Derelomus trinotatus Haran sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B6525170-681A-490F-94D1-EBE34A646806

Fig. 18

Diagnosis

This species can be distinguished by the contrasting black head and the three dark spots on the dorsum. The very acute apex of the penis in dorsal view is also unique among the Derelomus of the studied area. GenBank accession numbers for the corresponding DNA barcode: PV698483–84.

Etymology

The species is named in reference to the three dark spots on its dorsum. This peculiar pattern is specific to this species.

Material examined

Holotype

CAMEROON • ♂; “Museum Paris; CAMEROUN; Yaoundé [3°51′50″ N 11°27′22″ E]; Dr Noël 1922” “Holotype. Derelomus; trinotatus; Haran 2025”; MNHN.

Paratypes

CAMEROON • 1 ♀; Yaoundé, Nkolbisson Research station; 3°51′50″ N, 11°27′22″ E; 29 Nov. 1966; P.B. De Miré coll.; light trap; JHAR07436; CBGP • 1 ♀; sampling data as for preceding; 17 Nov. 1966; JHAR07437; CBGP • 1 ♀; sampling data as for preceding; 6 Jun. 1966; JHAR07438; CBGP.

GABON • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; La Lopé National Park; 0°11′29″ N, 11°36′36″ E; 1 Nov. 2023; J. Haran and R. Allio coll.; light trap (Lepiled) in canopy (30 m) 9:30–10 pm; JHAR06422-23; CBGP.

LIBERIA • 2 ♀♀; Suakoko; 6°59′28″ N, 9°35′07″ W; 13 Jan. 1952; Blickenstaff coll.; USNM.

NIGERIA • 1 ♀; Ibadan; 7°21′58″ N, 3°54′58″ E; 26 Sep. 1956; at light; G.H. Caswell coll.; NHMUK • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Ife; 7°28′13″ N, 4°32′24″ E; 11 Jan. 1971; J.T. Medler; NHMUK • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 20 Jan. 1970; J.T. Medler; NHMUK .

Description (♂)

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 3.0– 3.5 mm.

COLOR. Body integument pale brown, head, club and scutellar shield dark brown; pattern on dorsum forming large spot at base on pronotum, near scutellar shield and two large spots near middle of elytral length, between interstriae 2–7; dorsum with minute whitish setae, not contiguous, forming 2–3 rows on interstriae.

HEAD. Rostrum slightly shorter than pronotum in lateral view (0.9×), moderately downcurved, curvature stronger in basal ⅓ of length; in dorsal view about 4× as long as wide, integument densely punctate, forming 5 longitudinal carinae from eyes to antennal insertion, median carina similar to others, split in two before antennal insertion; covered with minute recumbent and non-contiguous whitish setae oriented transversally; antennae inserted slightly beyond apical ¼ of length in lateral view; head capsule coarsely punctate in dorsal view; forehead glabrous; eyes strongly convex, strongly exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with segments 1 and 2 subequal in length, first 1.5× as long as wide, 3–7 transverse.

PRONOTUM. Wider than long (W: L ratio: 1.45), widest near middle of length, slightly narrower there than elytra at humeral angles (0.8×); sides strongly convex, with distinct constriction followed by tooth beyond middle of length, moderately and regularly converging apicad from apical ⅓ of length, apical constriction narrower than width of scape at apex; integument coarsely punctate, space between punctures smooth, shiny, micropunctate, narrower than diameter of a puncture; white setae in each puncture shorter than diameter of punctures on dorsum, almost invisible.

ELYTRA. Short (W: L ratio: 0.82); sides convex, widest near middle of length; humeri raised; apex rounded, not contiguous; striae with punctures 1–3× narrower than width of interstriae; interstriae flat, 9 raised into carina; scutellar shield rounded, with short whitish setae not concealing integument.

ABDOMEN. Underside covered with minute recumbent whitish setae, not contiguous. Stridulatory plate with series of about 13–15 granules, forming slightly curved lines about 0.5× the length of median area; apex of median area rounded (Fig. 18E).

LEGS. Profemora thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, meso- and metatibiae slightly curved outward in apical half, internal margin of protibiae bisinuate; claws simple.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W:L ratio: 0.25), slightly shorter than apodemes, widest near base in dorsal view; sides convex, widening moderately from base to ½ of length and then converging apicad, apex acuminate; in lateral view curvature stronger in basal ½ of length, width narrowing apicad from basal ⅓ (Fig. 18D).

Sexual dimorphism

The rostrum of females is narrower and less downcurved than in males in lateral view. The antennae are inserted near the apical ⅓ of the length in females (slightly beyond apical ¼ in males; Fig. 18B–C).

Life history

Adults were collected with a UV light trap in the canopy in Gabon (LepiLED). They are active in January, June, September and October.

Distribution

Cameroon, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria.