Afrotroppopsis risbeci Gumovsky, 2007

Prins, Jurate De, Gumovsky, Alex & Coninck, Eliane De, 2015, Discovery of a new species of Caloptilia (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from east and central Africa with its suggested associated host (Gentianales: Rubiaceae) and natural enemies (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Zootaxa 3957 (4), pp. 383-407 : 394-398

Afrotroppopsis risbeci Gumovsky, 2007

Described from three females ( Gumovsky 2007). Here below we present the description of the male.

Material examined. Democratic Republic of Congo: 1♀, P.N.A., 22.x.1952, Ac. No. 1361-62, Massif Ruwenzori, Kyandolire, 1700 m, Camp des Gardes, leg. P. Vanschuytbroeck & J. Kekenbosch, in RMCA. Kenya: 3♂, 8♀, Arabuko Sokoke, Mixed forest, 50 m, 05.iv.2001, ex Cremaspora trifolia (Rubiaceae) , 21.iv.2001, host Caloptilia mwamba sp. nov. ( Gracillariidae ), 03°17'S 39°58'E (E8), leg. J. & W. De Prins, in RMCA. Zambia: 1♀, South Luangwa, ~ 20 km W Mfuwe, riverbank between the “Crock Valley” and “Thorneycroft” camps, 19.xii.2011, leg. A. Gumovsky, in SIZK.

Description. Female, Figs. 27–29 , 33–38 . Full description see: Gumovsky 2007. Also: antennae with symmetrical and short ampulliform sensilla; semicircular carina below the shoulder at lateral panel of pronotum ends with a series of small orifices ( Fig. 37 ). Fore wing WIP (Wing Interference Pattern) with a broad blue field along costal margin in Kenyan specimens and paratypes (from RSA, Fig. 55 ); with narrower blue field in the holotype (larger female from Senegal).

Male. Length 1.8–2.4 mm. Body metallic dark blue-green (smaller specimens, 1.8, 2.2 mm, Figs. 31, 32 ) or nearly black with weak green tint (larger specimen, 2.4 mm, Fig. 30 ), except for tibiae and tarsi (but not pretarsi) and base to middle of scape (with dark margins of the scape). Wings transparent with venation pale brown ( Figs. 30–32 ).

Head dorsally about 2.5× (small specimens, Fig. 40 )–2.65× (large specimens) as broad as long. Head coarsely reticulate; fronto-vertex with smoother areas at extreme end of occipital margin. Occipital margin sharp ( Fig. 40 ), with short elevation at each side near place of contact with compound eye ( Figs. 40 , 46, 48 ), the latter densely pubescent ( Figs. 40 , 48 ). Frontofacial sulcus missing (as for the genus), but may be traced by changes in sculpture: the face coarsely reticulate above the virtual transverse line reachable by upper end of antennal scape, and slightly reticulate all below, up to tentorial pits. Clypeus slightly but notably produced, mouth opening about 1.7× as long as malar space. Mandible bidentate, with two equal-sized teeth and minute dentation at inner surface of the upper tooth. Antenna ( Figs. 46 , 51 ) with widened scape, drop-shaped pedicel, 3 anelli ( Fig. 50 ), 3-segmented funicle and 2-segmented club. Scape about 3× as long as broad, with ventral part flattened and bearing a ventral sensorial area along entire scape. Pedicel slightly longer than broad. Anelli with indentations at their posterior edges ( Fig. 50 ). Funicle with long peduncles: F1 4.0–4.5×–3.7× as long as broad, and at least 2– 3 x as long as pedicel, F2 about 3– 4× as long as broad, slightly shorter than F1, F3 about 3–4× as long as broad, and about 1.0–1.3× as long as F2. Club about 5–7× as long as broad; its 1st segment about 3–4.5× longer than 2nd. Spicula just slightly shorter than 2nd segment of club, about 0.1× of the length of entire club. Mesosoma about 1.6–1.8× as long as broad. Pronotum and mesoscutum with characteristic “lateral shoulders”. Lateral panel of pronotum with series of minute orifices and a semicircular carina (as for the genus, Fig. 47 , arrowed). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum densely reticulate. Mesoscutum 1.5–1.8× as broad as long; mesoscutellum slightly longer than broad, as long as mesoscutum, with raised or nearly straight median part of anterior margin. Mesopleuron with all lines traceable as grooves ( Fig. 53 ). Propodeum similar to the propodeum of female: with median smooth stripe delimited by somewhat posteriorly divergent carinae and bordered anteriorly by a groove subdivided by short transverse setae (smaller specimens, Figs. 39–41 ), or the median stripe is diverged anteriorly and surface reticulated (larger specimens, Fig. 42 ). Spiracular openings in the shape of elongate orifices ( Figs. 39, 41, 42 ).

Fore wing 2.2–2.5× as long as broad, venation similar to female. WIP similar to females: with wide (small specimens, Figs. 57, 58 ) or narrower (larger specimens, Fig. 56 ) blue field along anterior wing margin.

Metasoma about as long as or slightly shorter than head plus mesosoma, about 1.8–2.3× as long as broad. Petiole spherical, 1.2–1.9× as broad as long, with protruding lateral flanges bearing one short spine at each side ( Figs. 39, 41, 42 ).

Host. Caloptilia mwamba sp. nov. ( Gracillariidae ) (new record). Earlier it was recorded from unidentified leaf miners from Senegal mahogany, Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss. [ Meliaceae ] in Senegal, and Ochna pulchra Hook. [ Ochnaceae ] in South Africa ( Gumovsky 2007: 7).

Distribution. Democratic Republic of Congo (new record), Kenya (new record), Senegal ( Gumovsky 2007: 7), South Africa ( Gumovsky 2007: 7), Zambia (new record).

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 32. Afrotroppopsis risbeci habitus. 27, holotype (Senegal). 28 – 32, specimens collected in Kenya. 28, 29, females, 30 – 32, males. 30, larger specimen of males. 31, 32, smaller specimen of males. Scale bar as indicated.

FIGURES 33 – 38. Micro-morphology of the females of Afrotroppopsis risbeci collected in Kenya. 33, habitus, lateral view. 34, head, frontal view. 35, head and mesosoma. 36, lower face. 37, lateral panel of pronotum. 38, propodeum. Scale bar as indicated.

FIGURES 55 – 58. Wing Interference Pattern of Afrotroppopsis risbeci. 55, in female. 56, in male (larger specimen). 57, 58, in two males (smaller specimen).

FIGURES 39 – 42. Micro-morphological variation of males of Afrotroppopsis risbeci. 39, scutellum and propodeum (smaller specimen). 40, head and pronotum, dorsal view (smaller specimen). 41, scutellum and propodeum, enlarged (smaller specimen). 42, scutellum and propodeum, enlarged (larger specimen). Scale bar as indicated.

FIGURES 43 – 48. Males of Afrotroppopsis risbeci (smaller specimen, two specimens, 1.9 – 2.2 mm). 43, 44, habitus, lateral view. 45, 46, 48, head and mesosoma, in different enlargements. 47, lateral panel of pronotum. Scale bar as indicated.

FIGURES 49 – 54. Male of Afrotroppopsis risbeci (larger specimen, 2.4 mm). 49, habitus, lateral view. 50, anelli (antenna). 51, head and mesosoma. 52, hamuli (hind wing). 53, mesopleuron. 54, propodeum. Scale bar as indicated.