Sphrigodellus taitae Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 41-43

Sphrigodellus taitae Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 17, 18, 175, 317–329, 365)

Diagnosis. Similar to S. sundi sp. n. and S. aberdarecola sp. n. in general appearance. From S. aberdarecola sp. n. it differs by antennal scape slender; funicular segment 2 as long as 3rd–4th together; elytra broad; subocular row consists of 7 setae; subscutellar callosity with 6 tiny tubercles; median lobe in apical 1/3 sharply narrowed anteriorly; ostium stick-shaped; spermatheca with collum 1.5 x as long as ramus. Differs from S. sundi sp. n. by eyes highest at the middle; antennal scape weakly curved, thick, evenly swollen in distal portion, covered with strongly erect setae; 2nd funicular segment 3 x as long as wide and as long as 3rd and 4th together (in S. sundi funicular segment 2 less robust, oblong 2 x as long as wide, 0.7 x as long as segments 3rd and 4th together); pronotal disc strongly convex; elytra broadly-ovate in both sexes [EL/EW: 1.20–1.37 (1.27)]; subscutellar callosity of elytra with 6 tiny tubercles; metatibial bevels with partly setose surface; aggonoporium 0.3 x as long as aedeagus; tip of median lobe shorter; ostium long; median lobe 0.5 x as long as apodeme; spermatheca with collum shorter, 2 x as long as ramus (in S. sundi 3 x as long as ramus).

Description.

Measurements. BL: 2.50–3.95 (3.22) mm, BW: 1.16–1.96 (1.57) mm, BH: 1.00–1.60 (1.33) mm.

Vestiture. Body densely covered with overlapping, round scales, setose. Setae of head form rows along lateral edges of epifrons (recumbent or subrecumbent) and above the eyes (erect). Subocular row consists of 7 setae. Anterior setal fringe consists of 8 (1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1) suberect setae; they weakly differ from ones on pronotal disc. Posterior setal fringe consists of spatulate setae, partly hidden by posterior edge of pronotum. Elytral intervals 1–6 with distinct row of setae. Anterior half of elytra with rather short suberect setae (half as long as interval width), posterior declivity with rather long, strongly erect, thick, acute or truncate spatulate setae (as long as interval width). Ventral side rather sparsely squamose. Ventrites with scattered scales and short hairs. Metapleura densely squamose but scales not serried; basisternum and mesobasisternum bare. Antennal scape setose, with recumbent piliform and round scales; setae long, slender, acute, and erect. Funicle setose, without scales; setae suberect, as long as funicular segment 7. Femora and tibiae external surface covered with overlapping scales and suberect setae, internal surface with sparse piliform scales and hairs, distal portion of tibiae internal surface without scales; setae on legs slender, acute. Male metatibiae with small grooming brush; hairs short. Tarsi setose.

Integument. Body brown to deep-brown; limbs deep-brown.

Coloration. Integument of body brown to deep-brown, of limbs deep-brown. Background scaling deep-brown; spotted pattern formed by green and cupreous scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head dorsal surface brown; occasionally anterior portion of epifrons green. Pronotum with 2 broad lateral green or cupreous stripes. Occasionally cupreous stripes outlined by green scales. Elytra background scaling deepbrown, basic pattern consists of two humeral spots and one transverse band on posterior declivity. Humeral spots when complete may be very large and spreading through the intervals 3–7. Spots delimited by black line. Ventral side with sparse green scales. Femora brown-cupreous, proximal portion and ventral surface with green scales. Tibiae external surface cupreous. Basic spotted pattern stated above may significantly vary. Amount, shape and topology of spots varying in broad range. Occasionally humeral spots absent, very small or divided into several small spots or solitary green scales. Green scales may be replaced by cupreous ones or mixed with those.

Head. Rostrum weakly elongate [RL/RW: 1.11–1.20 (1.14)], parallel-sided, weakly elongate. Pterygia not extended beyond contour of rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers half-visible. Lateral carinae convex. Epifrons weakly sinuate in middle, at the level of antennal articulation 1.7 x as wide as vertex width, distinctly sloping at sides, with median sulcus. Transverse sulcus deep, concealed by dense scaling at dorsal surface and at sides. Anterior portion of epifrons not steep, without median sulcus. Frons steep, glabrous, bare, with 4 frontal setae. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 6 epistomal setae. Eyes orbicular, sublateral, strongly convex, highest at the middle [FW/ELD: 0.95–1.22 (1.09). Vertex flat, in male narrow in female broad. Frontal fovea well visible, short, furrow-shaped.

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, thin, straight, sharply swollen in distal portion. 1st funicular segment as long as 2nd; 2nd funicular segment as long as 3rd and 4th together; segments 5–7 moniliform, as long as wide. Club broadly-spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.78–0.93 (0.87)], evenly slightly convex at sides, constricted at apex, widest at middle. Disc weakly convex longitudinally and transversally. Posterior edge straight. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. broadly-ovate [EL/EW: 1.26–1.38 (1.31)]; anterior edge arcuate, vertical; disc in male weakly, in female strongly convex [EL/BH: 1.45–1.62 (1.55)]. Subscutellar callosity long, reaches 3rd elytral interval, with 4–6 tiny tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened distally, in distal 1/3 weakly curved inwards; interior edge C-shaped, with or without teeth in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae with 2 large teeth and several small ones in between on interior edge. Mucro well developed, thorn-shaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of sparse 8–9 black setae not extending beyond external edge of tibiae. Bevel of metatibiae narrowly enclosed, its surface partly setose. Tarsi robust; tarsomere 2 transverse, 1.5 x as wide as length; tarsomere 3 with two wide lobes; tarsomere 5 of metatarsus extending beyond apical lobes of 3rd by length of the last one.

Abdomen. Posterior margin of 1st ventrite straight. 2nd ventrite 1.5 x as long as 3rd one, posterior margin of 2nd ventrite straight. 5th ventrite in male flat, in female weakly convex near the apex; apical edge in male broadly rounded, in female acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, tubular, in apical 1/3 sharply narrowed anteriorly; preputial opening oblong; apex attenuate, narrowly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly flattened; 0.7 x as long as apodeme. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium (0.3 x as long as aedeagus) consisting of two stick-shaped lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium elongate. Ligulae membranous. Parameres short, basal piece of tegmen very broad, tegminal apodeme 0.75 x as long as apodemes of median lobe.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed, stick-shaped, bearing 3 setae. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with short broad ramus, collum slender, 2 x as long as ramus. Corpus small, slightly swollen. cornus thick, extended beyond corpus. Tergite 8 subtrapezoid, with curved fringe of multiple, tenuous, short setae at the apex. Sternite 8 thick. Lamella sharply narrowed and acute, without setae, knife-shaped, heavily sclerotized. Apodeme thick, caput large.

Distribution. Kenya: Taita Hills (Vuria Mt.) ( Fig. 365).

Bionomics. Montane cloud forests. 2200 m a.s.l.

Material examined. Kenya: 11♂, 7♀ including holotype male, dissected ( TAU) Taita Hills, Vuria peak, S3 24 E38 18, 2200 m, L. Friedman leg., 19.ix.2005 ; 2♂, 2♀ ( TAU) idem, Friedberg leg.

Etymology. The name is a Latin adjective meaning “inhabiting Taita Hills”.