Bonesioides montana, Freund & Wagner, 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 : 1959-1960

Bonesioides montana sp. nov.

Description

Total length. 4.4–5.6 mm (mean: 5.24 mm).

Head. Labrum, labial and maxillary palpus black, frons and vertex dark metallic green or blue. Antenna black and long, extending towards distal third of elytra (figure 75). Antennal articles 2 and 3 short (figure 76), ratio article 2 to 3: 0.58–0.78 (mean: 0.68), antennal article 4 longer than articles 2 and 3 combined, A3/A4: 0.52–0.60 (mean: 0.54). Eyes large (figure 75), WE/DE: 0.60–0.75 (mean: 0.68).

Thorax. Pronotum and elytra dark metallic blue or green. PL: 0.8–0.9 mm (mean: 0.86 mm), PW: 1.4–1.7 mm (mean: 1.60 mm), PL/PW: 0.47–0.59 (mean: 0.54). EL: 3.2–4.6 mm (mean: 4.19 mm), EW: 2.2–2.6 mm (mean: 2.41 mm), EW/EL: 0.51–0.75 (mean: 0.58). Mesothorax, metathorax and legs black, metatibia on average twice as long as metatarsus (figure 75), TA/TI: 0.45–0.52 (mean: 0.49).

Abdomen. Black.

Male genitalia. Median lobe very slender, parallel-sided from orifice towards tectum, apical third also nearly parallel-sided, but much more slender (figure 78). Orifice broad and nearly rectangular at base, tectum long and slender. Endophallus with two long, left-curved spiculae, which are large at base. Endophallic brush and apical part of sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius covered by tectum, only gonoporus slightly protruding.

Female genitalia. Spermatheca with slightly expanded nodulus, middle part short and nearly straight, cornu strongly hooked at apex (figure 77).

Distribution. Recorded from montane regions of Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania (figure 48).

Diagnosis. Bonesioides montana sp. nov. is most similar to B. laevicollis and B. marcoi sp. nov. (figures 39, 71). B. montana sp. nov. has smaller eyes than those species (mean WE/DE: 0.68, but 0.72 in B. laevicollis and 0.78 in B. marcoi sp. nov.). Elytra in B. montana sp. nov. are nearly parallel-sided from humeri towards the apex (figure 75), while they are expanded apically in B. laevicollis and B. marcoi sp. nov. (figures 39, 71). Furthermore, these species can be distinguished by shape of the male genitalia. The median lobe of B. montana sp. nov. is very slender and parallel-sided from orifice towards the tectum, the apical third is strongly narrowed and also nearly parallel-sided (figure 78), while in B. laevicollis and B. marcoi sp. nov. the median lobe is homogeneously narrowed from orifice towards the apex and is much broader (figures 42, 74). B. laevicollis and B. marcoi sp. nov. mainly occur in the Congo Basin (figure 43), while B. montana sp. nov. is restricted to the montane regions of East Africa (figure 48).

Type material

H: W ‘ Holotypus Bonesioides montana / Bonesioides montana Freund & Wagner 2000 / Monolepta ruwensorica Bry., G. E. Bryant det. 1958 / Coll. Mus. Congo, Kenya: Timboroa, 2800 m, prairies découvertes, 10.-IV.-1957 / Mission Zoolog. I. R. S. A. C. en Afrique orientale, P. Basilewsky et N. Leleup’ (MRAC); Kenya: 0°4∞N/35°33∞E. P: Ethiopia: 3 ex., Illubabor, 7°27∞N/35°10∞E, 1600 m, June 1973, G. de Rougemont (MRAC); 2 ex., Shoa Prov., Wolisso, 8°28∞N/37°55∞E, June 1971, G. de Rougemont (MRAC); 1 ex. Arussi Galla, 7°0∞N/38°40∞E, May 1993, V. Bottego (ZMUH). Kenya: 1 ex., Mt Kenia, ca 0°20∞S/37°15∞E, December 1949, Patrizi (IRSNB); 1 ex., Mt Kenya, ca 0°20∞S/37°30∞E, August–October 1927, A. Insoll. (BMNH); 1 ex., Molo, 0°15∞S/35°45∞E, December 1911, Alluaud and Jeannel (MNHN); 2 ex., S. A. L. Kenya, Janaury 1959, J. E. Graham (BMNH). Tanzania: 3 ex., Mts Uluguru, morning side, Toelo, 7°0∞S/37°40∞E, 1450 m, June 1971; Mission Mts Uluguru, Berger, Leleup, Debecker (MRAC).