Popillia hecqi, Limbourg, 2016

Limbourg, Pol, 2016, Contribution to the knowledge of Afrotropical Rutelinae IV (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Melolonthidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 38, pp. 1-42 : 1-42

Popillia hecqi sp. nov.

( Figs 21-22 , 25-26)

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype ♂: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Democratic Republic of Congo, Kivu, Lukando (Bunyakiri), 1959-60, Leg. J. Hecq] [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., I.G.: 32.382] ( RBINS).

Paratypes 1♀: idem ( RBINS) ; 1♂: [ Democratic Republic of Congo, Kivu, Lukando (Bunyakiri), 1959-60, Leg. J. Hecq] ( PCJH) ; 1♂: [MUS. ROY. AFR. CENTR., Kivu : Nyangezi, 1.VII.1958, J. Hecq] ( MRAC) .

DESCRIPTION

Male

Measurements and ratios ♂ (n = 2): LB: 16.5 – 17 mm, lB: 9 – 9.5 mm; LB/lB: 1.57 – 1.61; LP/lP: 0.67 – 0.69; LE/lE: 1.03 – 1.06.

Body: laterally convex, slightly bent; long mesosternal process rounded at apex, compressed laterally and surpassing posterior margin of procoxa; abdomen concave; green, shining with metallic reflection mainly on legs and underside.

Head: clypeus rectangular with anterior angles rounded, slightly but totally reflexed, with close rounded points; vertex with separated rounded points, longitudinally striolated on sides; frons with small separated shallow rounded points; antennae 9-segmented, with club shorter than flagellum.

Thorax: pronotum hexagonal, broader than long; lateral angles well marked at anterior 3/5, surpassing posterior margin of eyes; all margins carinate except basal one and anterior one in front of the head; strongly and deeply punctate on sides; disc less punctured; basal margin smooth; impressed point on lateral margins; scutellum triangular with rounded sides, smooth.

Elytra: longer than broad; epipleura complete; costa obsolete; intervals with small separated rounded points; striae well marked, formed by a single line of small close rounded points; humeral calli marked; apical calli slightly projecting postero-ventrally; tooth at apico-internal angle.

Pygidium: conical with apex slightly sinuate and carinate along anal plate, projecting postero-ventrally and strongly transversely striated, with two large zones of white decumbent squamous setae.

Hairs: upper side with isolated short setae on canthus and on lateral margins of anterior part of pronotum; underside with close long decumbent, white, squamous setae on sides of metasternum, on median and posterior femora and on sides of sternites; median axis mesosternal process-sternites shining and glabrous; long separated yellowish setae on underside of pygidium.

Legs: protibiae thickened and bidentate; larger claw of anterior tarsi widened, cleft and strongly flattened; larger claw of median tarsi elongate and cleft; claws of posterior tarsi uncleft.

Aedeagus: in lateral view, apex of right paramere ventrally sinuate to apex and slightly widened; in dorsal view, left paramere with a lateral process perpendicular to apex.

Female

Measurements and ratios (n = 1) ♀: LB: 17.5 mm, lB: 10.5 mm; LB/lB 1.57; LP/lP: 0.68; LE/lE: 1.06.

Differs from ♂ by: larger size, apical tooth of protibia rounded and longer, larger claw of anterior tarsi not flattened and apex of pygidium strongly concave.

DERIVATIO NOMINIS. Dedicated to the late Jacques Hecq (August 11, 1926 to October 26, 2012), specialist of Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae , who collected the specimens.

DISTRIBUTION. Known from Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

BIOLOGY. The species was collected in July.

DIAGNOSIS. There are no external characteristics to separate P. hecqi sp. nov. from P. princeps Harold, 1878 ; female genital plates are variable, but both species can be distinguished as follows:

Figures

Figs 21-22. Popillia hecqi holotype habitus (17.5mm): (21), dorsal view; (22), lateral view. Figs 23-24. Popillia princeps habitus (16mm): (23), dorsal view; (24), lateral view. Figs 25-26. Popillia hecqi holotype: (25) aedeagus, lateral view; (26) parameres, dorsal view. Figs 27-28. Popillia princeps: (27) aedeagus, lateral view; (28) parameres, dorsal view.