Pleophylla mlilwaneensis, 2017

PLEOPHYLLA MLILWANEENSIS AHRENS, BECKETT, EBERLE & FABRIZI View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 2Q – T View Figure 2 , 6)

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Type material examined: Holotype ♂ “ Swaziland, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary 26 ° 29, 22 0 S, 31 ° 11 0 E 800mNN, 17.-18.XI.1996, leg. M. Hartmann ” ( NME). GoogleMaps

Description: Body length: 7.7 mm, elytral length: 6.8 mm, maximum width: 4.0 mm. Angle between lateral margins of labroclypeus and ocular canthus indistinct; anterior margin of labroclypeus medially straight; margins of labroclypeus strongly reflexed; smooth area in front of eyes twice as wide as long; ratio of eye diameter/interocular width: 0.74. Pronotum with dense and thick erect setae; unicoloured; basal margin of pronotum complete; larger punctures on pronotum moderately large. Hypomeron not carinate. Elytra with dark spots; erect dorsal pilosity on elytra dense (more than ten setae per interval); sutural interval in apical declivity of elytra flat and not delimited by a sharp carina; white, fine pilosity not condensed to longitudinal patches; intervals punctate at least laterally; adpressed white pilosity long, 1/3 to 1/2 of width of elytral intervals; external apical elytral angle evenly convex. Mesosternal process short. Ratio of length of metepisternum/metacoxa: 1/1.44. Metatibia, ratio of width/length: 1/3.71. Metatarsi dorsally smooth; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than subsequent one. Aedeagus: Fig. 2Q – S View Figure 2 . Habitus: Fig. 2T View Figure 2 .

Diagnosis: Pleophylla mlilwaneensis sp. nov. is rather similar to P. nelshoogteensis sp. nov. in the shape of parameres. It differs from the latter in having the distal basomedial tooth in the apical third of the left paramere (rather than having both in basal half).

Etymology: The new species is named after its type locality, the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland.