Mimela minettii, Limbourg, 2014

Limbourg, Pol, 2014, Contribution to the knowledge of Afrotropical Rutelinae III (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 17, pp. 1-33 : 1-33

Mimela minettii sp. nov.

(Figs 3­ 4, 50­ 53)

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype ♂: [ Tanzania, Rubeho Mts. , 10.I.2004, Leg. R. Minetti] [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Don P. Limbourg, I. G. 31706] ( RBINS).

Paratypes: 1♂, 2♀: idem ( RBINS) ; 1♀: [ Tanzania, Rubeho Mts. , 10.I.2004, Leg. R. Minetti] ( PCPL) .

DESCRIPTION.

♂: length: 15 – 16.5 mm, breadth: 8.5 – 9.5 mm; ratio LB/lB (n = 2): (1.51 – 1.56).

Laterally convex, bent; totally chocolate brown except antennae pale brown; shining with strong greenish metallic reflection.

Clypeus trapezoidal and totally reflexed, strongly punctate like vertex; frons less punctate.

Club of antennae as long as funicle.

Pronotum hexagonal, broader than long LP/lP (n = 2): 0.54 – 0.57; laterally subparallel from base to angle, convergent in anterior half; anterior angles surpassing posterior margin of eyes; all margins carinate except in front of scutellum, strongly punctured with close deep points; smooth median line and impressed point on lateral margins.

Scutellum rounded, punctate.

Elytra taken together, longer than broad, LE/lE (n = 2): 1.20 – 1.21; epipleura complete; costa strongly elevated, punctured with shallow points; striae well marked, formed by line of separated deep rounded points; humeral calli obsolete, apical calli well marked.

Pygidium triangular, slightly projecting postero­ventrally, totally but finely verniculate.

Upperside with erected isolated white setae from antennae to pronotum; underside densely covered with long erected white setae on sides of metasternum; setae isolated and shorter on sides of sternites; long white erected setae on posterior margins and on disc of pygidium; close short white setae on legs.

Abdomen slightly convex; process at base of prosternum rectangular.

Protibiae narrow and bidentate, apical tooth pointed; large claw of anterior tarsi bifid and flattened; large claw of median tarsi elongate, narrow and bifid.

Aedeagus: parameres short and broad, rectangular and laterally slightly sinuate, separated from middle to apex (dorsal view); apex rounded (endophallus partially inflated); slightly sinuate ventrally and with apex rounded in lateral view.

♀: length: 16.5 mm, width: 9 – 9.5 mm.

Differs from ♂ by: apical tooth of protibia longer, and large claw of anterior tarsi shorter.

DERIVATIO NOMINIS. Dedicated to Robert Minetti (La Ciotat, France), who collected the specimens.

COMMENTS.

Comment are given under Mimela sericopyga Ohaus, 1914 .