Oosagitta geescheae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C9A28FBA-6047-4F16-96B3-C752A4642E8F

Figs 13, 19-23

Differential diagnosis

Oosagitta geescheae sp. nov. is the only species of the genus that possesses a brownish elytral base and apex on yellowish elytron. The endophallus with slender, spatula-like tectum and the very long, slender tectorial spures are very characteristic for this species.

Etymology

Named after Sabine Kortenhaus’ daughter Geesche.

Type material

Holotype

♂, “Musée du Congo Lomami: Kaniama, 1931, R. Massart /AfriGa specimen ID 1897, 26.XI. 2012“ (MRAC) (Fig. 22).

Paratypes

CAMEROON: 2 exx., Johann Albrechtshöhe [Mt. Cameroon], 4.15/9.21, ex. Coll. J. Weise, 1 ex. with additional label “ Type / Candezea transversicollis Jac. Typ. ” in Weise’s handwriting; this species was not described (MNHU); 1 ex., Kamerun, Barombi, 4.40/9.25, Conrad (HNHM).

DEMOCRATIC REUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 1 ex., Bena-Bendi, Sankuru, -4.28/20.35, Jan. 1895, L. Cloetens (IRSNB); 1 ex., Kassai, 1904, E. Taymans (IRSNB); 1 ex., Elisabethville [Lubumbashi], -11.67/27.47, Nov. 1911, Miss. Agric. (MRAC); 1 ex., Kwamouth, -3.18/16.20, Jun. 1913, Dr. J. Maes (MRAC); 1 ex., Tang. Moero, Niunzu, 1935, H. De Saeger (MRAC); 1 ex., PNA, Secteur Nord, riv. Talya, affl. dr. Lume, 1215 m, Jul. 1956, P. Vanschuytbroeck (IRSNB); 2 exx., PNA, Secteur Nord, riv. Talya, affl. dr. Lume, 1280 m, Jul. 1956, P. Vanschuytbroeck (IRSNB); 1 ex. PNA, Massif Ruwenzori, riv. Talya, affl. Lume, 1870 m, 0.38/29.90, Sep. 1956, P. Vanschuytbroeck (IRSNB); 1 ex., PNA, Secteur Nord, Gundu, affl. rive dr. Semliki, reg. Kylia, 840 m, -1.65/28.87, Jan. 1957, P. Vanschuytbroeck (IRSNB); 1 ex., Tshuapa, Bamanga, -0.28/25.53, 1960, P. Hulstaert (MRAC).

UGANDA: 3 exx., Bwamba, -0.65/29.83, Jun. 1948, Van Someren (1 ex. BMNH, 2 exx. NMK).

Type locality

DEMOCRATIC REUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Kaniama, -6.13/24.48.

Description

MEASUREMENTS. n = 15, total length 4.50–5.80 mm (mean 5.33 mm; Fig. 19); maximum height in lateral view 1.50–2.50 mm (mean 2.01 mm).

HEAD. Yellowish, becoming darker towards labrum.Maximum width of eye to minimum distance between eyes 0.69–0.92 (mean 0.83). Length of second to third antennomere 0.38–0.57 (mean 0.48), length third to fourth antennomere 0.63–0.75 (mean 0.69; Fig. 20). Antennae yellowish, terminal antennomere with darker apex. Mean antennal length to total body length ratio 0.93.

THORAX. Colour like head, pronotum and disc of elytron. Pronotum yellowish with delicate punctation. Pronotal width 1.50–1.95 mm (mean 1.77 mm), length of pronotum 0.88–1.10 mm (mean 1.04 mm), pronotal width to length 1.62–1.86 (mean 1.71). The yellowish elytron has a brownish base and apex of elytron (Fig. 19) and an irregular coarse punctation. Elytral length 3.73–4.95 mm (mean 4.33 mm), maximum width of both elytra combined 2.75–3.50 mm (mean 3.22 mm), ratio of maximum width of elytra combined to length of elytron 0.67–0.81 (mean 0.75). Scutellum integrated in the pattern of elytron (Fig. 19). Pro-, meso- and metathorax, abdomen and legs yellowish. Length of basimetatarsus to length of metatibia 0.29–0.33 (mean 0.32).

MALE GENITALIA. The symmetric conical aedeagus slightly curved ventrally (Fig. 21B), median lobe tapers to two short points, separated by a tiny incision (Fig. 21A). Tectum with very broad base, which narrows to a ventrally bent, spatulate, nearly rectangular structure. Tectorial spures nearly circular bent at base, very long and slender toards the apex (Fig. 21A, B) Endophallus possesses two acute tapering appendices at its apex. Endophallus brush is emerging from this arrow-like endophallus Fig. 21B). Orifice of median lobe ovoid with a rather great incision (Fig. 21A).

Distribution

Cameroon, Congo Basin and western Uganda (Fig. 13).