Prodoretus nathani, 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

Prodoretus nathani sp. nov.

( Figs 77-78, 81-82)

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype ♂: Republic of South Africa: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., R.S. A., N.W., Limpopo, Thabazimbi, 21.XII2008, Leg. Snizek, I.G. 31.208] ( RBINS).

Paratypes: 11♂, 6♀: idem ( RBINS) ; Malawi: 1♂: [N. Malawi, Mzimba Dist., Lake Kazuni, Vwaza Marsh Game Res. (11°08’S / 33°38’E), 1090m, 24.XII.2007, R. J. Murphy ] ( PCRM) ; 1♂: [S. Malawi, Nsanje Dist., Matandwe Forest Reserve (16°52’S / 35°14’E), 240m, 29.XI-02.XII.2010, R. J. Murphy ] ( RBINS) ; Zambia: 1♂: [Zambia ( Eastern ), 8km E. Kacholola (S 14°45’15’’E 30°40’27’’), 890m, 23.XI.2010, Leg. M. François] ( PCMF) ; 2♂: [ ZAMBIA: EASTERN PR., 8km E. Kacholola, 900m, 14°45’16’’S 30°40’28’’E, 23.XI.2010, degraded southern Miombo woodland, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-09] ( FGIC) ; 1♂: [ ZAMBIA: LUSAKA PR., 17km NE Rufunsa, 700m, 14°58’43’’S 29°44’32’’E, 22.XI.2010, degraded southern Miombo woodland, light trap, F. Génier, 2010-08] ( FGIC) ; Zimbabwe: 1♂: [ZIMBABWE E., Mutare (Doroma env.), 29.XI.1998, Leg. M. Snizek] ( PCPL) ; Botswana: 13♂, 7♀: [Botswana: Farmer ‘s Brigade, 5km S.E. Serowe, hillside, N slope, N°10] [7 december 1991, mercury vapor lamp, SC2226BD, Per Forchhammer ] (10♂, 7♀: CMNH; 1♂: MNHUB; 1♂: BMNH; 1♂: MNHN); Mozambique : 1♂: MOZ: CABO DELGADO, Taratibu (site 1), P. N. Quirimbas, 320m (12°48’57’’S / 39°41’45’’E), 7.I.2013, eastern Miombo woodlands, light trap, F. & S. Génier & M. Denja, 2013-43 ( FGIC) ; 2♂: MOZ: CABO DELGADO, Ravia (site 1), P. N. Quirimbas, 380m (12°39’41’’S 39°25’22’’E), 1.I.2013, eastern Miombo woodlands, light trap, F. & S. Génier & M. Denja, 2013-24 ( FGIC) ; 1♂: MOZ: CABO DELGADO, Ravia (site 6), P. N. Quirimbas, 380m (12°31’02’’S 39°18’38’’E), 3.I.2013, eastern Miombo woodlands, light trap, F. & S. Génier & M. Denja, 2013-35 ( FGIC) .

DESCRIPTION

Male

Measurements and ratios ♂ (n = 14): LB: 10.5 – 11.5 mm, lB: 5 – 6 mm; LB/lB: 1.77 (1.67 – 1.90); LP/lP: 0.51 (0.50 – 0.55); LE/lE: 1.37 (1.27 – 1.46).

Body: laterally convex, relatively elongate, slightly bent, broader in middle of elytra; abdomen concave; process at base of prosternum pointed; brownish-yellow with head, antennae, apical teeth of protibia, all margins and tarsi reddish-brown, slightly shining.

Head: broad; clypeus trapezoidal, entirely reflexed, totally covered with tubercles; vertex transversely striated; frons impunctate; antennae 10-segmented, with club as long as funicle.

Thorax: pronotum trapezoidal, broader than long; sides uniformly rounded from base to apex; all margins carinate, except middle of anterior margin; anterior angles projecting and reaching posterior margin of eyes; separated crescent shaped points; impressed point on lateral margins; scutellum triangular with rounded sides covered with separated crescent shaped points.

Elytra: longer than broad; epipleura complete; costae slightly elevated; intervals with close rounded points; striae formed by a line of close deep rounded points; humeral and apical calli slightly marked.

Pygidium: triangular, apex rounded, carinate along anal plate, slightly projecting postero-ventrally and not surpassing apex of elytra.

Legs: protibiae tridentate; larger claw elongate, as long as last tarsomere; pro-and mesotarsal larger claw cleft; larger claw of metatarsus 3 times longer than smaller and uncleft.

Hairs: upper side covered with close short white, squamous, decumbent setae; lateral margins of pronotum and elytra with long brown, separated erected setae, shorter on canthus; sternites with sparse long brown erected setae inserted in setigerous points together with short white, squamous decumbent setae; close longer white, squamous, decumbent setae on metasternum; femora with long brown erected setae; pygidium with longer erected yellowish setae on disc and apex glabrous.

Aedeagus: in lateral view, parameres strongly widened from middle part to apex, ventrally and dorsally strongly sinuate; in dorsal view, lateral margins strongly sinuate, broader after middle part, apex strongly reduced and rectangular.

Female

Measurements and ratios ♀ (n = 6): LB: 11.5 – 13 mm, lB: 6 – 7 mm; LB/lB: 1.75 (1.69 – 1.77); LP/lP: 0.47 (0.46 – 0.54); LE/lE: 1.34 (1.31 – 1.40).

Differs from ♂ by: longer, slightly broader; clypeus rounded, abdomen convex and apical tooth of protibia rounded.

DERIVATIO NOMINIS. Dedicated to my son Nathan.

DISTRIBUTION. Currently known distribution extends from Zambia to Republic of South Africa.

BIOLOGY. specimens from Zambia were collected in degraded southern Miombo woodland and from Mozambique in eastern Miombo woodlands.

The species was collected in the months November to January.

DIAGNOSIS. P. nathani sp. nov. and P. snizeki sp. nov. are both very similar to P. rhodesianus Ohaus, 1914 . The three species can be distinguished as follows: