Leucocelis (Leucocelis) claveaui otavi, Perissinotto, 2023

Perissinotto, Renzo, 2023, New taxa of Leucocelis Burmeister, 1842 from Namibia, and revision of L. (L.) adspersa s. l. (Fabricius, 1801) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), Fragmenta entomologica 55 (2), pp. 195-214 : 199-200

Leucocelis (Leucocelis) claveaui otavi sp. et subsp. nov.

( Figs 3-5 , 7 )

Diagnosis. Leucocelis (L.) c. otavi differs from the nominal subspecies mainly in having a much more extensive white maculation on its dorsal surface, which includes two marked central longitudinal lines of round spots and two symmetric large lateral maculae on the pronotum, as well as a few extra maculae on the lateral declivity of its elytron ( Figs 3 A, C and 5 ), by comparison with a typical L. (L.) c. claveaui . Also, its elytral background colour is light bluish-green, rather than dark navy-blue like in L. (L.) c. claveaui . Furthermore, the pygidium of L. (L.) c. otavi is completely black ( Fig. 3 E ) and not brownish-orange like in the nominal subspecies, and the apical tubercle of the ventral lobes of its parameres are notably more rounded than those of L. (L.) c. claveaui ( Fig. 3 F, G ).

In terms of allied species, L. (L.) c. otavi superficially resembles more L. (L.) adspersa s. s., rather than L. (L.) franki . It can be separated from L. (L.) adspersa s. s. by exhibiting a blue-green elytral background colour, while in the latter species this is generally bright green to ferrugineous-green. Its pygidium is entirely black and lacks any sign of white markings ( Fig. 3 E ), while in L. (L.) adspersa s. s. this is dark coppery to brown with 1-2 pairs of white spots of variable size. The interstrial elytral sculpture of L. (L.) c. otavi is predominantly of horse-shoe type, extremely well-developed and large ( Fig. 3 A ), while in L. (L.) adspersa s. s. it is a combination of small and shallow horse-shoe punctures and geminate striae. The white spots are rounder in shape and larger in L. (L.) c. otavi than in L. (L.) adspersa s. s., particularly on the pronotal disc and on the apical and postero-lateral declivities Remarks. The size of the holotype male is 11.9 mm in total length and 5.8 mm in maximum width. The female is yet unknown, but is expected to exhibit the same key characters of the female of the nominal subspecies.

Adult activity most probably peaks during the mid-summer months as the date of observation of the type specimen indicates. It is not known whether this subspecies is also floricolous like the nominal one, as the only specimen currently known was found resting on foliage and not feeding on flowers. Larvae and other early life stages are yet unknown.

Figures

Fig. 3 – Leucocelis (Leucocelis) claveaui otavi sp. et subsp. nov.: A, HT♂ dorsal habitus; B, HT♂ ventral habitus; C, HT♂ lateral habitus; D, HT♂ clypeus; E, HT♂ pygidium; F, HT♂ parameres, dorsal view; G, HT♂ parameres, lateral view. Photos: Lynette Clennell.

Fig. 4 – The Otavi mountain range, with the typical habitat of L. (L.) claveaui otavi sp. et subsp. nov. on the foreground (Photo: Lynette Clennell).

Fig. 5 – Male specimen of Leucocelis (L.) claveaui otavi sp. et subsp. nov. in its natural habitat; Otaviberge 27 Dec 2007 (Photo: Lynette Clennell).

Fig. 7 – Known distribution range of Leucocelis (Leucocelis) claveaui claveaui sp. et subsp. nov., L. (L.) claveaui otavi sp. et subsp. nov. and L. (L.) franki Janson, 1888 in South Africa and Namibia (Map: Google Earth Pro with image from Landsat/Copernicus 12/14/2015).