Sphrigodellus sundi Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 40-41

Sphrigodellus sundi Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 302–316, 365)

Diagnosis. Similar to S. aberdarecola sp. n. and S. taitae sp. n. in general appearance. From S. aberdarecola sp. n. it differs by large size [BL: 3.01–3.70 (3.45) in S. aberdarecola sp. n. —BL: 2.74–3.00 (2.87)]; subocular row consists of 7 setae; anterior portion of epifrons without median sulcus; frontal fovea short; male metatibiae distinctly serrate; male elytra oval; median lobe in apical 1/3 evenly narrowed anteriorly; spermatheca with collum longer. From S. taitae sp. n. it differs by eyes highest posteriorly; antennal scape weakly curved, thick, evenly swollen in distal portion, covered with strongly erect setae; funicular segment 2 less robust, oblong (1.5 x as long as wide, 0.7 x as long as funicular segments 3 and 4 together; in S. taitae sp. n. 2nd funicular segment 2 x as long as wide and as long as 3rd and 4th together; pronotal disc strongly convex; elytra in male ovate, in female broadlyovate [EL/EW: 1.20–1.37 (1.27)]; anterior edge arcuate, vertical; Subscutellar callosity of elytra with two tiny tubercles. Metatibial bevels with setose surface; aggonoporium 0.5 x as long as aedeagus; tip of median lobe oblong; ostium short; median lobe 1.5 x as long as apodeme; spermatheca with collum longer, 3 x as long as ramus (in S. taitae 2 x as long as ramus).

Description.

Measurements. BL: 3.01–3.70 (3.45) mm, BW: 1.52–2.00 (1.73) mm, BH: 1.44–1.80 (1.56) 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 1–7 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 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 scales; setae long, slender, acute, and erect. Funicle setose, without scales; setae suberect as long as segment 7th. 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 limbs deep-brown. Background scaling deep-brown; spotted pattern formed by green scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head dorsal surface brown; occasionally anterior portion of epifrons green. Pronotum with deep-brown background scaling and 2 broad lateral green stripes spreading to dorsal surface close to posterior pronotal edge. Elytra deepbrown, posterior declivity with broad transverse green stripe delimited by black line. Elytral intervals 3– 7 with green spots in basal portion; elytral apex green. Spotted pattern very variable. 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. Ventral side with sparse green scales. Femora brown-cupreous, proximal portion and ventral surface with green scales. Tibiae external surface cupreous.

Head. Rostrum as long as wide or weakly elongate [RL/RW: 1.00–1.22 (1.07)], parallel-sided or 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 1.7 x as wide as vertex width, distinctly sloping at sides, with median sulcus. Transverse sulcus deep, concealed by dense scaling. Anterior portion of epifrons steep, without 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: 1.03–1.29 (1.16)]. Vertex broad, flat. Frontal fovea visible, short, furrow-shaped.

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, weakly curved, thick, evenly swollen in distal portion. 1st funicular segment 1.4 x as long as 2nd; 2nd funicular segment 2 x as long as wide, 0.7 x as long as segments 3rd and 4th together; 3rd–4th oblong; 5–7th moniliform, as long as wide. Club broadly-spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.83–0.95 (0.89)], evenly slightly convex at sides, constricted at apex, widest at middle. Disc strongly convex longitudinally and transversally. Posterior edge straight. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Ovate (male) to broadly-ovate (female) [EL/EW: 1.20–1.37 (1.27)]; anterior declivity arcuate, abrupt, sharpen; disc in male weakly convex, in female convex [EL/BH: 1.28–1.50 (1.41)]. Subscutellar callosity reaches 3rd elytral interval, with 2 tiny tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened distally; interior edge C-shaped, with tooth in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae with 2 large and several small teeth 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 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, tubular, in apical 1/3 evenly narrowed anteriorly; apex attenuate, narrowly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly flattened; 1.5 x as long as apodeme. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium (0.5 x as long as aedeagus) consisting of two stick-shaped lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium short. 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, 3 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. Tanzania: Mt. Kilimanjaro ( Fig. 365)

Bionomics. Montane rain forests; 2500–2700 m a.s.l. Trees and shrubs, canopy.

Material examined. Tanzania: 2♂ including holotype ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., TZ-18 Kilimanjaro N.P., Mandara Hut, h = 2730 m [Garmin Etrex; WGS84] 03°10'48.1''S, 037°30'54.6''E, beaten, mountain rain forest: Schefflera sp. , Mystroxylon aethiopicum, Dombeya sp., N. Yunakov leg., 19.xi.2008; 1♂, 3♀ ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., TZ-18, Kilimanjaro N.P., Mandara Hut, h = 2730 m [Garmin Etrex; WGS84] 03°10'48.1''S, 037°30'54.6''E, beaten, mountain rain forest. Schefflera sp. , Mystroxylon aethiopicum, Dombeya sp., N. Yunakov leg., 15.xi.2008; 1♂, 1♀ ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., TZ-15, Kilimanjaro N.P., Mandara Hut, h= 2712 m, 03°10'55.0''S, 37°30'46.9''E, mountain rain forest, Hypericum , Schefflera , Psychotria, Podocarpus , Mystroxylon aethiopicum, N.Yunakov leg., 19.xi.2008; 1♂ ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., TZ-5a, Kilimanjaro N.P., 3.5 km E of Londorossi Gate, h = 2523 m 02°58'40.5''S, 37°09'13.8''E, N.Yunakov leg., 03.xi.2008.

Etymology. The name is dedicated to Karsten Sund (ZMUN) who prepared perfect photographs to this work.