Calotheca parvula (Weise, 1908)

D'Alessandro, Paola, Iannella, Mattia, Grobbelaar, Elizabeth & Biondi, Maurizio, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Calotheca parvula species group from southern Africa, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), African Invertebrates 62 (1), pp. 315-337 : 315

Calotheca parvula (Weise, 1908) Figs 4A-D , 6

Eutheca parvula Weise, 1908: 151

Calotheca parvula (Weise): Biondi et al. 2017: 124 (pars)

Type material examined.

Lectotype ♀: Brit. SW-Afrika [RSA, NCape], Kl. Namaland, Steinkopf [29°15'30"S, 17°43'41"E], vii.[19]04, L. Schultze S./N, 718 (M. Biondi des. 2017) ( ZMHB). Paralectotypes: Same data as lectotype, 1♀ ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined.

Republic of South Africa: [ECape], Aliwal N. [orth], [30°41'56"S, 26°43'22"E], 13.v.[19]79, on Rhus sp ., RSA 332, L. Viljoen leg., 2 specimens ( SANC); C.P. [NCape], Nieuwoudtville Botanic Gardens, 31°22'S, 19°07'E, 9.ix.1987, C.D. Eardley leg., 1 specimen ( SANC); [NCape], Nieuwoudtville, 700-750 m [31°22'39"S, 19°06'08"E], fynbos & grassland, on Rhus sp., 15.ix.1994, P. Audisio, M. Biondi, M.A. Bologna leg., 1 specimen (BAQ); KP. [NCape], Petrusville [30°05'11"S, 24°39'15"E], xii.1960, AcCol. 40, J. v. Vuuren leg., 4 specimens ( SANC); N&W Cape [NCape], route Kliprand-Loeriesfontein [30°48'41"S, 19°00'31"E], 31.x.1999, M. Snizek leg., 1 specimen (BAQ); C.P. [WCape], Clanwilliam District, Bidouw Valley , 32°08'S, 19°14'E, 7.ix.1987, C.D. Eardley leg., 2 specimens ( SANC); Cape Province [WCape], Karoo National Park , 12-14.xi.1993, 32°19'S, 22°30'E, J. Deckert leg., 1 specimen ( ZMHB); [WCape], Bushmanld., Jackals Water, [29°49'00"S, 22°33'00"E], x.1911, Lightfoot leg., 4 specimens ( SANC); South-West Afric, Aus. 8-30.xi.1929, R.E. Turner leg., 1930-113, 1 specimen ( NHMUK) . Namibia: [Karas], Zebrafontein , ca 30 km NNE RoshPinah, 27°45'S, 16°53'E, 2-6.iv.2002, E. Holm & H. Gebhardt leg., 1 specimen ( SANC) .

Taxonomic remarks.

Body size in both males and females smaller compared to the other species in the C. parvula group, with the exception of males of C. danielssoni sp. nov. Head, antennae and legs brown; tibiae, tarsi and basal antennomeres slightly paler in some specimens; pronotum yellow, with wide dark reddish-brown patches laterally, at least on punctate lateral striae and basal furrows; elytra dirty-yellow, with distinctly darkened punctures and small sparse irregular patches on the disc, one of which is larger and always present on the suture at the end of the scutellar row of punctures (Fig. 4A ). Pronotal lateral striae C-shaped, with punctures larger and more deeply impressed than on the elytra; basal furrows of pronotum deeply impressed; pronotal surface apparently rough, micropunctate, with additional small irregular punctation; a shallow but evident v-shaped wrinkle medially, near the pronotal base; evident punctation lining basal margin (Fig. 4A, B ). Basal pro- and mesotarsomeres in male moderately enlarged (Fig. 4A ). Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 4C ) distinctly sinuate laterally in ventral view; narrowing gradually apically to terminate in an acute median tooth; surface smooth, slightly wrinkled ventrolaterally; dorsal ligula short, formed by two wider truncate basal lobes which taper apically, and two thinner lateral distal lobes; in lateral view, median lobe moderately bent down, with a slightly sinuate apex. Spermatheca (Fig. 4D ) with basal part subcylindrical, generally slender, slightly curved; distal part clearly curved, slightly narrower and generally straight or externally oriented apically, with a very short appendix; distal part shorter than half the length of the basal part; ductus basally inserted, moderately elongate, with a single coil at most.

Biometrics.

Males (n = 7; mean ± standard deviation, range): LE = 3.65 ± 0.15 mm (3.45 ≤ LE ≤ 3.90 mm); WE = 2.57 ± 0.13 mm (2.40 ≤ WE ≤ 2.80 mm); LP = 1.08 ± 0.07 mm (1.00 ≤ LP ≤ 1.20 mm); WP = 2.10 ± 0.09 mm (2.00 ≤ WP ≤ 2.25 mm); LAN = 2.00 ± 0.11 mm (1.90 ≤ LAN ≤ 2.10 mm); LAED = 1.81 ± 0.07 mm (1.68 ≤ LAED ≤ 1.88 mm); LB = 4.61 ± 0.22 mm (4.33 ≤ LB ≤ 5.00 mm); LE/LP = 3.38 ± 0.12 (3.20 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.55); WE/WP = 1.22 ± 0.02 (1.20 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.25); WP/LP = 1.94 ± 0.05 (1.88 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 2.00); WE/LE = 0.70 ± 0.02 (0.68 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.73); LAN/LB = 0.43 ± 0.02 (0.41 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.47); LE/LAED = 2.02 ± 0.06 (1.92 ≤ LE/LAED ≤ 2.08). Females (n = 10; mean ± standard deviation; range): LE = 3.80 ± 0.24 mm (3.30 ≤ LE ≤ 4.15 mm); WE = 2.73 ± 0.21 mm (2.40 ≤ WE ≤ 3.08 mm); LP = 1.06 ± 0.08 mm (0.95 ≤ LP ≤ 1.20 mm); WP = 2.19 ± 0.15 mm (1.95 ≤ WP ≤ 2.45 mm); LAN = 1.87 ± 0.12 mm (1.75 ≤ LAN ≤ 2.10 mm); LSP = 0.70 ± 0.05 mm (0.63 ≤ LSP ≤ 0.75 mm); LB = 4.79 ± 0.34 mm (4.10 ≤ LB ≤ 5.25 mm); LE/LP = 3.59 ± 0.10 (3.46 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.75); WE/WP = 1.25 ± 0.03 (1.19 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.29); WP/LP = 2.07 ± 0.05 (2.00 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 2.15); WE/LE = 0.72 ± 0.02 (0.68 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.74); LAN/LB = 0.39 ± 0.03 (0.36 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.43); LE/LSP = 5.46 ± 0.38 (4.89 ≤ LE/LSP ≤ 5.92).

Distribution.

Namibia (Karas); Republic of South Africa (ECape, NCape, WCape) (Fig. 6 ).

Chorotype: Southern-Western Afrotropical (SWA).

Ecological notes.

Collected between 700-750 m a.s.l. in fynbos vegetation and grassland, on Searsia spp. [= Rhus pars., cf. Moffett (2007)] ( Anacardiaceae). Adults active in April, May, July, September, October, November, December.

Figures

Figure 4. Calotheca parvula (Weise, 1908) A habitus ♂ (RSA: NCape, Nieuwoudtville Botanic Gardens) B head, pronotum, and basal part of elytra, ♂ (RSA: WCape, Bidouw Valley) C median lobe of aedeagus, from left to right in ventral, dorsal, and lateral view (RSA: WCape, Karoo National Park) D spermatheca (RSA: NCape, Steinkopf). Abbreviations: bf = basal furrow; bl = basal lobe of dorsa ligula; dl = distal lobe of dorsa ligula; fg = frontal groove; pls = punctate lateral stria; ws = wrinkled surface. Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 1 mm (B, C); 0.5 mm (D).

Figure 6. Distribution of Calotheca parvula species group.