Mimela grootaerti, 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 grootaerti sp. nov.

(Figs 7­ 8, 58­ 59)

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype ♂: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B, R. D. CONGO, Prov. Orient., env. Kisangani, Massako (0.500°N /25.217°), 20­ 29.XII.2011, Leg. J. L. Lofete Wetsi, I.G. 32.083] ( RBINS).

Paratypes: 2♂: idem ( RBINS) ; 1♂, 1♀: [Coll. I.R.Sc. N.B, R. D. CONGO, Massako (Kisangani), (0.600°N /25.217°), 05­ 08.VI.2011, old secondary forest, light trap, 19h­04h, Leg. J. L. Lofete Wetsi, I.G. 31.930] ( RBINS) ; 1♂, 1♀: [Coll. I.R.Sc. N.B, R. D. CONGO: Massako , (0.600°N /25.217°), 28­ 31.VII.2011, 19H00­ 4H00, old 2d forest, Leg. J. L. Lofete Wetsi, I.G. 31.930] ( RBINS) ; 1♀: [Coll. I.R.Sc. N.B, R. D. CONGO, Prov. Orient. , env. Kisangani, Massako (0.500°N /25.217°), 28­ 31.VIII.2011, Leg. J. L. Lofete Wetsi, I.G. 32.083] ( RBINS) ; 1♂: [Coll. I.R.Sc. N.B, R. D. CONGO, Prov. Orient. , env. Kisangani, Massako (0.500°N /25.217°), 18­ 27.II.2012, Leg. J. L. Lofete Wetsi, I.G. 32.083] ( RBINS) .

DESCRIPTION.

♂: length: 12.5 – 13 mm, breadth: 6.5 – 7 mm; ratio LB/lB (n = 6): 1.59 (1.54 – 1.60).

Laterally convex, bent; totally chocolate brown strongly 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, longer than broad; LP/lP (n = 6): 0.57 (0.57 – 0.61); 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, deeply punctate; deep median groove and impressed point on lateral margins.

Scutellum rounded, punctate.

Elytra taken together, longer than broad; LE/lE (n = 6): 1.20 (1.18 – 1.24); epipleura complete; costa strongly elevated, slightly punctate; striae well marked, formed by a line of separated deep crescentshaped points; humeral calli obsolete, apical calli well marked.

Pygidium triangular, slightly projecting postero­ventrally, totally and strongly verniculate.

Upperside with short erected isolated yellowish setae from antennae to declivity of elytra;

underside with long erected white setae on sides of metasternum; isolated and shorter setae on disc of sternites; long erected, isolated yellowish setae on margins of pygidium.

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, dorsally parallel after base; apex rounded; laterally angulate.

♀: length: 13.5 – 14.5 mm, width: 7 – 7.5 mm.

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

DERIVATIO NOMINIS. Dedicated to Dr. Patrick Grootaert, head of the Department of Entomology (RBINS).