taxonID	type	description	language	source
834387CBF222FFFBFDDC43B324F9FC4A.taxon	description	Description Large species (body length 6.0 – 9.1 mm) with black head, legs and elytral apex.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFFBFDDC43B324F9FC4A.taxon	discussion	Remarks This group currently includes four species from West Africa, one of which (M. vinculata) also occurs in East Africa. Species included: Melitonoma juvenca (Lacordaire, 1848), M. simoni Weise, 1881, M. vinculata Weise, 1910 and M. dalaba sp. nov.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFF1FDB642D42532FCBB.taxon	description	Figs 1 – 3	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFF1FDB642D42532FCBB.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis In habitus, Melitonoma juvenca is most similar to M. dalaba sp. nov. The pronotum of M. juvenca is covered with distinct and well visible punctation, which is similar to that of M. dalaba sp. nov. Male protarsomeres I of both species are elongate, but in M. juvenca protarsomere I is shorter, 1.75 times as long as wide, while in M. dalaba sp. nov. it is longer, 2.45 times as long as wide (Figs 2 N, 9 O). The two species also differ in the shape of the penis, which is subhexagonal without an apical process in M. juvenca, but with a distinct triangular apical process in M. dalaba sp. nov. (Figs 3 A – F, 9 F – K). In M. simoni, the pronotum is completely or almost completely smooth, male protarsomere I (Fig. 5 E) is slightly shorter, 2.20 times as long as wide, and the penis is elongated and narrow with a triangular apical third (Fig. 6 A – F). In M. vinculata, the pronotum is covered with very fine punctation, visible under higher magnification, male protarsomere I (Fig. 7 N) is very short, 1.10 times as long as wide, and the apical part of the penis is rounded laterally, with the tip widely triangular (Fig. 8 A – F). Most specimens of M. juvenca have an orange base colour, while specimens of M. simoni and M. vinculata have a yellow or yellowish-brown base colour. Females of M. juvenca, M. simoni and M. vinculata differ, in addition to the punctation of the pronotum, by the shape of the spermatheca, which is question mark-shaped in M. juvenca and M. simoni, while it is more C-shaped in M. vinculata. In M. juvenca the spermathecal duct is very thin without any coils, ca as long as the spermatheca. In M. simoni it is ca 2.5 times as long as spermatheca and forms many small coils. In M. vinculata it forms a large tangled-up ball (Figs 3 I, 6 I, 8 I). The middle dorsal rectal sclerite is missing in M. juvenca (observed in three females), while it is present in M. simoni and M. vinculata (Figs 3 J, 6 J, 8 K).	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFF1FDB642D42532FCBB.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Other material examined BENIN • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 105 km N of Parakou, Bembereke (Borgou); 2 Jul. 2001; F. and L. Kantner leg.; NMPC • 1 ♂; 55 km NNE of Parakou, Son Tou (Borgou); 4 Jul. 2001; F. and L. Kantner leg.; NMPC. GHANA • 2 ♀♀; Cape coast; 8 Jun. 1982; C. I. E. leg.; on maize; NHMUK. REPUBLIC OF GUINEA • 1 ♀; Guinea; Chevrolat Coll.; NHMUK • 1 ♂ (Fig. 1 C – D), original specimen of Clythra juvenca var. A; “ Guinea West ”; MFNB. SENEGAL • 1 ♀; Senegal; MFNB. TOGO • 1 ♂; Bismarckburg; 20 – 27 Oct. 1893; L. Conradt leg.; MFNB • 1 ♀; Bismarckburg; 8 Aug. – 24 Sep. 1892; L. Conradt leg.; MFNB • 1 ♀; “ zw. Klein-Popo und Bismarckburg ” [between Anecho and Bismarckburg]; 8 – 24 Aug. 1892; L. Conradt leg.; MFNB • 6 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Fazao-Malfakassa NP, Mare aux crocodiles campsite; 8 ° 44 ′ 58.8 ″ N, 0 ° 48 ′ 51.8 ″ E; 26 Aug. – 8 Sep. 2018; M. Aristophanous, M. Geiser, P. Moretto and B. Sanbena leg.; Sudanian savannah / gallery forest; NHMUK • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; JBCB • 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Fazao-Malfakassa NP, Point de vue campsite; 8 ° 48 ′ 50 ″ N, 0 ° 49 ′ 3.2 ″ E; 16 – 24 Aug. 2018; M. Aristophanous, M. Geiser, P. Moretto and B. Sanbena leg.; Sudanian savannah; NHMUK • 1 ♂; Fazao-Malfakassa NP, East of Bounako ranger station; 9 ° 10 ′ 14.1 ″ N, 0 ° 57 ′ 33.4 ″ E; 25 – 26 Aug. 2018; M. Aristophanous, M. Geiser, P. Moretto and B. Sanbena leg.; Sudanian savannah; NHMUK.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFF1FDB642D42532FCBB.taxon	description	Description Male (Fig. 2 A) APPEARANCE AND COLORATION. Body length: 6.0 – 6.9 mm. Body elongate, subparallel, convex. Head black. Pronotum usually with large black spot touching posterior margin, spot deeply incised in middle of anterior margin, lateral and anterior pronotal margins yellowish brown to orange; rarely black spot enlarged, touching also anterior pronotal margin or black pattern reduced to three spots (two larger irregular spots laterally and one small elongate spot in middle) (Fig. 2 E – H). Scutellum black. Elytra yellowish brown to orange with five black spots (1, 2, 2) and black apex of elytra; pairs of spots usually connected forming one or two transverse bands, rarely both bands connected, or humeral spot connected with middle exterior spot, or middle exterior spot missing (Fig. 2 I – M). Ventral side of body black, except pronotal hypomeron yellowish brown to orange. Antennomeres I – III orange (I sometimes darkened), IV – VI black with orange bases, VII – XI black. Legs black, in very old specimens can be dark reddish brown. HEAD (Fig. 2 C). Mandibles moderately enlarged, basal parts slightly swollen, apical parts flat, even and glabrous, lateral sides covered with long pale setae; left mandible somewhat larger, with lateral margin straight and oblique, and apex hook-like, lateral side with distinct groove. Labrum transverse with rounded anterior angles and shallowly emarginated anterior margin, surface smooth and glabrous except small punctures along margins bearing pale setae. Anterior margin of clypeus widely-shallowly emarginated. Anterior part of head slightly convex and uneven, covered with small punctures and along anterior margin of clypeus also with short setae. Eyes moderately large. Frons wide, 2.50 – 2.70 times as wide as diameter of eye, surface uneven, almost glabrous, except setae cumulated along internal margins of eyes. Frons separated from vertex by shallowly impressed rounded line. Vertex convex, glabrous, lustrous, covered with indistinct punctures. Antennae short, 0.17 times as long as body, antennomere I club-shaped, III very small, antennae shortly serrated from antennomere IV. PRONOTUM. Convex, transverse, 1.65 – 1.75 times as wide as long, widest before base. Surface lustrous, covered with small fine punctures (Fig. 2 D), punctation disappearing along anterior and lateral margins, punctures bear microscopic setae visible only in high magnification. Anterior margin straight to slightly concave, lateral margins moderately rounded, posterior margin slightly rounded and moderately expanded in scutellar area. Anterior margin thinly bordered only in lateral parts, middle part unbordered, lateral margins widely bordered and posterior margin thinly bordered. Anterior angles obtusangulate, posterior angles rounded, all angles with setigerous pore bearing long seta. Posterior angles slightly elevated above elytral base. Scutellum subtriangular, with rounded tip, glabrous, impunctate, along basal margin impressed and punctate. ELYTRA. Subparallel, 1.45 – 1.50 times as long as wide (measured in middle) and 0.50 times as long as body. Surface glabrous, subopaque, densely covered with very fine, confused punctures and fine microsculpture. Humeral calli developed. Basal margin forming sharp keel. In lateral view, lateral margin of each elytron sinuate. Epipleura lustrous, glabrous, slightly concave, very wide at base, gradually narrowed posteriorly, disappearing in ⅔ of elytral length. Macropterous. VENTRAL SIDE OF BODY. Densely covered with short setae. Abdomen more or less concave in lateral view. Pygidium moderately convex. LEGS. Protibiae and protarsi moderately enlarged. Protarsomere I (Fig. 2 N) elongate, 1.75 times as long as wide, as wide as II, lateral sides slightly rounded, protarsomere II 1.32 times as long as wide, parallel in apical half, convergent in basal half, length ratio of protarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 71 - 68 - 67 (100 = 0.70 mm). Mesotarsomere I elongate, parallel, with narrowed base, as wide as II, length ratio of mesotarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 60 - 60 - 80 (100 = 0.50 mm). Metatarsomere I elongate, subparallel, with narrowed base, as wide as II, length ratio of metatarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 60 - 60 - 80 (100 = 0.5 mm). Claws simple. PENIS (Fig. 3 A – F). Widest in apical quarter, apical part subhexagonal, tip rounded, apical margins wide and flat. In lateral view, dorsal margin slightly sinuate, ventral margin bent at middle in form of right angle, apex sharp. In ventral view, penis with long keel, wider and convex in apical part, sharp and narrow in median part, distinctly concave laterally from keel, anteroapically with small elevation on each side. Line of short setae visible along lateral margin in ventral view. Ventral surface and most of dorsal surface covered with punctures and wrinkles. Internal sac (Fig. 3 G – H) with three pairs of small hook-like sclerites and one long needle-like sclerite, 0.77 times as long as width of penis in widest place. Female (Fig. 2 B) Body length: 6.2 – 7.7 mm. Head, mandibles, tarsi and protibiae not enlarged. Abdomen convex in lateral view, last abdominal ventrite with medial hollow. Apex of pygidium slightly emarginated. Spermatheca question mark-like, with gradually narrowing and sinuate apical part, spermathecal duct very thin, without any coils, ca as long as spermatheca (Fig. 3 I). Dorsal rectal sclerites small, longitudinally suboval, with slightly irregular margins, without middle dorsal sclerite (Fig. 3 J). Ventral rectal sclerites transverse, slightly oblique, anterior margin emarginated near base, distal part fan-shaped and distinctly wider than proximal part (Fig. 3 K). Tergite VIII and ovipositor as in Fig. 3 L.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFF1FDB642D42532FCBB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Benin (present paper), Ghana (Medvedev 1973; present paper), Republic of Guinea (Lacordaire 1848; present paper), Senegal (Lacordaire 1848; present paper) and Togo (present paper). Based on the examination of the voucher specimen, the record of M. juvenca from Niger (Medvedev & Beenen 2005) refers to M. puncticollis Lefèvre, 1883.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF222FFF1FDB642D42532FCBB.taxon	discussion	Remarks Jacoby & Clavareau (1906) listed Melitonoma inclusa as a synonym of M. simoni. Two female syntypes of M. inclusa deposited in NHMUK were examined. In one syntype, the head and pronotum are missing. The pronotum of the second syntype is covered by fine, dense punctures, which allows me to propose M. inclusa as a new synonym of M. juvenca. Two taxa, Melitonoma puncticollis Lefèvre, 1883, and M. terminata Jacoby, 1903, are resurrected from the synonymy with M. juvenca. Clavareau (1913) listed M. terminata as a synonym of M. puncticollis and Medvedev (1971) synonymised M. puncticollis with M. juvenca without any comments. The type specimens of both taxa were examined. They do not belong the M. juvenca species group; moreover, they represent two different species. However, their identities will be resolved later in a subsequent paper on Melitonoma. In the original description, Lacordaire (1848) explicitly mentioned the male from Klug’s collection and the female from Dejean’s collection. The collection of Johann Christoph Friedrich Klug is deposited now in MFNB. In the historical accession book, two specimens (males) of Melitonoma juvenca are entered under the number 23269. One of the males with one large irregular black spot on the pronotum and a black posterior transverse band on the elytra agrees well with the description and is designated here as a lectotype. The second male, with a black pronotal pattern fragmented into three spots and an interrupted posterior transverse band on the elytra, agrees with variety A in Lacordaire (1848). This male was expressly excluded from the type series as a distinct variant marked by a letter (Art. 72.4.1, ICZN 1999). The female from Dejean’s collection was not examined. The Clytrini from Dejean’s collection were probably bought by Marquis de Brème within “ cryptocephalides ” (Mannerheim 1842) and are deposited in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF225FFFCFF70409F24B4FDE4.taxon	materials_examined	REPUBLIC OF GUINEA • ♂ (Fig. 1 A – B); “ Hist. - Coll. (Coleoptera) / Nr. 23269 / Melitonoma iuvenca Dej. / Guinea, West. / Zool. Mus. Berlin [b, p] // SYNTYPE / Clythra (Melitonoma) / juvenca / Lacordaire, 1848 / labelled by MFNB 2023 [r, p] // LECTOTYPE / Clythra (Melitonoma) / juvenca / Lacordaire, 1848 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; MFNB.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF224FFFDFF70402D2349FEEC.taxon	materials_examined	TOGO • ♀ (Fig. 1 E – F); “ Togo / Africa [w, h] // Jacoby Coll. / 1909 – 28 a. [w, p] // NHMUK 015526172 [w, p] // LECTOTYPE / Melitonoma inclusa / Jacoby, 1895 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; NMHUK.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF224FFFDFF7040B52372FD93.taxon	materials_examined	TOGO • 1 ♀; “ 8. [w, h] // Type / H. T. [w, p, round label with red collar] // TYPE [w, p] // Togo / Africa [w, h] // Jacoby Coll. / 1909 – 28 a. [w, p] // Melitonoma / inclusa Jac. / Type [b, h] // NHMUK 015526167 [w, p] // PARALECTOTYPE / Melitonoma inclusa / Jacoby, 1895 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; NMHUK.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF228FFF7FDC242472377FC8A.taxon	description	Figs 4 – 6	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF228FFF7FDC242472377FC8A.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis The pronotum of Melitonoma simoni is completely or almost completely impunctate, while it is covered with distinct and well-visible punctation in M. juvenca and M. dalaba sp. nov., or it is covered with very fine punctation, visible under higher magnification in M. vinculata. Male protarsomeres I of M. simoni, M. juvenca and M. dalaba sp. nov. are elongate. In males of M. simoni, protarsomere I is 2.20 times as long as wide, while in M. juvenca it is shorter, 1.75 times as long as wide. In M. dalaba sp. nov., it is longer, 2.45 as long as wide (Figs 2 N, 5 E, 9 O). The penis of M. simoni is elongate and narrow with an apical third triangular (Fig. 6 A – F), while it has a distinct triangular apical process in M. dalaba sp. nov. (Fig. 9 F – K). Most specimens of M. simoni have a yellow or yellowish-brown base colour, while the specimens of M. juvenca and M. dalaba sp. nov. have an orange base colour. In addition to the punctation of the pronotum, females of M. simoni, M. juvenca and M. vinculata differ by the shapes of the spermatheca and spermathecal duct. In M. simoni and M. juvenca, the spermatheca is question mark-shaped. The spermathecal duct forms many small coils in M. simoni, while it is without any coils in M. juvenca. In M. vinculata, the spermatheca is C-shaped and spermathecal duct forms a large, tangled-up ball (Figs 3 I, 6 I, 8 I).	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF228FFF7FDC242472377FC8A.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Lectotype of Melitonoma simoni (here designated) GHANA • ♂ (Fig. 4 A – B); “ Ashante / Simon [b, h] // ♂ [w, h] // Melitonoma / Simoni * [w, h] // Cotypus [r, p] // SYNTYPE / Melitonoma / simoni / Weise, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2023 [r, p] // LECTOTYPE / Melitonoma simoni / Weise, 1881 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; MFNB. Paralectotypes of Melitonoma simoni GHANA • 1 ♀; “ Ashante / Simon [b, h] // ♀ [w, h] // Cotypus [r, p] // SYNTYPE / Melitonoma / simoni / Weise, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2023 [r, p] // PARALECTOTYPE / Melitonoma simoni / Weise, 1881 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; MFNB • 1 ♀ (Fig. 4 C – D); “ Ashante / Simon [b, h] // Ashante [w, h] // ♀ [w, h] // Cotypus [r, p] // SYNTYPE / Melitonoma / simoni / Weise, 1881 / labelled by MFNB 2023 [r, p] // PARALECTOTYPE / Melitonoma simoni / Weise, 1881 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; MFNB. Other material examined CAMEROON • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; “ Jaunde-Stat ” [Yaoundé City]; 800 m a. s. l.; Zenker leg.; MFNB • 1 ♀; Joko; MFNB. COTE D’IVOIRE • 1 ♀; Man; Oct. 1970; J. Roggeman leg.; RBCN • 2 ♀♀; Tonkoui Mt; 07 ° 26 ′ 42 ″ N, 07 ° 38 ′ 41 ″ W; 1135 m a. s. l.; 1 – 8 Nov. 2015; M. Aristophanous, P. Moretto and E. Ruzzier leg.; NHMUK. LIBERIA • 2 ♀♀; Nimba Mts Camp; 07 ° 31 ′ 45 ″ N, 08 ° 31 ′ 37 ″ W; 1165 m a. s. l.; 3 – 13 Dec. 2017; M. Aristophanous, S. Sáfián, G. Simonics and L. Smith leg.; JBCB. NIGERIA • 1 ♂; Lagos; 10 Oct. 1946; W. E. S. Merret leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Lagos; 28 Sep. 1948; W. E. S. Merret leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Ibadan; F. D. Golding leg.; NHMUK. REPUBLIC OF GUINEA • 1 ♂; Tabuna valley; 14 Sep. – 21 Nov. 1982; S. V. Murzin leg.; MFNB • 1 ♂; Guinea; ex mus. Murray, Fry coll.; NHMUK • 15 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀; Dalaba, Forêt de Tinka; 10 ° 43 ′ 14 ″ N, 12 ° 15 ′ 22 ″ W; 1289 m a. s. l.; 25 – 28 Sep. 2019; M. Geiser, M. Leno, S. Koivagui, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney and Sz. Safian leg.; degraded upland forest; NHMUK • 15 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Dalaba, Forêt de Goubel; 10 ° 39 ′ 27 ″ N, 12 ° 15 ′ 44 ″ W; 1413 m a. s. l.; 10 – 18 Sep. 2019; M. Geiser, M. Leno, S. Koivagui, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney and Sz. Safian leg.; upland forest and savannah; NHMUK • 2 ♂♂; Dalaba, Forêt de Tangama; 10 ° 40 ′ 41 ″ N, 12 ° 15 ′ 58 ″ W; 1243 m a. s. l.; 9 Sep. 2019; M. Geiser, M. Leno, S. Koivagui, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney and Sz. Safian leg.; upland forest; NHMUK • 2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Ditinn, Chute de Ditinn; 10 ° 49 ′ 08 ″ N, 12 ° 11 ′ 30 ″ W; 771 m a. s. l.; 18 – 25 Sep. 2019; M. Geiser, M. Leno, S. Koivagui, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney and Sz. Safian leg.; Guinea savannah and gallery forest; NHMUK. SIERRA LEONE • 1 ♂; “ S. Leone ”; NHMUK. TOGO • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; “ Togo Hinterland ”; Kling leg.; MFNB • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bismarckburg; 20 Sep. – 15 Oct. 1890; R. Büttner leg.; MFNB • 1 ♀; Bismarckburg; L. Conradt leg.; MFNB • 1 ♂; Bismarckburg; 12 Oct. 1892; L. Conradt leg.; MFNB • 1 ♀; Kloto; Nov. 1998; G. Goergen leg.; forest area; JBCB.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF228FFF7FDC242472377FC8A.taxon	description	Description Male (Fig. 5 A) APPEARANCE AND COLORATION. Body length: 6.0 – 7.8 mm. Body elongate, subparallel, convex. Head black. Pronotum usually with large black spot touching posterior margin, spot deeply incised in middle of anterior margin, lateral and anterior pronotal margins yellow to yellowish brown; rarely black spot not incised in middle, or black pattern reduced to three spots (two larger irregular spots laterally and one small elongate spot in middle) (Fig. 5 F – H). Elytra yellow to yellowish brown with variable black pattern (basic pattern with five black spots (1, 2, 2) and black apex of elytra): palest specimens with 0 – 5 isolated spots and black apex of elytra; or pairs of spots connected forming two transverse bands; or posterior band connected with black apex by black stripe on lateral margin of elytron (Fig. 5 I – O); very rarely black color on elytral apex reduced and not quite clearly distinct (Fig. 5 K). Scutellum black. Antennae black with antennomeres I – IV yellow, I and III – IV often more or less darkened, V black sometimes with brownish base. Legs black, in very old specimens can be dark reddish brown. Ventral side of body black, except pronotal hypomeron yellow to yellowish brown. HEAD (Fig. 5 C). Mandibles slightly enlarged, dorsal side flat and glabrous, basal parts not swollen, lateral sides covered with long pale setae; left mandible somewhat larger, apex hook-like. Labrum transverse with rounded anterior angles and shallowly emarginated anterior margin, surface subopaque, covered very fine microsculpture, glabrous, except small punctures along margins bearing pale setae. Clypeus slightly impressed along widely shallowly emarginated anterior margin. Anterior part of head slightly convex, uneven, covered with small punctures with tendency to form longitudinal wrinkles and anterolaterally also with short setae. Eyes moderately large. Frons wide, 1.75 – 1.90 times as wide as diameter of eye, surface uneven, almost glabrous, except setae cumulated along internal margins of eyes. Frons separated from vertex by shallowly impressed rounded line. Vertex convex, glabrous, lustrous. Antennae short, 0.22 times as long as body, antennomere I club-shaped, III very small, antennae shortly serrated from antennomere IV. PRONOTUM. Convex, transverse, 1.70 – 1.80 times as wide as long, widest before base. Surface lustrous (Fig. 5 D), almost impunctate, usually with some punctures along middle part of posterior margin, in some specimens fine punctures visible also on pronotal disc. Disc often with indistinct traces of one or two transverse impressions in posterior half of pronotum. Anterior margin straight, lateral margins moderately rounded, posterior margin nearly straight and moderately expanded in scutellar area. Anterior margin thinly bordered only in lateral parts, middle part unbordered, lateral margins widely bordered and posterior margin thinly bordered. Anterior angles narrowly rounded, posterior angles widely rounded, all angles with setigerous pore bearing long seta. Posterior angles slightly elevated above elytral base. Scutellum subtriangular with rounded apex, impunctate, and glabrous, sometimes with indistinct median keel. ELYTRA. Subparallel, 1.45 – 1.57 times as long as wide (measured in middle) and 0.65 – 0.75 times as long as body. Surface glabrous, subopaque, densely covered with very fine, confused punctures and fine microsculpture. Humeral calli developed. Basal margin forming sharp keel. In lateral view, lateral margin of each elytron sinuate. Epipleura lustrous, glabrous, slightly concave, very wide at base, gradually narrowed posteriorly, disappearing in ⅔ of elytral length. Macropterous. VENTRAL SIDE OF BODY. Densely covered with setae. Abdomen more or less concave in lateral view. Pygidium moderately convex. LEGS. Protibiae and protarsi moderately enlarged. Protarsomere I (Fig. 5 E) elongate, 2.20 times as long as wide, lateral sides slightly rounded, as wide as II, protarsomere II 1.14 times as long as wide, parallel in apical half, convergent in basal half, length ratio of protarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 66 - 66 - 83 (100 = 0.60 mm). Mesotarsomere I elongate, subtriangular, as wide as II, length ratio of mesotarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 60 - 60 - 80 (100 = 0.50 mm). Metatarsomere I elongate, subparallel, with narrowed base, as wide as II, length ratio of metatarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 75 - 75 - 100 (100 = 0.4 mm). Claws simple. PENIS (Fig. 6 A – F). Elongate, relatively narrow, 4.10 times as long as wide, widest at anterior third, apical third triangular, tip rounded, middle third slightly convergent basally, basal third subparallel. In lateral view, penis widely bent, apical part slightly sinuate. Ventral side slightly convex, without any ridges or impressions. Internal sac (Fig. 6 G – H) with three pairs of small hook-like sclerites and one very long and thin internal sclerite, 0.34 times as long as penis. Female (Fig. 5 B) Body length: 6.2 – 9.1 mm. Head, mandibles, tarsi and protibiae not enlarged. Abdomen convex in lateral view, last abdominal ventrite with medial hollow. Apex of pygidium shallowly emarginated. Spermatheca (Fig. 6 I) question mark-like, with gradually narrowing apical part and wider basal part, spermathecal duct ca 2.5 times as long as spermatheca, forming many small coils. Tergite VIII and ovipositor as in Fig. 6 L. Dorsal rectal sclerites: two narrow, slightly bent and oblique lateral sclerites and one median longitudinally narrowly elongate sclerite (Fig. 6 J). Ventral rectal sclerites relatively wide, slightly oblique, basal part moderately extended, middle part parallel, distal part fan-shaped and wider than middle part (Fig. 6 K).	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF228FFF7FDC242472377FC8A.taxon	distribution	Distribution Cameroon (Medvedev 1978, present paper), Côte d’Ivoire (Pic 1933, 1938; Medvedev & Beenen 2005; present paper), Ghana (Weise 1881; Medvedev 1978), Liberia (present paper), Nigeria (present paper), Republic of Guinea (present paper), Sierra Leone (present paper) and Togo (present paper). Based on the study of relevant material, the record of Melitonoma decempunctata from Côte d’Ivoire by Medvedev & Beenen (2005) refers to M. simoni.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF228FFF7FDC242472377FC8A.taxon	discussion	Remarks The number of type specimens was not specified in the original description, but a body length span is given (Weise 1881). Three syntypes (one designated here as a lectotype) are deposited in the Weise collection in MFNB. One additional syntype is deposited in the collection of Lev N. Medvedev deposited now in ZIN (Moseyko 2023 pers. com.). Coptocephala (Anisognatha) berlandi was explicitly described based on one specimen from “ Guinée Française: Kouroussa ”, deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (Pic 1939 c). The holotype was considered lost and it was replaced in the collection by a picture of the elytral pattern and another piece of paper with a description of the beetle (Medvedev 1992). In the same paper, Medvedev (1992) synonymised C. berlandi with Melitonoma simoni. The original description (Pic 1939 c) of C. berlandi agrees very well with species of the M. juvenca species group. Moreover, Pic (1939 c) explicitly mentioned the fine and sparse punctation of the pronotum what would indicate that it refers to M. juvenca rather than M. simoni. However, without examination of the holotype, it is only speculation. Because the holotype was considered lost, I suggest treating Coptocephala (Anisognatha) berlandi as nomen dubium.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22BFFF2FF7040DE2596FD27.taxon	materials_examined	COTE D’IVOIRE • 1 ♀ (Fig. 4 E – F); “ COTE D’IVOIRE / DIMBROKO [w, p] // type [w, h] // Clytra / ivoirensis / n. sp [w, h] // TYPE [r, p] // Museum Paris / Coll. M. Pic [b, p] // Melitonoma / 10 - punctata Lac. [h] / L. N. Medvedev det. 19 [p] 90 [w, h] // SYNTYPE / Clytra / ivoirensis Pic, 1933 [w, p] // SYNTYPE [r, p] // MNHN, Paris / EC 26175 [w, h] ”; MNHN.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22EFFEBFDD342162793FA86.taxon	description	(Figs 7 – 8)	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22EFFEBFDD342162793FA86.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis Melitonoma vinculata can be distinguished from other species by the short protarsomere I of males, 1.10 times as long as wide, while at least 1.75 times as long as wide in M. juvenca, M. simoni and M. dalaba sp. nov. The pronotum of M. vinculata is covered with very fine punctures, visible under higher magnification, while the pronotum of M. juvenca and M. dalaba sp. nov. are covered with distinct and well-visible punctation. The pronotum of M. simoni is almost impunctate. The penis of M. vinculata is similar to that of M. juvenca, but it has rounded lateral sides and an apex widely triangular, with the tip slightly pointed in M. vinculata (Fig. 8 A, D), while it is subhexagonal in M. juvenca (Fig. 3 A, D). Melitonoma vinculata is also very similar to the darkest aberrations of M. duodecimpunctata Jacoby, 1898, from Zimbabwe, Republic of South Africa and Malawi. Almost all specimens of M. vinculata can be distinguished by the completely black legs, but very rare aberrations with pale tibiae and tarsi are problematic. Such specimens can be distinguished from the darkest aberrations of M. duodecimpunctata only by the structures of male and female genitalia.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22EFFEBFDD342162793FA86.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Lectotype (here designated) BENIN • ♂ (Fig. 7 A – B); “ ♂ [w, h] // Dahomey / Dr. Schultz [b, h] // Meliton. / vinculata / m [w, h] // Cotypus [r, p] // SYNTYPE / Melitonoma / vinculata / Weise, 1910 / labelled by MFNB 2023 [r, p] // LECTOTYPE / Melitonoma vinculata / Weise, 1910 / J. Bezděk des. 2024 [r, p] ”; MFNB. Other material examined KENYA • 1 ♀; E shore of Victoria Nyanza near Karungu; 28 – 29 Apr. 1911; S. A. Neave leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Kisumu; 22 – 24 Apr. 1911; S. A. Neave leg.; NHMUK. UGANDA • 1 ♀; Bussu-Busoga; 1909; E. Bayon leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♂; Mawokota; 20 Apr. 1913; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kampala; 3 – 20 Apr. 1918; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 8 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Entebbe; 5 – 11 Jul. 1911; S. A. Neave leg.; NHMUK • 2 ♂♂; Entebbe; 30 May 1913; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Entebbe; 17 Jun. 1913; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♂; Entebbe; 5 – 9 Apr. 1914; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Entebbe; 20 – 25 Apr. 1914; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 4 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Entebbe; 20 – 28 May 1914; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 6 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Entebbe; 10 – 13 Jul. 1914; C. C. Gowdey leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♂; Semliki Plains; 8 – 9 Nov. 1911; S. A. Neave leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Semliki Plains near S shore of Lake Albert; 25 – 27 Nov. 1911; S. A. Neave leg.; NHMUK.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22EFFEBFDD342162793FA86.taxon	description	Description Male (Fig. 7 C) APPEARANCE AND COLORATION. Body length: 6.2 – 6.9 mm. Body elongate, subparallel, convex. Head black. Pronotum yellowish brown with large black spot covering basal half of pronotum except margins, anteriorly spot produced to two branches not touching anterior pronotal margin. Very rarely branches shortened or touching anterior pronotal margin (Fig. 7 G – I). Scutellum black. Elytra yellowish brown with large humeral spot, two transverse bands and apex of elytra black; humeral spot usually connected with anterior transverse band, anterior transverse band not touching lateral and sutural elytral margins, posterior transverse band touching lateral and sutural elytral margins, often connected also with apical black spot by narrowly black lateral margin, rarely also both transverse bands connected (Fig. 7 J – M). Ventral side of body black, pronotal hypomeron yellowish brown, often with darkened or black interior part, abdominal ventrite I sometimes with yellow basal margin. Antennomeres I – IV orange (often with darkened dorsal side), V black with orange base, VI – XI black. Legs black, very rarely tibiae and tarsi pale. HEAD (Fig. 7 E). Mandibles very slightly enlarged, dorsal sides flat, glabrous, lateral margins rounded, apices hook-like, lateral sides of mandibles covered with pale setae. Labrum transverse with rounded anterior angles and shallowly emarginated anterior margin, surface covered with small punctures bearing pale setae. Anterior margin of clypeus with wide shallow triangular emargination. Anterior part of head lustrous, very slightly convex, covered with small punctures and along anterolateral margins of clypeus also with short setae. Eyes moderately large. Frons wide, 1.80 – 1.85 times as wide as diameter of eye, surface uneven, almost glabrous, except setae cumulated along internal margins of eyes. Frons separated from vertex by shallowly impressed rounded line. Vertex convex, glabrous, lustrous. Antennae short, 0.20 times as long as body, antennomere I club-shaped, I and II dorsally covered with long setae, III very small, antennae shortly serrated from antennomere IV. PRONOTUM. Convex, transverse, 1.50 – 1.55 times as wide as long, widest before base. Surface lustrous (Fig. 7 F), sparsely covered with very fine punctures visible only in high magnification. Anterior margin straight, lateral margins slightly rounded, posterior margin widely rounded and moderately expanded in scutellar area. Anterior margin thinly bordered only in lateral parts, middle part unbordered, lateral margins widely bordered and posterior margin thinly bordered. Anterior and posterior angles rounded, with setigerous pore bearing long seta. Posterior angles not elevated above elytral base. Scutellum subtriangular, with rounded tip, glabrous, impunctate, along basal margin impressed. ELYTRA. Subparallel, 1.35 – 1.40 times as long as wide (measured in middle) and 0.70 times as long as body. Surface glabrous, subopaque to lustrous, densely covered with very fine, confused punctures and fine microsculpture. Humeral calli developed. Basal margin forming sharp keel. In lateral view, lateral margin of each elytron sinuate. Epipleura lustrous, glabrous, slightly concave, wide at base, narrowed in middle part, disappearing in ⅔ of elytral length. Macropterous. VENTRAL SIDE OF BODY. Densely covered with short setae. Abdomen more or less concave in lateral view. Pygidium moderately convex. LEGS. Protibiae and protarsi not enlarged. Protarsomere I (Fig. 7 N) short, 1.20 times as long as wide, as wide as II, lateral sides slightly convergent basally, protarsomere II as long as wide, triangular, length ratio of protarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 71 - 71 - 114 (100 = 0.40 mm). Mesotarsomere I subtriangular, as wide as II, length ratio of mesotarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 71 - 71 - 114 (100 = 0.40 mm). Metatarsomere I subtriangular, as wide as II, length ratio of metatarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 71 - 71 - 128 (100 = 0.4 mm). Claws simple. PENIS (Fig. 8 A – F). Widest in apical fifth, apical part widely triangular with rounded lateral sides, tip slightly pointed and rounded. In lateral view, apex sharp, dorsal margin slightly bulged at anterior third. In ventral view, penis regularly convex, without keel or impressions. Internal sac (Fig. 8 G – H) with three pairs of hook-like sclerites and one long needle-like sclerite, 0.85 times as long as width of penis in widest place. Female (Fig. 7 D) Body length: 6.8 – 7.8 mm. Head, mandibles, tarsi and protibiae not enlarged. Abdomen convex in lateral view, last abdominal ventrite with medial hollow. Apex of pygidium slightly emarginated. Spermatheca (Fig. 8 I) C-shaped, with gradually narrowing apical part and wider basal part, spermathecal duct forming large tangled-up ball in middle part. Tergite VIII and ovipositor as in Fig. 8 J. Dorsal rectal sclerites: two oblique, suboval, posteriorly pointed lateral sclerites and one large, median, longitudinally suboval sclerite (Fig. 8 K). Ventral rectal sclerites relatively wide, slightly oblique, basal part significantly extended and posteriorly pointed, middle part slightly converging distally, distal part fan-shaped, wider than middle part but narrower than basal part (Fig. 8 L).	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22EFFEBFDD342162793FA86.taxon	distribution	Distribution Benin (Weise 1910; Pic 1952), Congo (Jolivet 1951), Kenya (present paper) and Uganda (Medvedev & Beenen 2005; present paper). Voucher specimens from Congo were not examined; therefore, the occurrence in Congo requires verification.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF22EFFEBFDD342162793FA86.taxon	discussion	Remarks The number of type specimens was not specified in the original description (Weise 1910), but since a body length range was given, Weise had at least two specimens available. Only one syntype (designated here as a lectotype) is deposited in the Weise collection in MFNB. The deposition of other type specimens is unknown to me.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF232FFEEFDE9440227AEFB2F.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 7 DFBB 80 C-C 755 - 4529 - 94 E 6 - EC 5384 C 122 D 2 Fig. 9	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF232FFEEFDE9440227AEFB2F.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis The males of Melitonoma dalaba sp. nov. are characterised by elongate protarsomeres I, 2.45 times as long as wide which are longer than in males of M. juvenca (1.75 times as long as wide) and of M. simoni (2.20 times as long as wide) (Figs 2 N, 5 E, 9 O). The pronotum of M. dalaba sp. nov. is covered with distinct and well-visible punctation, which is, however, less intensive than in M. juvenca (Figs 2 D, 9 E). The pronotum of the other two species, M. simoni and M. vinculata, is completely, or almost completely impunctate, or covered with very fine punctures visible under higher magnification. The penis of M. dalaba sp. nov. is relatively wide with a distinct triangular apical process, while the penis of M. juvenca and M. vinculata are without a triangular apical process, and that of M. simoni is remarkably and regularly tapered along its apical third (Figs 3 A – F, 6 A – F, 8 A – F, 9 F – K).	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF232FFEEFDE9440227AEFB2F.taxon	etymology	Etymology The name “ dalaba ” refers to the type locality. Noun in apposition.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF232FFEEFDE9440227AEFB2F.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Holotype REPUBLIC OF GUINEA • ♂ (Fig. 9 A – B); Dalaba, Forêt de Goubel; 10 ° 39 ′ 27 ″ N, 12 ° 15 ′ 44 ″ W; 1413 m a. s. l.; 10 – 18 Sep. 2019; M. Geiser, M. Leno, S. Koivagui, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney and Sz. Safian leg.; upland forest and savannah; NHMUK, NHMUK _ 014527975. Paratypes REPUBLIC OF GUINEA • 2 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; NHMUK, NHMUK _ 014527959, NHMUK _ 014527969. Type locality Republic of Guinea, Dalaba, Forêt de Goubel, 10 ° 39 ′ 27 ″ N, 12 ° 15 ′ 44 ″ W.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF232FFEEFDE9440227AEFB2F.taxon	description	Description Male APPEARANCE AND COLORATION. Body length: ♂♂: 6.7 – 7.2 mm (holotype 7.2 mm). Body elongate, subparallel, convex, almost glabrous. Head black, with dark brownish apices of mandibles. Pronotum with large black spot touching posterior margin, anterior margin of spot nearly straight, anterior, lateral and lateral parts of posterior pronotal margins orange (Fig. 9 N). Scutellum black. Elytra orange with humeral black spot, two transverse black bands not touching lateral and sutural margins and black apex of elytra (holotype and one paratype); black pattern, reduced with humeral spot smaller, anterior transverse band fragmented to two small spots, posterior black band missing, and apical black margin narrower (one paratype, Fig. 9 C). Ventral side of body black, except pronotal hypomeron orange. Antennomeres I – III orange (I with darkened dorsal side), IV – V black with orange bases, VI – XI black. Legs black. HEAD (Fig. 9 D). Mandibles moderately enlarged, dorsally even and glabrous, lateral sides covered with long pale setae; left mandible somewhat larger, with lateral margin straight and oblique, and apex hook-like. Labrum transverse with rounded anterior angles and shallowly emarginated anterior margin, surface semiopaque, with several punctures, pale setae cumulated on anterior angles and anterior margin, several setae also on disc. Anterior margin of clypeus with wide shallow triangular emargination. Anterior part of head slightly impressed along anterior margin, surface slightly convex and uneven, covered with small punctures and short setae. Eyes moderately large. Frons wide, 2.10 times as wide as diameter of eye, surface uneven, almost glabrous, except setae cumulated along internal margins of eyes. Frons separated from vertex by shallowly impressed rounded line. Vertex convex, glabrous, lustrous, impunctate. Antennae short, 0.23 times as long as body, antennomere I club-shaped, III very small, antennae shortly serrated from antennomere IV. PRONOTUM (Fig. 9 N). Moderately convex, transverse, 1.87 times as wide as long, widest in basal quarter. Surface (Fig. 9 E) lustrous, covered with fine punctures disappearing in middle line and along lateral and anterior margins, punctures with very short microscopic setae almost invisible at a cursory glance, surface with two shallow vertical impressions along basal margin. Anterior margin almost straight, lateral margins slightly rounded, convergent anteriorly, posterior margin slightly rounded and moderately expanded in scutellar area. Anterior margin unbordered in middle part, thinly bordered laterally, lateral margin widely bordered and posterior margins thinly bordered. Anterior angles rounded, posterior angles widely rounded. Anterior setigerous pores placed on anterior margin close to anterior angle, posterior pores placed in middle of rounding. Posterior angles slightly elevated above elytral base. Scutellum subtriangular, with rounded tip, glabrous, impunctate, shallowly impressed in middle basal margin. ELYTRA. Subparallel, widest at posterior third, 1.40 times as long as wide and 0.64 times as long as body. Surface glabrous, dull, densely covered with very fine, confused punctures and fine microslupture. Humeral calli developed. Basal margin forming sharp keel. In lateral view, lateral margin of each elytron sinuate. Epipleura lustrous, glabrous, slightly concave, very wide at base, gradually narrowed posteriorly, disappearing in ⅔ of elytral length. Macropterous. VENTRAL SIDE OF BODY. Densely covered with setae. Abdomen more or less concave in lateral view. LEGS. Protibiae and protarsi moderately enlarged. Protarsomere I (Fig. 9 O) elongate, 2.45 times as long as wide, slightly narrower than protarsomere II, parallel in apical half, slightly convergent basally, protarsomere II 1.35 times as long as wide, length ratio of protarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 66 - 60 - 64 (100 = 0.80 mm). Mesotarsomere I elongate, parallel, as wide as II, length ratio of mesotarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 58 - 50 - 66 (100 = 0.60 mm). Metatarsomere I elongate, parallel, with narrowed base, as wide as II, length ratio of metatarsomeres I – III and V equals 100 - 60 - 60 - 80 (100 = 0.50 mm). Claws simple. PENIS (Fig. 9 F – K). Penis 2.95 times as long as wide, widest at anterior quarter, middle part convergent, narrowest at basal quarter, basal part slightly wider. Apical part forming large subtriangular process. Dorsal surface in apical part with finger-shaped elevation, laterally surrounded by distinct concavities. In lateral view, penis bent in middle, apical half wider with sharp apex, basal half narrow, almost straight. In ventral view, apical part with finger-shaped elevation, in middle part narrowed to sharp keel. Internal sac (Fig. 9 L – M) with three pairs of hook-like sclerites and one long and thin internal sclerite, 0.25 times as long as penis. Female Unknown.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
834387CBF232FFEEFDE9440227AEFB2F.taxon	distribution	Distribution Republic of Guinea.	en	Bezděk, Jan (2025): Revision of the genus Melitonoma (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). 1. History, type species and revision of the M. juvenca species group. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 208-237, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2791, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2791/12757
