Blepharidina aliquantula sp. nov.

(Figs 1, 26, 38, 68)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DC3DCC40-9994-4A33-AB3D-798DFF6D8842

Blepharidina (Blepharidina) burtli (Bryant): Biondi et al. 2017: 129 (pars) Type material. Holotype ♂: “ Somalia, Mogadiscio (2°02'N 45°21'E), 17.vi.1934, S. Patrizi leg.” (MSNG).

Diagnosis. Blepharidina aliquantula sp. nov. shows major affinity with B. kasigauensis sp. nov. and B. regalini sp. nov. due to the similar shape of the aedeagus (Figs 38, 45, 54). However, B. aliquantula sp. nov. has clearly smaller size, brighter color on the dorsal integuments (Figs 1, 9, 18) and the aedeagus more distinctly bent dorsally at the apical third in lateral view (Fig. 38). The new species also differs from B. kasigauensis sp. nov. for the antero-lateral part of pronotum (Figs 26, 28), visible in dorsal view (not visible in B. kasigauensis because downward oriented), and from B. regalini sp. nov., for the different punctation on the antero-lateral surface of pronotum (Figs 26, 33).

Description of the holotype (♂). Body elliptical-elongate, rather convex (Fig. 1); LB = 4.81 mm; maximum pronotal width (WP = 2.03 mm) in basal third; maximum elytral width (WE = 2.66 mm) in middle. Head brown with yellowish antennae; labrum with lateral pale patches; pronotum with bright yellow and brown patches, latter mostly on groups and lines of punctures; elytra bright yellow with brown striae of punctures and some large and irregular brown patches (4 medial and 5 lateral); legs brown, with slightly paler tarsi. Head distinctly pubescent, roughly and densely punctate; frontal grooves short, weakly impressed; frontal tubercles slightly elongate, flat; interantennal space little wider than length of first antennomere; interocular space wider than transverse ocular width; antennae as long as half body length (LAN = 2.41 mm; LAN/LB = 0.50); LA: 100:46:69:69:85:69:69:69:69:69:85. Pronotum subrectangular, distinctly transverse (LP = 1.19 mm; WP/LP = 1.71), with clearly sinuate lateral margin; anterior margin slightly thicker than basal margin, and slightly sinuate laterally; anterior angles distinctly prominent laterally; pronotal surface with lines and groups of differently sized punctures (Fig. 26); pronotal base with two moderately impressed lateral longitudinal striae. Scutellum brown, subtriangular. Elytra moderately elongate (LE = 3.63 mm; WE/LE = 0.73; LE/LP = 3.05), subparallel laterally, jointly rounded and entirely covering pygidium posteriorly; punctation clearly impressed, arranged in 9 (+ 1 scutellar) regular rows; interstriae flat, apart from most lateral weakly carinate posteriorly. First pro- and mesotarsomeres distinctly dilated; tarsal claws bifid. Ventral parts brown; last abdominal ventrite without distinctive preapical impressions. Aedeagus (LAED = 2.31 mm; LE/LAED = 1.57) (Fig. 38) in ventral view slightly sinuate laterally, with subtriangular apical part and small median tooth; ventral sulcus wide, open towards basal part; in lateral view, median lobe distinctly narrowed subapically, with clearly bent dorsally apical third; dorsal ligula short, connected to apical fourth.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin female adjective referring to its small size.

Distribution. Somalia (Fig. 68). Possibly Northern-Eastern Afrotropical (NEA) chorotype.

Ecological Notes. Not available. The collection site falls within the area of Eastern African Xeric Scrub vegetation (belonging to the Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland formation).