Smicronyx gracilipes sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BE18ED2E-7D6F-42C7-8550-59B004B62C95

Figs 1F, 3F; Table 1

Differential diagnosis

Smicronyx gracilipes sp. nov. is closest to S. guineanus Voss, 1956, but S. gracilipes sp. nov. is lacking or has a very small femoral tooth (well developed in S. guineanus), a less dense coating of scales on the elytra (almost concealing the integument in S. guineanus). The sequences of the COI show that S. gracilipes sp. nov. is distinct by 8.7% [GB accession: MT370314] with specimens of S. guineanus from Niger.

Etymology

The species epithet refers to the remarkable long and thin legs encountered in this species.

Material examined

Holotype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; “ Rep. of South Africa; Underberg, [KwaZulu-Natal Province]; 29°346′37.42″S 29°30′00.44″E; 1579 m, 30.xii.2018; J. Haran leg.” / “Beating flowers of; Anacardiacaeae; JHAR02024_0101” / “HOLOTYPE; Smicronyx gracilipes; Haran 2021”; SAMC.

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 2.5 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument black, antennae dark brown; vestiture of elytra made of recumbent scales, elliptic, not overlapping, twice as long as wide, grey, aligned in 2–3 ill-defined series on each interstria;

HEAD. Rostrum slightly longer than head capsule + prothorax in lateral view, moderately downcurved, in dorsal view covered with scarce scales in basal ⅓ and very short white setae in apical ¾, punctate over entire length, smooth at apex; antennae inserted near middle of length; transverse furrow at base of rostrum shiny, with two spots of whitish erect scales on sides near eyes; head capsule glabrous, with slight cover of scales near transverse furrow; eyes flat, subcontiguous ventrally, distance between eyes equal to the width of two ommatidia; antennal scape slightly bisinuate at base, moderately clavate at apex, segment 1 elongate, as long as 2 + 3, 4–5 isodiametric, 6–7 wider than long.

PROTHORAX. Slightly wider than long (ratio w/l: 1.05), widest near middle, sides rounded, narrowed in apical ¼; integument smooth, shiny, with small punctures; scales brown, elongate, not concealing the integument, with grey scales forming a pale band along the median line and two on the sides of prothorax.

ELYTRA. Sides slightly convex, widest near middle (w/l ratio: 0.74); humeri raised; striae ⅓ width of interstriae, interstriae flat, shiny, interstria 5 with a moderate declivital callosity near apex, followed by a slight depression; scutellum small but visible.

ABDOMEN. Underside mostly covered with non-overlapping greyish scales, twice as long as wide.

LEGS. Femora clavate, unarmed or bearing a very small ventral tooth in middle; tibiae straight, unarmed, claws equal in length. Males unknown.

Life history

Host plant unknown. The holotype specimen was collected on flowers of an unidentified Anacardiaceous shrub surrounded by a large grassland. This specimen was collected in December.

Distribution

Republic of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal Province).