Serraphula osellai, 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 : 23-24

Serraphula osellai sp. n. ( Figs 15 , 21 , 27 , 40 , 59 , 63 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype 3, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwazulu-Natal, Weza, Ngele Forest, 1200-1550 m, 30°31’S 29°41’E, indigenous forest clearing, on inflorescences of Asteraceae , 7-8.xii.1995, M. Biondi leg. ( BAQ). Paratypes: same locality, date and collector of the holotype, 5 3 and 5 Ƥ ( BAQ; SANC).

DIAGNOSIS. With S. audisiana sp. n. and S. natalensis sp. n., this new species shares the black with evident metallic reflection of the dorsal integument, clearly convex elytral interstriae and clearly impressed pronotal punctuation. However, S. osellai is easily distinguishable mainly by the shape of the apical spur of hind tibiae, straight in almost all its length and longer than hind tibial length. These three species show also a quite different shape of the median lobe of aedeagus.

DESCRIPTION. Holotype 3. Dorsal integument blackish, with evident metallic reflection. Body shape elliptical-elongate (LB = 1.93 mm), moderately convex. Maximum pronotal width at middle (W P= 0.63 mm); maximum elytral width at basal third (WE = 0.69 mm).

Frons and vertex with finely punctulate and densely microwrinkled surface; a large setigerous pore with some small setigerous punctures gathered near each upper ocular margin; frontal tubercles sub-triangular, very weakly delimited; frontal dimples moderately impressed; frontal grooves distally finely impressed around upper ocular margin visible; frontal carina moderately wide and raised, apically acute; labrum subtrapezoidal, brown; palpi brown; eyes sub-elliptical, normally sized; antennae little shorter than body length (LAN = 1.80 mm; LAN/LB = 0.94), yellowish, with first antennomere weakly obscured and segments 10-11 gradually darkened; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 18:12:12:14:16:16:16:15:17:16:21 (right antenna).

Pronotum sub-trapezoidal, apically slightly wider than basally, scarcely transverse (LP = 0.53 mm; WP/ LP = 1.19) laterally weakly rounded; lateral margin moderately bordered; basal margin finely bordered; punctation densely and uniformly distributed on microreticulate surface; punctures large and strongly impressed. Scutellum sub-triangular, apically acute, with weakly microreticulate surface.

Elytra elongate (LE = 1.36 mm; LE/LP = 2.60), covering almost completely pygidium, laterally moderately rounded, apically obtuse; punctation arranged in 9 (+ 1 very short scutellar) regular rows, with large and strongly impressed punctures; elytral interstriae strongly keeled with punctulate surface; humeral calli absent; sub-apterous metathoracic wings.

Legs with yellowish tibiae, tarsi and anterior and middle femora; hind femora darkened; hind tibiae straight. Apical spur of hind tibiae little longer than hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 0.89), internally curved in apical fifth; dorsal furrow very narrow, abruptly open in distal fifth; denture more evident in proximal 4/5s, densely formed by small but clearly distinct teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres moderately dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side (cf. Figs 77,79, 81–82 ).

Ventral surface dark brown, distally paler. Last sternite without special preapical impressions.

Median lobe of aedeagus (LAED = 0.83 mm; LE/LAED = 1.65) in ventral view laterally sub-parallel, gradually narrowed from base to apex; apex subtriangular, without median small tooth; ventral sulcus not visible; in lateral view, median lobe basally curved, apically straight; dorsal sulcus visible in approximately apical 3/5s; dorsal ligula apically Y-shaped.

VARIATION. 3 (n = 6; mean and standard deviation): LE = 1.34 ± 0.06 mm; WE = 0.80 ± 0.03 mm; LP = 0.52 ± 0.02 mm; WP = 0.62 ± 0.02 mm; LAN = 1.80 ± 0.05 mm; LAED = 0.82 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.05 ± 0.09 mm; LE/LP = 2.57 ± 0.07; WE/WP = 1.28 ± 0.03; WP/LP = 1.20 ± 0.01; LE/LAED = 1.63 ± 0.06; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.97 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 0.89 ± 0.03. Ƥ (n = 5: LE = 1.49 ± 0.05 mm; WE = 0.87 ± 0.03 mm; LP = 0.54 ± 0.03 mm; WP = 0.67 ± 0.02 mm; LAN = 1.69 ± 0.07 mm; LSP = 0.12 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.10 ± 0.10 mm; LE/LP = 2.76 ± 0.09; WE/WP = 1.30 ± 0.01; WP/LP = 1.24 ± 0.06; LE/LSP = 12.09 ± 0.34; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.83 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 0.89 ± 0.02.

Paratypes. Males very similar in shape, sculpture and color to the holotype; antennae slightly paler in some specimens, with first antennomere yellowish and last segments weakly darkened. Females similar in size to males, but generally with longer elytra (2.63 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 2.83); antennae proportionally shorter (0.75 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.86).

Spermatheca with sub-globose basal part; distal part curved and elongate, with collum and apex of distal part not separated; collum basally slightly larger; appendix absent; ductus short and straight, sub-ventrally inserted.

ETYMOLOGY. The new species is named after B.G. Osella ( Italy, L’Aquila), as a sign of my friendship and in recognition of his valuable collaboration in collecting flea beetles in many areas of the world.

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

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. This new species was collected in a indigenous forest clearing during a raining day on yellow inflorescences of Asteraceae (cf. Helychrysum), together with specimens of S. audisiana n.sp. Biome: Forest (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld type: Highland and Dohne 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 13 – 16. Habitus of: S. natalensis sp. n. (13); S. oberprieleri sp. n. (14); S. osellai sp. n. (15); S. puncticollis Bryant (16).

FIGURES 23 – 30. Morphological characters in Serraphula Jacoby: apical spur of hind tibiae of S. aenea Jacoby (23); ibidem S. audisiana sp. n. (24); ibidem S. elongata Jacoby (25); ibidem S. monticola sp. n. (26); ibidem S. osellai sp. n. (27); ibidem S. puncticollis Bryant (28); metafemoral spring of S. elongata Jacoby (29); head of S. elongata Jacoby (30).

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).