Meligethinus mondlanei, Sabatelli & Liu & Cline & Lasoń & Macuvele & Muambalo & Chuquela & Audisio, 2020

Sabatelli, Simone, Liu, Meike, Cline, Andrew Richard, Lasoń, Andrzej, Macuvele, Suzana, Muambalo, Kisimenda, Chuquela, Lucilia & Audisio, Paolo, 2020, Palms and pollen beetles: two new anthophilous beetle species of Meligethinus from Mozambique (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae), Zootaxa 4802 (1) : -

Meligethinus mondlanei sp. nov.

( Figs 1 a–b, g, j, l, Fig. 2)

Diagnosis. Narrowly elongate, scarcely transversely convex, uniformly testaceous-orange; similar in habitus shape to the Oriental Meligethinus plagiatus (Grouvelle, 1894) (from NE India to N Vietnam and S China, including Taiwan), as well as to the sympatric M. hamerlae sp. nov. and M. suffusus Kirejtshuk, 1980 . This species is easily differentiated by the peculiarly shaped metatibiae in males, and the different shape of male and female genitalia.

Description (male holotype). Size: body length 2.2 mm, width 1.08 mm. Body narrowly elongate, scarcely transversely convex, uniformly testaceous-orange ( Fig. 2). Dorsal surface rather densely, finely and shallowly punctate (spaces between pronotal and elytral punctures ~1.5–2× diameter of puncture), with dull and shagreened interspaces; elytra without traces of transverse strigose sculpturing. Pronotum trapezoidal with widely arcuate lateral sides, maximum width near posterior five-sixths ( Fig. 2). Pubescence on pronotum and elytra sparse, golden-whitish, moderately long and distinct, each seta markedly shorter than antennomere 6, slightly longer along posterior base. Body uniformly orange-yellowish, without pale or dark areas, including peripheral margins (pronotal carina) of pronotum; legs and antennae uniformly yellowish-orange testaceous, with antennal club distinctly darker and pale brown. Antennal club elongate, symmetrical ( Fig. 2). Proximal base of pygidium with normal, “V” shaped impression along midline, directed posteriad. Median flat portion of prosternal process broadly rounded distad, nearly parallel-sided, maximum width near distal 2/5. Metaventrite with a moderately deep, nearly pentagonal impression, occupying posterior two-thirds of the metaventrite, impression deeper longitudinally along middle. Last abdominal ventrite bearing two moderately large proximal semicircular impressions, diameter nearly 1× the maximum diameter of an eye.

Legs: Protibia ( Fig. 1j) wide, triangular, protarsi nearly as wide as length of antennomere 3; ratio WFTA/LFTA ≈ 0.25. Mesotibia ( Fig. 2) wide, trapezoid-like. Metatibia ( Fig. 1-l) moderately wide, peculiarly shaped, their inner side strongly modified and narrowed at posterior half, markedly denticulate, distinct from any other known member of the genus.

Male genitalia: distinctly shaped, rather small, with elongate and subparallel-sided tegmen, slightly convergent distad ( Fig. 1a), parameres with roundly pointed apex; ratio DTIN/LETE ≈ 0.60–0.65, excised inner margins without projections; ratio LETE/WITE = 1.45–1.50. Aedeagal median lobe peculiarly shaped, markedly narrowed in distal third, maximum width near distal third; distinctly truncate and chisel-shaped distad ( Fig. 1b); ratio LEAE/ WIAE = 1.80–1.90. Main sclerites of internal sac (endophallus) small and rod-shaped in dorsal and lateral view.

Female: Antennae similar in both sexes. Protibia rather wide, triangular, slightly narrower than males, protarsus slightly narrower than males (ratio WFTA/LFTA ≈ 0.20). Mesotibia wide, trapezium-like as in males. Metati- bia almost simple and uniformly narrower than in males, not denticulate, or arcuately incised along inner side. Metaventrite in females almost flat, without distinct impression, medially with a scarcely impressed longitudinal line. Ovipositor rather small and lightly sclerotized, not darkened towards moderately blunt distal apex, styli long, inserted close to apex ( Fig. 1g). Ratio STLE/DSIA ≈ 0.50; ratio STLE/CGOW ≈ 0.25; ratio GONL/CGOW ≈ 3.1. Ratio OVPL/GONL ≈ 1.80.

Variation: The overall body size 2.0– 2.7 mm (length) and 1.05–1.25 mm (width) can be variable between individuals.

Examined material. Holotype, male: Mozambique: Maputo Province, Inhaca Island, Farol, 10–15 m a.s.l., 25°58’22”S, 32°59’08”E, 21.ix.2018, P. Audisio & S. Sabatelli lgt, sparsely forested and bushy area, beating male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae) (MHNMM). Paratypes: 35 males, 32 females; same locality, 27.ix.2019, S. Sabatelli lgt, 10 males, 9 females (MHNMM, CAR-MZUR, CAS, CLA, ACC, NMPC); same locality, road between Farol and the Marine Biological Station, 10–15 m a.s.l., 26°00ʹ26ʹʹS, 32°56ʹ37ʹʹE, 27.ix.2019, S. Sabatelli lgt, open and sparsely bushy area, beating male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae) , 5 males, 6 females (MHNMM, CAR-MZUR); Maputo Province, Maputo Special Reserve, Chingute Lake, 10–15 m a.s.l., 26°30’28”S, 32°48’45”E, 8.x.2018, S. Sabatelli lgt, open and sparsely bushy area, beating male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae) , 2 males, 2 females (MHNMM, CAR-MZUR); Maputo Province, Zitundo, 26°40’44”S, 32°47’55”E, 14.ix.2019, S. Sabatelli lgt, open and sparsely bushy area, beating male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae) , 18 males, 15 females (MHNMM, CAR-MZUR).

Distribution. This species is known only from southern Mozambique ( Fig. 3). The host plant Phoenix reclinata is widespread in eastern portions of central and southern Africa, northwards to southern Egypt and southwards to the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa ( Coates Palgrave 2002; see also pza.sanbi.org/phoenix-reclinata). The geographic range could potentially be wider, including at least parts of these areas.

Host plants. In Mozambique, this species appears to be strictly associated with male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae) .

Habitat. Locality data indicate this species prefers the edges of sparsely forested and bushy areas, in sandy habitats close to the sea, at low altitudes. All specimens of the type series were collected by sweeping flowering males of Phoenix reclinata in conjunction with the more abundant Meligethinus dolosus and M. peringueyi , as well as a few specimens of the locally less abundant M. hamerlae sp. nov., M. suffusus , and M. humeralis .

Phenology. Specimens were collected in middle and late September, which likely indicates adult activity from late August to early October.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the current name of the University of Maputo, the former “University of Lourenço Marques”, which, after Mozambique became independent in 1975, was renamed in honor of Frelimo leader Eduardo Mondlane in 1976. We are honored to name this remarkable new species from the name of this University, in consideration of the collaborative activities of international cooperation with the Rome Sapienza University.

Taxonomic remarks. This new species is vaguely similar in external shape to the Oriental M. plagiatus from northeastern India, northern Vietnam and southern China and to the African and sympatric M. suffusus and M. hamerlae sp. nov. (see below). However, the new species is distinguished by the peculiar shape of the male metatibiae and male genitalia, as well as the distinctly shaped female ovipositor.