Amphimela raydahensis, El Torkey, Ashraf M. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2015
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4028.3.8 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2398B055-36D9-4792-98A2-AF91C54DFD22 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6111767 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C887DE-6D7D-FFBE-FF74-F9B7FA0ACA04 |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Amphimela raydahensis |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Amphimela raydahensis sp. nov.
Type specimens: HOLOTYPE ♂: “ Saudi Arabia, Asir Province, Abha, Garf Raydah, 18°11.749’N 42°23.345’E, Alt. 1614 m, 21.II.2014, LT, leg. Al Dhafer H., Fadl H., Abdel-Dayem M., El Gharbawy A., El Torkey A.” ( KSMA).
PARATYPES: Saudi Arabia, Asir, Abha, Garf Raydah, 18°11.884’N 42°24.435’E, 2387 m, 27.IV.2014, LT, leg. Al Dhafer H., Fadl H., Abdel-Dayem, M., El Gharbawy A., El Torkey A. (♂, KSMA); Saudi Arabia, Asir, Abha, Garf Raydah, 18°13.347’N 42°24.133’E, 2717 m, 27.IV.2014, LT, leg. Al Dhafer H., Fadl H., Abdel-Dayem M., El Gharbawy A., El Torkey A. (♂, KSMA); Saudi Arabia, Asir, Abha, Garf Raydah, 18°11.766’N 42°24.315’E, 2285 m, 27.IV.2014, LT, leg. Al Dhafer H., Fadl H., Abdel-Dayem M., El Gharbawy A., El Torkey A. (♀, KSMA).
Description. Body shape sub-elliptical elongate (LB = 7.5 mm); reddish-brown with almost apical half of elytra, and humeral callus black ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 3 – 6. 3 ), clearly convex; maximum pronotal width at base (WP = 2.5 mm); maximum elytral width at basal half (WE = 3.3 mm).
Head with frons and vertex very densely punctate ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 7 – 13. 7 ); orbital line obvious; interantennal space wider than length of first antennomere; eyes large, sub-elliptical; clypeus short, sub-rectangular; labrum sub-rectangular, with apical margin rounded; mandibles reddish-brown with apical points black; antennae filiform, reddish-brown, clearly shorter than body length (LAN = 2.97 mm; LAN/LB = 0.396 mm; LAN/(LE+LP) = 0.26 mm); length of antennomeres 0.38, 0.15, 0.2, 0.23, 0.28, 0.28, 0.28, 0.28, 0.28, 0.28, and 0.33 mm, respectively (right antenna).
Pronotum slightly transverse (LP = 1.5 mm; WP/LP = 1.67 mm), clearly convex, basally slightly wider, with maximum width at base (WP = 2.5 mm); lateral margin bordered; anterior and posterior margins very finely bordered; anterior angles protruding; posterior angles slightly pointed ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 14 – 19. A ); densely punctate, with slightly larger and deeper punctures laterally than on disc. Scutellum triangular, with fine border, with fine punctures.
Elytra reddish-brown, with apical half black (sometimes black band extended forward laterally near basal margin of elytra); slightly elongate (LE = 10 mm; LE/LP = 6.67 mm), slightly narrower from middle to apex, laterally moderately parallel, apically rounded, covering pygidium; elytral punctures striate, sparse and fine; intervals wide, with fine small micropunctures; humeral callus protruding.
Legs reddish-brown, with dark reddish-brown claws; covered apically and basally by pubescence; tibiae, especially hind tibiae, dorsally moderately but not deeply channeled ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 14 – 19. A ); All tarsi with a pad of fine setae ventrally. Ventral surface reddish-brown; abdomen slightly convex, sparsely punctate and pubescent (LV 2.5 mm), last abdominal sternite bisinuate and truncate medially ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 7 – 13. 7 ). Median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view subparallel, with a slightly oval groove underside (LA 2.05 mm) and apically with acute rounded tip; in lateral view, median lobe slightly curved, ( Figs. 16, 17 and 18 View FIGURES 14 – 19. A ).
Variability. Paratypes similar in habitus and markings to the holotype. Measurements of two males ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 3 – 6. 3 ): LB = 6.45 & 6.85 mm; LP = 1.15 & 1.4 mm; WP = 2.45 & 2.5 mm; LE = 4.4 & 4.75 mm; WE = 3 & 3.3 mm; LV = 2.4 & 2.5 mm; LA = 1.8 & 2 mm). Some specimens slightly darker in colour (reddish brown). Females generally slightly smaller than males (measurements of female ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 3 – 6. 3 ): LB = 6.4 mm; LP = 1.3 mm; WP = 2.4 mm; LE = 4.6 mm; WE = 3.0 mm; LV = 2.5 mm ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 7 – 13. 7 ); LS = 0.74 mm). Spermatheca hook-shaped with well sclerotized duct ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 14 – 19. A ).
Distribution. Southwestern Saudi Arabia (Garf Raydah Nature Reserve).
Habitat. This species was collected by black light traps at different elevations (1,614-2,717 m a.s.l.). This area was dominated by Juniperus procera Hochst ex. Endl., Olea europaea africana (Burm.f.) Green, and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 b a, b and c).
Etymology. The species is named after the geographical location of the types.
Diagnosis. The new species is most similar to two Afrotropical species, A. citri known from Ghana and A. quadrinotata described from Uganda, but can easily be distinguished by the following key.
1 Elytra reddish-brown, apical half black ( Figs. 3, 4 View FIGURES 3 – 6. 3 )......................................... Amphimela raydahensis
- Elytra with two or four reddish-brown spots................................................................2
2 Elytra bluish-black, with two large reddish-brown spots sub-basally behind humeral callus ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 7 – 13. 7 ). Body of moderate size, LB = 5.4 mm ................................................................................ Amphimela citri
- Elytra bluish-green with four large reddish-brown spots ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7 – 13. 7 ). Body small, LB = 3.3 mm ........ Amphimela quadrinotata
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