Neobarombiella nigrocaerulea ( Jacoby, 1897 ) Bolz & Wagner, 2012

Bolz, Helmut & Wagner, Thomas, 2012, 3463, Zootaxa 3463, pp. 1-112 : 26-30

Neobarombiella nigrocaerulea ( Jacoby, 1897) comb. n.

( Figs 33–42)

Candezea nigrocaerulea Jacoby, 1897: 573 .

Candezea moliroensis Jacoby, 1900: 262 syn. n.

Monolepta kwaiensis Weise, 1903: 215 syn. n.

Barombia ruficollis Laboissière, 1920: 325 syn. n.

Barombia ruficollis var. marginata Laboissière, 1920: 325 syn. n.

Barombia humeralis Laboissière, 1932: 128 syn. n.

Barombiella monardi Laboissière, 1939: 162 syn. n.

Monolepta (Candezea) nigeriae Bryant, 1940: 48 syn. n.

Total length. 3.10–4.90 mm (mean: 3.99 mm) (n=30).

Head. Frons, vertex, labrum, labial and maxillary palpi yellow or brownish-yellow. Antenna very long, slender and yellow, becoming darker brownish-yellow from fourth antennomere towards apex in about 80% of specimens examined, other 20% with entirely yellow antenna ( Fig. 33). Length of second to third antennomere 0.50–0.65 (mean: 0.57), and length of third to fourth antennomere 0.67–0.79 (mean: 0.71; Fig. 35). Eyes fairly small and widely separated ( Fig. 33), and width of eye to interocular distance 0.30–0.42 (mean: 0.38).

Thorax. Pronotum usually yellow to yellowish-red, dark brown to black in 5% of material examined, or disc dark brown with reddish margins as in some Barombia ruficollis type specimens. Strongly trapezoidal, with very long setae in the anterior and posterior angles. Very finely punctuated, punctures sometimes indistinct because of distinct superficial micro-sculpture. Pronotal width 1.20–1.70 mm (mean: 1.43 mm), pronotal length 0.56–0.86 mm (mean: 0.72 mm), and pronotal length to width 0.45–0.53 (mean: 0.50). Elytron entirely dark metallic green to greenish-black in 80% of material studied, others with pale or yellow spots posteriad of humerus, as in type Barombia humeralis . The dark elytral colouring can very rarely be reduced to small spot on the humerus (as in types of Candezea moliroensis ), broad line on outer margins, medium sized spot alongside scutellum and large black medial spot on each elytron ( Figs 33, 37–42). Elytron slender, more coarsely punctured than pronotum, also with distinct micro-sculpture and thus with dull appearance. Elytral length 2.45–3.65 mm (mean: 3.09 mm), elytral width 1.60–2.40 mm (mean: 2.06 mm), and maximal width of both elytra to length of elytron 0.62–0.72 (mean: 0.67; Fig. 33). Meso- and metathorax brown or black, legs entirely yellow or yellow to brownish-yellow with medial section of femur brown, and length of basi-metatarsus to metatibia 0.42–0.52 (mean: 0.49).

Abdomen. Entirely brown or black.

Male genitalia. Median lobe slender, slightly conical towards apex, down-curved in apical quarter ( Fig. 34). Broad median incision at apex, but lacking other distinct structures. Endophallic brush with two slender, delicate spiculae.

Diagnosis. Neobarombiella nigrocaerulea can be best characterised by its dull greenish or rarely blueymetallic elytral colouring, usually with a contrasting yellow head and pronotum, and sometimes also with yellow sub-humeral spot. Dull metallic colouring is only found in a few Neobarombiella species , and is most obvious in N. sculptipennis and N. multistriata . Both these species are very small (total length 2.55–3.70 mm in N. sculptipennis , 2.20–3.15 mm in N. multistriata , 3.10–4.90 mm in N. nigrocaerulea ); entirely dark greenish metallic in colour, with brown to black legs (entirely or predominately yellowish in N. nigrocaerulea ); both have very characteristic coarse elytral punctuation, arranged in rows on the elytra, giving them a striate appearance. Neobarombiella nigrocaerulea has coarse, fairly dense irregular punctuation ( Figs 33, 112, 125). Neobarombiella punctatolineata is similar in colour, but has no metallic elytral colouring and an entirely brownish to black dorsum (rarely with contrasting reddish-brown pronotum). It is also distinguishable by the slightly striate appearance of the shallow elytral punctuation, and its large eyes, width of eye to interocular distance 0.56–0.71 (0.30–0.42 in N. nigrocaerulea ) ( Figs 33, 48).

Distribution. Mainly known from savannah regions, from Senegal in the west, along the northern part of the Congo Basin to Ethiopia and Kenya in the east ( Fig. 36).

Type material examined.

Candezea nigrocaerulea . Lectotype, female: “Mashonald. / Candezea , nigocaerulea, Jac. / Jacoby coll., 1909–28a / 151 / Type / Candezea nigrocaerulea Jac. (label not included with figure) / AfriGa, specimen ID, 1203, specimen data, documented, 15.II.2005 ” ( BMNH; Fig. 37). Jacoby gave no details on the number of specimens he examined, but there must be more than one as he mentioned two type depositories - “collections British Museum and my own”. As there are four available syntypes, a lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Zimbabwe, Mashonaland.— Paralectotypes : the other three specimens are paralectotypes: 2 ex., Mashonaland, G. A. K. Marshall 97-100 ( BMNH); 1 ex., S. Rhodesia, Salisbury , 17°43’S / 31°05’E, I.– III .1895, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH) .

Candezea moliroensis . Lectotype, male: “Moliro, J. Duvivier / Candezea , moliroensis, Jac. , Type / Jacoby Coll., 1909–28a / Type / AfriGa, specimen ID, 1074, specimen data, documented, 15.II.2005 ” ( BMNH; Fig. 38). No data are available as to the number of type specimens, but at least two depositories are mentioned in Jacoby’s description. A lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Moliro, 8°13'S / 30°34'E. A specimen with the same data as the lectotype is regarded as a paralectotype: 1 ex., same data as lectotype ( BMNH).

Monolepta kwaiensis . Lectotype, female (no photo available): “Type / Kwai Paul / Candezea kwaiensis m. / ex. coll. J. Weise / AfriGa, specimen ID, 1049, specimen data, documented, 6.IV.2006 “ ( MNHU). Twelve syntypes are available from each of the type localities Kwai and Mombo. A lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Tanzania, Kwai, 4°44’S / 38°21’E .— Paralectotypes: the 11 remaining specimens with the same data as the lectotype or from Mombo ( MNHU) and 12 specimens from “Kwai, Paul” are paralectotypes ( MNHU) .

Barombia ruficollis . Lectotype, male: “Haut Sénégal, Khayes, Dr. Nodier, 6-8,1882 / Barombia , ruficollis, m. / Type / AfriGa, specimen ID, 1242, specimen data, documented, 24.IV.2006 “ ( ZMUH; Fig. 39). As there are four syntypes, a lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Senegal, Khayes, 14°00'/ 14°00'W .— Paralectotypes: three specimens with the same data as the lectotype are paralectotypes (2 ex. MNHN, 1 ex. ZMUH).— Barombia ruficollis var. marginata . Type , 1 ex. same locality as above ( ZMUH) .

Barombia humeralis . Lectotype, male: “Type / Nigeria:, Ibadan., II. iii.1919., A. W. J. Pomerey. / Pres. By, Imp. Bur. Ent., Brit. Mus., 1925–562. / Barombia , humeralis, m, V. Laboissière—Dét. / Lectotype, Th. Wagner desig. 2009, Barombia humeralis / AfriGa, specimen ID, 1219, specimen data, documented, 6.IV.2006 “(last cited label not included in figure; BMNH; Fig. 40). The original description has no detail regarding the number of syntypes described. A lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Nigeria, Ibadan , 7°23’N / 3°56’E.— Paralectoype: one specimen with the same data as the lectotype ( BMNH).

Barombiella monardi . Lectotype, female: ”Ganda, cet. / Angola, Miss. sc. suisse, 1932–1933 / Cotype / Barombiella , monardi m., V. Laboissière—Dét. / Muséum Paris, Coll. Général ” ( MNHN; Fig. 41). Laboissière described ”en nombre” specimens from Ganda and Ebanga in Angola under this name. A lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Angola, Ganda, 13°01'S / 14°38'E.—Paralectoypes: five specimens with the same label data as lectotype are paralectotypes (2 ex., MZCP, 1 ex. MNHN, 2 ex. ZMUH).

Monolepta nigeriae . Lectotype, male: ” Nigeria 17.IX.35., Coll. F. D. Golding, Nkwele. / Monolepta, (Candezea), nigeriae Bry., Det. G. E. Bryant / 3508 / Type / Lectotypus, Th. Wagner desig. 2009 Monolepta nigeriae Bry. 1940 / AfriGa, specimen ID:, 1082, specimen data, documented, 15.II.2005 ” (last two cited labels not included in figure) ( BMNH; Fig. 42). Bryant indicated that there were six ” Holotype British Museum” specimens, but of the four specimens available there, none of them has a label indicating holotype status. Thus a lectotype is here designated. Type locality: Nigeria, Nkwele, 6°13'N / 6°50'E.—Paralectoypes: three specimens with the same labels as lectotype are paralectotypes ( BMNH).

Other material examined. Cameroon. 6 ex., Buar , 6°00'N / 12°30'E, V .1914 (BMNH); 3 ex., Benue , 5°20’N / 12°55’E, VII .1909, Riggenbach S. G. ( MNHU) ; 2 ex., Joh. Albrechtshöhe , 4°15'N / 9°21'E, IV.– V .1898, L. Conradt S. ( MNHU) ; 29 ex., Garua , 5°08'N / 14°00'E, VII .–VIII .1909, Riggenbach ( MNHU) .— Central African Republic. 1 ex., Uamgebiet , Bosum, 3°47'N / 19°35'E, V .1914, Tessmann ( MNHU) .— Democratic Republic of the Congo. 1 ex., Katanga , Lukafu, 10°31'S / 27°33'E, XII .1930, G. F. de Witte ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Leopoldville, XII .1923, R. P. Hulstaert ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Thysville , 5°15'S / 14°52'E, XI.1952, P. Basilewsky ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Mayumbe , Tshela, 5°43'S / 12°51'E, II.1916, R . Mayné ( MRAC) ; 10 ex., P. N. Garamba , 3°40'N / 29°00'E, IV.– VIII .1950, Réc. G. Demoulin ( MRAC) ; 7 ex., P. N. Garamba, Aka , 3°50'N / 28°57'E, V .1952, H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 6 ex., P. N. Garamba, Akam , 3°40'N / 29°00'E, V .1950, H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 7 ex., P. N. Garamba, Inimvua , 4°35'N / 29°43'E, V .1952, H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 8 ex., P. N. Garamba, Mt. Embe , 4°40'N / 29°31'E, IV.1952, H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 17 ex., P. N. Garamba, Pidigala , 4°35'N / 29°32'E, IV.1952, H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 10 ex., P. N. Garamba , 3°40'N / 29°00'E, IV.1950, Réc. H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 53 ex., P. N. Garamba , 3°40'N / 29°00'E, III .1950– IV.1952, H. de Saeger ( MRAC) ; 2 ex., P. N. Upemba, Kankunda , 8°30'S / 26°00'E, XI.1947, G. F. de Witte ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., P. N. Upemba, Lusinga , 8°56'S / 27°12'E, VI .1945, G. F. de Witte ( MRAC) ; 25 ex., Unter-Uele , Yakuluku, 4°20'N / 28°48'E, IV.1927, F. S. Patrizi ( MCSG) ; 1 ex., Bama , 3°22'N / 26°07'E, XI.1903 ; 1 ex., Elisabethville , 11°40'S / 27°21'E, XI.1911, Miss. Agric. ( MRAC) ; 2 ex., Kapiri , 10°18'S / 26°10'E, XI.1912, Miss. Agric. ( MRAC) .— Ethiopia. 1 ex., Harrar-Prov. , Errer Stat., 09°29'N / 42°07'E, VII .–VIII .1971, G. de Rougemont ( MRAC).— Ghana . 1 ex., Suripe , Northern territories, 8°55'N / 2°24'W, V .1913, Jas. J. Simpson ( BMNH) .— Kenya. 2 ex., Simbwa , 2°10'S / 37°36'E, VIII .–IX.1911, S. A. Neave ( BMNH).— Nigeria . 8 ex., Game Res. of Wikki , Yankari, 9°36'N / 10°40'E, VIII .1978, Demeter ( HNHM) ; 1 ex., NW-State, Kontagora Riv. , 9°06'N / 08°31'E, VIII .1970, P. H. Ward ( BMNH) ; 24 ex., Ibadan , 7°23'N / 03°53'E, VII .1913, W. A. Lamborn ( OUMNH) ; 5 ex., Lagos , 6°27'N / 03°23'E ( BMNH) ; 5 ex., S. Apeji , 07°31'N / 03°23'E, VII .1952– III.1953 (BMNH); 1 ex., 7°20'N / 03°20'E, 1913, Dr. W. A. Lamborn ( BMNH).— Tanzania . 6 ex., Kilimandjaro , 3°04’S / 37°22’E, Sjöstedt ( MNHU) ; 1 ex., Katona , Kibosho, 3°15'S / 37°19'E ( HNHM) .— Togo. 10 ex., Bismarckburg , 8°15'N / 00°55'E, III .–IV.1893, L. Conradt ( MNHU) ; 1 ex., Atakpamé , 7°32’N / 01°08’E, X.1984, K. Erber ( MNHU) .— Uganda. 1 ex., Kirunda , 1°01'N / 32°39'E, XII .1915, Holtz ( ZMUH) .