Paramimesthes namibicus Bologna, 2018

Bologna, Marco A., Amore, Valentina & Pitzalis, Monica, 2018, Meloidae of Namibia (Coleoptera): taxonomy and faunistics with biogeographic and ecological notes, Zootaxa 4373 (1), pp. 1-141 : 44

Paramimesthes namibicus Bologna sp. n. ( Fig. 2X )

Types. Holotype male ( NHP) labelled “ S.W. Afrika N Namib, Samanab Dunes , 20.02 S 13.18 E; 26.8.1982, E-Y. 1925, dry river bed leg Endroedy-Younga . 1 female paratype ( SMWN), labelled “ Samanab R., Skeleton Coast Park, 20°02’S 13°E, 2– 5.8.1982, M. L. Penrith S. Braine ” . 1 male paratype ( SMWN), labelled “ Sarusas waterhole, 25/ 29.10.1978, SE 1812 Cd, S. Louw, M.L. Penrith, T. Schoueman ” . 1 male and 1 female paratypes ( SMWN), labelled “ Hoanib floodplain Area , 19°24'S 12°56’E, 9/ 10.1982 S . Braine ”. 1 female paratype ( SMWN), labelled “ Hoanib floodplain, Opuvo Distr. , 19°22’S 13°01’E, 25.2.1996 E. Marais, A. Kirk-Spriggs ” . 1 male paratype ( SMWN), labelled “Hoanib River , Skeleton Coast Park, 19°27’S 12°52’°E.5 – 6.4.1979, S. Louw, R. Wharton ”. 1 male and 6 females paratypes ( SMWN), labelled “ 6 km N Arandis , 22°22’S 14°59’E, Damarand, 12.2/ 11.3.1985, J. Irish H. Rust”. 6 males (4 SMWN, 2 CB) and 2 females paratypes (SMWN), idem but “8–10.4/6– 8.5.1984, J. Irish H. Liessner”. 4 males (3 SMWN, 1 CB) and 1 female paratypes (SMWN), idem but “8.5/ 5.6.1984 ”. 2 males and 2 females paratypes (SMWN), idem but “5.6/ 31.7.1984 ”. 4 males and 1 female paratypes (SMWN) idem but “3– 31.7.1984 ”. 1 female paratype ( SMWN), labelled “ Rössing Mine, 22°28’S- 15°02’E, Swakopmund Distr. , 13.3/ 10.4.1984, J. Irish H. Liessner ” . 1 male and 1 female paratypes (SMWN) idem but “8.5/ 5.6.1984 ”. 1 male paratype (SMWN) idem but “10.4/ 8.5.1984 ”. 1 female paratype ( SMWN), labelled “ Lower Dome Gorge, 22°28’S 15°04’E, Swakopmund District , 9.4/ 6.5.1984, J. Irish H. Liessner ” . 1 male and 6 females paratypes ( SMWN), labelled “ Upper Ostrich Gorge, 22°29’S 14°59’E, Swakopmund District , 12.2/ 11.3.1985, J. Irish H. Rust ” . 1 male paratype (SMWN) idem but “13.3/ 10.4.1984 ”. 2 males and 3 females paratypes (SMWN), idem but “10.4/ 8.5.1984, J. Irish H. Liessner”. 2 males paratypes (SMWN), idem but “9.4/ 6.5.1985 J. Irish H. Rust”. 2 males and 1 female paratypes (SMWN), idem but “8.5/ 5.6.1984, J. Irish H. Liessner”. 1 male paratype ( SMWN), labelled “ Upper Panner Gorge, 22°29’S 15°01’E, Swakopmund District , 22.2/ 8.3.1985, J. Irish H. Rust ” . 1 female paratype (SMWN), idem but “11.3/ 9.4.1985 ”. 1 male and 2 females paratypes (SMWN), idem but “10.4/ 8.5.1984, J. Irish H. Liessner”. 1 female paratype (SMWN), idem but “8.5/ 5.6.1984 ”. 1 female paratype (SMWN), idem but “9.4/ 6.5.1985, J. Irish H. Rust”. 3 males and 1 female paratypes ( SMWN), labelled “ Lower Ostrich Gorge, 22°30’S 14°58’E, Swakopmund District , 12.2/ 11.3.1985, J. Irish H. Rust ” . 2 males (CB) and 5 females paratypes (1 CB, 4 SMWN), idem but “13.3/ 10.4.1985 J. Irish H. Lisssner”. 1 male and 4 females paratypes (SMWN), idem but “10.4/ 8.5.1984 ”. 1 male paratype (SMWN), idem but “9.4/ 16.5.1985 J. Irish H. Rust”. 1 female paratype (SMWN), idem but “8.5/ 5.6.1984 ”. 2 females paratypes ( SMWN), labelled “ Kuiseb delta, SE 2314 Ba , 9– 16.8.1976, S. Louw M.L: Penrith ” . 1 male paratype ( NHP), labelled “SW Afric., Namib des., Sossus vlei, 24°20S 15°24’E; 14.8.1989; E-Y: 2649; dunes day, Endrödy & Klimaszew” . 7 males and 1 female paratypes ( SMWN), labelled “ Entrance to Kaukasib River, Diamond Area I, SE 2615, 1/ 12.11.1986, G. Griffith, Pres. pitf. traps”.

Other material examined: Angola Moçamedes (HNHM). Namibia, Gobabeb , 70 km SE of Walvis Bay (HNHM).

Several paratypes have faint colouration because were collected by pitfall traps in very arid and hot conditions and dried. Most have damaged antennae and legs.

Type locality. The type locality is located in the Namib Desert, in a very dry habitat.

Description. Characters described for the genus ( Fig. 2X ). Body black; head with two small frontal red spots; antennae black; pronotum uncommonly totally red or totally black, usually red with a middle subtriangular black spot on the fore margin slightly extended longitudinally and on fore sides, and sometimes also a basal subtriangular black-brown spot. Body setation white-yellow, longer and denser on ventral side. Punctures of head and pronotum distanced, wide, scarcely deep, that on elytra shallow and subrugose. Elytra orange, reddish on the sutura, lateral and apical margins, with vanished black pattern composed by three wide, transverse and laterally incomplete fascia on the anterior third, in the middle and on posterior third; sometimes these fasciae, particularly fore one, fragmented in spots; posterior fascia more undulate. Body length: 11.5–14.0 mm.

Etymology. The name of this species refers to its distribution in the Namib Desert.

Distribution. Western Namibia .

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Prionotolytta binotata; B. Prionotolytta eremita; C. Prionotolytta hayekae; D. Prionotolytta melanura; E. Prionotolytta streyi; F. Prolytta coriacea; G. Prolytta namibensis; H. Prolytta pseudolucida; I. Cyaneolytta affinis; J. Cyaneolytta depressicornis; K. Cyaneolytta granulipennis; L. Cyaneolytta maculifrons; M. Cyaneolytta resplendens; N. Epicauta designata; O. Epicauta ovampoa; P. Epicauta rufifrons; Q. Epicauta velata; R. Psalydolytta gessi; S. Psalydolytta lorigera; T. Actenodia chrysomelina; U. Actenodia mirabilis; V. Mimesthes maculicollis; W. Mimesthes nigricollis; X. Paramimesthes namibicus; Y. Namylabris adamantifera.