Ootheca meridiana Grobbelaar, 2008

Kortenhaus, Sabine & Wagner, Thomas, 2010, Revision of Ootheca Chevrolat, 1837 from tropical Africa — redescriptions, descriptions of new species and identification key (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), Zootaxa 2659, pp. 1-52 : 37-38

Ootheca meridiana Grobbelaar, 2008

( Figs 55–56 )

This species was recently described and separated from the most similar O. bennigseni . As supplement to the detailed description, we give the following morphometric data on base of our own studies.

Measurements. Total length: 4.90–6.56 mm (mean: 5.84 mm, n = 15); antennal length ratios: second to third antennomere 0.55–0.75 (mean: 0.64); third to fourth antennomere 0.71–0.92 (mean: 0.83); maximal width of eye to minimal distance between eyes 0.47–0.59 (mean: 0.55); pronotal length 1.20–1.50 mm (mean: 1.38 mm); pronotal width 2.00– 2.70 mm (mean: 2.30 mm); pronotal width to length ratio 1.47–1.80 (mean: 1.67); elytral length 3.95–5.05 mm (mean: 4.57 mm); elytral width 2.90–4.00 mm (mean: 3.54 mm); width of elytra together to length of elytron 0.66–0.86 (mean: 0.78).

Male genitalia. Median lobe broad, slightly conical and curved ventrally towards apex with deep incision ( Fig. 55 ). Tectum nearly as large as half of median lobe consisting of two long, broad, tectorial spurs ventrally curved at apex. In lateral view these spurs are dilated in upper half just before turning down into distinct hook towards apex. Endophallus, divisable in two parts, apical part with endophallic brush and simple basal part, which is less than double the length of apical part.

Diagnosis. Ootheca meridiana belongs together with O. bennigseni and O. proteus , the largest species in the genus. Because of a wide overlap with other species in colouration and external characters, a dissection of male genitalia is necessary for reliable identification. A great similarity of the median lobe of O. meridiana and O. bennigseni complicates the differentiation: only the shape of the elongate apical parts of the median lobe and the ratio of the basal to the apical part of the endophallus allows a differentiation. The basal part is less than two times longer than the apical part ( Fig. 55 ). Nevertheless, not every male specimen can be identified without doubt.

Distribution. Occurs sympatrically with O. bennigseni , mostly recorded in southern Africa ( South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe), but also in central Africa and rarely up to Ethiopia ( Fig. 56 ). The distribution map includes all type material from Grobbelaar (2008) and additional specimens found by us.

Type material. Holotype: Gauteng Province, Pretoria, Jan. 1947, E. E. Anderssen, AcP. 4860. (on groundnuts). Type locality: South Africa, 25°45’S / 28°11’E. Paratypes: Material listed in detail in the original description ( Grobbelaar 2008); this material was not studied by us.

Additional material examined. Angola: 3 ex., Bimbi, X. 1931, Miss. Sc. Swiss, Le Moult vend. via Reinbek 1957 ( ZMUH). Congo (Democratic Republic): 179 ex., Garenganze, Port, W. Africa, ( BMNH); 2 ex., Kinda, Katanga, 9°18’S / 25°04’E, ex coll. Staudinger ( MRAC); 4 ex. Kinda, Katanga, Don Cercle ( MRAC); 1 ex., Katalla, XI.1911, Dr. Rodhain ( MRAC); 1 ex. Shinsenda, 12°20’S / 27°56’E, XII.1911, Miss. Agricol. ( MRAC); 2 ex., Kasenga, 10°22’S / 28°38’E, II.1912, Dr. Bequaert ( MRAC); 1 ex., Leopoldville, 4°18’S / 15°18’E, XII.1925, R. P. Hulstaert ( MRAC); 1 ex., Lac Tanganyka, Nyanza, 6°0’S / 29°30’E, I.1933, L. Burgeon ( MRAC); 1 ex., Lulua, Luashi, 7°35’S / 22°28’E, XI.1938, F. Freyne ( MRAC); 29 ex., Tanganyka Territory, Mporokoso, 9°23’S / 30°08’E, I.1944, H. J. Bredo ( IRSN); 8 ex., Bas-Congo, Lemfu, 4°34’S / 18°18’E, X.–XII.1944, 1945, P. de Beir ( MRAC); 1 ex., Terr. Tanganika, Tumba (Rukwa), 7°0’S / 31°30’E, XII.1950, H. J. Bredo ( IRSN). Ethiopia: 4 ex., Uha, 9°04’N / 40°12’E, X.1912, Holtz ( MNHU). Gabon: 1 ex., N’Gomo, Sud Ogowe, 0°49’S / 9°57’E, Junod ( MRAC). Malawi: 1 ex., Nyassaland ( BMNH); 4 ex., Nyasaland, btwn. Ft. Johnston & Monkey Bay, 14°5’S / 34°55’E, III.1910, S. A. Neave ( BMNH); 10 ex., Nyasaland, btwn. Ft. Mangoche & Chikala Boma, 4,000 ft., III.1910, S. A. Neave ( BMNH); 143 ex., Mlanje, Nyasaland, 16°02’S / 35°30’E, 1912–1914, S. A. Neave ( BMNH); 1 ex., Namatandala, 2 km SSW Lufipa, Chitipa Dist., 9°43’S / 33°20’E, XII. 1986, E. Holm / E. Marais ( NMNW). Mozambique: 12 ex., Boroma, Zambesi, 15°48’S / 31°45’E, ( MNHU); 4 ex., Mozambique, Sandacca, 26°32’S / 32°33’E, III.1903, V. Rolle ( MNHU); 1 ex., Beira, 19°50’S / 34°50’E, II.1903, P. A. Sheppard, Jacoby Coll. ( BMNH); 2 ex., Nyassa, 14°12’S / 37°30’E, Thelwall, Fry Coll. 1905 ( BMNH); 12 ex., Nyasaland, SW of Lake Chilwa, 15°12’S / 35°50’E, I.1914, S. A. Neave ( BMNH). South Africa: 1 ex., Natal, 29°51’S / 31°01’E, Le Moult vend. via Reinbek 1957 ( ZMUH); 61 ex., Natal, Miss. de Witte ( IRSN); 3 ex., Natal (1ex. MRAC, 2 ex. MNHU); 4 ex., Natal, ex coll. Staudinger ( MRAC); 64 ex., Natal, dist. Richmont, Indaleni, 29°53’S / 30°14’E, W. Hunt, ex coll. Breuning ( MRAC); 8 ex., Kapland, (2 ex. IRSN, 6 ex. MNHU); 1 ex., Tigers Kloof, Natal, H. B. Marley ( BMNH); 1 ex., Port Nanil? ( BMNH); 1 ex., Zoutpansberg, 800 m, Transvaal, 22°58’S / 29°45’E, Coll. Clavareau ( MRAC); 9 ex., Zoutpansberg, Mp`hôme, N.Transvaal, Magd. Knothe ( MNHU); 4 ex., Natal, Frère, 29°51’S / 31°01’E, XII.1893, XII. 1896, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH); 3 ex., Estcourt, Natal, 29°0’S / 29°53’E, I.1894, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH); 21 ex. Shilouvane, 24°03’S / 30°23’E, I.1906, Rev. Junod ( TMSA); 2 ex. New Hanover, Ntl., 29°51’S / 30°32’E, XII.1914, Hardenberg ( BMNH); 5 ex., Pretoria, 25°42’S / 28°13’E, XII.1914, Ac.-P./ coll. D. Gunn ( BMNH); 3 ex., Kroonstad, O.F.S., 27°39’S / 27°14’E, 1923, J. W. Hunt ( NMK); 1 ex., Middelburg, Transvaal, 24°42’S / 26°46’E, II.1926, P. Wilhelm ( MRAC); 2 ex., Tzaneen, 23°50’S / 30°10’E, II.1932, D. O. van Velden ( BMNH); 1 ex. Durban, 29°48’S / 31°02’E, XII.1938, A. H. Newton ( BMNH); 3 ex., Mt. Selinda, I. 1959, G. van Son ( TMSA); 2 ex., Sabie, TVL., 25°06’S / 33°29’E, VIII.1962, T. A. P. de Beer ( TMSA). Tanzania: 1 ex., Rubugwa, 5°15’S / 33°22’E, Trefurth ( MNHU); 3 ex., Tanganyika-See, S. Böhm ( MNHU); 2 ex., Uhehe, Iringa, 7°46’S / 35°42’E, E. Nigmann ( MNHU); 1 ex., Uhehe, Dabaga, 8°07’S / 35°55’E, E. Nigmann ( MNHU); 11 ex., Njassasee, Afr. or., 12°0’S / 34°30’E, Miss. de Witte (9 ex. IRSN, 2 ex. ZMUH); 4 ex., Nyassa, S. B. Spey (2 ex. Sharp Coll., 1 ex. Baly Coll., 1 ex. Fry Coll.; BMNH); 8 ex., Nyassa, Andrewes Request, ( BMNH); 2 ex., Lindi, 10°0’S / 39°43’E, IV.1897, Fülleborn ( MNHU); 1ex., Nyassa-See, Wiedhafen, 10°28’S / 34°35’E, II.1899, S. Fülleborn ( MNHU). Uganda: 1 ex., Kakoma, 0°37’S / 31°35’E, Dr. Böhm ( MNHU). Zambia: 8 ex., N. W. Rhodesia, Miss. de Witte ( IRSN); 2 ex., Rhodesia du Nord, Le Moult vend. via Reinbek 1957 ( ZMUH); 2 ex., Livingstone, Zambesi R., 17°36’S / 25°50’E, III.1913, H. C. Dollmann ( BMNH); 2 ex., Mwengwa, 13°0’S / 27°40’E, II.1914, H. C. Dollmann ( BMNH); 4 ex., Haut Zambèze, Lealui, 15°12’S / 22°59’E, 1919, V. Ellenberger ( MNHN); 2 ex., Musosa, 8°23’S / 29°38’E, VII.1939, IV.1941, H. J. Bredo ( IRSN); 20 ex., Abercorn, 8°50’S / 31°52’E, XI.1942 – IV.1944, H. J. Bredo ( IRSN); 4 ex., Mweru-Wantipa, Chocha, 12°31’S / 31°08’E, I.1944, H. J. Bredo ( IRSN); 6 ex., Mweru-Wantipa, Tupele, 8°43’S / 29°54’E, I.1944, H. J. Bredo ( IRSN); 1 ex., Chingola district, 12°30’S / 27°45’E, X.1960, L. J. Magic ( BMNH); 1 ex., Southern Prov., Monze to Kafue, 16°40’S / 27°25’E, XII.1970, M. Sedlacek ( NNML). Zimbabwe: 2 ex., Mashonaland, 17°0’S / 31°0’E, XII.1898, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH); 2 ex., Salisbury, 17°50’S / 31°03’E, XII.1984 und XII. 1898, Coll. M(arshall) ( BMNH); 1 ex., Mt. Chirinda, 19°14’S / 32°14’E, XII.1901, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH); 1 ex., Matopos, 20°25’S / 28°29’E, I.1904, P. A. Sheppard ( BMNH); 2 ex., Hope Fountain, 20°16’S / 28°41’E, I.1922, Neville Jones ( SANC); 1 ex., Salisbury, I.1944. E. C. G. Pinhey ( SANC); 1 ex., Umtali, 18°58’S / 32°40’E, I.1962, A. Carnegie ( BMNH); 3 ex., Msekera, 13°37’S / 32°26’E, II.2000 ( BMNH).

Figures

FIGURE 55. Ootheca meridiana Grobbelaar, 2008. 55. Median lobe: dorsal (left), lateral (right).

FIGURE 56. Distribution of Ootheca meridiana.