Serraphula colonnellii Biondi & D'Alessandro, 2010, sp. n.
Creators: name: Biondi, Maurizio
name: D'Alessandro, Paola
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Serraphula
Serraphula colonnellii

description: Serraphula colonnellii sp. n. (Figs 5, 22, 34, 44, 72)
TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype 3, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwazulu-Natal, Ifafa Mouth [30°27’S 30°39’E], (11-02), M. Jacoby Coll. 1909-28 a, 27D (BMNH) [ex syntype of S. elongata Jacoby]. Paratypes: same data of the holotype, 1 Ƥ (28D) (BMNH) [ex syntype of S. elongata Jacoby]; REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, Kwazulu-Natal, 15 km N of Port Shepstone, Umzumbe, 30 m, 30°38S 30°30’E, forest edge, 7.xii.1995, M. Biondi leg., 1 3 (BAQ); Kwazulu-Natal, Umzinto Vernon Crookes N. R. [30°20’S 30°35’E], 26-27.xi.2001, P Schüle leg, 1 3 and 1 Ƥ (TMSA).
DIAGNOSIS. For the diagnosis of this new species we refer to that reported for S. bulirschi sp. n.
DESCRIPTION. Holotype 3. Dorsal integument brown, with metallic reflection. Body shape elongate, little oval (LB = 2.13 mm), slightly convex. Maximum pronotal width at middle (WP = 0.73 mm); maximum elytral width at middle (WE = 0.95 mm).
Frons and vertex with clearly microreticulate surface, especially dorsally to frontal tubercles; frontal tubercles moderately delimited; a large setigerous pore with some small setigerous punctures gathered near each upper ocular margin; frontal dimples moderately impressed; frontal grooves not distinct; frontal carina little raised, apically rounded; labrum sub-trapezoidal, dark-brown; palpi dark-brown; eyes sub-elliptical, comparatively slightly larger than in other Serraphula species; antennae clearly shorter than body length (LAN = 1.83 mm; LAN/LB = 0.86), with segments 1–5 pale, segments 6–7 partially darkened, segments 8–11 entirely and strongly darkened; length of each antennomere proportional to numerical sequence 18:10:12:15:17:16:18:16:15:15:21 (right antenna).
Pronotum sub-rectangular, clearly transverse (LP = 0.50 mm; WP/LP = 1.45), laterally weakly rounded; basal and lateral margin finely bordered; punctation densely and clearly impressed on irregularly microreticulate surface; punctures medium-sized. Scutellum sub-triangular, apically sub-rounded, with microreticulate surface.
Elytra clearly elongate (LE = 1.60 mm; LE/LP = 3.20), covering entirely pygidium, laterally slightly rounded, apically weakly obtuse, jointly-rounded; punctation arranged in 9 regular rows (+ 1 scutellar interrupted at basal fourth); punctures small but clearly impressed on sub-opaque and punctulate surface; elytral interstriae almost flat; humeral calli evident; macropterous metathoracic wings.
Anterior and middle legs and hind femora brownish; hind tibiae and tarsi yellowish; hind tibiae weakly externally bent. Apical spur of hind tibiae slightly shorter than hind tibial length (LHT/LHTS = 1.08), straight, distally externally rounded; dorsal furrow narrowed, apically open; denture densely and regularly formed by small teeth. First anterior and middle tarsomeres clearly dilated, with adhesive structures on ventral side (cf. Figs 77,79, 81–82).
Ventral surface brown, apically paler; last abdominal sternite without special preapical impressions.
Median lobe of aedeagus (LAED = 0.83 mm; LE/LAED = 1.94) in ventral view laterally sub-parallel, basally clearly enlarged, apically rounded, with evident median small tooth; ventral sulcus visible in distal half; in lateral view, median lobe slightly curved, with dorsally bent apex; dorsal sulcus visible in apical half, basally U-shaped; dorsal ligula apically strongly narrowed.
VARIATION. 3 (n = 3; mean and standard deviation): LE = 1.55 ± 0.07 mm; WE = 0.97 ± 0.01 mm; LP = 0.49 ± 0.01 mm; WP = 0.71 ± 0.01 mm; LAN = 1.79 ± 0.05 mm; LAED = 0.83 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.09 ± 0.04 mm; LE/LP = 3.15 ± 0.05; WE/WP = 1.36 ± 0.04; WP/LP = 1.45 ± 0.02; LE/LAED = 1.86 ± 0.08; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.88 ± 0.04; LHT/LHTS = 1.20 ± 0.14. Ƥ (n = 2): LE = 1.69 ± 0.11 mm; WE = 1.13 ± 0.03 mm; LP = 0.53 ± 0.05 mm; WP = 0.77 ± 0.06 mm; LAN = 1.71 ± 0.09 mm; LSP = 0.12 ± 0.01 mm; LB = 2.24 ± 0.12 mm; LE/LP = 3.23 ± 0.11; WE/WP = 1.47 ± 0.08; WP/LP = 1.47 ± 0.03; LE/LSP = 14.34 ± 2.03; LAN/ (LE+LP) = 0.77 ± 0.02; LHT/LHTS = 1.09 ± 0.01.
Paratypes. Paratypes generally similar in shape, sculpture and color to the holotype. Some specimens differ for the following characters: (a) body shape more ovoidal, with elytra larger in apical third; (b) dorsal and ventral integument paler; (c) antennae entirely yellowish; (d) pronotal surface more irregularly wrinkled. Female generally bigger than male (2.15 ≤ LB ≤ 2.33 mm), with antennae proportionally shorter (0.76 ≤ LAN/ LB ≤ 0.77).
Spermatheca with sub-globose basal part; distal part curved, with not separated collum from apex; collum thickset; appendix absent; ductus short and thickset sub-ventrally inserted.
ETYMOLOGY. The new species is named after E. Colonnelli (Italy, Rome), in recognition of his valuable collaboration in collecting flea beetles in many areas of the world.
DISTRIBUTION. Republic of South Africa (Kwazulu-Natal). Southern-Eastern African chorotype (SEA) (cf. Biondi & D’Alessandro, 2006).
ECOLOGICAL NOTES. No information about its host plant is available for this species. Biome: Savannah (cf. Rutherford & Westfall, 1994). Veld type: Coastal Forest and Thornveld (cf. Acocks, 1988).
description: Published as part of Biondi, Maurizio & D'Alessandro, Paola, 2010, Revision of the Afrotropical flea beetle genus Serraphula Jacoby and description of Bechynella, a new genus from Western and Central Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 2444 on pages 10-11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.195007