] Oniipa: B1, 20 km SE Ondangwaroad) , 17.9833°S 16.1333°E (CB). [Onayena]: B1, Ondangwa- Tsumeb 26 km SE of Ondangwa , 18.0402°S 16.2037°E (CB). Omuthiyagwiipundi: Okashana Agric. Exper. Sta., 18.4167°S 16.65°E (SMWN); 30 km E Etosha N.P., Mokuti Lodge, 18.8000°S 17.0333°E (CB). [Otjozondjupa] Tsumkwe: C44, 52 km jct. B8 , 19.2428°S 19.0481°E (CB); Dobe, 19.4167°S 20.6000°E (SMWN); Bakara pan, 19.6500°S 20.7833°E ( SMWN) ; 10 km SE Tsumkwe , 19.6833°S 20.6167°E ( SMWN) ; 3 km W Kuru , 19.933°S 20.6330°E ( SMWN) . Otavi: Dakota 424, 19.4941°S 17.1287°E ( SMWN) . Okakarara: Okakarara , 20.5833°S 17.4333°E ( SMWN) . Omatako : Hamakari Sud 373, 20.6667°S 17.3833°E ( SMWN) ; Hamakari Sud 285, 20.6667°S 17.4000°E ( SMWN) ; B1, 28 km S Otjiwarongo , 20.6806°S 16.7787°E (CB); 100 km N Okahandja , 21.0920°S 16.8280°E (CP); D2414, Etjo-Kalkfeld 38 km SE of Kalkfeld , 21.1288°S 16.3883°E (CB). Otjiwarongo: C63, Outjo-Kalkfeld 15 km N of Kalkfeld , 20.7537°S 16.2210°E (CB). Okahandja: B2, Okahandja 35 km W, 21.9340°S 16.5563°E (CB); Okahandja, 21.9833°S 16.9167°E (CP; SMWN); Gross Barmen, 22.1000°S 16.7500°E (CP). [Erongo] Omaruru: C33, 6 km S Omaruru , 21.4824°S 15.9508°E (CB); C33, 3– 9 km S of Omaruru , 21.4948°S 15.9705°E (CB).[Khomas] Windhoek Rural: Hochberg 158 , 21.9167°S 17.7167°E (SMWN); Excelsior 286, 22.4500°S 17.6333°E ( SMWN) ; Daan Park , 22.5333°S 16.9667°E (CP); Richthofen 126 . 22.5667°S 17.7500°E (SMWN); Arnhem 222, 22.7000°S 18.1167°E ( SMWN); C23, 26 km S Dordabis , 23.0575°S 17.9329°E (CB). [Omaheke] Steinhausen: Gobabis, C 22, 23 km jct. B6 , 22.2533°S 18.9966°E (CB); Geiersberg, Omitara 109, 22.3213°S 18.0331°E (SMWN). Kalahari: Gobabis, C22, 12 km N jct. B6, 22.3613°S 19.0034°E (CB); C20, Gobabis-Leonardville 16 km S of Gobabis , 22.9500°S 18.9422°E (CB). Gobabis: Gobabis, C22, 2 km N jct. B6, 22.4205°S 19.0037°E (CB); C20, Gobabis-Leonardville 69 km S of Gobabis , 22.9725°S 18.7375°E (CB); C20, Gobabis-Leonardville 10 km N of Aais , 22.9742°S 18.7280°E (CB); 10 km E Witvlei , 22.4826°S 18.4939°E ( AMNH) . Aminius: C20, Gobabis-Leonardville 5 km S of Aais, 23.2593°S 18.7237°E (CB). [Hardap] Mariental Rural: Gobabis, Aranoss , 24.1333°S 19.1167°E (CP); Haruchas 156, 24.9500°S 18.8500°E (SMWN). Gibeon: C14, 1 km W Maltahöhe, 24.8589°S 16.9751°E (CB).[Karas] Keetmanshoop Rural: Wildheim Ost 384 , 26.4833°S 19.5667°E (SMWN); Karas distr., 27.1352°S 19.4941°E (CB). Berseba: B4, 73 km W Keetmanshoop , 26.7809°S 17.4657°E (CB).

Other records: W Okavango (SMWN); Damaraland ( Kaszab 1956, as ab. anticetripunctata and ab. erikssoni); Namib Sand Sea desert ( Seely 2012); SW Africa (SMWN); Namibia ( Bologna 2000a; Pitzalis et al. 2014).

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

As pointed out by Bologna et al. (2008a), the elytral pattern and the antennal colour (from completely black to redorange) of this species are very variable, and consequently numerous synonyms have been described.

Actenodia mirabilis Kaszab, 1952 ( Fig. 2U )

Distribution. Namibia (new species for this country) and northwestern South Africa.

Material examined and literature records (all the following Namibian records were cited by Bologna et al. 2008). [Karas] Lüderitz : Sargdeckel, Klinghardt Mts., Diamond Area 1, 27.3255°S 15.7498°E ( SAMC) ; Sargdeckel, Klinghardt Mts. , 27.3300°S 15.7500°E ( SMWN) ; Klinghardt Mts., Diamond Area 1, 27.3500°S 15.7000°E ( SMWN) ; Sargdeckel, Klinghardt Mts., Diamond Area 1, 27.4000°S 15.6833°E ( SMWN) ; Obib dunes N, 27.9833°S 16.5500°E ( SMWN) ; Obib dunes E, 28.0333°S 16.6167°E ( SMWN) ; Obib dunes, Diamand Area , 28.1500°S 16.6500°E ( SMWN) ; Obib dunes, Diamond Area , 28.1667°S 16.6833°E ( SMWN) . Oranjemund: Obib dunes, Diamand Area , 27.8833°S 16.5333°E ( SMWN) ; 10 km NW Rosh Pinah , 27.9000°S 16.7000°E ( SMWN) ; Obib Mts. /dunes, Diamond Area , 28.0833°S 16.7500°E ( SMWN) ; Obib dunes S, 28.1667°S 16.8000°E ( SMWN) ; Daberas Gate, 8 km E, Diamond Area 1, 28.5500°S 16.5000°E ( SMWN) .

Other records. Namib Sand Sea desert ( Seely 2012). We examined also one specimen from Keetmanshoop (ix.1925: AMNH). Being this species strictly related to Succulent Karoo, probably this old record refers generically to the Ketmanshoop district more than to the town, which is positioned in the Nama Karoo ecosystem.

Remarks. The holotype and two paratypes of this species were examined at NHP.

The maintenance of this very distinct species in the genus needs support by molecular analyses.

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.