Afrotropicaltica fulvipennis D'Alessandro & Biondi 2025, comb. nov.
Creators: name: D'Alessandro, Paola
name: Biondi, Maurizio
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Afrotropicaltica
Afrotropicaltica fulvipennis

description: Afrotropicaltica fulvipennis (Jacoby, 1895), comb. nov.
Fig. 1
Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby, 1895: 179.
= Blepharida favareli Achard, 1922: 8, syn. nov.
Blepharida fulvipennis (Jacoby, 1895): Achard 1922: 9, Bryant 1942: 161.
Diamphidia fulvipennis (Jacoby, 1895): Bechyné 1960: 111, Scherer 1969: 371.
Diamphidia fulvipennis favareli (Achard, 1922): Bechyné 1960: 111, Scherer 1962: 78, Scherer 1972: 16.
Diamphidia favareli (Achard, 1922): Laboissière 1941: 240, Biondi et al. 2017: 112.
Comments.
Achard (1922) described Blepharida favareli and transferred Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby to the genus Blepharida, due to the similarities with B. favareli. Bryant (1942) transferred Cladocera fulvipennis to Blepharida, as already proposed by Achard (1922). Bechyné (1960) established the combination Diamphidia fulvipennis (Jacoby, 1895) and considered the species described by Achard, Blepharida favareli, as a geographic form of D. fulvipennis. Scherer (1969) erroneously reported Diamphidia fulvipennis (Jacoby, 1895) as Diamphidia fulvipennis Jacoby, 1893. We formalize here the synonymy between Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby, 1895 and Blepharida favareli Achard, 1922.
Type material examined.
Holotype ♂ of Cladocera fulvipennis: “ Type H. T // Togo / Africa // 42 // Type // Jacoby Coll. / 1909–28 a. // Cladocera / fulvipennis / Jac. / Type ” [8°31.995'N 1°5.853'E] (NHMUK). MCZC hosts the following specimen: “ Type / 18327 // Boma / M. Tschoffen // Jacoby 2 nd / Coll. // fulvipennis Jac. ” [Democratic Republic of the Congo, Boma, 5°50.762'S 13°4.296'E 5°52'32"S, 13°02'00"E] (photos available at https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Ent:18527). Lectotype ♂ of Blepharida favareli Achard, here designated: “ Type // B. Favareli / Type / J. Achard det. // Ogooué / Sam-Kita ” [Gabon, Samkita, 0°26.516'S 10°27.247'E] (NMPC). Paralectotype ♀ of Blepharida favareli Achard, here designated: “ Type // B. Favareli / Type / J. Achard det. // Fort-Sibut / Oubanghi-Chari ” [Central African Republic, Fort-Sibut, 5°43.57140'N 019°05.11590'E] (NMPC). Paralectotype ♀ of Blepharida favareli Achard, here designated: “ Type // B. Favareli / Type / J. Achard det. // Musée du Congo / Eala / IX 1912 / R. Mayré ” [Democratic Republic of Congo, Eala, 0°2.441'N 18°20.149'E] (NMPC).
Other material.
Cameroon • 16 specs, Victoria [= Limbé 4°1.917'N, 9°11.122'E], Jun.–Jul. 1902, L. Fea leg. (MSNG). CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC • 1 ♀, Bamingui-Bangoran Pr., 45 km SSW Bamingui [7°16.400'N, 19°55.580'E], 450 m, 13–15 May 2009, A. Kudrna Jr leg. (BAQ). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO • 1 spec., Boma [5°50.762'S, 13°4.296'E], M. Tschoffen leg., Jacoby Coll. 1909-28 a (NHMUK); 2 specs, ibid (RMCA); 1 spec., Eala [0°2.441'N, 18°20.149'E], Oct. 1935, J. Ghesquière leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., P. N. d’Odzala [1°16.167'N, 14°52.299'E], Mbandza, Nov. 1992, G. Carpaneto leg. (BAQ); 1 spec., Ekoiongouma, N 1.20279E 17.88032 [1°12.16740'N, 17°52.81920'E], 341 m, 14 Feb. 2022, canopy light trap (- 10 m), C. N. Hackfort & A. Tsoumou leg. (NHMUK); 1 spec., Lokandu [2°31.228'S, 25°44.566'E], Mar. 1939, [Capt.] Marée leg. (NHMUK); 13 specs, ibid (RMCA); 1 spec., ibid, 1939 (RMCA); 3 specs, Equateur, Flandria [0°22.775'S, 19°5.500'E], 27 Oct. 1932, R. P. Hulstaert leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., ibid, 31 Mar. 1932; 1 spec., Flandria, 15 Mar. 1932; 1 spec., ibid, 1931; 1 spec., Cataractes de Luozi [Luozi 4°54.711'S, 14°9.842'E], Dec. 1898, E. Luja leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Bas-Congo, Lemfu [5°21.206'S, 15°15.709'E], Jun. 1945, Rév. P. L. De Reir leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Tshuapa, Bokuma [0°40.648'S, 21°1.305'E], Dec. 1951, R. P. Lootens leg. (RMCA); 10 specs, Kisantu [5°7.473'S, 15°7.749'E], P. Goossens leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., ibid, ex col. Seeldrayers; 3 specs, ibid, 1905, col. Clavareau; 1 spec., Uelé, Dingila [3°38.633'N, 26°3.515'E], Jun. 1933, J. V. Leroy leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Uelé, Paulis [= Isiro 2°46.212'N, 27°37.242'E], 1947, Abbeloos leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Uelé, Bambesa [3°27.170'N, 25°41.579'E], 15 Sept. 1933, Lefèvre leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Stanleyville [= Kisangani 0°30.542'N, 25°13.409'E], 1924, J. Ghesquière leg. (RMCA); 3 specs, Dima [3°16.47444'S, 17°28.99290'E], 14 Sept. 1908, A. Koller leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Congo da Lemba [Lemba 4°24.598'S, 15°20.277'E], Jan. 1913, R. Mayné leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., ibid, 1–15 Apr. 1913; 7 specs, ibid, oct. – Dec. 1911; 1 spec., Mongbwalu (Kilo) [1°55.640'N, 30°2.904'E], 1939, Mme Scheitz leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Kilo [Kilo-Etat 1°49.738'N, 30°9.391'E], Dr. Abetti leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Ganda Sundi [4°52.000'S, 12°52.000'E], [Comte J.] de Briey leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Mahagi-Niarembe [between Mahagi and Niarembe 2°16.917'N, 31°3.371'E], 1935, Ch. Scops leg. (RMCA); 3 specs, Sud Ogowé, ‘ Ngomo [4°57.378'S, 23°37.289'E], [H. A.] Junod leg. (RMCA); 2 specs, Bas Congo, Maydi [5°11.958'S, 15°9.195'E], 1945, Rév. P. Van Eyen leg. (RMCA); 21 specs, ibid; 28 specs, ibid, 1942; 2 specs, ibid, 1943; 3 specs, Kivu, Kavumu à Kabunga, km 82 (Mingazi) [2°1.870'S, 28°30.949'E], Apr. – Jul. 1951, H. Bomans leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., ibid, Nov. – Dec. 1951; 1 spec., ibid, 1951; 1 spec., Bas-Uele, Buta [2°47.787'N, 24°44.473'E], 1926, Fr. Joseph leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Mayumbe, Makaia N’Tete [Mayumbe 2°30.000'N, 27°37.000'E], 24 Nov. 1915, R. Mayné leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Busira [0°5.233'S, 19°55.086'E], 18 Oct. 1905, Waelbroeck leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Equateur, Bohuma [1°8.099'N, 30°13.892'E], 1938, R. P. Hulstaert leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Ilenge [1°58.940'S, 19°52.474'E], 30 Jan. 1913, R. Mayné leg. (RMCA). GABON • 1 ♀, Gabon Français [0°59.062'S, 11°54.238'E] (NMPC). IVORY COAST • 1 spec., Andé, Bongouanou [Bongouanou 6°39.047'N, 4°11.247W], Mar. 1962, J. Decelle leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., 1171 m, Mt Tonkoui Peak, 07°27'15.2"N, 07°38'12.5"W [7°27.230'N, 7°38.148'W], 1–8 Nov. 2015, general collecting, M. Aristophanous, P. Moretto, E. Ruzzier leg. (NHMUK). KENYA • 1 spec., Brit. E. Africa, Nyangori, N Kavirondo [0°41.195'S, 35°0.679'E], 4800 ft, 18–19 May 1911, S. A. Neave leg. (NHMUK). UGANDA • 1 spec., Mawakota [Mawokota region 0°36.800'S, 30°12.695'E], Nov. 1931, [V. G. L.] van Someren leg. (NHMUK); 1 spec., Boy [Bay (?)], Entebbe [0°3.290'N, 32°28.216'E], 2800-4000 ft, forest within four miles of Kitabi Hill, May – Jun. 1913, C. A. Wiggins leg. (NHMUK); 1 spec., Entebbe, 14 Aug. 1911, C. C. Gowdey leg. (NHMUK); 1 spec., Prot. Entebbe, 12–20 Jan. 1912, S. A. Neave leg. (RMCA); 1 spec., Kampala [0°19.253'N, 32°35.055'E], 1–10 Jan. 1918, C. C. Gowdey leg. (NHMUK); 1 spec., Shores of L. Isolt, or Wamala [Wamala 0°7.799'N, 31°38.115'E], 3800 ft, 7–8 Jan. 1912, S. A. Neave leg. (NHMUK).
Redescription.
Body subelliptical-elongate in dorsal view with parallel sides (Fig. 1 A, B), distinctly convex in lateral view; total length of the body (LB) = 8.10 ± 0.91 mm (6.50 ≤ LB ≤ 9.70 mm) in male, and 8.77 ± 0.65 mm (7.52 ≤ LB ≤ 9.51 mm) in female; maximum pronotal width in the middle: WP = 3.43 ± 0.29 mm (2.86 ≤ WP ≤ 3.78 mm) in male, and 3.71 ± 0.25 mm (3.30 ≤ WP ≤ 3.98 mm) in female; maximum width of elytra in the middle: WE = 4.37 ± 0.37 mm (3.69 ≤ WE ≤ 4.85 mm) in male, and WE = 4.94 ± 0.42 mm (4.46 ≤ WE ≤ 5.72 mm) in female; WE / WP = 1.27 ± 0.04 (1.22 ≤ WE / WP ≤ 1.33) in male, and WE / WP = 1.33 ± 0.05 (1.29 ≤ WE / WP ≤ 1.44) in female.
Head and pronotum yellowish (Fig. 1 A, B, D); elytra reddish brown; scutellum paler than elytra, often of the same colour as the pronotum or slightly darker; underside yellowish to pale brown; mouthparts yellowish, with black distal part of mandibles; antennae and legs with two colour patterns: both antennae and legs rather homogenous, yellowish to reddish brown, at most with slightly paler tarsi; antennal segments 1–4 yellowish and 5–11 blackish, and legs mostly blackish with the exception of femora, paler in their proximal part. Head (Fig. 1 E) with smooth to micropunctate surface and sparse, rounded punctures, denser on vertex and near the inner ocular margins; frontal grooves and frontal calli barely distinguishable; frontal carina wide, not raised; eyes large, ovoidal; interantennal space as wide as ~ 2 / 3 the length of the first antennomere. Antennae (Fig. 1 A, B) filiform, longer than 1 / 2 the body length: LAN = 6.07 ± 0.44 mm (5.43 ≤ LAN ≤ 6.69 mm) in male, and 5.62 ± 0.39 mm (5.04 ≤ LAN ≤ 6.31 mm) in female, and LAN / LB = 0.75 ± 0.05 (0.65 ≤ LAN / LB ≤ 0.84) in male, and 0.64 ± 0.03 (0.60 ≤ LAN / LB ≤ 0.68) in female. LA = 100: 42: 83: 92: 117: 117: 117: 108: 100: 92: 125 in male, and 100: 42: 83: 83: 108: 100: 100: 92: 83: 83: 117 in female. Pronotum (Fig. 1 D) distinctly transverse: LP = 1.79 ± 0.17 mm (1.50 ≤ LP ≤ 1.94 mm) in male, and 1.85 ± 0.12 mm (1.65 ≤ LP ≤ 2.04 mm) in female, and WP / LP = 1.91 ± 0.06 (1.80 ≤ WP / LP ≤ 2.00) in male, and 2.01 ± 0.03 (1.95 ≤ WP / LP ≤ 2.05) in female; lateral margins slightly convergent anteriorly, moderately to distinctly curved, moderately expanded, visible in dorsal view; basal margin moderately arched; surface smooth to micropunctate; main punctation formed by rounded punctures, clearly impressed, quite sparse and irregularly distributed. Scutellum subtriangular, laterally rounded. Elytra (Fig. 1 A, B, D) subparallel, clearly longer than wide, jointly rounded apically. LE = 6.57 ± 0.54 mm (5.43 ≤ LE ≤ 7.23 mm) in male, and 7.21 ± 0.48 mm (6.40 ≤ LE ≤ 7.86 mm) in female; WE / LE = 0.67 ± 0.02 (0.63 ≤ WE / LE ≤ 0.70) in male, and 0.68 ± 0.02 (0.66 ≤ WE / LE ≤ 0.73) in female; LE / LP = 3.66 ± 0.12 (3.50 ≤ LE / LP ≤ 3.91) in male, and 3.90 ± 0.09 (3.80 ≤ LE / LP ≤ 4.05) in female. Lateral margins finely bordered, indistinctly visible in dorsal view; surface very finely micropunctate or microwrinkled; main punctation clearly impressed, dense, variably arranged in numerous rows or bands, or almost confused. Humeral calli distinctly raised. Macropterous. Posterior femora moderately swollen (WF / LF = 0.44 ± 0.01); apical spur of hind tibiae very short; first tarsomere of fore- and middle legs clearly enlarged in male. Median lobe of the aedeagus (Fig. 1 F) in ventral view: outline mostly subparallel with slightly sinuate margins, and narrower subapical part; apex truncated, distinctly expanded laterally; surface smooth, concave laterally and prominent medially in the apical third; in lateral view median lobe distinctly curved, with slightly sinuate outline; dorsal ligula formed by a wide central lobe, and two shorter and thinner lateral lobes, with base at apical ~ 1 / 3; LAED = 2.26 ± 0.10 mm (2.13 ≤ LAED ≤ 2.43 mm); LE / LAED = 2.90 ± 0.19 (2.55 ≤ LE / LAED ≤ 3.17). Basal part of the spermatheca (Fig. 1 G) subovate, abruptly narrowing towards the ductus insertion; ductus short, thick, uncoiled, ventrally inserted; distal part of the spermatheca clearly bent towards the basal part, thin, acute apically; LSP = 0.93 ± 0.05 mm (0.87 ≤ LSP ≤ 1.02 mm); LE / LSP = 7.78 ± 0.25 (7.33 ≤ LE / LSP ≤ 8.11).
Distribution.
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Republic of South Africa, Togo, Uganda (Fig. 1 C).
Ecological notes.
Ecology, including host plant, unknown.
description: Published as part of D'Alessandro, Paola & Biondi, Maurizio, 2025, A new flea beetle genus from sub-Saharan Africa, and taxonomic remarks on the Blepharida genera group in the Afrotropical region (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), pp. 139-159 in ZooKeys 1228 on pages 139-159, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1228.139654