Serraphula elongata Jacoby, 1900

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 : 15-16

Serraphula elongata Jacoby, 1900 ( Figs 9 , 22 , 25, 29, 30 , 43 a-b, 70, 77–82)

Serraphula elongata Jacoby, 1900: 247 -248; Bryant 1944: 824.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Port Alfred [33°36’S 26°52’E], M. Jacoby Coll. 1909-28 a, lectotype 3 (Biondi M. and P. D’Alessandro des.) ( BMNH); KwaZulu- Natal, Vryheid, [30°12’S 26°46’E], 27.x.1990, W. Wittmer leg, 5 specimens ( NHMB); Eastern Cape Province, Elliot, Thompson Dam, 1170 m, 31°12’S 28°10’E, 11.xi.2006, B.G. Osella leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, Suuberg Pass, 33°17’S 25°44’E, 900 m, 28.xi.1988, R. Oberprieler leg., 1 specimen ( SANC); Eastern Cape Province, road N2, 70 km W Grahamstown, [33°18’S 25°47’E], 19.x.1990, W. Wittmer leg, 2 specimens ( NHMB); Eastern Cape Province, Grahamstown, toposcope [33°18’S 26°34’E], forest, 750 m, 13.xi.2006, B.G. Osella leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, Grahamstown, 33°19’S 26°31’E, 20.x.1983, on Chrysanthemoides monilifera , AcRH 297, M.M. Clark leg., 4 specimens ( SANC); ditto, 15.ix.1983, Ac Rhodes 392, J.S. Donaldson leg., 1 specimen ( SANC); Eastern Cape Province, Grahamstown, 33°19’S 26°32’E, 11.xi.1979, feeding on Chrysanthemoides monilifera , AcSN 467(c), S. Neser leg., 6 specimens ( SANC); Eastern Cape Province, between Grahamstown and Bathurst (Southwell area) [~ 33°23’S 26°42’E], 500 m, 13.xi.2006, B.G. Osella leg., 38 specimens ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, nr. Grahamstown, 33°21’S 26°40’E, 19.xi.1986, reared on leaves of Chrysanthemoides monilifera , CSIRO Entomology - Survey of weed biocontrol agents in South Africa, Ac HCT. 77, J. Scott & M. Way leg., 4 specimens ( SANC); Eastern Cape Province, road N2, 10 km SW Grahamstown, 33°22’S 26°28’E, 350 m, 10-11.xi.2005, E. Colonnelli leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, road R342, 3 km S of N2 to Paterson, 33°35’S 26°09’E, 100 m, 10.xi.2005, E. Colonnelli leg., 2 specimens ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, 30 km East of Alexandria, 33°36’S 26°08’E, 6.xi.2006, B.G. Osella leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, R72, Alexandria, Ficks, 33°38’S 26°19’E, 10.xi.2005, B.G. Osella leg., 4 specimens ( BAQ); South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, Alexandria, [33°39’S 26°25’E], 10-200 m, 14.x.1984, W. Wittmer leg, 6 specimens ( NHMB); South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, Port Elizabeth, Blue Water Bay, coastal fynbos, 33°51’S 25°38’E, 6.xi.2006, B.G. Osella leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province,Van Staden’s Riv., nr Thornhill, 33°55’S 25°12’E, 6.xii.1988, B. Grobbelaar leg., 12 specimens ( SANC); Eastern Cape Province, Kareedouw pass, 450 m, 33°57’S 24°16’E, 16.xi.2006, B.G. Osella leg., 2 specimens ( BAQ); ditto, 1230 m, 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, Tsitsikamma National Park, Grootrivier Pass [33°58’S 23°33’E], 0-250 m, 2.xi.1993, P.A. Audisio leg., 2 specimens ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, Tsitsikamma National Park, storm river mouth, 34°01’S 23°52’E, 5.xi.1999, R. Constantin leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Eastern Cape Province, Harkerville forest, Kranshoek, 34°05’S 23°13’E, 8.xi.2005, E. Colonnelli leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Western Cape Province, Plettenberg Bay, 34°05’S 23°22’E, 4.xi.1988, E. Colonnelli leg., 1 specimen ( BAQ); Western Cape Province, Plettenberg Bay, [34°05’S 25°01’E], 6.i.1971, M.W. Strydom leg., 5 specimens ( SANC); Western Cape Province, 12 km W of Knysna, [34°02’S 22°57’E], 17.x.1990, W. Wittmer leg, 1 specimen ( NHMB). A lectotype is designated for S. elongata because the description of this species was based on multiple syntypes.

MORPHOLOGICAL REMARKS. Body shape ovoidal, clearly elongate, moderately convex. Elytra in male apically strongly narrowed. Dorsal integument dark brown or blackish, with evident metallic reflection. Antennae yellowish or reddish, with last segments sometimes weakly darkened; antennae generally about as long as body length in male, shorter in female. Legs yellowish or reddish, with hind femora sometimes dorsally darkened. Hind tibiae clearly externally curved, especially in male. Hind tarsi dorsally inserted at distal 2/5s of hind tibiae. Apical spur of hind tibiae clearly shorter than hind tibial length (LHT/ LHTS: 3 = 2.05 ± 0.24; Ƥ = 2.06 ± 0.01), apically clearly internally bent; dorsal furrow very narrow, slightly enlarged in distal fourth; denture densely and regularly formed by very small teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres in male clearly dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side. Apical part of last abdominal sternite medially keeled and apically acute in male. Median lobe of aedeagus very variable in length, from clearly slender to rather thickset; in ventral view basally sub-parallel and clearly narrowed at apical fourth; apical part moderately or clearly rounded, with an acute, moderately or scarcely evident small median tooth; ventral sulcus apically visible; in lateral view, median lobe thin, medially clearly bent and apically weakly or clearly ventrally bent; dorsal sulcus visible in apical 2/3s, wide but slightly narrowed at apical fifth; dorsal ligula apically very thin. Spermatheca with sub-globose and little developed basal part; distal part arcuate, with not separated collum from apex; appendix evident; ductus elongate and straight, sub-ventrally inserted.

While in this species the median lobe of aedeagus can show some small variability in shape, we consider all examined specimens as belonging to elongata , because they share the same peculiar external morphology, and the females share the same characteristic shape of spermatheca; in addition, the males showing variability in the median lobe of aedeagus are widely sympatric.

VARIATION. 3 (n = 20; mean and standard deviation): LE = 1.53 ± 0.10 mm; WE = 0.87 ± 0.05 mm; LP = 0.54 ± 0.02 mm; WP = 0.72 ± 0.04 mm; LAN = 2.03 ± 0.12 mm; LAED = 0.97 ± 0.09 mm; LB = 2.16 ± 0.12 mm; LE/LP = 2.83 ± 0.12; WE/WP = 1.21 ± 0.04; WP/LP = 1.34 ± 0.04; LE/LAED = 1.58 ± 0.17; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.98 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 2.05 ± 0.24. Ƥ (n = 20): LE = 1.73 ± 0.11 mm; WE = 1.03 ± 0.08 mm; LP = 0.58 ± 0.04 mm; WP = 0.79 ± 0.05 mm; LAN = 1.84 ± 0.10 mm; LSP = 0.13 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.41 ± 0.19 mm; LE/LP = 2.96 ± 0.09; WE/WP = 1.30 ± 0.05; WP/LP = 1.35 ± 0.04; LE/LSP = 13.90 ± 1.19; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.80 ± 0.03; LHT/LHTS = 2.06 ± 0.01.

DISTRIBUTION. Republic of South Africa (Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern and Western Cape Provinces). Southern African chorotype (SAF) (cf. Biondi & D’Alessandro, 2006).

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. This species was collected feeding on Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) Norl. ( Asteraceae ). Biomes: Forest, Grassland, Fynbos and Thicket (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld types: Alexandria Forest; Knysna Forest; Valley Bushveld; Highland and Dohne Sourveld; Dry Cymbopogon- Themeda Veld; False Macchia (cf. Acocks, 1988).

Figures

FIGURE 22. Geographical distribution of: Serraphula audisiana sp. n.; S. bulirschi sp. n.; S. colonnellii sp. n.; S. elongata Jacoby; S. mpumalangaensis sp. n.; S. natalensis sp. n.; S. puncticollis Bryant; S. wittmeri 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 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 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).