Sphrigodellus aberdarecola Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 38-39

Sphrigodellus aberdarecola Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 289–301, 365)

Diagnosis. Similar to S. sundi sp. n. and S. taitae sp. n. in general appearance. From S. sundi sp. n. it differs by size small [BL: 2.74–3.00 (2.87) in S. sundi —BL: 3.01–3.70 (3.45)]; subocular row consists of 4–5 setae; anterior portion of epifrons with median sulcus; frontal fovea long; male metatibiae weakly serrate; male elytra oblongoval; median lobe with apex sharply narrowed; spermatheca with collum shorter. From S. taitae sp. n. it differs by eyes highest posteriorly; antennal scape thick; funicular segment 2 shorter than 3rd–4th together; elytra narrow; subocular row consists of 4–5 setae; subscutellar callosity with 2 tiny tubercles; median lobe in apical 1/5 sharply narrowed anteriorly; preputial opening elongate; ostium triangular; spermatheca with collum 2 x as long as ramus.

Description.

Measurements. BL: 2.74–3.00 (2.87) mm, BW: 1.30–1.52 (1.38) mm, BH: 1.10–1.20 (1.15) 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 4–5 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 (up to a third of interval width), posterior declivity with rather long, strongly erect, thick, truncate 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 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.

Coloration. Integument of body deep-brown to black, of legs deep-brown. Background sacling deep-brown; spotted pattern formed by green scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. In female: epifrons and vertex brown; anterior portion of epifrons, pterygia, subocular area, temples, genae, and articulation surface covered with green scales. Pronotum with deep-brown background scaling and 2 broad lateral green stripes. Elytra deep-brown, posterior declivity with broad transverse green stripe. Elytral intervals 5–7 with green spots in basal portion. Ventral side with sparse green scales. Femora brown-cupreous, proximal portion and ventral surface with green scales. Tibiae external surface cupreous. In male: background scaling coloration of head and body brownish-cupreous or confused (deepbrown+grey+green); anterior portion of epifrons, and subocular area covered with green scales. Pronotum brownish-cupreous, occasionally with two broad longitudinal brown stripes at the disc. Elytra coloration brownish-cupreous or confused (deep-brown + grey + green), posterior declivity with broad transverse stripe (consists of cupreous and green scales) banded by black scales on posterior margin. Elytral apex and intervals 3–11 with green spots in basal and apical portion.

Head. Rostrum as long as wide or weakly elongate [RL/RW: 1.00–1.19 (1.09)], slightly widened from base to apex. 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 1.5 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 steep, with median sulcus. Frons vertical, glabrous, bare, with 4 setae. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 6 epistomal setae. Eyes orbicular, sublateral, strongly convex, highest posteriorly [FW/ELD: 1.09–1.14 (1.11)]. Vertex in male narrow, in female broad, flat. Frontal fovea visible, long, furrow-shaped.

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, straight, swollen in distal portion. 1st funicular segment 1.2 x as long as 2nd; 2nd segment 2 x as long as wide; 3rd–4th weakly oblong; funicular segments 5–7 as long as wide. Club broadly-spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.85–0.90 (0.86)], evenly slightly convex at sides, constricted at apex, widest anteriorly of the middle. Disc strongly convex longitudinally and transversally. Posterior edge straight. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Oblong-oval (male) to broadly-ovate (female) [EL/EW: 1.25–1.36 (1.31)]; anterior declivity arcuate, abrupt, sharpen; disc in male weakly convex, in female convex at disc [EL/BH: 1.48–1.64 (1.61)]. Subscutellar callosity reaches 3rd elytral interval, with 2 tiny tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened at the apex, interior edge C-shaped, with tooth in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae interior edge with 2 teeth. Mucro well developed, thorn-shaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of sparse 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 flat, without depression near the apex, apical edge in male broadly rounded, in female acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, in apical 1/5 sharply narrowed anteriorly; apex attenuate, narrowly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly flattened; as long as apodeme. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium 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 swollen ramus, collum slender 2 x as long as ramus. Corpus small, slightly swollen. cornus slender, 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 not developed.

Distribution. Kenya: Aberdare Mountain Range.

Bionomics. Montane rain forests with Croton sylvaticus , Garcinia livingstonei , Cassipourea malosana , Arundinaria alpina , Trema orientalis , Hibiscus sp. and bamboo forest with Arundinaria alpina and Lobelia sp. ; 2300–3000 m a.s.l. Trees and shrubs, canopy.

Material examined. Kenya: 3♂ including holotype ( ZMUN) Central Prov. , Nyandarua Distr. KE-063–065, Aberdare N.P., Salient, trail along Kinaini Riv. from Ruhuruini Gate, h = 2278–2283 m, 00°23'16.3–15.1''S, 036°49'03.3–55.2'' E, N. Yunakov leg., 19.ii.2009. Paratypes: 1♀ ( ZMUN) Central Prov., Nyandarua Distr. KE- 072, Aberdare N.P., Salient, left board of Kinaini Riv. Valley, near Ruhuruini Gate , h = 2334 m 00°23'09.9''S, 036°48'52.2''E, N. Yunakov leg., 21.ii.2009; 9♂, 8♀ ( BMNH) Kenya, Aberdare Range, 27.x.1934. / B.M. E. Afr. Exp. / B.M. 1935-203.”, “ Mt. Kinangop. / 9.000 ft. / J/ Ford /”, “ Bamboo forest .” ;

Etymology. The name is a Latin adjective meaning “inhabiting Aberdare mountains”.