Pleophylla taitaensis, 2017

PLEOPHYLLA TAITAENSIS AHRENS, BECKETT, EBERLE & FABRIZI View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 4M – P View Figure 4 , 7 View Figure 7 )

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Type material examined: Holotype ♂ “ Kenya Taita Hills Wundanyi 18.3.- 22.3.1997 Lgt. M. Snizek [sic]” ( ZFMK) . Paratypes: 2 ♂♂ “ Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B. Kenya, Taita Hills Mbololo , III. 2001 I. G. 31.839 Leg. S. Sabari ” ( ISNB) .

Description: Body length: 11.5 mm, elytral length: 7.4 mm, maximum width: 5.4 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 1.5 times as wide as long; ratio of eye diameter/interocular width: 0.83. Pronotum with dense and thick erect setae; unicoloured; basal margin of pronotum complete; 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 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: 1/1.4. Metatibia, ratio of width/length: 1/4.13. Metatarsi dorsally smooth; first metatarsomere slightly longer than subsequent one. Aedeagus: Fig. 4M – O View Figure 4 . Habitus: Fig. 4P View Figure 4 .

Diagnosis: Pleophylla taitaensis sp. nov. differs from the very similar P. lizleri sp. nov. and P. charlyi sp. nov. by the ventral lobes of parameres being symmetrical and not extended dorsally.

Variation: Body length: 10.4 – 11.5 mm, elytral length: 7.4 – 7.8 mm, maximum width: 5.4 – 5.6 mm. Female unknown.

Etymology: The new species is named after its occurrence in the Taita Hills of Kenya.