Sphrigodellus parecola Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 26-28

Sphrigodellus parecola Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 21–22, 230–243, 367)

Diagnosis. Similar to S. nasutus sp. n. and S. gusarovi sp. n. in general appearance. From S. nasutus sp. n. it differs by small size [BL: 2.30–3.09 (2.61) mm, in S. nasutus sp. n. —3.50–4.40 (3.69) mm]; overlapping scales of body; subocular row consists of 4–6 setae; pronotum with anterior fringe indistinct; elytra with distinct pattern of alternate dark and pale stripes; Eyes orbicular; vertex narrow; male metatibiae with obsolete grooming brush; meso- and metatibiae without teeth or with very small poorly-visible teeth on interior edge; 2nd ventrite 1.5 x as long as 3rd one; median lobe parallel-sided and evenly narrowed apically; apex broadly rounded, dorsoventrally slightly convex; female tergite 8 with short fringe of setae at the apex. From S. gusarovi sp. n. it differs by body densely covered with overlapping scales; pronototal anterior fringe indistinct; abdomen densely squamose; epifrons parallel-sided; eyes orbicular, sublateral, strongly convex, highest posteriorly [FW/ELD: 0.73–1.00 (0.89)]; median lobe parallel-sided, in apical 1/3 evenly narrowed apically; apex broadly rounded; spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with swollen ramus, collum slender 0.5 x as long as ramus. From S. minutus sp. n. it differs by subocular row consists of 4–6 setae; anterior fringe indistinct; basisternum bare; antennal scape setose, without scales; strongly elongate [RL/RW: 1.20–1.33 (1.27)]; funicular segments 5–7 oblong (in S. minutus sp. n. —as long as wide); club spindle-shaped (in minutus egg-shaped); Median lobe parallel-sided, in apical 1/3 evenly narrowed apically; apex broadly rounded, dorsoventrally slightly convex, 1.3 x longer than apodeme; spermatheca with swollen ramus, collum slender 0.5 x as long as ramus (in S. minutus sp. n. collum slender 2 x as long as ramus).

Description.

Measurements. BL: 2.30–3.09 (2.61) mm, BW: 1–1.46 (1.19) mm, BH: 0.90–1.3 (1.07) mm.

Vestiture. Body densely covered with overlapping, round concave scales, setose. Setae of head form rows along lateral edges of epifrons (recumbent or subrecumbent) and above the eyes (erect). Subocular row consists of 4–6 setae. Anterior fringe indistinct; pronotum evenly setose; setae small, spatulate, recumbent. Posterior setal fringe consists of long spatulate setae, partly hidden by posterior edge of pronotum. Elytral intervals 1–6 with distinct row of setae. Anterior half of elytra with shorter and narrow suberect setae (up to a third of interval width), posterior declivity with long strongly erect spatulate acute setae (as long as interval width). Ventral side of thorax and abdomen densely squamose, scales scattered; basisternum and mesobasisternum bare. Meso- and metapleura with scattered scaling. Antennal scape setose, without scales; setae long, slender, acute, and erect. Funicle setose, without scales; setae suberect, as long as funicular segment 7. Femora and tibiae external surface covered with serried scales and suberect setae, internal surface with sparse piliform scales and hairs, distal portion of tibiae internal surface without scales; setae on legs slender, acute. Male metatibiae with obsolete grooming brush; hairs short, subrecumbent. Tarsi setose.

Coloration. Integument of body deep-brown to black; limbs deep-brown. Background scaling deep-brown to brown; striped longitudinal pattern formed by light rose scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head with two longitudinal stripes passing obliquely through the epifrons and vertex; subgenae with brown scales, Anterior portion of epifrons, subgenae, and temples green. Pronotum with grayish-rose median and laterodorsal and green lateral stripe. Elytra with alternate brown and grayish-rose longitudinal stripes. Elytral intervals 3, 5, basal portion of interval 4, posterior portion of interval 2, and subsutural portion of interval 1 covered with grayish-rose scales. Intervals 7–11, and apical 1/4 of interval 5 covered with green scales. Ventral side of head and body with sparse green scales. Femora main surface with maculate pattern of brown and grey scales, proximal portion with green scales. Tibiae external surface with grey scales.

Head. Rostrum strongly elongate [RL/RW: 1.20–1.33 (1.27)], parallel-sided. Pterygia not extended beyond contour of rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers half-visible. Epifrons parallel-sided, not sinuate, at the level of antennal articulation 1.5 x as wide as vertex width, with transverse depression posteriorly of antennal sockets, distinctly sloping at sides and very steep sloping anteriorly, without median sulcus or carina. Transverse sulcus deep, concealed by dense scaling at dorsal surface and partly open at sides. Anterior portion of epifrons very steep without longitudinal depression. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 8–10 epistomal setae. Eyes orbicular, sublateral, strongly convex, highest posteriorly [FW/ELD: 0.73–1.00 (0.89)]. Vertex flat, narrow, Frontal fovea, deep, oblong, not concealed by scales.

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, weakly evenly curved, slightly swollen in distal portion. 1st funicular segment longer and wider than 2nd; 3rd–7th oblong. Club spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.88–0.89 (0.88)], evenly slightly convex at sides, not constricted, widest anteriorly of the middle. Disc weakly convex longitudinally and transversally. Posterior edge straight. Tergosternal suture complete but concealed by scales. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Oblong-oval EL/EW: 1.37–1.42 (1.39)]; anterior declivity arcuate, abrupt, sharpen; disc weakly convex; sides in basal 1/3 straight [EL/BH: 1.54–1.56 (1.55)]. Subscutellar callosity reaches 2 nd elytral interval, with two tiny tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae strongly curved, not widened at the apex; interior edge C-shaped. Meso- and metatibiae on interior edge without teeth or with very small poorly-visible teeth. Pro- and mesotibiae with large thorn-shaped acute mucro, metatibiae with small mucro well developed. Setal comb of protibiae consists of sparse 7–8 black 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 straight. 2nd ventrite 1.5 x as long as 3rd one, posterior margin of 2nd ventrite straight. 5th ventrite flat, without depression near the apex, apical edge in male broadly rounded, in female acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, in apical 1/3 evenly narrowed apically; apex broadly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly convex, 1.3 x longer than apodeme. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium consisting of two stick-shaped lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium spatulate, strongly sclerotized. Ligulae membranous. Parameres absent, basal piece of tegmen broad, tegminal apodeme 0.75 x as long as apodemes of median lobe.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed, stick-shaped, bearing 2 setae. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with swollen ramus, collum slender 0.5 x as long as ramus; corpus small, very swollen; cornus slender, extended beyond corpus. Tergite 8 triangular with straight short fringe of tenuous long setae at the apex. Sternite 8 thick. Lamella sharply narrowed and acute, without setae, knife-shaped, heavily sclerotized. Apodeme thick, caput distinctly developed.

Distribution. Tanzania: South Pare Mountains (Chome Nature Reserve) ( Fig. 367).

Bionomics. Montane rain forests. Trees and shrubs, canopy.

Material examined. Tanzania: 2♂, 1♀ including holotype male ( ZMUN) TZ-10-63, Kilimanjaro Reg., South Pare Mts., Chome Nature Reserve , S4 19.850 E37 59.040, h = 1549 m, rain forest, beaten, N.N. Yunakov leg., 11.xi.2010 . 2♂, 2♀ ( ZMUN, DNA collection: tube#17809) TZN-72, Chome Nature Reserve , S4 20.044 E 37 58.766, h = 1651 m, sifting forest litter, V.I. Gusarov & O.M. Nniwako leg., 11.xi.2010 .

Etymology. The name is a Latin adjective meaning “inhabiting Pare Mountains”.