Pleophylla nelshoogteensis, 2017

PLEOPHYLLA NELSHOOGTEENSIS AHRENS, BECKETT, EBERLE & FABRIZI View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 2M – P View Figure 2 , 5D View Figure 5 , 6)

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Type material examined: Holotype: ♂ “ S. Afr; Tv. Nelshoogte Forest Station 25.50 S - 30.50 E / 2.12.1986 E-Y: 2346 UV-light collection leg. Endrody-Younga ” ( TMSA) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: see Appendix S1.

Description: Body length: 9.6 mm, elytral length: 6.3 mm, maximum width: 4.6 mm. Angle between lateral margins of labroclypeus and ocular canthus indistinct; anterior margin of labroclypeus medially straight; margins of labroclypeus moderately reflexed; smooth area in front of eyes twice as wide as long; ratio of eye diameter/interocular width: 0.77. Pronotum with dense and thick erect setae; unicoloured; basal margin of pronotum narrowly interrupted medially (distinctly less than scutellum width); larger punctures on pronotum very coarse. 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 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: 1/1.5. Metatibia, ratio of width/length: 1/ 4.14. Metatarsi dorsally smooth; first metatarsomere as long as subsequent one. Aedeagus: Fig. 2M – O View Figure 2 . Habitus: Fig. 2P View Figure 2 . Female genitalia: Fig. 5D View Figure 5 .

Diagnosis: Pleophylla nelshoogteensis sp. nov. differs from P. pilosa in the parameres by having the ventral lobe in lateral view wider and shorter, and from P. pseudopilosa by the base of left paramere being widened, the base of dorsal lobe of left paramere with a double medial tooth.

Variation: Body length: 7.1 – 9.6 mm, elytral length: 5.6 – 6.5 mm, maximum width: 3.9 – 4.8 mm. Density of dark spot may vary slightly, but never completely without spots. Female: antennal club of female straight, composed of five antennomeres, slightly longer than the remaining antennomeres combined; sixth antennomere subequal one to three quarters of club length. Eyes smaller than in male: ratio of eye diameter/interocular width: 0.5.

Etymology: The new species is named after its type locality, Nelshoogte Forest Station.

Remarks: In a previous publication we referred to this species as ‘sp1A’ (Ozg € ul-Siemund € & Ahrens, 2015).