Leucocelis (Leucocelis) adspersa umtalina Péringuey, 1907

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 : 209-210

Leucocelis (Leucocelis) adspersa umtalina Péringuey, 1907

( Figs 10 , 11 and 12 )

Leucocelis umtalina Péringuey 1907: 477 , 482; Schenkling 1921: 334.

Leucocelis (L.) adspersa umtalina Péringuey ; Holm & Marais 1992: 281; Beinhundner 2017: 406.

Holm & Marais (1992), downgraded with some reluctance this taxon, originally described by Péringuey (1907) on the basis of a small series of specimens originating from central Zimbabwe, from species to subspecies. The known area of its extent has now increased drastically across the whole southern African region, where despite exhibiting remarkable variability in its dorsal ornamentation the structure of its aedeagal parameres remains rather stable. These differ from those of the nominal subspecies only slightly in the extent of setation on the ventral lobes and the more triangularly expanded apical area of the dorsal arms. These, however, are characters that exhibit a whole gradient of progressive development within the species, from the most basic found in L. (L.) a. giannatellii to the most pronounced in L. (L.) a. umtalina , with intermediate levels observed in the nominal form and in L. (L.) a. orientalis. It is parapatric with the new subspecies L. (L.) a. orientalis in the northern Gauteng Province, where transitional forms appear to oc- cur when physical barriers are not sufficiently developed to keep adjacent populations permanently separated. Its sub- specific status appears therefore justified so far.

Distribution. This subspecies occurs from the extreme north of the Gauteng Province of South Africa to southern Malawi and Tanzania, across the whole of Zimbabwe and probably into adjacent areas of Mozambique and Zambia as well ( Fig. 10 ).

Data records. Type series. Not traced (as also reported in Holm and Marais 1992 and Beinhundner 2017).

Other records. ZAF-GP: 1 ind., Ezemvelo Nat Res., Telperion 1350 m, 25.42S 29.00E, 17.11.2008, D. Mac- Fadyen (TMSA-CPH2254); 1 ind., ibidem, 24.10.2006, D. MacFadyen (TMSA-CPH2255). ZAF-LP: 1 ind., Am- atola Scott Farm , 22°56ʹS 29°23ʹ, 26.1.1998 , E-Y: 3313 Fruit traps, R. Müller (TMSA-CPH2320); 1 ind., Pieters- burg Univ. , 17.11.1975 , P.E. Reavel (TMSA-CPH2321); 3 inds, Wylies Poort, Soutpansberg , 24- 26.1.1988 , N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2322); 1 ind., ibidem, 11.3.1995, N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2323); 1 ind., Warmbaths, 12.1907, G. Kobrow (TMSA-CPH2253); 1 ind., Louis Trichardt, c. 20 km N, Junction N1–R523, N of Verwoerd Tunnels, 22°55’S 29°56’E, 26/12/1994 , Zwart KWR (SANC- COLS-17172); 1 ind., Thabaphaswa, Groenkom Farm, N of Mokopane , 24°03’S 29°02’E, 29/03/2006 , Beating from vegetation of Clematis brachiata, Breytenbach W (SANC- COLS-17173); 2 inds, Ingwe Motel, near Wyllie’s Poort, Soutpansberg ( Mountain Range ), 22°58’S 29°57’E, 20- 22/01/1982 , Mansell MW (SANC-COLS-17174); 1 ind., Mashovhela, Morning Sun Nature Reserve, Soutpansberge near Louis Trichard , appr. 500 m NN, 10 Feb 2010 , Wolf- Achim and Hanna Roland (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11005742). ZWE: 1♂ + 1♀, Matopos, Lumane Valley, 2033 S 2854 E, Host plant Acacia sp ( Mimosaceae ), 03/xi/1994, AJ Gardiner leg. ( BMPC); 1♂ + 1♀, Mazoe , 22-3-1970 , 383, Duke 52, Ex Collection Dr Vincent Allard, received from Christophe Allard 21.II.2015 ( GBEG); 1♂, Salisbury , 20 Oct 1969 , 360, Duke 34, Ex Collection Dr Vincent Allard, received from Christophe Allard 21.II.2015 ( GBEG); 1 ind., ibidem, Epworth , 8.10.1972 , A.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2324); 1♂, ibidem, Christon Bank, 617, Ex Collection Dr Vincent Allard, received from Christophe Allard 21.II.2015 ( GBEG); 1 ind., ibidem, 17.11.1973 , N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2312); 1 ind., ibidem, 25.11.1973, N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2313); 2 inds, ibidem, 29.12.1973, N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2314); 1 ind., ibidem, 21.11.1971, N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2315); 1 ind., ibidem, 9.10.1971, N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2316); 1 ind., ibidem, 4.11.1973, N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2317); 1 ind., Kariba , 26.1.1973 , N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2318); 1 ind., Hot Springs , 1.12.1969 , N.J. Duke (TMSA-CPH2319); 1 ind., Great Zimbabwe National Monument, near Masvingo, 20°17’S 30°56’E, 28- 29/12/1992 , Stals R (SANC-COLS-17222); 2 inds, Tsindi Ruins, Murehwa , Dec 7, 2022 15:58, Glenn Stockil (https:// www.inaturalist.org/observations/144001193); 2♂ + 2♀, cen- tr., Mushandike Sanct. (Masvingo env.), 9-11.XII.1998, S Bečvář leg. ( GBEG, RPGS). MWI: 8♂, Lake Njassa, Mc Lear, 20-30.I.1998, Mráček leg. ( GBEG, RPGS); TZA: 35♂ + 50♀, Newala, Jan 2007, V. Kayombo leg. ( GBEG, RPGS); 19♂ + 21♀, Uruguru, Sep 2007, H. Ntangeki leg. ( GBEG, RPGS); 10♂ + 9♀, Masasi, Jan 2007, H. Ntangeki leg. ( GBEG, RPGS); 5♂ + 1♀, Lindi and Masasi, Nov 2009, H. Ntangeki leg. ( GBEG); 9♂ + 1♀, Mtwara, Mt Namajani, Nanyumbu District , 1-24.XII.2011, A. Adera leg. ( RPGS); 7♂, Nambuju Village , Mtwara , Nov 2009, S. Husein leg. ( GBEG) .

Remarks. Specimens range in size from 9.4 to 10.1 in total length and from 4.5 to 4.7 in maximum width. Although this is the smallest on average among the four subspecies, specimens exhibit a more elongate body shape than any other conspecifics. Despite having been originally described from specimens exhibiting light-green elytral colour with large and pronounced white maculae as well as widely orange pronotal margins, this subspecies also shows a wide range of chromatic variations ( Figs 11 and 12 ). These range from dark green to ferrugineous and even reddish-orange elytra with orange pronotal margins vary- ing in extension from thin lines to wide wedges occupying up to two thirds of the total surface (cf. Beinhundner 2017: 406, Figs 1-6 ).

Females are rather stockier than males, and also exhibit shorter protarsi, more expanded protibiae and flatter abdominal sternites than their male counterparts. The period of adult activity spans from early spring to mid summer. Adults are mainly floricolous, but details on the preferred flowering plants are lacking, with only Acacia sp. (= Vachellia ) identified thus far.

Figures

Fig. 10 – Leucocelis (Leucocelis) adspersa orientalis 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. 11 – Examples of dorsal habitus variability among the different subspecies of Leucocelis (Leucocelis) adspersa s.l. Leucocelis (L.) a. adspersa: 1, Cetonia adspersa, Fabricius LT (“Cap: bon: sp:”); 2, Cetonia verreaux Gory LT (“Cap. b. sp.”); 3, ♂, ZAF-WC, Cederberg; 4, ♀, ZAF-WC, Elandsberg. Leucocelis (L.) a. giannatellii: 5, ♀, ZAF-NC, Steinkopf-Springbok; 6, ♀, ZAF-NC, Near Kamieskroon; 7, ♂, ZAF-NC, Kamieskroon; 8, ♂, ZAF-NC, Nieuwoudtsville.Leucocelis (L.) a. orientalis: 9, ♂, ZAF-ZN, Mt Currie; 10, ZAF-EC, Fort Brown; 11, ♂, ZAF-EC, Willowmore; 12, ♀, ZAF-EC, East London. Leucocelis (L.) a. umtalina: 13, ♂, ZIM Kwekwe; 14, ♀, ZIM Masvingo; 15, TAN Lindi-Masasi; 16, MAL Cape Maclear. (Photos:1, Michael Kuhlmann; 2, Giulio Cuccodoro; 3,4, 7-12, Lynette Clennell; 5,6, 13-16, Gerhard Beinhundner).

Fig. 12 – Leucocelis (L.) adspersa umtalina Péringuey, 1907 in its typical habitat. Left: Mashovhela, Morning Sun Nature Reserve, Soutpansberge near Louis Trichard, appr. 500 m NN, 10 Feb 2010 (Photo: Hanna Roland); right:Tsindi Ruins, Murehwa, Zimbabwe, 7 Dec 2022 15:58 (Photo: Glenn Stockil).

Fig. 1 –Leucocelis (Leucocelis) claveaui claveaui sp. et subsp. nov.: A, HT♂ dorsal habitus; B, HT♂ ventral habitus; C, PT♀ dorsal habitus; D, HT♂ lat- eral habitus; E, HT♂ clypeus; F, HT♂ pygidium; G, HT♂ parameres, dorsal view; H, HT♂ parameres, lateral view. Photos: Lynette Clennell.

Fig. 2 – Erongoberge at Usakos with the typical habitat of L. claveaui claveaui sp. et subsp. nov. (Photo: https://www.facebook.com/AmeibNamibia/photos).

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. 6 – Leucocelis (Leucocelis) franki Janson, 1888: A, ♂ dorsal habi- tus; B, ♂ ventral habitus; C, ♀ dorsal habitus; D, ♂ lateral habitus; E, ♂ clypeus; F, ♂ pygidium; G, parameres, dorsal view; H, parameres, lateral view. Photos: Lynette Clennell.