Ootheca tilmani, Kortenhaus, Sabine & Wagner, Thomas, 2010

Kortenhaus, Sabine & Wagner, Thomas, 2010, Revision of Ootheca Chevrolat, 1837 from tropical Africa — redescriptions, descriptions of new species and identification key (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), Zootaxa 2659, pp. 1-52 : 45-47

Ootheca tilmani sp. n.

( Figs 21 , 67–70 )

Total length. 4.88–6.60 mm (mean: 5.45 mm; n = 5; Fig. 67 ).

Head. Yellow. Antennae either entirely yellow or terminal four to six antennomeres brownish; length ratios: second to third antennomere 0.60–0.70 (mean: 0.67); third to fourth antennomere 0.83–1.00 (mean: 0.91; Fig. 68 ). Maximal width of eye to minimal distance between eyes ratio 0.48–0.54 (mean: 0.50).

Thorax. Yellow as for head. Pronotum finely punctuated, latero-basal impression indistinct, width 2.00– 2.40 mm (mean: 2.11 mm); length 1.15–1.40 mm (mean: 1.21 mm); pronotal width to length ratio 1.71–1.83 (mean: 1.75). Elytra broad, bright reddish-brown, punctuation of elytra irregular, coarser than that of pronotum; length 3.90–4.60 mm (mean: 4.03 mm); maximal width of elytra together 2.80–3.60 mm (mean: 3.12 mm); maximal width of elytra together to length of elytron ratio 0.73–0.82 (mean: 0.77). Scutellum, meso-, metathorax and femora yellow. Distal three quarters, in particular the dorsal part of tibia and the tarsi, dark brown to black. Length ratio of basi-metatarsus to metatibia 0.23–0.26 (mean: 0.25).

Abdomen. Yellow to yellowish-brown.

Male genitalia. The median lobe widens slightly in the distal third and has a very small apical protruberance. In lateral view strongly bent ventrally forming a distinct angle of about 50°, apical half very flat in lateral view. Tectum consists of two long, slender, slightly curved and apically outwardly hooked tectorial spurs. Endophallus slender with indistinct apical spines ( Fig. 69 ).

Diagnosis. The colouration is quite distinctive for this species, with the head, pronotum and underside entirely yellow, in contrast with the reddish-brown elytra. The median lobe is slightly enlarged in the apical third, with long, sigmoidally curved tectorial spurs ( Fig. 69 ).

Distribution. Only known from coastal areas of southern Kenya and Tanzania ( Fig. 21 ). Etymology. Named after Sabine Kortenhaus’ son Tilman.

Type material examined. Holotypus: male, “ Mombasa, 3.21, van Someren” / Holotypus Ootheca tilmani Kortenhaus & Wagner, 2010 / AfriGa specimen ID: 1870 specimen data documented 9.II.2010 ( NMK; Fig. 70 ). Type locality: Kenya, Mombasa, 4°03’S / 39°40’E.

Paratypes: Kenya: 4 ex., Mobmasa [sic!], IX.1947, T. H. E. Jackson ( NMK); 15 ex., Mombasa, III.1921, van Someren ( BMNH). Mozambique: 1 ex., Port. O. Afr., M. Pucii ( MNHU). Tanzania: 1 ex., Morogoro, 6°49’S / 37°40’E, Le Moult vend. via Reinbek ( ZMUH).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Distribution of Ootheca proteus, O. tilmani sp. n. and O. frontalis.

FIGURE 70. Holotype of Ootheca tilmani sp. n., a. specimen with labels, b. close-up detail of specimen.

FIGURES 67 – 69. Ootheca tilmani sp. n.; 67 a. Habitus, dorsal view; 68. Antennomeres 1 – 4 of two different males and two different females; 69. Median lobe: dorsal (left), lateral (right).