Neefia rufofascia, Bellamy, C. L., 2003

Bellamy, C. L., 2003, The Madagascan Coraebini (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae): Part 4, New genera and species, Zootaxa 174, pp. 1-19 : 14-15

Neefia rufofascia , sp. nov.

(Figs. 7, 23)

Description of Holotype. Small, 5.1 x 1.9 mm; frontovertex, anterior pronotal disk and elytral disc posteriad setose fascia and perimeter of abdominal ventrites shining blue­green; remainder of pronotum and narrow anterior marginal portion of elytra with purplish reflections; remainder of underside and legs dull black; small narrow elongate area on explanate lateral pronotal area and on on expanded lateral half of metacoxal plate with dense short recumbent white setae and white pulverulence; one moderate elytral dense orange setose fascia extends from humeri to before middle, posterior margin of fascia arcuate; surface imbrications elevated most strongly on pronotum; large, round deep punctures on head and pronotum, following imbrications; punctures on elytral more shallow, more elongate; punctures on underside small, shallow. Pronotum 1.7 times wider than long, widest just anteriad to obtuse lateroposterior angles; anterior margin biarcuate on either side of angulate median lobe; posterior margin bisinuate, median lobe truncate, rounded laterally; lateral margin slightly diverging from posterior margin to feebly rounded median arcuation before narrowing to anterior angles. Genitalia as in Fig. 23.

Variation. 2, 4.8 ­ 5.2 x 2.0 ­ 2.2 mm, 7, 4.8 ­ 5.3 x 2.0 ­ 2.2 mm; the coloration of the dorsal integument varies slightly with the dispersal of the blue­green and purple on the pronotum and elytral disc.

Specimens examined. Holotype (MNHN): Madagascar, Perinet, xii.1972 Peyrieras; 6 paratypes, same data as holotype; 2, 1 (MNHN) specimens labelled only with a single label bearing the undeciphered code “126 B15; these last three specimens are not paratypes since they lack specific locality data. Paratypes deposited in TNSC and CLBC.

Etymology. The species name is chosen to note the narrow reddish transverse setal band that extends across the elytra just beyond the humeri.

Remarks. It can be separated from the other new species as indicated in the following key and comes closest to N. semivestita , differing from that by the red rather than yellow or orange elytral setal fascia and the shorter extent of the fascia. It is also similar to N. humeralis but differs immediately by that species’ strongly elevated humeri, and differences in coloration and male genitalia These two species are apparently found together in the Perinet forests.