Afrosmicronyx nebulosipennis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7AF87EB3-BC0C-486C-849B-8A4A1B681A4E

Figs 1E, 3E, 5E; Table 1

Differential diagnosis

Afrosmicronyx nebulosipennis sp. nov. is mostly similar to A. umbrinus Hustache, 1940, a species widely distributed from West to East Africa (Anderson & Cox 1997). The body length of A. nebulosipennis sp. nov. (3.6–3.8 mm) is slightly shorter than in A. umbrinus (3.8–4.0 mm) and its general appearance is more robust. Segment 3 of the antennal funicle is wider than long in A. nebulosipennis sp. nov. while it is isodiametric in A. umbrinus . The penis in A. nebulosipennis sp. nov. is more elongate and its sides more rounded (Fig. 5E) than in A. umbrinus .

Etymology

Afrosmicronyx nebulosipennis sp. nov. is named in reference to the ill-defined shades of its elytral vestiture.

Material examined

Holotype ZIMBABWE • 1 ♂; “ Salisbury [Harare]; Oct. 1903; G A K M [Marshall]” / “Pres. By; Imp. Inst. Ent.; BMNH(E) 1996” / “HOLOTYPE; Afrosmicronyx nebulosipennis; Haran 2021”; BMNH.

Paratypes ZIMBABWE • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; BMNH .

Description

BODY LENGTH. 3.6–3.8 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument black; vestiture consisting of rounded recumbent scales, elliptical, twice as long as wide, forming grey, brown and/or white, ill-defined transverse bands on elytra.

HEAD. Rostrum distinctly longer than head capsule + prothorax in lateral view, downcurved at base, almost straight in the rest of the length, covered by scales on the upper face only in basal ½ (♂) or in basal ⅓ (♀); integument punctuate; antennae inserted at apical ⅓; transverse furrow at base of rostrum covered with whitish scales, with two spots of semi-erect whitish or brownish scales on sides near eyes; head capsule glabrous except near transverse furrow; eyes flat, subcontiguous ventrally, distance between eyes equal or shorter than width of 1–2 ommatidia; antennal scape slightly bisinuate at base, moderately clavate at apex, segment 1 of funicle elongate, as long as 2 + 3, 3–5 isodiametric, 6–7 wider than long.

PROTHORAX. Isodiametric (ratio w/l: 1), widest slightly before middle of length, greatly narrowed at apex, sides strongly rounded; integument shiny, densely granulate; scales brownish, 3× as long as wide, converging to the median line.

ELYTRA. Sides subparallel in basal half, widest near middle (ratio w/l: 0.74), convex in apical half; humeri raised; striae narrow, interstriae flat, 4× as wide as striae, integument shiny and rough, covered with two or three series of aligned scales, apex of interstria 5 with a declivital callosity, followed by a depression; base of interstria 3 with a spot of white scales; scutellum rounded, small but visible.

ABDOMEN. Underside covered with elliptical greyish scales, not concealing the integument; ventrite 2 as long as 3–5.

LEGS. Integument black, femora clavate, armed with a strong ventral tooth; tibiae bearing an acute tooth ventrally, before middle of length, facing femoral tooth when legs are folded; claws equal in length.

GENITALIA. Body of penis short (ratio w/l: 0.55), as long as apodemes, sides parallel, apex flat with an acute cuticular expansion, curvature in lateral view moderate and regular (Fig. 5E).

Life history

Unknown.

Distribution

Zimbabwe (Harare).