Serraphula drakensbergensis, 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 : 13-14

Serraphula drakensbergensis sp. n. ( Figs 7 , 21 , 36 , 54 , 76 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype 3, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwazulu-Natal, Cathedral Peak, 1400- 1550 m, 28°57’S 29°11’E, trail, 12.xii.1995, M. Biondi leg. ( SANC). Paratypes: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwazulu-Natal, Champagne Castle, Monk’s Cowl, 1400-1700 m, 29°03’S 29°23’E, trail, 11.xii.1995, M. Biondi leg., 1 Ƥ ( BAQ).

DIAGNOSIS. For the diagnosis of this new species we refer to that reported for S. debiasei sp. n.

DESCRIPTION. Holotype 3(immature specimen). Dorsal integument brown, with evident metallic reflection. Body shape elongate-oval (LB = 2.00 mm), slightly convex. Maximum pronotal width near middle (WP = 0.60 mm); maximum elytral width at basal third (WE = 0.80 mm).

Frons and vertex with sub-smooth 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 moderately delimited; frontal carina wide, weakly raised, apically rounded; labrum sub-trapezoidal, dark brown; palpi dark brown; eyes sub-elliptical, normally sized; antennae shorter than body length (LAN = 1.55 mm; LAN/LB = 0.78), yellowish, with segments 8-11 gradually darker; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 16:10:9:10:14:14:15:16:14:14:18 (right antenna).

Pronotum sub-rectangular, little transverse (LP = 0.50 mm; WP/LP = 1.20) laterally scarcely rounded; basal and lateral margin very finely bordered; punctation densely and uniformly impressed on weakly microreticulate surface; punctures medium-sized, clearly impressed. Scutellum sub-triangular, apically subacute, with smooth surface.

Elytra slightly elongate (LE = 1.23 mm; LE/LP = 2.45), covering partially pygidium, laterally moderately rounded, apically rather obliquely sub-truncate; punctation arranged in 9 (+ 1 very short scutellar) regular rows with rather large and deeply impressed punctures; interstriae distinctly convex, with punctulate and sparsely and irregularly wrinkled surface; humeral calli absent; sub-apterous metathoracic wings.

Legs entirely yellowish; hind tibiae straight. Apical spur of hind tibiae slightly longer than hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 0.90), slightly internally curved in distal third; dorsal furrow narrow but gradually and slightly open in apical fourth; denture moderately dense and partially irregular, generally formed by large teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres slightly dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side (cf. Figs 77,79, 81–82 ).

Ventral surface brown with paler distal part; apical part of last abdominal sternite medially slightly hollow.

Median lobe of aedeagus (LAED = 0.75 mm; LE/LAED = 1.63) in ventral view medially clearly narrowed at basal third; apical part sub-lanceolate, with an evident median small tooth; ventral sulcus apically visible; in lateral view, median lobe straight, thickset in basal 2/3s; dorsal sulcus visible in apical third; dorsal ligula wide, apically sub-rounded.

VARIATION. 3 (n = 1): LE = 1.23 mm; WE = 0.80 mm; LP = 0.50 mm; WP = 0.60 mm; LAN = 1.55 mm; LAED = 0.75 mm; LB = 2.00 mm; LE/LP = 2.45; WE/WP = 1.33; WP/LP = 1.20; LE/LAED = 1.63; LAN/(LE+LP) = 0.90; LHT/LHTS = 0.90. Ƥ (n = 1): LE = 1.23 mm; WE = 0.76 mm; LP = 0.50 mm; WP = 0.60 mm; LAN = 1.28 mm; LSP = 0.13 mm; LB = 1.98 mm; LE/LP = 2.45; WE/WP = 1.27; WP/LP = 1.20; LE/LSP = 9.80; LAN/(LE+LP) = 0.74; LHT/LHTS = 1.00.

Paratypes. Female similar in shape, sculpture and size to the holotype but with slightly paler dorsal integument and shorter antennae (LAN = 1.28 mm; LAN/LB = 0.65).

Spermatheca with sub-globose basal part; distal part elongate and curved, with not separated collum from apext; collum basally larger; distal part apically thickset and elongate; appendix absent; ductus elongate, slightly arcuate, sub-ventrally inserted.

ETYMOLOGY. This new species is named after Drakensberg, the highest mountain range in Southern Africa.

DISTRIBUTION. Republic of South Africa (Kwazulu-Natal). 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: Themeda-Festuca Alpine Veld (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 5 – 8. Habitus of: S. colonnellii sp. n. (5); S. debiasei sp. n. (6); S. drakensbergensis sp. n. (7); S. duplessisi sp. n. (8).

FIGURES 31 – 36. Head and pronotum of Serraphula Jacoby: S. aenea Jacoby (31); S. audisiana sp. n. (32); S. bulirschi sp. n. (33); S. colonnellii sp. n. (34); S. debiasei sp. n. (frontal dimple pointed) (35); S. drakensbergensis sp. n. (36).

FIGURES 43 – 60. Median lobe of aedeagus of Serraphula Jacoby; lateral, ventral and dorsal view: S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, Southwell area (43 a); S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, nr Thornhill (43 b); S. colonnelii, Kwazulu- Natal, Ifafa Mouth (44); S. debiasei, Eastern Cape Province, 4 km S Barkly Pass (45); S. uysi, Transvaal, Palala (46); S. puncticollis, Eastern Cape Province, Port St. John (47); S. natalensis, KwaZulu-Natal, Blesberg (48); S. oberprieleri, Zimbabwe, Bunga Forest (49); S. mpumalangaensis, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (50); S. alticola, Mpumalanga, Mount Sheba area (51); S. audisiana, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (52); S. aenea, Mashonaland (53); S. drakensbergensis, Kwazulu-Natal, Cathedral Peak (54); S. grobbelaariae, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Boskrans Dam (55); S. duplessisi, Limpopo, Entabeni Forest Reserve, Soutpansberg (56); S. bulirschi, Kwazulu-Natal, Ntendeka Wilderness Area, Ngomi Forest (57); S. transvaalensis, Eastern Transvaal, Nelshoogte Pass (58); S. osellai, Kwazulu- Natal, Ngele Forest (59); S. wittmeri, Limpopo, Branddraai (60).

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).

FIGURES 77 – 82. Ventral side of first anterior and middle tarsomeres in male and female of Serraphula elongata Jacoby: male with differentiated adhesive structure (77, 79, 81 – 82); female without differentiated adhesive structure (78, 80).