Bonesioides marcoi, 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 : 1957-1958

Bonesioides marcoi sp. nov.

Description

Total length. 4.2–6.0 mm (mean: 4.93 mm).

Head. Labrum, labial and maxillary palpus black, frons and vertex dark metallic blue. Antenna black, antennal articles 2 and 3 brown; antenna extending towards end of metasternum (figure 71). Antennal article 3 nearly twice as long as antennal article 2 (figure 72), A2/A3: 0.55–0.60 (mean: 0.58); antennal article 4 nearly as long as articles 2 and 3 combined, A3/A4: 0.63–0.70 (mean: 0.65). Eyes large (figure 71), WE/DE: 0.67–0.90 (mean: 0.78).

Thorax. Pronotum and elytra dark metallic blue. PL: 0.7–0.9 mm (mean: 0.81), PW: 1.2–1.8 mm (mean: 1.49 mm), PL/PW: 0.50–0.68 (mean: 0.55). EL: 3.2–4.8 mm (mean: 3.82 mm), EW: 2.0– 2.8 mm (mean: 2.25 mm), EW/EL: 0.57–0.63 (mean: 0.59). Mesothorax, metathorax and legs black, metatibia more than twice as long as metatarsus (figure 71), TA/TI: 0.45–0.52 (mean: 0.47).

Abdomen. Black.

Male genitalia. Median lobe broad, parallel-sided from orifice towards the tectum, then continuously narrowed apically (figure 74). Orifice broad and ovate, tectum small and slender. Base of endophallus in lateral view strongly hooked (figure 74A). Endophallus with two curved spiculae, covered by the tectum. Apical part of the sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius is very long, extending towards the apical quarter of the median lobe and is not covered by the tectum. Endophallic brush is close to the apex of the ductus ejaculatorius.

Female genitalia. Spermatheca with slightly expanded nodulus, middle part short, broad and nearly straight, cornu short, slender and slightly curved (figure 73).

Distribution. Recorded from Congo, Burundi and Uganda (figure 43).

Diagnosis. Bonesioides marcoi sp. nov. is most similar to B. budongoensis sp. nov. (figure 49). It can be distinguished by the metallic blue coloration, which is dull metallic green or purple in B. budongoensis sp. nov. Male genitalia of both species are not distinguishable (figures 52, 74). The most significant external parameter to distinguish both species is the size of the eyes. These are much larger in B. marcoi sp. nov. than in B. budongoensis sp. nov. (figures 49, 71), and also larger than in B. laevicollis and in B. virens (figures 30, 39), which are further species similar to B. marcoi sp. nov. (mean WE/DE in B. marcoi sp. nov. 0.78, B. virens 0.60, B. laevicollis 0.71, B. budongoensis sp. nov. 0.57). The endophallic base of the median lobe in B. marcoi sp. nov. is strongly hooked and the protruding apical part of the sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius is very long (figure 74), while the endophallic base in B. laevicollis and in B. virens is straight and the protruding part of the sclerotized ductus ejaculatorius is much shorter (figures 33, 42).

Type material

H: W ‘ Holotypus Bonesioides marcoi / Bonesioides marcoi Freund / Wagner 2000 / Coll. Mus. Congo, Stan.: Banguru / Bafwasende, 1952, Abbeloos’ (MRAC); Congo: 0°27∞N/27°17∞E. P: Burundi: 1 ex., Lac Tanganyka, Nyanza, 4°20∞S/29°36∞E, January 1933, L. Burgeon (MRAC). Congo: 1 ex., Babeyru, 1°52∞N/27°27∞E, August 1948, A. Dufrane (MRAC); 1 ex., Bambesa, 3°28∞N/25°43∞E, January 1939, J. Vrydagh (IRSNB); 1 ex., Beni a Lesse, 0°29∞N/29°27∞E, July 1911, Dr Murtula (MRAC); 1 ex., Bitale, 2°11∞S/28°36∞E, 1800 m, August 1952, R. Mayne (MRAC); 1 ex., Bokote, 0°5∞S/20°8∞E, December 1917, R. Mayne (MRAC); 1 ex., Bumbuli, 2°54∞S/20°4∞E, April 1915, R. Mayne (MRAC); 2 ex., Eala, 0°4∞N/18°17∞E, January–July 1936, J. Ghesquiere (MRAC); 1 ex., Eala, February 1917, R. Mayne (MRAC); 1 ex., Ikela, 0°4∞N/22°4∞E, November 1956, R. P. Lootens (MRAC); 1 ex., Ilenge, 0°25∞S/20°46∞E, Janauary 1918, R. Mayne (MRAC); 1 ex., Lisala, 2°9∞N/21°31∞E, December 1952, P. Basilewsky (MRAC); 1 ex., Madyu, 2°54∞N/29°27∞E, L. Burgeon (MRAC); 2 ex., Mayumbe, 2°30∞N/27°37∞E, Janaury 1916 (1 ex.)/ July 1917 (1 ex.), R. Mayne (MRAC); 1 ex., Nioka, 2°10∞N/30°39’R, May 1954, J. Hecq (MRAC); 3 ex., Ongoka, 1°23∞S/26°2∞E, April–September 1953, J. Pantos (MRAC); 1 ex., Rutshuru, 1°11∞S/29°27∞E, Janaury 1937, J. Ghesquiere (MRAC); 1 ex., Yangambi, 0°47∞N/24°28∞E, June 1948, P. L. G. Benoit (MRAC); 1 ex., Yangambi, June–July 1952, R. Mayne (MRAC); 2 ex., Yangambi, Fauchage en foret, October–November 1951, J. Decelle (MRAC). Uganda: 2 ex., Ngowa, 1°2∞N/33°28∞E. November 1938 – April 1939, R. P. J. Mertens (IRSNB); 2 ex., Semuliki NP, 0°48∞N/30°9∞E, 670 m, February 1997, U. Göllner and Th. Wagner (MNHU, ZFMK).