Blepharidina kenyana sp. nov.

(Figs 10, 29, 46, 68)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 0FFDCE28-0A4E-4014-BC78-8187DF2AA5EB

Type material. Holotype ♂: “Kenya, Eastern, Mwingi, Nguni env. (1°31'S 37°57'E), 28.xi.1999, M. Snízěk leg.” (BAQ) . Paratypes. Same data as the holotype, 1 ♂ (MNHN) ; KENYA: Eastern, Mwingi env. (0°56'S 38°03'E), 4.xii.1997, M. Snízěk leg., 1 ♂ (BMNH) ; Sagala Hills (3°28'S 38°35'E), xii.1993, Werner leg., 1 ♂ (BAQ) ; Kenya, Eastern, E 729, Sosoma, 202 km E of Thika (0°53'S 38°40'E), 20.xi.2007, M. Snízěk leg. (BAQ) .

Diagnosis. Blepharidina kenyana sp. nov. is similar to B. regalini sp. nov. in size, habitus, and color pattern (Figs 10, 18). However, the new species can be easily distinguished by the: aedeagus, clearly different in size, lateral view, and shape of the dorsal ligula (Figs 46, 54); more slender antennomeres and more distinctly carinate elytral interstriae (Figs 29, 33).

Description of the holotype (♂). Body elliptical-elongate, rather convex (Fig. 10); LB = 6.50 mm; maximum pronotal width (WP = 2.44 mm) in basal third; maximum elytral width (WE = 3.22 mm) in middle. Head brown, darker medially; antennae yellowish; pronotum yellowish, with brown patches; elytra yellowish, with brown striae and some small irregular brown patches on interstriae; legs brown, with slightly paler tibiae and pale tarsi. Head moderately pubescent, roughly punctate; frontal grooves weakly impressed; frontal tubercles poorly delimited, flat; interantennal space little wider than length of first antennomere; interocular space about as wide as transverse ocular width; antennae slightly longer than half body length (LAN = 3.84 mm; LAN/LB = 0.59); LA: 100:39:67:78:100:89:89:87:81:78:92. Pronotum subrectangular, distinctly transverse (LP = 1.38 mm; WP/LP = 1.77), with weakly sinuate lateral margin; anterior margin slightly thicker than basal margin, and moderately sinuate laterally; anterior angles slightly prominent laterally (Fig. 29); pronotal surface with lines and groups of differently sized punctures; pronotal base with two lateral, moderately impressed, longitudinal striae. Scutellum brown, subrounded, moderately elongate. Elytra moderately elongate (LE = 4.69 mm; WE/LE = 0.69; LE/LP = 3.41), subparallel laterally, jointly rounded and entirely covering pygidium posteriorly; punctation distinctly impressed, arranged in 9 (+ 1 scutellar) regular rows; interstriae slightly carinate. First pro- and mesotarsomeres clearly dilated; tarsal claws bifid. Ventral parts brown; last abdominal ventrite without distinctive preapical impressions. Aedeagus (LAED = 3.16 mm; LE/LAED = 1.49) (Fig. 46) in ventral view moderately slender, distinctly narrowed in apical third, obtusely subtriangular apically, with a small median tooth; ventral sulcus wide, open towards basal part; in lateral view, aedeagus straight, tapered towards subapical part; apical part slightly sinuate; dorsal ligula short, connected to approximately apical fourth of median lobe.

Variation. Paratypes (males) very similar in shape, sculpture, color and morphometry to the holotype; size moderately variable (see Appendix 2).

Etymology. The female specific epithet is after Kenya, where the species was collected in several localities.

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

Ecological notes. Not available. The collection sites fall within the area of Eastern African Xeric Scrub vegetation (belonging to the Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland formation), and Eastern & Southern African Dry Savanna & Woodland (belonging to the Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland formation).