Comparison of Eudicella nana with E. darwiniana

Material examined. Eudicella darwiniana: 1 Ƌ holotype, Ghana, Ashanti, 1880; 3 Ƌ, 4 ♀, Togo, Forêt d´Imoussa, X.2013; 4 Ƌ, Togo, Kloto, Forêt de Missahoe, XI.2011; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, Ghana, Kibi, RCI Border, XII.2003. Eudicella nana: see above for details of the type series.

Eudicella darwiniana resembles E. nana morphologically and is regarded as its hypothesized sister species, pending a phylogenetic analysis. Both species possess a narrowly forked clypeal horn with partial green iridescence and black tips. The horn of E. nana is less elongate than in E. darwiniana . The horn of E. nana elevates with a steeper angle than in E. darwiniana (Figs. 17–18). The elytra of E. nana are yellow with a marked darkgreen discal band (Figs. 1–2). In E. darwiniana, the elytra are either entirely green (except for the humeral and apical calli, which are dark-green or black) or yellowish-green with a more-or-less developed, green discal band (Figs. 9–10). The humeral maculae are usually more elongate in E. nana . The male labiae are very similar, deeply punctate in males (Figs. 4, 12) but distinct in females. The labial surface in female E. nana is rugose with deep punctures (Fig. 5), in contrast to female E. darwiniana, which do not possess the wavy ridges (Fig. 13). In both species, the pygidia are similar within sexes (Figs. 7–8, 15–16). The membranous wings in E. nana are tawny with a narrow black bar near its tips (Fig. 3). In E. darwiniana, the wings are black with tawny tips (Fig. 11). The parameres are very similar in the two species (Figs. 6, 14). The two species are allopatric.