Zonitoschema dunalis Bologna, 2018

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 : 105-106

Zonitoschema dunalis Bologna sp. n. ( Fig. 6S )

Types. Holotype male (CB), labelled ”SW Africa (13), Barby Farm, 25 mls W Helmeringhausen, 17/ 18.1.1972; at ligth”. 1 paratype (SMWN), labelled “Gobabeb, Namib Naukluft park, 23°24’S 15°03’E, 12.XII.1988, light trap: Kuiseb”.

The holotype lacks rigth antennomeres V–XI. The paratype is greatly damaged and lacks one antenna and antennomeres V–XI of the second, most legs (but rigth fore and partially hind, and left middle), and a large portion of the abdomen.

Type locality. The type locality (25.8583°S 16.5592°E), is in the Karas region, Beersheba district, while the second locality is just north to the previous, in the Erongo region, Walvis bay district. Both are located in the Namib Desert biome, respeticvely with compact and dunal ground. In the type locality it is syntopic with another Zonitoschema species, Z. capensis .

Diagnosis. Distinct from all other Zonitoschema because of the body colouration totally yellow-brown. The shape of the apex of male gonoforceps is not completely uncinated, but only curved posteriad similarly than in Z. eborina , and other Afrotropical and Palaerctic species (see remarks).

Description. Body subopaque yellow-brown pale; eyes and apical third of mandibles black, maxillary palpomeres, metaventrite and abdomen darker, extremity of pro- and mesofemur dark. Setation short and dense, light golden-yellow, recumbent, longer ventrally and on legs. Body length: 10–13 mm.

Head slightly wider than pronotum, maximum width at eye level. Eyes large and bulged, anterior margin distinctly emarginated near antennal socket, extended ventrally and reaching medial margin of maxillae on underside of head, almost contiguous in male, wider than frontal narrowest space between eyes. Frontal suture sligthly curved; frons convex with a small and shallow depression near base of antennae. Head punctures, midsized, not distinctly deep, quite dense intermediate surface wide and shiny; setae short and sparse. Temples shorter than longitudinal diameter of eye, subparallel and widely curved at apex. Clypeus almost flat, subtrapezoidal; anterior half narrower, glabrous and impunctate, shagreened; posterior half with punctuation and setation as on head capsule. Labrum suboval, depressed medially; anterior margin scarcely arcuate, longer than clypeus. Mandibles slightly longer than apex of labrum, straight but curved in apical third, sharp. Galeae penicillate, slightly longer than labial palpi; maxillary palpomeres II–III slender and subcylindrical, IV widened in anterior half and subsecuriform at apex. Antennae elongate, reaching posterior third of elytra, antennomeres slender and cylindrical, I and II subequal in length and III slightly longer than II; IV–IX about 1.3 as long as III; XI about 1.5 as long as previous ones, obtusely conical at apex.

Pronotum only slightly longer than wide and about as long as head; sides almost parallel, slightly widened from base to middle and anteriorly obliquely narrowed; fore third trasversally depressed, particularly on sides; posterior margin of base quite rebordered; punctures denser than on head, particularly in middle, setae short; prosternum wide, weakly narrowed posteriorly. Mesonotum slightly depressed in middle; mesoventrite transverse but laterally narrowed on sides and posteriorly greatly narrowed; metaventrite large, medial line impunctate and glabrous. Elytra densely and subrugosely punctuate, punctures slightly deeper than on head and pronotum, setae longer and denser than on pronotum; venations clearly visible. Metathoracic wings present and completely developed. Legs slender, with dense, golden-yellow setae; both foretibial spurs slender, inner one more pointed; both mesotibial spurs slender at apex; metatibial spurs widely spoon-like, more evidently external one, sligthly narrowed at apex; tarsi about 1.3 as long as respective tibia; tarsal claws denticulate, claw teeth thin and close to each other, ventral blade very thin.

Abdominal ventrites densely setate, surface densely punctate; last ventrite deeply incised, posterior margin of penultimate ventrite deeply and greatly V-emarginated in middle. Gonoforceps apically diverging in two short lobes, in ventral ( Fig. 19F ) and dorsal view, greatly narrowed and apically slightly widened and distinctly curved upwards in lateral view, but not uncinated ( Fig. 19E ); aedeagus slender.

Etymology. The name of this species refers to the high, imposing dunes particularly spectacular in the central Namib Desert, where it is distributed.

Remarks. It is the only species with both antennae and legs entirely yellow-brown. The shape of the apex of male gonoforceps, not completely hooked, but curved posteriad, possibly relates the new species to Z. eborina , which has only the antennomere I yellow and partially black legs, to an undescribed species from Kenya and two Saharan species [Z. pallidissima (Reitter, 1908) and Z. chourriba Batelka and Bologna, 2014]. Only the revision of the genus and the definition of natural groups can clarify relationships among species.

Distribution. W Namibia .

Zonitoschema eborina (Fåhraeus, 1870) ( Fig. 6T )

Zonitis eborina Fåhraeus, 1870

Distribution. Botswana, northern Namibia , South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Material examined and literature records. [Ohangwena] Oshikango: Ohamwaala, Ovambo, 17.4167°S 16.0500°E ( SMWN) . [Caprivi] Kongola: Kwando River , W Caprivi, 17.7833°S 23.3333°E ( SMWN) . [Kunene] Opuwo : South Savuti Camp, 18.5500°S 14.0500°E ( SMWN) . [Kavango] Ndiyona: Kaudom Game Riserve, 18.6167°S 20.6167°E ( SMWN) .

Other records: Namibia ( Bologna 2000a) .

Remarks. Types of this species were not examined.

The identification of these specimens needs confirmation after the revision of the genus. Zonitoschema eborina is well characterized by the antennal colouration (only antennomere I yellow), the elytral colour brown, the parameres at apex slightly curved posteriad, but not uncinated, the metatibial spur subspatulate.

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Synhoria testacea; B. Apalus hilaris; C. Nemognatha fluviatilis; D. Nemognatha cfr. notaticeps; E. Nemognatha peringueyi; F. Nemognatha vansoni; G. “Zonitis” maculicollis; H. “Zonitis” notaticollis; I. Zonitodema posoka; J. Zonitodema viridipennis; K. Zonitomorpha costata; L. Zonitomorpha sellata; M. “Zonitoschema” bivittipennis; N. “Zonitoschema” deserticola; O. “Zonitoschema” posticalis; P. “Zonitoschema” cfr. testaceiventris; Q. Zonitoschema capensis; R.Zonitoschema complex cocccinea; S. Zonitoschema dunalis; T. Zonitoschema eborina.

FIGURE 19. ”Zonitoschema” deserticola: tegmen in lateral (A) ventral (B) and dorsal view (C); aedeagus in dorsal view (D). Zonitoschema dunalis: tegmenand aedeagus in lateral view (E); tegmen inventral view (F). Zonitoschema capensis: tegmen in ventral view (G); tegmen and aedeagus in lateral view (H). Bar = 1 mm.