Calotheca nigromaculata (Jacoby)

D'Alessandro, Paola, Iannella, Mattia, Grobbelaar, Elizabeth & Biondi, Maurizio, 2022, Calotheca nigromaculata species-group from sub-Saharan Africa with descriptions of two new species from KwaZulu-Natal (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 1084, pp. 119-137 : 119

Calotheca nigromaculata (Jacoby)

Figures 2A-F , 4 , 5

Blepharida nigromaculata Jacoby, 1888: 194

Calotheca nigromaculata (Jacoby) Biondi et al. 2017: 121 (pars)

Type material examined.

Lectotype ♂: [Mozambique]: Delagoa B[ay] [Maputo Bay, 25°53'31"S, 32°36'18"E], [R.] Monteiro [leg.], Jacoby Coll., 1909-28a (NHMUK) (M. Biondi des. 2017). Paralectotype: 1♂; same data as for lectotype (NHMUK).

Additional material examined.

Mozambique: 10 specimens, Delagoa Bay [Maputo Bay, 25°53'31"S, 32°36'18"E], [R.] Monteiro [leg.], ex. coll. R. Oberthur (MNHN) ; 2 specimens, ibid, 1885 (MNHN) . Republic Of South Africa: [KZN]: 3 specimens, Hluhluwe Game Reserve , 28°02'S, 32°05'E, 4-6.ii.1994, U. Göllner leg. (ZSM) ; 1 specimen, ibid, 4-7.ii.1994 (ZSM) ; 3 specimens, Natal [KZN]: Itala Game Reserve, Thalu River , 27°30'S, 31°20'E, 27.i.1994, U. Göllner leg. (ZSM) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Itala Game Reserve, Louwsburg , 27°35'S, 31°17'E, 10-23.xii.1992, F. Koch leg. (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Santa Lucia [28°22'21"S, 32°24'51"E], 29.x.1981, Klapperich leg. (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, [KZN]: St. Lucia Estuary , 22.x.[19]66, G. du Plessis leg., (SANC) ; 1 specimen, ibid, 24.x.[19]66 (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KwaZulu-Natal: Mkuze Natural Reserve , 27°37'S, 32°03'E, 100 m, 16.xi.1988, Colonnelli leg. (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, Zululand [KZN]: Mkuzi [Mkuze, 27°36'24"S, 32°02'53"E], xii.1945, DDT Killed, DDT No. 153; 7/15; Imp. Inst. Ent. Coll.No. 10519 (SANC) ; 7 specimens, KZN: Mkuzi Game Res. [erve], c. 2 km NE Mantuma Rest Camp, 27°35'06"S, 32°14'14"E, c. 69 m, 21.i.2006, adults beaten off cf. Rhus gueinzii ( Anacardiaceae ), C. Chaboo & E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 2 specimens, [KZN]: King [s]burgh, 18km S, 30°05'S, 30°47'E, 24.ii.1989, B.[=E.] Grobbelaar & E. v.d. Linde leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Cape Vidal , 28°10'S, 32°32'E, 15.xi.1986, D. D’Hotman & A. Nel leg. (SANC) ; 2 specimens, ibid, 13.i.1981, I.M. Millar leg. (SANC) ; 3 specimens, KZN: Tembe Elephant Park, Research Camp , 27°02'40"S, 32°25'17"E, c. 100 m, 25-26.i.2006, adults beaten off cf. Allophylus decipiens ( Sapindaceae ), C. Chaboo & E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 3 specimens, KZN: Tembe Elephant Park, Sihangwane Area , 27°02'S, 32°25'E, 100 m, 01.ii-04.ii.1996, collected from Rhus sp. ( Anacardiaceae ), E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 8 specimens, Natal [KZN]: Estcourt , 29°00'S, 29°53'E, 25.ii.1984, R. Oberprieler & C.G.E. Moolman leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Pietermaritzburg, Ukulinga Station [29°40'27"S, 30°24'31"E], 3.x.1983, A. Freidberg leg. (DG Furth coll) (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: S Coast, Umkomaas [30°12'06"S, 30°46'57"E], 11.x.1983, A. Freidberg leg. (DG Furth coll) (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, [KZN]: Isipingo, Nat. , [29°58'58"S, 30°55'20"E], ii.1896 (NHMUK) ; 2 specimens, KZN: Ndumo Game Reserve , c. 1 km NE Rest Camp, 26°54'07"S, 32°18'20"E, c. 80 m, 28.i.2006, collected by beating, C. Chaboo & E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 4 specimens, KZN: Ndumo Game Reserve, Fig. Tree Forest , 26°51'39"S, 32°15'32"E, c. 42 m, 29.i.2006, adults beaten off Rhus gueinzii ( Anacardiaceae ), C. Chaboo & E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 6 specimens, KZN: Vryheid Hill Nature Res. [erve], Ntinginono Eco Centre , 27°45'14"S, 30°47'11"E, c. 1259 m, 30.i-02.ii.2007, E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 6 specimens, ibid, adults beaten off Rhus sp. ( Anacardiaceae ) (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KZN: Empangeni , 28°45'S, 31°54'E, 152 m, xii.1999, P.E. Reavell leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KZN: Lewomba, SE 28 31 Da [Lewomba Miss., Empangeni, 28°44'54"S, 31°53'53"E], 20.iv.1979, R. Oberprieler leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KZN: Lugwavana [?], SE 27 31 Bb , 1.i.1980, on forest vegetation, R. Oberprieler leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KZN: Ingwavuma, Mac’s Pass, SE 27 31 Bb [28°44'54"S, 31°53'53"E], 13.i.1980, on vegetation, R. Oberprieler leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Lynnfield Park , 13km SE Pietermaritzburg, 29°41'S, 30°29'E, 28-30.iii.1989, A.E. Whittington leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, NTL [KZN]: Kuleni Farm, Hluhluwe , 27°54'S, 32°22'E, 13-14.ii.1990, N. Verheijen leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Balgowan , 29°23'S, 30°02'E, 26.ii.1984, R. Oberprieler & C.G.E. Moolman leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KZN: Ntinini Nature Reserve , 28°17'S, 30°56'E, 1015 m, 16.xi.2010, collected by sweeping through very short grass with various forbs, some flowering, R. Stals leg. (SANC) ; 2 specimens, KZN: Nyala Game Ranch [28°42'S, 31°46'E], 16.xii.1980, R. Oberprieler leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, KZN: Intendele Game Ranch, nr Bayala , 27°50'S, 32°12'E, 07.i.2000, ex Rhus sp.1 ( Anacardiaceae ), C.N. Duckett leg. (SANC) ; 4 specimens, Natal [KZN]: Dr. Martin (NMPC) ; 6 specimens, ibid (MNHN) ; 1 specimen, ibid (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, ibid, Zululand (NMPC) ; 1 specimen, ibid (SANC) ; 1 specimen, [KZN]: Howick [29°29'21"S, 30°12'60"E], 1901, J.P. Cregoe leg. (NHMUK) ; 2 specimens, [KZN]: Durban [29°51'31"S, 31°01'18"E], x.1896, J.P. Cregoe leg. (NHMUK) ; 2 specimens, ibid, viii.[19]20, A.F.J. Gedye leg. (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, [KZN]: Durban, The Bluff [29°56'08"S, 31°00'07"E], 15.x.1931, Mrs L. Ogilvie leg. (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Weenen [28°51'31"S, 30°00'12"E], xii.1926, H.P. Thomasset leg. (NHMUK) ; 4 specimens, ibid, i.1927 (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, ibid, xi.1927 (NHMUK) ; 2 specimens, ibid, iii-iv.1925 (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, Zululand [KZN]: Gingindhlovu [29°01'S, 31°35'E], 9.vi.1926, R.E. Turner leg. (NHMUK) ; 2 specimens, Natal [KZN]: Lower Tugela [29°09'50"S, 31°26'16"E], E. Reynolds leg. (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, Natal [KZN]: Malvern [Malvern, Queensburgh, 29°53'S, 30°55'18"E] iii.1897, G.A.K. Marshall leg. (NHMUK) ; 1 specimen, ibid, xii.1899, J.P. Cregoe leg. (NHMUK) ; 4 specimens, KwaZulu-Natal: between Colenso and Weenen Game Reserve , 28.48S, 29.57E [28°28'48"S, 29°34'12"E], 900 m, 4.iii.1998, P. Audisio, M. Biondi & M. Zapparoli leg. (BAQ) ; 19 specimens Natal [KZN]: Ulundi [28°19'S, 31°25'E], 22.i.1994, A. Poll leg. (ZSM) ; 1 specimen (NE), KwaZulu-Natal: Ubombo Mountain Nat. Res. , - 27.6100S / 32.0802E [27°36'36"S, 32°04'49"E], 110 m, beating, 30.xi.2012, M. Wanat leg. (UWCP) ; 2 specimens, Tvl. [LIM]: Hans Merensky Nat. [ure] Res. [erve], 23°42'S, 30°44'E, 23-25.i.1987, collected by beating, B.[=E.] Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Limpopo: Strydpoortberge Pass , hill slope, S 24 02.741 E 29 52.198, [24°02'44"S, 29°52'12"E], 1650 m, 21.ii.2007, P. Audisio & M. Biondi leg. (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, [LIM]: Pietersburg [Polokwane], 24°14'40"S, 29°15'30"E [23°53'55"S, 29°27'01"E], 18.ii.1989, F.J. Joubert leg. (SANC) ; 5 specimens, [LIM]: Mathlari , Nas. K.W. [Kruger National Park], 17.iii.1970, H.A.D. van Schalkwyk leg. (SANC) ; 4 specimens, NProv [LIM]: Thabaphaswa (Groenkom Farm), near Potgietersrus , 24°03'S, 29°02'E, 21-23.ii.2001, adults and larvae collected from Rhus leptodictya ( Anacardiaceae ), E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, LIM: Orrie, The Downs, Baragwanath Pass , forest edge, 24°08'S, 29°57'E, 900-1370 m, 14.iii.1998, M. Biondi & M. Zapparoli leg. (BAQ) ; 2 specimens, Mpumalanga: Mariepskop base Picnic Site at Blyde River , - 24.5931S / 30.8249E [24°35'35"S, 30°49'29"E], 780 m, night collecting, 26.xi.2012, R. Ruta leg. (UWCP) ; 1 specimen, Transvaal [MPU]: Blydepoort [24°34'51"S, 30°46'20"E], 20.xi.1981, Klapperich leg. (BAQ) ; 1 specimen, Transvaal [MPU]: Pretoriuskop , 25°10'S, 31°16'E, 500 m, 12.xi.1988, E. Colonnelli leg. (BAQ) ; 7 specimens, Transvaal [MPU]: Badplaas , 26°03'S, 30°33'E, 1250 m, 25.xi.1988, E. Colonnelli leg. (BAQ) ; 2 specimens, MPU: Mapoch's Caves , c. 4 km ENE Roossenekal, 25°11'S, 29°58'E, 16.i.1989, collected from Rhus sp. ( Anacardiaceae ), E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 10 specimens, Tvl. [MPU]: 20 km NE of Barberton, 25°41'S, 31°09'E, 21.iii.1993, collected from Rhus pentheri Zahlbr. ( Anacardiaceae ), E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 5 specimens, Tvl. [MPU]: Sudwala Caves , [N] W of Nelspruit, 25°22'S, 30°42'E, 21.iii.1993, E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 12 specimens, MPU: Paddadors Farm, Nelspruit , 22 km SE, 25°37'02"S, 31°07'56"E, 28.i.1984, E. de Wet, A. Nel & E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, [MPU]: Marloth Park , 25°21'S, 31°47'E, 04.iv.1989, F.J. Joubert leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Tvl. [MPU]: Swadini , Blydepoort Nat. [ure] Res. [erve], 24°32'S, 30°54'E, 26-29.i.1987, collected by beating, B.[=E.] Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Tvl. [MPU]: Barberton , 25°48'S, 31°03'E, 26-29.iii.1979, C. Moolman leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, ibid, iii.1979, C. Kok leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, MPU: Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve , 25°06'S, 30°00'E, 17.i.1989, collected by sweeping, E. Grobbelaar leg. (SANC) ; 5 specimens, TVL [MPU]: Blyderivierpoortdam Nat. [ure] Reserve , 24°32'S, 30°47'E, 25-26.x.1984, G.L. Prinsloo leg. (SANC) ; 1 specimen, Tvl [MPU]: between Baberton & Kaap Muiden, 24°29'S, 28°35'E, 25.ii.1991, V.M. Uys leg. (SANC) .

Taxonomic remarks.

Calotheca nigromaculata displays much variation in the number, shape, and color of the elytral patches (Fig. 2A-C ), and in some biometric ratios (e.g., LE/LP) (Fig. 4 ). However, pronotal shape, sculpture, and color are consistent and useful for identification (Fig. 2A-D ): lateral margins barely or not visible in dorsal view, more incurved in the anterior third; punctate lateral striae and basal furrows distinctly impressed and generally darker than the rest of the pronotal surface; pronotal margins mostly darkened. Median lobe of the aedeagus (Fig. 2F ) in ventral view: lateral margins sinuate, but prominently rounded in apical 1/4, subtruncate apically; ventral surface with a pair of rounded lateral U-shaped depressions with a wrinkled surface in the apical half; surface clearly punctate in the apical 1/4; in lateral view, aedeagus curved in the basal 1/2 and distinctly sinuate in the apical 1/2; dorsal ligula short but clearly visible in lateral view, formed by a subtriangular, apically truncate median lobe, and two lateral lobes. The apical part of the median lobe shows considerable variability: in ventral view it is more or less sinuate laterally and more or less prominently rounded in apical 1/4, and more or less sinuate in lateral view. Spermatheca (Fig. 2E ) globosely fusiform basally, sub-conical and generally dorsally orientated at the ductus attachment; distal part distinctly curved, generally about as long as the basal part, with a distinct appendix; ductus basally inserted, thickset, short, uncoiled, roughly U-shaped.

Biometrics.

Males (n = 10; mean ± standard deviation, range): LE = 5.04 ± 0.37 mm (4.25 ≤ LE ≤ 5.30 mm); WE = 3.73 ± 0.25 mm (3.18 ≤ WE ≤ 4.10 mm); LP = 1.46 ± 0.07 mm (1.35 ≤ LP ≤ 1.55 mm); WP = 2.88 ± 0.20 mm (2.45 ≤ WP ≤ 3.10 mm); LAN = 2.74 ± 0.15 mm (2.45 ≤ LAN ≤ 3.00 mm); LAED = 2.62 ± 0.10 mm (2.45 ≤ LAED ≤ 2.83 mm); LB = 6.36 ± 0.53 mm (5.15 ≤ LB ≤ 7.15 mm); LE/LP = 3.45 ± 0.21 (3.19 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.79); WE/WP = 1.30 ± 0.03 (1.24 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.36); WP/LP = 1.97 ± 0.08 (1.81 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 2.07); WE/LE = 0.74 ± 0.02 (0.71 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.78); LAN/LB = 0.43 ± 0.03 (0.39 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.48); LE/LAED = 1.92 ± 0.09 (1.73 ≤ LE/LAED ≤ 2.00). Females (n = 10; mean ± standard deviation; range): LE = 5.41 ± 0.37 mm (4.75 ≤ LE ≤ 6.00 mm); WE = 3.96 ± 0.28 mm (3.40 ≤ WE ≤ 4.30 mm); LP = 1.42 ± 0.12 mm (1.23 ≤ LP ≤ 1.55 mm); WP = 3.01 ± 0.25 mm (2.70 ≤ WP ≤ 3.25 mm); LAN = 2.60 ± 0.21 mm (2.20 ≤ LAN ≤ 2.93 mm); LSP = 0.70 ± 0.06 mm (0.63 ≤ LSP ≤ 0.85 mm); LB = 6.48 ± 0.48 mm (5.60 ≤ LB ≤ 7.25 mm); LE/LP = 3.81 ± 0.17 (3.57 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 4.00); WE/WP = 1.32 ± 0.03 (1.26 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.37); WP/LP = 2.12 ± 0.06 (2.03 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 2.25); WE/LE = 0.73 ± 0.01 (0.72 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.77); LAN/LB = 0.40 ± 0.02 (0.38 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.44); LE/LSP = 7.71 ± 0.33 (7.48 ≤ LE/LSP ≤ 8.23).

Distribution.

Mozambique and the Republic of South Africa (KZN, LIM, MPU). Records from Namibia (1 specimen, Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais, 27°55'S, 17°29'E, 250 m, 13.ii.1994, F. Koch leg. (ZSM)), WCape Province (RSA) (3 specimens, Knysna, [34°02'S, 23°03'E], i.1979, C.D. Eardley leg. (SANC)), and Tanzania ( Biondi et al. 2017) need additional confirmation (Fig. 5 ). Chorotype: probably Southern-Eastern Afrotropical (SEA).

Ecological notes.

Adults were collected from October to March, between 42-1650 m a.s.l., on Searsia sp. [= Rhus pars, cf. Moffett (2007)], S. leptodictya (along with larvae), S. cf. gueinzii , S. pentheri ( Anacardiaceae ), and on Allophylus decipiens ( Sapindaceae ), in forest or habitat with very short grass.

Figures

Figure 2. Calotheca nigromaculata. A habitus, ♂ (KZN, Tembe Elephant Park, Research Camp) B ibid, ♂ (MPU, Mapoch's Caves) C ibid, ♂ (KZN, Vryheid Hill Nature Reserve) D head, and pronotum, ♂ (MPU, Mariepskop base Picnic Site at Blyde River) E spermatheca (KZN, Estcourt) F median lobe of aedeagus, from left to right in ventral, dorsal, and lateral view (MPU, Pretoriuskop). Abbreviations: bf = basal furrow; bfg = frontal groove; pls = punctate lateral stria.

Figure 4. Histograms of morphometric variables in the Calotheca nigromaculata species group. Abbreviations: LAED = length of aedeagus; LAN = length of antennae; LE = length of elytra; LP = medial length of pronotum; WE = maximum width of elytra combined; WP = maximum width of pronotum.

Figure 5. Distribution of the Calotheca nigromaculata species group.