Serraphula grobbelaariae, Biondi, Maurizio & D’Alessandro, Paola, 2010

Biondi, Maurizio & D’Alessandro, Paola, 2010, Revision of the Afrotropical flea beetle genus Serraphula Jacoby and description of Bechynella, a new genus from Western and Central Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), Zootaxa 2444, pp. 1-44 : 17-18

Serraphula grobbelaariae sp. n. ( Figs 10 , 21 , 38 , 55 , 66 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype 3, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, NW of Dullstroom, Boskrans Dam, 25°21’S 30°01’E, 1940 m, 5.xii.2002, E. Grobbelaar leg. ( SANC). Paratypes: same locality, date and collector of the holotype, 2 3 and 2 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC); ditto, adults collected from Berkheya seminivea (Asteraceae) , 7 3 and 15 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC); ditto, collected by sweeping through drier grassland some distance from water, R. Stals leg., 1 3 ( SANC); ditto, 01.xii.2002, collected by sweeping, E. Grobbelaar leg., 1Ƥ ( SANC); REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Mpumalanga, 15 km S of Lydenburg, 25°14’S 30°29’E, 1700 m, 9-10.xii.1995, sweeping through grass and low vegetation, R. Stals leg., 2 3 and 5 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC); Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, NW of Dullstroom, Macabelel Lodge, 25°18’S 30°03’E, 1980 m, 02-03.xii.2002, R. Stals leg., 1 Ƥ ( SANC); ditto, adults collected from Vernonia hirsuta (Asteraceae) , E. Grobbelaar leg., 5 3 and 5 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC); ditto, B343, 14 3 and 14 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC); ditto, collected by sweeping, 13 3 and 19 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC).

DIAGNOSIS. As in S. alticola sp. n., S. duplessisi sp. n., S. monticola sp. n., S. mpumalangaensis sp. n., S. transvaalensis sp. n., and S. uysi sp. n., this new species shows the apical spur of hind tibiae about as long as half hind tibial length or clearly shorter, with dorsal furrow apically entirely open and clearly formed by distinct teeth. However, S. grobbelaariae , besides the different shape of the median lobe of aedeagus, is externally easily separated from the other species for having: reddish legs; straight hind tibiae with apical spur very short; elytral interstriae flat; short antennae.

DESCRIPTION. Holotype 3. Dorsal integument blackish, with evident greenish/blueish metallic reflection. Body shape elliptical (LB = 2.25 mm), little convex. Maximum pronotal width at middle (WP= 0.78 mm); maximum elytral width at basal third (WE = 0.95 mm).

Frons and vertex with sub-smooth surface, shagreened near dorsal margin of frontal tubercles; a large setigerous pore with some small setigerous punctures gathered near each upper ocular margin; frontal tubercles evident, extended towards inner ocular margin, with smooth surface; frontal dimples strongly impressed; frontal grooves not distinct; frontal carina narrowed, clearly raised, apically rounded; labrum sub-trapezoidal, blackish; palpi blackish; eyes sub-elliptical, normally sized; antennae clearly shorter than body length (LAN = 1.70 mm; LAN/LB = 0.76), reddish, with segments 6–11 gradually darkened; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 22:10:9:12:14:13:15:14:14:15:21 (right antenna).

Pronotum sub-rectangular, little transverse (LP = 0.63 mm; WP/LP = 1.24), laterally moderately rounded; lateral and basal margins finely bordered; punctation densely and uniformely distributed on sub-smooth surface (a very shallow microreticulation is scarcely visible); punctures little, clearly impressed. Scutellum subtriangular, apically sub-acute, with microreticulate surface.

Elytra moderately elongate (LE = 1.36 mm; LE/LP = 2.18), covering partially pygidium, laterally subparallel apically obtuse; punctation arranged in 9 (+ 1 very short scutellar) regular rows, with moderately impressed small punctures on weakly shagreened and sparsely punctulate surface; elytral interstriae flat; humeral calli absent; sub-apterous metathoracic wings.

Legs with reddish tibiae, tarsi and anterior and middle femora; hind femora blackened; hind tibiae straight. Apical spur of hind tibiae clearly shorter than hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 2.50), internally curved in distal half; dorsal furrow very narrow in proximal part but gradually and completely open towards distal part; denture irregularly and densely formed by large teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres moderately dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side (cf. Figs 77,79, 81–82 ).

Ventral surface blackish; last abdominal sternite without special preapical impressions.

Median lobe of aedeagus rather thickset (LAED = 0.75 mm; LE/LAED = 1.82), in ventral view laterally sub-parallel, gradually narrowed from apical fourth to apex; apex acute, without median small tooth; ventral sulcus not visible; in lateral view, median lobe regularly and clearly curved, apically slightly bent ventrally; dorsal sulcus visible in apical half, basally rounded, narrowed at basal third; dorsal ligula thin, apically rounded.

VARIATION. 3 (n = 10; mean and standard deviation): LE = 1.33 ± 0.07 mm; WE = 0.88 ± 0.05 mm; LP = 0.58 ± 0.04 mm; WP = 0.76 ± 0.04 mm; LAN = 1.64 ± 0.08 mm; LAED = 0.74 ± 0.09 mm; LB = 2.13 ± 0.16 mm; LE/LP = 2.30 ± 0.10; WE/WP = 1.16 ± 0.04; WP/LP = 1.32 ± 0.06; LE/LAED = 1.81 ± 0.18; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.86 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 2.50 ± 0.17. Ƥ (n = 10): LE = 1.41 ± 0.09 mm; WE = 0.96 ± 0.06 mm; LP = 0.58 ± 0.03 mm; WP = 0.77 ± 0.04 mm; LAN = 1.49 ± 0.09 mm; LSP = 0.13 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.25 ± 0.15 mm; LE/LP = 2.45 ± 0.11; WE/WP = 1.25 ± 0.04; WP/LP = 1.34 ± 0.05; LE/LSP = 11.37 ± 1.27; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.75 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 2.47 ± 0.12.

Paratypes. Dorsal integument in some specimens blackish or dark brown, with weak metallic reflection. Pronotal punctures variable from very small to large and rather coarse. Female generally similar in size to male but with shorter antennae (0.59 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.69). Spermatheca with globose basal part; distal part elongate and arcuate, with not separated collum from apex; appendix clearly developed; ductus short and thickset, sub-ventrally inserted.

ETYMOLOGY. This new species is named after E. Grobbelaar (SANC), one of its collectors, in recognition of her kind and valuable collaboration.

DISTRIBUTION. Republic of South Africa (Mpumalanga). Southern-Eastern African chorotype (SEA) (cf. Biondi & D’Alessandro, 2006).

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. This new species was collected on Berkheya seminivea Harv. & Sond. , and Ve rnonia hirsuta (DC.) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. ( Asteraceae ). Biome: Grassland (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld types: North-Eastern Sandy Highveld; North-Eastern Mountain Sourveld (cf. Acocks, 1988).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Geographical distribution of: Serraphula aenea Jacoby; S. alticola sp. n.; S. debiasei sp. n.; S. drakensbergensis sp. n.; S. duplessisi sp. n.; S. grobbelaariae sp. n.; S. monticola sp. n.; S. oberprieleri sp. n.; S. osellai sp. n.; S. transvaalensis sp. n.; S. uysi sp. n.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Habitus of: S. elongata Jacoby (9); S. grobbelaariae sp. n. (10); S. monticola sp. n. (11); S. mpumalangaensis sp. n. (12).

FIGURES 37 – 42. Head and pronotum of Serraphula Jacoby: S. duplessisi sp. n. (37); S. grobbelaariae sp. n. (38); S. oberprieleri sp. n. (39); S. osellai sp. n. (40); S. puncticollis Bryant (41); S. wittmeri sp. n. (42).

FIGURES 43 – 60. Median lobe of aedeagus of Serraphula Jacoby; lateral, ventral and dorsal view: S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, Southwell area (43 a); S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, nr Thornhill (43 b); S. colonnelii, Kwazulu- Natal, Ifafa Mouth (44); S. debiasei, Eastern Cape Province, 4 km S Barkly Pass (45); S. uysi, Transvaal, Palala (46); S. puncticollis, Eastern Cape Province, Port St. John (47); S. natalensis, KwaZulu-Natal, Blesberg (48); S. oberprieleri, Zimbabwe, Bunga Forest (49); S. mpumalangaensis, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (50); S. alticola, Mpumalanga, Mount Sheba area (51); S. audisiana, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (52); S. aenea, Mashonaland (53); S. drakensbergensis, Kwazulu-Natal, Cathedral Peak (54); S. grobbelaariae, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Boskrans Dam (55); S. duplessisi, Limpopo, Entabeni Forest Reserve, Soutpansberg (56); S. bulirschi, Kwazulu-Natal, Ntendeka Wilderness Area, Ngomi Forest (57); S. transvaalensis, Eastern Transvaal, Nelshoogte Pass (58); S. osellai, Kwazulu- Natal, Ngele Forest (59); S. wittmeri, Limpopo, Branddraai (60).

FIGURES 61 – 76. Spermatheca of Serraphula Jacoby: S. natalensis, KwaZulu-Natal, Blesberg (61); S. audisiana, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (62); S. osellai, Kwazulu-Natal, Ngele Forest (63); S. alticola, Mpumalanga, Mount Sheba area (64); S. oberprieleri, Zimbabwe, Bunga Forest (65); S. grobbelaariae, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (66); S. transvaalensis, Eastern Transvaal, Nelshoogte Pass (67); S. uysi, Transvaal, Palala (68); S. duplessisi, Limpopo, Entabeni Forest Reserve, Soutpansberg (69); S. elongata, Eastern Cape Province, nr. Grahamstown (70); S. debiasei, Eastern Cape Province, 4 km S Barkly Pass (71); S. colonnelli, Kwazulu-Natal, Umzinto Vernon Crookes N. R. (72); S. wittmeri, Limpopo, Branddraai (73); S. mpumalangaensis, Mpumalanga, Houtenbek Farm, Macabelel Lodge (74); S. monticola, Kwazulu-Natal / Free State, Botha’s Pass (75); S. drakensbergensis, Kwazulu-Natal, Monk’s Cowl (76).

FIGURES 77 – 82. Ventral side of first anterior and middle tarsomeres in male and female of Serraphula elongata Jacoby: male with differentiated adhesive structure (77, 79, 81 – 82); female without differentiated adhesive structure (78, 80).