Sphrigodellus kiverengei Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 36-38

Sphrigodellus kiverengei Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 25–26, 273–288, 365, 366, 371, 372)

Diagnosis. Very similar to S. viridegriseus sp. n. in general appearance, but may be easily defined in structure of male genitalia median lobe with thin dorsal carina; aggonoporium large bifurcate, consists of two stick-shaped curved lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. It also differs by external structures: scales slightly overlapping; anterior setal fringe consists of 4 (1+1+1+1) recumbent setae; elytral intervals 1–6 (females) 1–7 (males) with distinct row of setae; tarsi setose and squamose; rostrum as long as wide; transverse sulcus deep, distinctly visible; eyes large [FW/ELD: 1.07–1.36 (1.21), in S. viridegriseus sp. n. FW/ELD: 0.83–1.03 (0.92)]; pronotal disc slightly convex transversally; elytra oval in both sexes; subscutellar callosity concealed by scales, tubercles not developed; male protibiae with interior edge strongly C-shaped; male metatibiae distinctly sinuate in distal 1/3, with 1 large and 2–4 tiny teeth on interior edge; 2nd ventrite 1.5 x as long as 3rd one, posterior margin of 2nd ventrite arcuate; male 5th ventrite with depression near the apex, apical edge truncate.

Description.

Measurements. BL: 3.14–3.70 (3.40) mm, BW: 1.50–1.82 (1.72) mm, BH: 1.34–1.80 (1.63) mm.

Vestiture. Integument of body deep-brown to black, of legs deep-brown. Body densely covered with slightly overlapping, round depressed scales, setose. Setae of head form rows along lateral edges of epifrons (recumbent or subrecumbent) and above the eyes (suberect). Subocular row consists of 3–4 setae. Anterior setal fringe reduced. Posterior setal fringe consists of spatulate setae, partly hidden by posterior edge of pronotum. Elytral intervals 1–6 (females) 1–7 (males) with distinct row of setae. Anterior half of elytra with hardly shorter erect setae [up to half (males) or a third (females) of interval width], posterior declivity with long, strongly erect, thick, truncate setae [up to as 0.63 (males) or half (females) an interval width]. Ventral side densely squamose. Ventrites with scales serried (not overlapping) scales; male anal ventrite with piliform scales long, but without hairs in apical portion. Metapleura densely squamose, scales serried; basisternum and mesobasisternum sparsely squamose. Antennal scape setose and squamose; setae very long, slender, acute, and suberect, curved. Funicle setose, without scales; setae suberect, as long as funicular segment 7. Femora and tibiae external and internal surfaces (incl. distal portion of tibiae) covered with overlapping scales and suberect setae, internal surface with sparse hairs; setae slender, acute. Male metatibiae with sparse very small grooming brush; hairs short. Tarsi setose and squamose.

Integument. Body deep-brown to black; limbs deep-brown.

Coloration. Background scaling consists of greyish-brown, and grey scales; spotted pattern often obvious, formed mainly by gray and brown scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head brown, indistinctly greyish maculate. Pronotum with deep-brown background scaling and 3 longitudinal grey stripes: 1 discal (thin, obsolete) and 2 lateral (broad, rather distinct). Lateral stripes broad. Green scales mostly absent; occasionally solitary scales scattered in basal half of pronotum. Elytra with brown background scaling, with distinct spotted pattern; with. green scales scattered through the elytral disc. Ventral side including meso- and metapleura green-grey. Femora brown with broad grey bands in middle and distal portion, and occasionally with small spots of green scales at internal surface. Tibiae external surface grey, without bands.

Head. Rostrum as long as wide [RL/RW: 1.00], parallel-sided. Pterygia not extended beyond contour of rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers partly hidden by lateral edges of epifrons. Lateral carinae hardly convex. Epifrons parallel-sided distinctly sinuate in middle, at the level of antennal articulation 0.7 x as wide as vertex width, weakly sloping at sides and abruptly sloping anteriorly, scarcely concave and weakly sulcate in anterior portion (median sulcus concealed by dense scaling). Transverse sulcus deep, less concealed by dense scaling at dorsal surface and partly open at sides. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 2 tiny epistomal setae. Eyes broadly-ovate, sublateral, strongly convex, highest posteriorly [FW/ELD: 1.07–1.36 (1.21)]. Vertex flat. Frontal fovea deep, elongate, concealed by scales.

Antennae. Scape reaches middle of pronotum, scarcely evenly curved, at the apex clavate. Funicular segment 1 very long, 1.5 x as long as 2nd; 3rd–7th oblong. Club spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse or scarcely transverse [PL/PW: 0.82–0.95 (0.87)], evenly slightly convex at sides, not constricted, widest at the middle. Disc slightly convex transversally, without lateral depressions and carinae. Posterior edge of pronotum straight. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Oval [EL/EW: 1.22–1.36 (1.28)], anterior edge arcuate, vertical. Disc moderately convex [EL/BH 1.24 – 1.50 (1.36)]. Subscutellar callosity concealed by scales, tubercles not developed.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened at the apex, interior edge strongly C-shaped and serrate in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae with 1 large and 2–4 tiny teeth on interior edge. Interior edge of male mesotibiae distinctly sinuate in distal 1/3. Mucro well developed, thorn-shaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of ca.10–14 sparse brown setae not extending beyond external edge of tibiae. Bevel of metatibiae narrowly enclosed; its surface bare. Tarsi robust; tarsomere 2 triangular, as long as wide; tarsomere 3 with two wide lobes; tarsomere 5 of metatarsus extending beyond apical lobes of 3rd by length of the last one.

Abdomen. Posterior margin of 1st ventrite slightly arcuate. 2 nd ventrite 2 x as long as 3 rd one, posterior margin of 2 nd ventrite straight. Male 5 th ventrite flat, with weak depression near the apex, apical edge truncate. Female 5 th ventrite convex, apical edge acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, apically acute; 0.7 x as long as apodeme; apex with dorsal angulate flange. Lateral edges of median lobe fused. Internal sac with dense spiculate fields in distal half, with large bifurcate aggonoporium consisting of two stick-shaped curved lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium long stick-shaped, heavily sclerotized, protruded from preputial field of median lobe. Ligulae membranous. Parameres fused in basal 1/2, basal piece of tegmen narrow, tegminal apodeme 0.5 x as long as apodemes of median lobe.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed, stick-shaped, bearing 1 seta. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with very short ramus and collum. Corpus slightly swollen. cornus slender, significantly extended beyond corpus. Tergite 8 subtrapezoid, with angulate fringe of multiple, tenuous, short setae at the apex. Sternite 8 thick. Lamella sharply narrowed and acute, without setae, knife-shaped, heavily sclerotized. Apodeme thick, straight, with illdefined caput.

Distribution. Tanzania: North Pare Mountains (Kiverenge Forest Reserve) (figs 365, 366).

Bionomics. Xerothermic forests; 1500 m a.s.l. Trees and shrubs canopy; on Myrsine africana (Myrsinaceae) (figs 371, 372).

Material examined. Tanzania: 9♂, 2♀, including holotype male, dissected ( ZMUN) TZ-11-40, Kilimanjaro Reg., North Pare Mts., Kiverenge Forest Reserve , S3 48.647 E37 38.914 h = 1508 m, xerothermic forest, beating, on Myrsine africana, N.N. Yunakov leg., 14.v.2011 .

Etymology. The name refers to Kiverenge Forest in North Pare Mountains where this species occurs.