Sphrigodellus gusarovi Yunakov, 2012

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 28-30

Sphrigodellus gusarovi Yunakov , sp. n.

(figs 33, 34, 43–45, 190–204, 367, 373, 374)

Diagnosis. Similar to S. nasutus sp. n. in general appearance, differs by subocular row consisting of 4–6 setae; suberect setae short (0.3 of interval width); rostrum weakly elongate [RL/RW average 1.17]; eyes highest at middle; pronotal disc flat longitudinally and slightly convex transversally; male elytra oval [EL/EW: 1.31–1.41 (1.38) in S. nasutus sp. n. —1.53–1.56 (1.545)]; tarsomere 2 transverse, 1.5 x as wide as length; median lobe slightly constricted in apical 1/3 and sharply narrowed apically; apex narrowly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly convex; lateral edges of median lobe fused, form longitudinal convexity through entire length; preputial opening cordate.

Description.

Measurements. BL: 2.75–3.64 (3.24) mm, BW: 1.30–1.68 (1.50) mm, BH: 1.08–1.40 (1.25) mm.

Vestiture. Body densely covered with serried (not overlapping) round scales, setose. Setae of head form rows along lateral edges of epifrons (recumbent or subrecumbent) and above the eyes (erect). Subocular row consists of 4–6 setae. Anterior setal fringe consists of 6 (1+1+1+1+1+1) erect setae; they weakly differ from ones on pronotal disc. Posterior setal fringe consists of spatulate setae, partly hidden by posterior edge of pronotum. Elytral intervals 1–5 with distinct row of setae. Anterior half of elytra with rather short suberect setae (up to a third of interval width), posterior declivity with long, strongly erect, thick, truncate setae (as long as interval width). Ventral side rather sparsely squamose. Ventrites with scattered scales, metapleura densely squamose but scales not serried; basisternum and mesobasisternum bare. Antennal scape setose, without scales; setae long, slender, acute, and suberect. Funicle setose, without scales; setae suberect 1.5 x as long as funicular segment 7. Femora and tibiae external surface covered with serried scales and suberect setae, internal surface with sparse piliform scales and hairs, scales on distal portion evenly replaced by setae; setae on femora slender, acute, setae of tibiae broad truncate. Male metatibiae with sparse grooming brush; hairs short. Tarsi setose.

Coloration. Integument of body brown to deep-brown; limbs rather lighter. Background scaling camouflagelike, very complicated, consists of deep-brown, brown and cupreous scales; striped-maculate pattern formed by cupreous and green scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head brownishcupreous; temples and articulation surface covered with green scales. Pronotum with deep-brown background scaling and 5 broad longitudinal cupreous stripes: 1 discal and 4 lateral. Solitary green scales randomly scattered along stripes and form short narrow transverse stripes along dorso-lateral-portion of posterior edge of pronotum. These stripes are complementary to two green stripes on anterior edge of elytra. Elytra with alternate brown and cupreous longitudinal stripes and green spots. Elytral intervals 1, 3, 5, 7–9 covered with cupreous scales. Stripes on intervals 3, 5, 7, often interrupted by green squamose portions. Intervals 2, 4, 6, 10 with deep-brown stripes. Intervals 2 and 4 interrupted at posterior declivity by greens and cupreous spots. Intervals 6 and 10 interrupted by green spots through entire length. Ventral side with sparse green scales. Femora brown-cupreous, proximal portion with green scales. Tibiae external surface cupreous.

Head. Rostrum weakly elongate [RL/RW: 1.11–1.22 (1.17)], parallel-sided. Pterygia not extended beyond contour of rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers half-visible. Epifrons distinctly widened from base to apex, at the level of antennal articulation 1.5 x as wide as vertex width, distinctly sloping at sides and very steep sloping anteriorly, without median sulcus or carina. Transverse sulcus deep, concealed by dense scaling at dorsal surface and partly open at sides. Frons vertical, glabrous, bare, with 6 frontal setae. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 8–12 epistomal setae. Eyes broadly oval, sublateral, strongly convex, highest at the middle [FW/ELD: 1.04–1.27 (1.14)]. Vertex flat, in male broad, in female narrow. Frontal fovea concealed by scales.

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, weakly evenly curved and widened, swollen in distal portion. 1st funicular segment longer and wider than 2nd, funicular segments 3–6 oblong; 7th segment as long as wide. Club egg-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.87–0.95 (0.92)], evenly slightly convex at sides, not constricted, widest anteriorly of the middle. Disc flat longitudinally and slightly convex transversally. Tergosternal suture complete. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. Oval to broadly oval [EL/EW: 1.31–1.44 (1.38)]; anterior declivity abrupt, sharpen; disc in male not convex, in female convex [EL/BH: 1.56–1.75 (1.66)]. Subscutellar callosity reaches interval 2, with 2 tiny tubercles.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened at the apex, interior edge C-shaped in distal portion serrate. Meso- and metatibiae serrate on interior edge. Mucro well developed, thorn-shaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of sparse 5–8 black setae not extending beyond external edge of tibiae. Bevel of metatibiae narrowly enclosed; its surface partly setose. Tarsi robust; tarsomere 2 transverse, 1.5 x as wide as length; tarsomere 3 with two wide lobes; tarsomere 5 of metatarsus extending beyond apical lobes of 3rd by length of the last one.

Abdomen. Posterior margin of 1st ventrite straight. 2nd ventrite 2 x as long as 3rd one, posterior margin of 2nd ventrite straight. 5th ventrite flat, without depression near the apex, apical edge in male broadly rounded, in female acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe slightly constricted in apical 1/3 and sharply narrowed apically; apex narrowly rounded, dorso-ventrally slightly convex; as long as apodeme. Lateral edges of median lobe fused, form longitudinal convexity through entire length. Preputial opening cordate. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large, long aggonoporium consisting of two stick-shaped lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium triangular, moderately sclerotized. Ligulae membranous. Parameres absent, basal piece of tegmen broad, tegminal apodeme 0.75 x as long as apodemes of median lobe.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed, stick-shaped, bearing 3 setae. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized, with swollen ramus, collum slender 2 x as long as ramus. Corpus slightly swollen. Cornus slender, extended beyond corpus. Tergite 8 subtrapezoid, with curved fringe of multiple, tenuous, short setae at the apex. Sternite 8 thick. Lamella sharply narrowed and acute, without setae, knife-shaped, heavily sclerotized. Apodeme thick, straight, with ill-defined caput.

Distribution. Tanzania: South Pare Mountains (Chome Nature Reserve) ( Fig. 367).

Bionomics. Montane cloud forests; 1900–2400 m a.s.l. Trees and shrubs, canopy; predominantly on Psychotria spp. (figs 373, 374).

Material examined. Tanzania: 4♂, 7♀, including holotype male, dissected ( ZMUN) Tanzania, TZ-10-69, Kilimanjaro Reg., South Pare Mts., Chome Forest Reserve, S4 17.599 E37 55.752, h = 1965 m, rain forest, beaten, N.N. Yunakov leg., 13.xi.2010; 2♂, 1♀ ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., TZ-10-73, South Pare Mts. , Chome Forest Reserve , S4 17.606 E37 55.794, h = 1956 m, rain forest, beaten, N.N.Yunakov leg., 14.xi.2010; 1♀ ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., TZ-10-81 South Pare Mts. , Chome Forest Reserve , S4 17.630 E37 55.942, h = 2033 m, rain forest, on Psychotria sp. , N.N.Yunakov leg., 15.xi.2010; 1♂ ( ZMUN) Kilimanjaro Reg., 33 km SSE Same, 14 km NE Makanya, South Pare Mts. , Chome Forest Reserve , 3 km S Shengena summit, 4º17.638–606’ S 37º55.930 –763’E, h = 2037– 1960 m, montane forest, beating, 10TZ25, V.I. Gusarov leg., 12.iii.2010; 1♂, 1♀ ( ZMUN) TZ-10-78, Kilimanjaro Reg., South Pare Mts. , Chome Forest Reserve , S4 17.634 E37 55.902, h = 1983 m, rain forest, sifted leaf litter, N.N. Yunakov leg., 15.xi.2010; 3♂, 1♀ ( ZMUN) TZ-11-23, Kilimanjaro Reg., South Pare Mts. , Chome Nature Reserve , Shengena Mt. R., S4 17.379 –464 E37 55.864 –883 h = 2143– 2106 m, montane rain forest, beating, N.N. Yunakov leg., 10.v.2011; 8♂, 6♀ ( ZMUN) TZ-11–15, Kilimanjaro Reg., South Pare Mts. , Chome Nature Reserve , S4 17.750 E37 56.248 h = 1991 m, montane rain forest, beating, on Psychotria sp. , N.N. Yunakov leg., 08.v.2011 .

Etymology. The name is dedicated to the coleopterologist Vladimir Gusarov (ZMUN) in recognition of his significant contribution to the knowledge of Afrotropical beetles.