Serraphula natalensis, 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 : 20-21

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.195007
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6200254
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6D1A0E17-FFA3-D462-4CBE-FAD5391F8ED8
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Serraphula natalensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Serraphula natalensis sp. n. ( Figs 13 View FIGURES 13 – 16 , 22 View FIGURE 22 , 48 View FIGURES 43 – 60 , 61 View FIGURES 61 – 76 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype 3, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, KwaZulu-Natal, 10 km W Dargle, Blesberg, 1400-1500 m, 29°28’S 30°00’E, forest edge, on yellow inflorescence of Asteraceae , 10.xii.1995, M. Biondi leg. ( SANC). Paratypes: same locality, date and collector of the holotype, 1 Ƥ ( BAQ); REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, KwaZulu-Natal, Rosetta, 29°18’S 29°58’E, 15.xi.1981, S.J.v.Tonder & C.Kok leg. 2 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC).

DIAGNOSIS. This new species shares with S. audisiana sp. n. and S. osellai sp. n.: dorsal integument black with evident metallic reflection, clearly convex elytral interstriae and clearly impressed pronotal punctuation, but it is easily distinguishable mainly by more transverse and laterally rounded pronotum, and different shape of apical spur of hind tibiae. The median lobe of aedeagus is indeed similar to those of S. bulirshi sp. n., S. debiasei sp. n. and S. drakensbergensis sp. n., but it is different for having lanceolate and strongly acute apical part with very small median tooth. However, for the peculiar shape of the spermatheca, S. natalensis occupies a clear isolated taxonomical position within the genus.

DESCRIPTION. Holotype 3. Dorsal integument blackish, with evident metallic reflection. Body shape elliptical-elongate (LB = 1.73 mm), moderately convex. Maximum pronotal width at anterior third (WP= 0.64 mm); maximum elytral width at basal third (WE = 0.75 mm).

Frons and vertex with finely microreticulate surface; a large setigerous pore near each upper ocular margin; frontal tubercles dorsally clearly delimited; frontal dimples clearly evident; frontal grooves distally finely impressed around upper ocular margin; frontal carina scarcely raised; labrum sub-rectangular, brown; palpi brown; eyes sub-elliptical, normally sized; antennae shorter than body length (LAN = 1.59 mm; LAN/LB = 0.92), pale but with weakly darkened segments 9–10 and blackened segment 11; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 18:10:10:12:15:14:14:15:15:16:20 (right antenna).

Pronotum sub-rectangular, transverse (LP = 0.45 mm; WP/LP = 1.42), laterally rounded; basal margin finely bordered, lateral margin more largely bordered in anterior third; punctation densely and clearly impressed on irregularly microreticulate surface; punctures medium-sized. Scutellum sub-triangular, apically rounded, with finely microreticulate surface.

Elytra moderately elongate (LE = 1.18 mm; LE/LP = 2.61), covering partially pygidium, laterally slightly rounded, apically obtuse; punctation arranged in 9 (+ 1 very short scutellar) regular rows, with punctures distinctly impressed on very finely wrinkled and clearly punctulate surface; elytral interstriae distinctly raised; humeral calli absent; sub-apterous metathoracic wings.

Legs with pale tibiae, tarsi and anterior and middle femora; anterior and middle ungual tarsomeres slightly darkened; hind femora dorsally brownish; hind tibiae weakly externally bent. Apical spur of hind tibiae as long as about 2/3 of hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 1.35), internally bent at distal fourth; distal furrow narrowed in proximal 3/4s and abruptly open in distal fourth; denture usually regularly and densely formed by clearly distinct teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres moderately dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side (cf. Figs 77,79, 81–82 View FIGURES 77 – 82 ).

Ventral surface brown, apically slightly paler; last abdominal sternite without special preapical impressions.

Median lobe of aedeagus (LAED = 0.70 mm; LE/LAED = 1.68) in ventral view clearly narrowed in basal third, apically lanceolate, with a very median small tooth; ventral sulcus visible but weakly impressed; in lateral view, median lobe moderately curved, slightly sinuous in apical fourth; dorsal sulcus visible in apical 3/ 5s, basally V-shaped; dorsal ligula wide, sub-rectangular.

VARIATION. 3 (n = 1): LE = 1.18 mm; WE = 0.75 mm; LP = 0.45 mm; WP = 0.64 mm; LAN = 1.59 mm; LAED = 0.70 mm; LB = 1.73 mm; LE/LP = 2.61; WE/WP = 1.18; WP/LP = 1.42; LE/LAED = 1.68; LAN/(LE+LP) = 0.98; LHT/LHTS = 1.35. Ƥ (n = 3): LE = 1.41 ± 0.11 mm; WE = 0.83 ± 0.03 mm; LP = 0.47 ± 0.02 mm; WP = 0.65 ± 0.02 mm; LAN = 1.46 ± 0.08 mm; LSP = 0.22 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 1.95 ± 0.11 mm; LE/LP = 3.00 ± 0.28; WE/WP = 1.27 ± 0.05; WP/LP = 1.39 ± 0.02; LE/LSP = 6.41 ± 0.62; LAN/(LE+LP) = 0.77 ± 0.01; LHT/LHTS = 1.52 ± 0.13.

Paratypes. In color and shape similar to the holotype; frontal carina sometimes more raised; distal segments paler or slightly darker than in the holotype; color of third and fourth tarsomere from pale to slightly darkened; sub-smooth pronotal surface in a single specimen. Females bigger than male (1.84 ≤ LB ≤ 2.05 mm), with longer elytra (2.71 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.28) and antennae proportionally shorter (0.71 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.79). Spermatheca very large (0.21 ≤ LSP ≤ 0.23 mm; 5.72 ≤ LE/LSP ≤ 6.94) (Fig.) with elongate, sub-conic but clearly curved basal part; distal part short, arcuate and thickset, with not separated collum and apex of distal part; appendix present; ductus, apically inserted, rather thickset, long and clearly arcuate.

ETYMOLOGY. This new species is named after Natal, region became part of KwaZulu-Natal Province in 1994 ( Republic of South Africa).

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

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. This new species was collected on inflorescences of Asteraceae (cf. Senecio sp.). Biome: Grassland (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld types: Themeda-Festuca Alpine Veld; Southern Tall Grassland (cf. Acocks, 1988).