Sphrigodellus lepidus (Marshall)

Yunakov, Nikolai, 2012, 3535, Zootaxa 3535, pp. 1-104 : 21-22

Sphrigodellus lepidus (Marshall)

(figs 31, 32, 129–147, 365)

Cadoderus lepidus Marshall, 1940: 39 . Sphrigodellus lepidus . Marshall (1942: 19).

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to S. usambaricus sp. n., differs from it by absence of green scales on head, sides of pronotum, and 1st interval of elytra; epifrons sides with row of rather erect scales; elytral intervals 2, 4, 6 (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —1–6) with distinct row of setae; intervals 1, 3, 5, 7–10 without setae (in S. usambaricus intervals 1, 3, 5 with sparse setal row); antennal funicle without scales; rostrum with 6 (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —8–10) epistomal setae; anterior setal fringe consists of 8 (4+4) suberect setae (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —12 (4+2+2+4)); epifrons at the level of antennal articulation 1.66 x as wide as vertex (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —1.5 x); antennal scape sharply widened apically; funicular segments 6–7 as long as wide (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —1.5 x as long as wide); FW/ELD average: 1.50 (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —1.14); median lobe as long as apodeme (in S. usambaricus sp. n. —0.7 x shorter); shape of aggonoporium (fig. 144).

Redescription.

Measurements. BL: 2.82–3.75 (3.15), BW: 1.50–1.87 (1.61), BH: 1.25–1.60 (1.39).

Vestiture. Body densely covered with overlapping, round, concave scales; setose. Setae of head form rows along the epifrons sides (suberect) and above the eyes (erect). Subocular row consists of 5–6 setae. Anterior setal fringe consists of 8 (4+4) suberect setae. Setae of this row large, strongly differ from ones on pronotal disc. Elytral intervals 2, 4, 6 with distinct row of setae. In basal half of elytra with shorter and broader suberect setae, posterior declivity with long strongly erect narrow truncate setae. Intervals 1, 3, 5, 7–10 without setae, only with scattered setae near on posterior declivity. Interval 2 with row of short setae (0.5 x as long as width of interval). Intervals 4, 6 with rather long setae (In basal half of elytra as long as or on declivity 2 x as long as interval's width). Ventral side of thorax (including basisternum and mesobasisternum) and abdomen densely squamose. Antennal scape setose and densely squamulate; setae erect, long, thick, and acute. Funicle setose; setae suberect 1.5 x as long as funicular segment 7. Femora and tibiae external and internal surfaces covered with overlapping scales as on antennal scape; densely setose; distal portion of tibiae internal surface without scales; setae on legs slender acute. Internal surface of hind male tibiae with dense grooming brush; hairs short. Tarsi setose and without scales.

Coloration. Integument of body deep-brown to black, of limbs deep-brown. Background scaling consists of light brown, brown and cupreous scales; striped pattern formed by cupreous and green scales. Dark and pale scales both with slightly pronounced pearl shine. Head brownish-cupreous, without green scales. Pronotum with darkbrown background scaling and 5 broad longitudinal cupreous stripes: 1 median (narrow) and 4 lateral (broad). Elytra with brownish-cupreous background scaling, alternate striped pattern obscure. Basal and declivital portion of elytral intervals 3-5 green, interval 7 entirely or predominantly green. Ventral side, thorax, and abdomen cupreous. Femora and tibiae including their ventral surface brown-cupreous without green scales.

Head. Rostrum elongate [RL/RW mf: 1.14–1.18 (1.15)], parallel-sided. Pterygia not extended beyond rostrum. Antennal sockets dorsal. Antennifers half-visible. Epifrons almost parallel-sided, at the level of antennal articulation 1.66 x narrower than vertex, evenly longitudinally convex, without transverse depression posteriorly of antennal sockets, 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. Apical portion of epifrons almost vertical with shallow longitudinal depression. Epistome vestigial, very narrow, transverse, delimited by narrow carina, bears 6 epistomal chaetae. Eyes broadly oval, sublateral, strongly convex, highest posteriorly [FW/ELD m: 1.35–1.47 (1.41); f: 1.56–1.67 (1.61)]. Vertex flat, with deep oblong frontal fovea. Occiput distinctly convex (see in lateral view).

Antennae. Scape extended behind anterior edge of pronotum, weakly evenly curved, thick. 1 st funicular segment longer and wider then 2 nd; 3–5 oblong; 6–7 as long as wide. Club broadly spindle-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse [PL/PW: 0.86–0.90 (0.88)], evenly slightly convex at sides, distinctly constricted at anterior portion, widest anteriorly of the middle. Disc weakly convex transversally. Posterior edge straight. Posterior setal fringe consists of long spatulate setae, partly hidden by posterior edge of pronotum.

Mesothorax. Tergosternal suture complete but concealed by scales. Metathorax. Metanepisternal suture obsolete posteriorly.

Elytra. in male oblong-oval, in female oval EL/EW: 1.30–1.45 (1.37), basal declivity sinuate, vertical; in male weakly convex, in female strongly convex at disc, sides in basal 1/3 straight.

Legs. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost straight, not widened at the apex, inner edge C-shaped with group of teeth in distal portion. Meso- and metatibiae with teeth on inner edge (straight). Mucro well developed, thornshaped, acute. Setal comb of protibiae consists of sparse 7–9 black setae not extending beyond external edge of tibiae, hidden by fringe of pale spatulate setae. Bevel of metatibiae narrowly enclosed, its surface entirely bare. Tarsi robust; tarsomere 2 transverse, 1.4 x as wide as length; tarsomere 3 with two wide lobes; tarsomere 5 of metatarsus extending beyond apical lobes of 3rd by 0.72 of length of the last one.

Abdomen. Posterior margin of 1st ventrite straight. 5th ventrite flat, without depression near the apex, apical edge in male broadly rounded, in female acute.

Male genitalia. Median lobe parallel-sided, sharply narrowed anteriorly; apex narrowly rounded, dorsoventrally slightly curved; as long as apodeme. Lateral edges of median lobe fused, without longitudinal convexity. Internal sac without spiculate fields, with large long aggonoporium consisting of two stick-shaped lobes connected proximally by transverse bridge. Ostium stick-shaped slightly sclerotized. Ligulae membranous. Parameres absent, basal piece of tegmen broad, tegminal apodeme 0.75 x as long as apodemes of median lobes.

Female genitalia. Styli well developed stick-shaped bearing 2 chaetae. Spermatheca moderately sclerotized; ramus thick, 3 x as wide as collum; collum slender, as long as ramus; corpus small, not swollen; cornus slender, acute, not extended beyond corpus. Tergite 8 subtrapezoid, with two bunches of tenuous long setae at the apex. Sternite 8 thick. Lamella sharply narrowed and acute, without setae, knife-shaped heavily sclerotized. Apodeme thick, caput distinctly developed.

Distribution. Kenya: Chyulu Hills., Chania Falls (Thika River) ( Fig. 365).

Bionomics. Unknown.

Type material examined. Kenya: Lectotype, ♂, here designated ( BMNH) “Type”, “Coryndon Museum / Expedit. Chyulu Hills / June 38 Alt. 5600'”, “ Cadoderus / lepidus Marshl. / TYPE male” . Paralectotypes: 1♂, 2♀, male and female dissected ( BMNH) “ Syntype ”, “Coryndon Museum / Expedit. Chyulu Hills / June 38 Alt. 5600’”, “ Cadoderus / lepidus Marshl. / TYPE” .

Other not examined type material. Paralectotypes. 1♂ ( BMNH) Chania Falls , Thika, 5050 ft., S 1 1 E 37 4, A.F.J. Gedye leg., i.1921 ; 2♂, 3♀, ( BMNH) Kenya Chyulu Hills , 5600 ft, A.F.J. Gedye leg., vi.1938 .