Serraphula monticola, Biondi, Maurizio & D’Alessandro, Paola, 2010

Biondi, Maurizio & D’Alessandro, Paola, 2010, Revision of the Afrotropical flea beetle genus Serraphula Jacoby and description of Bechynella, a new genus from Western and Central Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), Zootaxa 2444, pp. 1-44 : 18-19

Serraphula monticola sp. n. ( Figs 11 , 21 , 26 , 75 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype Ƥ. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwazulu-Natal/Free State, Botha’s Pass, 1500-1750 m, 27°38’S 29°42’E, road side, 13.xii.1995, M. Biondi leg. ( SANC). Paratypes: same locality, date and collector of the holotype, 1 Ƥ ( BAQ).

DIAGNOSIS. This new species shares some similarities with S. elongata Jacoby , especially body size, LE/LP ratio, WE/WP ratio, LAN/LB ratio. However, S. monticola is easily distinguishable mainly by: more transverse pronotum; different shape of apical spur of hind tibiae; more thickset spermatheca, with longer collum and without apical appendix.

DESCRIPTION. Holotype Ƥ. Dorsal integument black, with evident blueish metallic reflection. Body shape elliptical-elongate (LB = 2.40 mm), moderately convex. Maximum pronotal width at middle (WP = 0.83 mm); maximum elytral width at middle (WE = 1.03 mm).

Frons and vertex with sub-smooth and sparsely punctulate surface; a large setigerous pore with some small setigerous punctures gathered near each upper ocular margin; frontal dimples clearly impressed; frontal grooves not distinct; frontal tubercles dorsally weakly delimited; frontal carina narrowed, weakly raised, apically rounded; labrum sub-trapezoidal, dark-brown; palpi dark-brown; eyes sub-elliptical, normally sized; antennae clearly shorter than body length (LAN = 1.66 mm; LAN/LB = 0.69), with segments 1–4 pale, segments 5–7 gradually darker, segments 8–11 entirely darkened; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 20:11:10:12:14:14:16:16:16:17:21 (right antenna).

Pronotum sub-rectangular, clearly transverse (LP = 0.55 mm; WP/LP = 1.50), laterally clearly rounded; basal and lateral margin finely bordered; punctation strongly but irregularly impressed on quite smooth surface. Scutellum sub-rounded, with microreticulate surface.

Elytra elongate (LE = 1.58 mm; LE/LP = 2.86), covering almost entirely pygidium, laterally slightly rounded, apically rounded; punctation arranged in 9 (+ 1 scutellar interrupted at basal fifth) regular rows, with punctures medium-sized, clearly impressed on punctulate surface; elytral interstriae clearly keeled; humeral calli absent; sub-apterous metathoracic wings.

Legs yellowish, with hind femora dorsally black; hind tibiae straight. Apical spur of hind tibiae as long as half of hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 2.00); dorsal furrow proximally narrow and gradually but completely internally open towards distal part; denture dense and partially irregular, generally formed by small teeth. Ventral integument black.

Spermatheca with sub-globose basal part; distal part curved, with not separated collum from apex; collum elongate, basally clearly enlarged; appendix absent; ductus short, sub-ventrally inserted.

VARIATION. Ƥ (n = 2; mean and standard deviation): LE = 1.65 ± 0.11 mm; WE = 1.07 ± 0.06 mm; LP = 0.56 ± 0.02 mm; WP = 0.84 ± 0.02 mm; LAN = 1.71 ± 0.06 mm; LSP = 0.12 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.39 ± 0.02 mm; LE/LP = 2.93 ± 0.10; WE/WP = 1.28 ± 0.05; WP/LP = 1.49 ± 0.02; LE/LSP = 13.97 ± 1.93; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.77 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 1.97 ± 0.04.

Paratypes. Paratype similar in shape and color to the holotype but with more regularly impressed pronotal punctuation. Male unknown.

ETYMOLOGY. The name of this new species refers to the high altitude where it seems to live.

DISTRIBUTION. Republic of South Africa (Kwazulu-Natal/Free State). Southern-Eastern African chorotype (SEA) (cf. Biondi & D’Alessandro, 2006).

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. No information about its host plant is available for this species. Biome: Grassland (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld type: Highland and Dohne Sourveld (cf. Acocks, 1988).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Geographical distribution of: Serraphula aenea Jacoby; S. alticola sp. n.; S. debiasei sp. n.; S. drakensbergensis sp. n.; S. duplessisi sp. n.; S. grobbelaariae sp. n.; S. monticola sp. n.; S. oberprieleri sp. n.; S. osellai sp. n.; S. transvaalensis sp. n.; S. uysi sp. n.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Habitus of: S. elongata Jacoby (9); S. grobbelaariae sp. n. (10); S. monticola sp. n. (11); S. mpumalangaensis sp. n. (12).

FIGURES 23 – 30. Morphological characters in Serraphula Jacoby: apical spur of hind tibiae of S. aenea Jacoby (23); ibidem S. audisiana sp. n. (24); ibidem S. elongata Jacoby (25); ibidem S. monticola sp. n. (26); ibidem S. osellai sp. n. (27); ibidem S. puncticollis Bryant (28); metafemoral spring of S. elongata Jacoby (29); head of S. elongata Jacoby (30).

FIGURES 61 – 76. Spermatheca of Serraphula Jacoby: S. natalensis, KwaZulu-Natal, Blesberg (61); S. audisiana, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (62); S. osellai, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (63); S. alticola, Mpumalanga, Mount Sheba area (64); S. oberprieleri, Zimbabwe, Bunga Forest (65); S. grobbelaariae, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (66); S. transvaalensis, Eastern Transvaal, Nelshoogte Pass (67); S. uysi, Transvaal, Palala (68); S. duplessisi, Limpopo, Entabeni Forest Reserve, Soutpansberg (69); S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, nr. Grahamstown (70); S. debiasei, Eastern Cape Province, 4 km S Barkly Pass (71); S. colonnelli, Kwazulu-Natal, Umzinto Vernon Crookes N. R. (72); S. wittmeri, Limpopo, Branddraai (73); S. mpumalangaensis, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (74); S. monticola, Kwazulu-Natal / Free State, Botha’s Pass (75); S. drakensbergensis, Kwazulu-Natal, Monk’s Cowl (76).