Smicronyx zonatus Haran, 2018

Figs 2E, 5N; Table 1

Smicronyx zonatus Haran, 2018: 280 .

Differential diagnosis

Of the African Smicronychini, S. zonatus can be easily distinguished from other species by its reddish integument and its white transverse band on the elytra (Haran, 2018).

Material examined

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Mpumalanga Province, Kruger National Park, Skukuza Reserve Camp; 24.59 S, 31.35 E; 1 Mar. 1995; Endrödy-Younga leg.; UV light trap; SANC • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; KwaZulu-Natal, Eshowe; Jul. 1926; R.E. Turner leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; Drakensberg, Van Reenen; 1–22 Jan. 1927; R.E. Turner leg.; BMNH .

Other material

See Haran (2018).

ZAMBIA • 1 ♂; Liua Plains; 29 Nov. 2003; Deschodt and Groenewald leg.; at light; SANC .

Diagnosis

BODY LENGTH. 2.0– 2.5 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument reddish, except rostrum, antennae, prothorax, suture of elytra and tarsi, which are usually black; vestiture of elytra generally consisting of elliptical, rounded scales or slightly longer than wide, recumbent, overlapping and almost concealing integument; scales brown with patches of white and a few black spots along the basal half of interstriae 1–3, and a large transverse white band between middle of elytra length and apical ¼.

HEAD. Rostrum as long as head capsule + prothorax in lateral view, greatly downcurved

PROTHORAX. Wider than long (w/l ratio: 1.08), sides rounded, widest slightly before middle of length.

ELYTRA. Subparallel in basal ½, rounded in apical ½ (w/l ratio: 0.73).

LEGS. Femora and tibiae covered with whitish and pale brown semi-erect, elongate scales; femora greatly clavate, armed with a small but distinct ventral tooth.

GENITALIA. Body of penis elongate (w/l ratio: 0.37), 1.5× longer than apodemes, subparallel, rounded at apex, in lateral view regularly narrowing from base to apex (Fig. 5N).

Life history

Recently collected specimens from the Republic of South Africa (Stellenbosch, Western Cape Province) were found on a small unidentified Orobanchaceae (near the genus Euphrasia Linnaeus, 1753), a hemiparasite of Cyperaceae found at low elevation in wet areas near ponds (Fig. 6 I–J). Adults were collected in January–March, May, July and November.

Distribution

Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Republic of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Western Cape provinces), Zambia (Haran 2018).