Derelomus brunneus Haran, 2025

Derelomus brunneus Haran sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Fig. 15 View Fig

Diagnosis

Within the D. nigrovariegatus species group, this species can be distinguished by the uniformly brown integument ( Fig. 15A View Fig ). It is closest to D. ater Marshall, 1950 , but the latter species has a black and shiny integument, and a rostrum less downcurved in lateral view ( Fig. 16B–C View Fig ).

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the uniformly dark brown integuments of this species.

Material examined

Holotype

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO • ♂; “Musée du Congo; Rutshuru [ 1°11′06″ N, 29°27′14″ E]; - VIII-1937; J. Ghesquière; 4824” “Holotype; Derelomus ; brunneus ; Haran, 2025”, RMCA.

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Rutshuru; 1°11′06″ N, 29°27′14″ E; Aug. 1937; J. Ghesquière coll.; male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata ; 4824; RMCA GoogleMaps • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; data as for preceding; CBGP. GoogleMaps

Description ( ♂)

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 3.0–4.0 mm.

COLOR. Body integument uniformly brown; dorsum with minute recumbent yellowish setae, not contiguous, not concealing the integument.

HEAD. Rostrum slightly longer than pronotum in lateral view (1.05×), strongly and regularly downcurved, forming quarter of circle; in dorsal view 5.5 × as long as wide, integument densely striate punctate, forming 5 longitudinal carinae from eyes to antennal insertion, median one wider, smooth and shiny; covered with minute, almost invisible, non-contiguous whitish setae; antennae inserted near apical ⅓ of length; head capsule coarsely punctate in dorsal view; eyes convex, exceeding lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with segment 1 and 2 subequal in length, 3–7 transverse, segment 1 of club as long as funicular segments 3–7.

PRONOTUM. Wider than long (W: L ratio: 1.25), widest slightly before ½ of length, as wide there as elytra at humeral angles; sides convex, apical constriction as long as width of scape at apex; apical margin ⅔ as wide as basal margin; integument densely and irregularly punctate, space between punctures micropunctate, reticulate, shiny, usually narrower than diameter of punctures; setae minute, hardly visible, integument glabrous in appearance.

ELYTRA. Moderately elongate (W: L ratio: 0.71), sides subparallel in basal ⅔ of length; humeri raised; apex rounded, notched at level of suture; striae with punctures ½ to ⅓ as wide as width of interstriae; interstriae convex, interstria 9 forming a carina; scutellar shield rounded, dark brown, glabrous, punctate.

ABDOMEN. Underside with short recumbent whitish setae, not contiguous. Stridulatory plate lacking distinct lines of granules, only with 3–4 blunt and hardly visible granules on basal ½ the median area ( Fig. 15F View Fig ).

LEGS. Profemora moderately thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, meso- and metatibiae slightly curved outward in apical ⅓; internal margin of protibiae bisinuate, bearing in apical ½ comb of elongated golden setae as long as largest width of protibiae; meso and metatibiae lacking comb; claws simple.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W: L ratio: 0.28), 1.3 × as long as apodemes, widest near apical ⅓; sides straight, slightly widening from base to apex, converging in apicad ¼, apex rounded; in lateral view curvature stronger in basal ⅓ of length, width widening from base to basal ⅓, then narrowing apicad ( Fig. 15D View Fig ).

Sexual dimorphism

The rostrum of females is narrower and less downcurved than in males in lateral view. The antennae are inserted near the apical ⅓ of the length in females (near apical ¼ in males; Fig. 15B–C View Fig ).

Life history

The only known series of this species was collected on male inflorescences of Phoenix reclinata ( Arecaceae ).

Distribution

In our current knowledge, this species is only known from the type locality in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its putative host is widely distributed across continental Africa.