Sphrigodellus viridegriseus Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 35-36

Sphrigodellus viridegriseus Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 27, 28, 259–272, 365, 366, 371, 372)

Diagnosis. Similar to S. centralis (Hust.) in dense vestiture. Strictly differs from majority known species by pronotum without anterior transverse setal fringe; parameres well developed; aggonoporium with curved lobes; spermatheca with thick collum and ramus. From S. centralis it differs by elytra oval; small size. [BL: 2.43–3.05 (2.74), BW: 1.16–1.6 (1.36), BH: 1–1.52 (1.25)]; subocular row above the eyes with 2 setae; elytral setae half as long as interval width; ventrites with serried scales; tarsi setose, without scales; elytra with distinct marmorated grey-brown-green pattern, large dark spot is absent; eyes highest posteriorly; antennal scape curved, thin. Funicular segment 1 1.5 x as long as 2nd one; funicular segments 3–7 oblong; club spindle-shaped; median lobe with strong dorsal angulate flange; spermatheca with cornus slender, not extending beyond corpus; female tergite 8 subtrapezoid.

Description.

Measurements. BL: 2.43–3.05 (2.74) mm, BW: 1.16–1.6 (1.36) mm, BH: 1.00–1.52 (1.25) mm.

Vestiture. Body densely covered with overlapping, round, concave scales, setose. Setae of head recumbent, form indistinct subocular row above the eyes (consists of 2 setae), and along lateral edges of epifrons. Pronotum without anterior transverse setal fringe. Posterior setal fringe consists of spatulate setae, partly hidden by posterior edge of pronotum. Elytral intervals 1–5 with almost invisible row of setae. Setae recumbent, spatulate, half as long as interval width. Ventral side covered with overlapping, round scales. Ventrites with serried (not overlapping) scales and short hairs. Basisternum sparsely squamose, mesobasisternum bare. Antennal scape setose and squamose; setae very long, slender, acute, recumbent, strongly curved. Funicle setose, without scales; setae suberect, as long as funicular segment 7; funicular segments 6–7 densely setose. Femora and tibiae external and internal surfaces covered with overlapping scales and recumbent, slender, curved, acute setae. Distal portion of tibiae bare (without scales). Male metatibiae with sparse very small grooming brush; hairs short. Tarsi setose.

Coloration. Integument of body deep-brown to black, of limbs deep-brown. Background scaling consists of greyish-brown, and grey scales; spotted pattern often obvious, formed by gray, brown and green scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head grey, indistinctly brownish maculate. Pronotum with deep-brown background scaling and 3 longitudinal broad stripes: 1 discal and 2 lateral. Anterior 2/3 of stripes consist of grey scales and basal 1/3 -green. Elytra with distinct marmorated grey-brown-green pattern. Ventral side including meso- and metapleura green-grey. Femora brown with broad grey bands in middle and distal portion, and occasionally with small spots of green scales at internal surface. Tibiae external surface grey, without bands.

Head. Rostrum weakly elongate [RL/RW: 1.18–1.26 (1.22)], parallel-sided. Pterygia not extended beyond contour of rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers partly hidden by lateral edges of epifrons. Lateral carinae hardly convex. Epifrons distinctly sinuate in middle, at the level of antennal articulation 0.5 x as wide as vertex, abruptly sloping anteriorly, scarcely concave without median sulcus. Lateral edges of epifrons in basal 2/3 not pronounced. Transverse sulcus concealed by dense scaling at dorsal surface and partly open at sides. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 2 tiny epistomal setae. Eyes broadly-ovate, sublateral, strongly convex, highest posteriorly [FW/ELD= 0.83–1.03 (0.92)]. Vertex flat. Frontal fovea deep, elongate, concealed by scales.

Antennae. Scape reaches the middle of pronotum, scarcely evenly curved, weakly clavate, thin. 1st funicular segment 1.5 x longer and wider than 2nd; 3rd–7th oblong. Club spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse or scarcely transverse [PL/PW: 0.86–0.94 (0.90)], evenly slightly convex at sides, not constricted, widest at the middle. Disc flat, without lateral depressions and carinae. Posterior edge of pronotum straight. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Oblong-oval (male) to oval (female) [EL/EW: 1.25–1.33 (1.29)], anterior edge arcuate, vertical; disc in both sexes moderately convex at the disc [EL/BH: 1.32–1.54 (1.41)]. Subsutural callosity distinct, with 2 tiny tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened at the apex, interior edge slightly C-shaped, with group of teeth and strong setae in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae with single large tooth near mucro. Interior edge of male mesotibiae not sinuate in distal 1/3. Mucro well developed, thorn-shaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of ca.10 sparse brown setae not extending beyond external edge of tibiae and partly hidden by broad setae. Bevel of metatibiae narrowly enclosed, its surface setose. Tarsi robust; tarsomere 2 triangular, transverse, 1.5 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 arcuate. 2nd ventrite 1.5 x as long as 3rd one, posterior margin of 2nd ventrite arcuate. Male 5th ventrite flat, without depression near the apex, apical edge broadly rounded. Female 5th ventrite flat, apical edge acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, moderately curved dorso-ventrally, in apical 1/3 evenly narrowed anteriorly; lateral edges partly fused in basal 1/3; apex acute, with strong dorsal angulate flange; 0.8 x as long as apodeme. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium consisting of two stick-shaped symmetrical lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge and long proximal process. Ostium long stick-shaped, heavily sclerotized, protruded from preputial field of median lobe. Ligulae sclerotized. Parameres long, fused in base; basal piece of tegmen narrow, tegminal apodeme 0.75 x as long as apodemes of median lobe.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed, stick-shaped, bearing 1 seta. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with very short ramus, collum oblong. Corpus slightly swollen. cornus slender, not extending beyond corpus. Tergite 8 subtrapezoid, with angulate 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, straight, with distinctly defined caput.

Distribution. Tanzania: North Pare Mountains (Kiverenge Forest Reserve) (figs 365, 366).

Bionomics. Xerothermic forests; 1500 m a.s.l. Trees and shrubs canopy; on Myrsine africana (figs 371, 372).

Material examined. Tanzania: 7♂, 3♀, including holotype male, dissected ( ZMUN) TZ-11-39, Kilimanjaro Reg., North Pare Mts., Kiverenge Forest Reserve , S3 48.620 E37 38.928, h = 1495 m, xerothermic forest, beating, on Myrsine africana, N.N. Yunakov leg., 14.v.2011 .

Etymology. The name is a Latin adjective describing coloration of body; it compounds “viridis”—green and “griseus”—grey.