Bambara fragilis, Darby, 2019

Darby, Michael, 2019, Studies of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) in the Spirit Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, 6: New species and records collected by W. C. Block in Kenya and Uganda, 1964 - 1965, Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 155, pp. 239-257 : 242-244

Bambara fragilis sp. n.

( Figs 4A, 4 Ba, Bb)

Description Habitus Fig. 4A, L . 0.64mm. Yellow, closely covered with pale pubescence, antennae almost translucent. Antennomeres III–XI L. 0.24mm. Width across eyes 0.21mm; eyes small. Pronotum L. 0.18mm, W. 0.32mm. hind corners barely projected rearwards in dorsal view. Elytra L. 0.40mm W. 0.34mm with short epipleura. Mesoventrum strongly reticulate, without pubescence, keel very narrow between mesocoxae, anteriorly stopping short of reaching collar. Metaventrum strongly reticulate and pubescent, metacoxae adjacent. Fully winged. ♀, spermatheca almost transparent and difficult to make out ( Figs 4 Ba, Bb). ♂, aedeagus indistinguishable from other ♂♂ Bambara species.

Remarks: Distinguished by the form of the spermatheca.

Etymology: Named after the very fragile and almost transparent nature of the spermatheca.

Material examined

Holotype, ♀, UGANDA: Mabira Forest , 40 miles E. Kampala, tropical rain forest, x.1965, 0°20′N, 33°8′E, leg. W.C. Block, B.M. 1978-472 ( BMNH).

Paratypes, 2♀♀, 1♂, same data as holotype ( BMNH, one ♀ mounted verso, the ♂ missing one elytron) ; 1♀, UGANDA: Makerere University College Farm , 12 miles N. Kampala, 0°28′N, 32°37′E, xii.1964 –v.65, leg. W.C. Block, B.M. 1978-472 ( BMNH) .

Figures

Fig. 4. — Bambara spp. Bambara fragilis sp. n., A, habitus; Ba, Bb, spermathecae. Bambara lyrae sp. n., C, habitus; D, spermatheca.?Bambara problematica Darby, E, spermatheca.?Bambara subjoannis Darby, F, spermatheca. Bambara magnifica Darby, G, spermatheca. Bambara gabela Darby, H, spermatheca. Bambara frosti (Dybas), I, spermatheca.