Pleophylla wakkerstroomensis, 2017

PLEOPHYLLA WAKKERSTROOMENSIS AHRENS, BECKETT, EBERLE & FABRIZI View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 4U – X View Figure 4 , 6)

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Type material examined: Holotype: ♂ “835047 X-DA1676 South Africa Free State: Wakkerstro [o]m ( Wetland Lodge env.); 1802 m 27 ° 20 0 19, 6 ″ S 30 ° 09 0 11, 1 ″ E 14.-15.XII.2007 leg. D. Ahrens & S. Fabrizi, Pleophylla spSAX2” ( ZFMK). GoogleMaps

Description: Body length: 10.4 mm, elytral length: 7.6 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: 0.55. Pronotum apparently glabrous (with only a few erect setae anteriorly, otherwise with only minute setae); unicoloured. Hypomeron not carinate. Basal margin of pronotum complete; larger punctures absent from pronotum. Elytra without dark spots; erect dorsal pilosity on elytra sparse (fewer 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 short, less than 1/4 of width of elytral intervals; external apical elytral angle evenly convex. Mesosternal process short. Ratio of length of metepisternum/metacoxa: 1/1.39. Metatibia, ratio of width/length: 1/4.06. Metatarsi dorsally smooth; first metatarsomere slightly longer than subsequent one. Aedeagus: Fig. 4U – W View Figure 4 . Habitus: Fig. 4X View Figure 4 .

Diagnosis: Pleophylla wakkerstroomensis sp. nov. is in external appearance rather similar to P. stalsi sp. nov.; however, the dorsal pilosity is nearly completely absent in the first and the parameres differ significantly in shape: the ventral lobes are widened in lateral view and convexly rounded at the apex (whereas they are sharply pointed in P. stalsi sp. nov.).

Etymology: The new species is named after its type locality, Wakkerstroom, in South Africa.

Remarks: In a previous publication we referred to this species as ‘spX2’ ( Eberle et al., 2016b).