Bonesioides virens (Weise, 1913), 2003

Freund, W. & Wagner, TH., 2003, Revision of Bonesioides Laboissière, 1925 (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae; Galerucinae) from continental Africa, Journal of Natural History 37 (16), pp. 1915-1976 : 1936-1938

Bonesioides virens (Weise, 1913) ; comb. nov.

Monolepta virens Weise, 1913: 152 .

Monolepta (Candezea) virens Weise, 1913 ; in Weise, 1924: 178.

Barombiella virens (Weise, 1913) ; in Laboissière, 1940: 86.

Barombiella opalina Laboissière, 1940: 85 ; syn. nov.

Monolepta ruwensorica Bryant, 1952: 9 ; syn. nov.

Redescription

Total length. 4.4–6.1 mm (mean: 5.27 mm).

Head. Labrum, labial and maxillary palpus black; frons and vertex metallic purple, blue or green. Antennal articles black and very long, antenna extending towards last third of elytra (figure 30); antennal article 3 much longer than article 2 (figure 31), A2/A3: 0.50–0.78 (mean: 0.59), A3/A4: 0.45–0.69 (mean: 0.55). Frons broad, eyes small (figure 30), WE/DE: 0.50–0.70 (mean: 0.60).

Thorax. Pronotum and elytra metallic purple, blue or green. PL: 0.7–0.9 mm (mean: 0.82 mm), PW: 1.4–1.8 mm (mean: 1.66 mm), PL/PW: 0.47–0.53 (mean: 0.49). EL: 3.4–4.9 mm (mean: 4.15 mm), EW: 2.0– 3.4 mm (mean: 2.71 mm), EW/EL: 0.54–0.73 (mean: 0.65). Mesothorax, metathorax and legs metallic purple, blue or green; TA/TI: 0.49–0.60 (mean 0.53).

Abdomen. Metallic purple, blue or green.

Male genitalia. Median lobe homogeneously narrowed apically, tectum short and broad, orifice more rectangular (figure 33). Endophallus with very broad base and two right-curved, long spiculae. Endophallic brush small, protruding apical part of sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius partly covered by tectum.

Female genitalia. Spermatheca with spherical nodulus; middle part and cornu slender and short, strongly curved (figure 32).

Distribution. Distributed in montane regions of the Albertine Rift in Kivu, Rwanda and Uganda (figure 53).

Diagnosis. Bonesioides virens is most similar to B. laevicollis , B. nitida sp. nov., B. marcoi sp. nov. and B. budongoensis sp. nov. (figures 30, 39, 49, 71, 79). Fourth to eleventh antennal articles are very long and slender (figure 30). The elytra are on average broader than in any other of those species. The average EW in B. virens is 2.71 mm, in B. laevicollis 2.41 mm, in B. nitida sp. nov. 2.55 mm, in B. marcoi sp. nov. 2.25 mm and in B. budongoensis sp. nov. 2.23 mm. The coloration of B. laevicollis is dark metallic blue. The antenna are long, but the articles 2 and 3 are very short (figure 40), the average A2/A 3 in B. laevicollis is 0.83, while B. virens has a much longer third antennal articles (figure 31), the average A2/A3 is 0.59. In contrast to those two species B. nitida sp. nov. has very short antennal articles (figure 80). This species is metallic green and the coloration is more bronze or golden. B. marcoi sp. nov. is metallic blue and the antenna are shorter than in B. virens (figure 72). The eyes are large in B. marcoi sp. nov. (average WE/DE is 0.78), and in B. laevicollis : 0.72, but smaller in B. virens : 0.60 (figures 30, 39, 71). B. budongoensis sp. nov. is much slenderer and the antennal articles are much shorter (figure 49). The colour is metallic green or purple, but duller. Furthermore, both species can be distinguished by examination of the median lobe. Endophallus is strongly hooked at base in B. budongoensis sp. nov., the apical part of the sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius is very long, extending towards the apical quarter of the median lobe (figure 52). In B. virens the endophallus is not basally hooked and the apical part of the sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius is very short (figure 33). The spiculae in B. virens are long and right-curved, in B. budongoensis sp. nov. short, one is left-, the other right-curved.

Type material

H: W ‘[ Monolepta ] virens Ws. * / Nördl. v. Alb. Edw. See, Ruwensori Westseite, 2500 m, 2.08 / Exped.: Herzog Adolf Friedrich z. Mecklenburg / 95933 / J. Weise det. / Type / 137 / Zool. Museum Berlin’ (MNHU); Congo: ca 0°30∞N/29°40∞E; examined. H: X ‘ Monolepta ruwensorica Bryant, G. E. Bryant det 1954 / Uganda: Ruwenzori Range, Nyinabitata, 8650 ft., 7.-13.VII.1952, D. S. Fletcher / Ruwenzori Exp. B. M. 1952-566 / Type’ (BMNH); examined. H: W ‘ Barombiella opalina m., V. Laboissière—Det. / Musée du Congo, Bonde (2400), (près Gando), 10/ 12-III-1935, de Witte, Parc Nat. Albert / Type / Type B. opalina / R. Det 4572’ (MRAC); Congo: 1°36∞S/29°24∞E; examined. P: Congo: 1 ex., W. Ruwenzori, Kalonge, 0°20∞N/29°48∞E, July 1932, Dr van Hoof (MRAC); 1 ex., Ruwenzori: Kalonge, August 1932, 2500 m, L. Burgeon (MRAC); 1 ex., Kivu, Kibumba, 1°30∞S/29°20∞E, September 1932, L. Burgeon (MRAC); 1 ex., Kivu, Burunga, 1°20∞S/29°2∞E, December 1925, Dr H. Schouteden (MRAC); 1 ex., Ruwenzori, Butagu, 0°21∞N/29°43∞E, 2000 m, November 1931, Mme L. Lebrun (MRAC); 2 ex., P. N. A., Bugershi, 1°10∞S/29°24∞E, 2400 m, March 1935, G. F. de Witte (MRAC (1 ex.) / IRSNB (1 ex. )); 1 ex., Kivu, Mts Nyamukubi, 1°59∞S/28°54∞E, November 1932, L. Burgeon (MRAC); 1 ex., Ruwenzori, Kalonge (Mohongo), 0°20∞N/29°48∞E, July 1937, H. J. Bredo (MRAC); 1 ex., Kivu, Nyamalagira, 1°25∞S/29°12∞E, September 1932, L. Burgeon (MRAC); 2 ex., P. N. A., E. Nnyamuragira (Mushumangabo), 1°25∞S/29°12∞E, 2075 m, June 1935, G. F. de Witte (IRSNB); 1 ex., P. N. A., Lac Mugunga, 1°37∞S/29°8∞E, 1500 m, February 1934, G. F. de Witte (IRSNB); 2 ex., P. N. A., vers Rweru, volc. Mikeno (Bambous), 1°27∞S/29°26∞E, 2400 m, July 1934, G. F. de Witte (IRSNB); 1 ex., P. N. A., Forêt Mayumbu, Nyamuragira, 1°25∞S/29°12∞E, 2100 m, June 35, G. F. de Witte (IRSNB). Rwanda: 1 ex., Ilega, pied volc. Karisimbi, 1°30∞S/29°27∞E, 2400 m, March 1935, G. F. de Witte (IRSNB).

Other material examined

Congo: 1 ex., same data label as holotype B. opalina (MRAC) ; 15 ex., Buseregenye , 1°0∞S/29°20∞E, September 1929, Ed. Luja ( MRAC) ; 2 ex., Busiangwa , 0°9∞N/29°19∞E, 2380 m, March 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 2 ex., Butagu Valley , 0°21∞N/29°43∞E, 2000 m, November 1931, Mme L. Lebrun ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Lac Gando , 1°36∞S/29°24∞E, 2400 m, March 1935, G. F. de Witte ( MRAC) ; 5 ex., Hintumo , 0°10∞N/29°15∞E, 2450 m, March 1953, lieu-dit, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 10 ex., Ihongero , 0°20∞N/29°45∞E, 2480 m, August–September 1952, P. Vanschuytbroeck and J. Kekenbosch ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., Kabare , 1°28∞S/29°45∞E, August 1952, R. Mayne ( MRAC) ; 5 ex., river Kalivina , 2350 m, March–April 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 8 ex., Kalonge , 0°20∞N/29°48∞E, 2050 m, July–August 1932, L. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; 56 ex., Kalonge , 2100 m, July 1952 – February 1953, P. Vanschuytbroeck and J. Kekenbosch ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., Kibumba , 1°30∞S/29°20∞E, September 1932, L. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; 9 ex., Kikyo , 0°20N /29°48∞E, 2180 m, August–September 1952, P. Vanschuytbroeck and J. Kekenbosch ( IRSNB) ; 15 ex., Kirungu , 0°11∞S/29°2∞E, 2720 m, March 1954, lieu-dit ‘menthe’, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., river Kisesa , 0°15∞S/29°10∞E, 2580 m, April 1955, P. Vanschuytbroeck and R. Fonteyn ( IRSNB) ; 5 ex., Kyandolire , 0°20∞S/29°5∞E, 1800 m, January 1953, P. Vanschuytbroeck and J. Kekenbosch ( IRSNB) ; 2 ex., Terr. Lubero , 0°6∞S/29°6∞E, 2200 m, December 1951, avec bambous, N. Leleup ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Lubero , July 1952, R. Mayne ( MRAC) ; 7 ex., Mt Biega , 2°20∞S/28°37∞E, August 1952, R. Mayne ( MRAC) ; 2 ex., Mt Buliwa , 0°5∞S/28°55∞E, 2450 m, April 1955, P. Vanschuytbroeck and R. Fonteyn ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., Mt Kahuzi , 2°15∞S/28°40∞E, 2300 m, March 1953, P. Basilewsky ( MRAC) ; 2 ex., Mt Kahuzi , May 1993, Ch. Neinhuis ( ZFMK) ; 6 ex., Mt Kamitondi , 0°10∞S/28°50∞E, 2300 m, March 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 5 ex., Mt Musimba , 0°15∞S/28°45∞E, 2450 m, March 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., Mulenge , 3°6∞S/29°0∞E, 2500 m, August 1959, Leleup ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Mulo , 0°7∞S/29°15∞E, 1960 m, June–July 1953, R. P. Celis ( MRAC) ; 8 ex., river Musabaki , 1°0∞S/29°20∞E, 2720 m, March 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 2 ex., P. N. A. Nord, 0°10∞N/29°40∞E, P. Jolivet ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., Rutshuru , 1°11∞S/29°27∞E, May 1937, J. Ghesquiere ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Rutshuru , 1285 m, November 1933, G. F. de Witte ( IRSNB) ; 8 ex., Rwankwi , 1°20∞S/29°22∞E, January 1944, sur Erythrina, J. V. Leroy (MRAC) ; 16 ex., Rwankwi , August–December 1951, J. V. Leroy ( MRAC) ; 3 ex., river Talia , 0°31∞S/29°20∞E, 2340 m, March 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck and H. Synave ( IRSNB) ; 1 ex., Tshibinda , 2°19∞S/28°45∞E, November 1932, L. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., River Tshinia et Mukoba, 2250 m, June 1949, Dr R. Laurent ( MRAC) . Rwanda: 1 ex., Bigogwe , 2500 m, August 1951, A. E. Bertrand ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Mushongi , 1°39∞S/29°53∞E, 1857 m, February 1951, N. Leleup ( MRAC) ; 1 ex., Foret Rugege , 1°30∞S/29°20∞E, 2150 m, April 1951, dans l’humus, N. Leleup ( MRAC) ; 6 ex., Rutovu , 2°30∞S/29°25∞E, 2350 m, January 1953, P. Basilewsky ( MRAC) . Uganda: 1 ex., Impen. Kayonta For. , 1°5∞S/29°40∞E, 1300 m, March 1972, F. Cuypers ( MRAC) .