Derelomus setifer Haran, 2025

Derelomus setifer Haran sp. nov.

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Fig. 11A–D View Fig

Diagnosis

Derelomus setifer sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the combination of appendiculate claws, a rostrum longer than the pronotum in lateral view, the metanepisterna with a dense vestiture of white scales and the erect setae on the elytra. It is closest to D. prochesi sp. nov., but the latter species only bears small recumbent setae on the elytra. The penis of both species is diagnostic ( Fig. 11C, G View Fig ).

Etymology

The species name refers to the erect setae on elytra of this species. This feature is apparently unique in the genus Derelomus .

Material examined

Holotype

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; “S. Afr; Tvl. [ Mpumalanga Province] Nelshoogte; Forest Station ; 25.50S – 30.50E [ 25°50′00″ S 30°50′00″ E]” “ 18.ii.1987; E-Y:2449; White flow. creeper; Leg. Endrödy-Younga ” “Holotype; Derelomus setifer ; Haran 2025”; TMSA.

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Mpumalanga Province • 1 ♀; Nelshoogte, Forest Station ; 25°50′00″ S, 30°50′00″ E; 18 Feb. 1987; Endrödy-Younga coll.; on white flower creeper; E-Y:2449; TMSA GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; CBGP. GoogleMaps – Eastern Cape Province • 1 ♂; Queenstown [ Komani ]; 31°54′03″ S, 26°54′40″ E; 16 Jan.–10 Feb. 1923; 1066 m a.s.l.; R.E. Turner coll.; British Museum 1923-140; NHMUK. GoogleMaps

Description ( ♂)

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 2.2 mm.

COLOR. Body integument pale brown; vestiture of elytra consists of row of white setae alternately erect and recumbent on each interstria, striae as long as width of interstriae; each puncture of striae with short recumbent seta, shorter than width of interstriae; setae not concealing the integument.

HEAD. Rostrum longer than pronotum in lateral view (1.4×), moderately and regularly downcurved; in dorsal view 5× as long as wide, integument densely punctate, covered with short suberect whitish setae oriented transversally; antennae inserted near apical 1/5 of length; head capsule coarsely punctate in dorsal view, with contiguous suberect whitish setae oriented toward centre of forehead; eyes convex, exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with first segment 2× as long as wide, equal in length to segments 2–4 together, 3–5 isodiametric, 6–7 transverse.

PRONOTUM. Wider than long (W:L ratio: 1.25), widest near middle of length, 0.75 × as wide there as elytra at humeral angles, lateral carina forming an obtuse tooth in middle of length; sides abruptly converging in apical ⅓, apical constriction shallow, hardly visible; integument with large circular punctures, space between punctures smooth, shiny, as wide as or wider than diameter of punctures near scutellar shield, narrower on the rest of pronotum; setae suberect, downcurved, oriented toward scutellar shield.

METATHORAX. Metanepisterna with dense vestiture of white scales.

ELYTRA. Longer than wide (W: L ratio: 0.62); sides slightly convex, widest near middle of length; humeri raised; apex jointly rounded, notched at apex of suture; striae with punctures as wide as or slightly narrower than interstriae; interstriae slightly convex, 9 raised into carina; scutellar shield triangular, bearing recumbent setae.

ABDOMEN. Underside covered with minute recumbent whitish setae, not contiguous. Stridulatory plate with lines of 7 granules ¾× as long as median line from base. Central sclerotized area regularly rounded laterally.

LEGS. Profemora moderately thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, internal slightly concave in apical ½, metatibiae slightly curved outward in apical half; claws appendiculate.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W: L ratio: 0.20), more than 2× as long as apodemes; sides straight in dorsal view, widest at base, converging regularly apicad, apex rounded; in lateral view curvature stronger in basal ⅓ of length, width narrowing regularly from middle of length to apex; apex curved upward ( Fig. 11C View Fig ).

Sexual dimorphism

Female can be distinguished from males by the rostrum which is narrower in dorsal view (6–7× as long as wide in females, 5× as long as wide in males).

Life history

Specimens were collected on an unidentified creeper with white flowers (Endrödy-Younga obs.). Adults were collected in January and February.

Distribution

Derelomus setifer sp. nov. is known from the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces in the Republic of South Africa.

Remarks

Elytral striae 2–3 and 4–5 are merged in the holotype. This is obviously a teratogenic case not representative of the species and as such not reported in the description.