Monolepta kuninghitam sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AD696406-0BA0-4E31-88D9-44CF7386C344

Figs 40, 50–51

Type material. Holotype: ♂, “ Sarawak, 4 th Division, Gn. Mulu NP, nr. Base Camp 50-100 m, Malaise trap ” (BMNH; Fig. 50). Type locality: 3º55′ N / 114º46′ E. – Paratypes: Indonesia. 2 ex., Borneo, Sarawei u. Leb. Hara, I.1925, Sammelreise Prof. Dr. H. Winkler ded. 1924- 1925 (MNHU). – Malaysia. 1 ex., N. Borneo, Bettotan, nr. Sandakan, 5º51′ N / 118º3′ E, VII.1927 (BMNH); 18 ex., Sarawak, Mt. Dulit, 4.000 ft., 3º20′ N / 114º9′ E, VIII.–XI.1932, Hobby & A. W. Moore (BMNH); 28 ex., Sarawak, 4th Division, Gn. Mulu, 3º55′ N / 114º46′ E, V.– VIII.1978, P. M. Hammond & J. E. Marshall (BMNH).

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the dorsal colouration, yellow and black - kuninghitam in Malay language.

Description

Total length. 3.70–4.35 mm (mean 3.96 mm; n = 10).

Head. Very finely punctuated, yellow to brownish-yellow, labrum and mandible blackish. Antenna slender, extending almost to the middle of the elytra, blackish and only three basal antennomeres yellowish (Figs 50b, 51A). Second antennomere shorter than third; ratio length of second to third antennomere 0.67–0.75 (mean 0.69), ratio length of third to fourth antennomere 0.50–0.57 (mean 0.52; Fig. 51B).

Thorax. Pronotum finely punctuated, narrow, yellow. Pronotal width 1.00– 1.25 mm (mean 1.09 mm), ratio length to width 0.70–0.73 (mean 0.71). Scutellum, mesoand metathorax blackish. Elytra yellowish, basal margin black, in some specimens also apical margin blackish (Figs 50b, 51A). Elytral length 2.65–3.30 mm (mean 2.94 mm), maximal width of both elytra together 1.90– 2.40 mm (mean 2.10 mm), ratio of maximal width of both elytra together to length of elytron 0.70–0.73 (mean 0.72). Femora yellowish, tibiae (with exception of the proximal yellow third), and tarsi dark-brown (Fig. 50b).

Abdomen. Yellowish.

Male genitalia. Median lobe slender, narrow, continuously conical towards apex (Fig. 51C), tectum corresponding slender and pointed. Median spiculae are slender and fine spines, lateral spiculae broad and v-shaped, ventral spiculae are weakly sclerotised (Figs 51 Ca, Cb).

Female genitalia. Spermatheca with very small nodulus, broad middle part and slender, curved cornu (Fig. 51D). Bursa sclerites large, of similar size, margins strongly serrate (Fig. 51E).

Diagnosis. The colouration of Monolepta kuninghitam sp. nov. is somewhat similar to M. jacobyi in some specimens with very narrow black margined elytral base, but antennal colour, very small size and the narrow pronotum of M. kuninghitam sp. nov. allow a clear differentiation. Genital structures patterns and size are similar to M. bifasciata (Figs 5C–E, 51C–D) and both species are probably closely phylogenetically related. Median lobe, and pronotum is much slenderer in M. kuninghitam (ratio length to width 0.70–0.73), broader in M. bifasciata (0.61–0.65).

Distribution. Only known from northern Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak; Fig. 40).