Pleophylla stalsi, 2017

PLEOPHYLLA STALSI AHRENS, BECKETT, EBERLE & FABRIZI View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 4Q – T View Figure 4 , 5O View Figure 5 , 6)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0F7D7614-7CFD-44C3-9AAC-398093991B09

Type material examined: Holotype: ♂ “ South Africa: MPU Graskop 5 km on Pilgrimsrest rd 24 ° 56 0 S 30.47E 12.XI.2005 1639 m W. Breytenbach / Collected from Protea caffra ( Proteaceae ) many leaves were beaten” ( SANC) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: see Appendix S1.

Description: Body length: 9.9 mm, elytral length: 6.7 mm, maximum width: 5.1 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: 0.64. Pronotum apparently glabrous (with only a few erect setae anteriorly, otherwise with only minute setae); unicoloured; basal margin of pronotum complete; larger punctures absent from pronotum. Hypomeron not carinate. Elytra with dark spots; erect dorsal pilosity on elytra sparse (fewer than ten setae per interval); sutural interval in apical declivity of elytra distinctly elevated but convex; 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/ 1.38. Metatibia, ratio of width/length: 1/3.94. Metatarsi dorsally smooth; first metatarsomere as long as subsequent one. Aedeagus: Fig. 4Q – S View Figure 4 . Habitus: Fig. 4T View Figure 4 . Female genitalia: Fig. 5O View Figure 5 .

Diagnosis: Pleophylla stalsi sp. nov. differs from all other Pleophylla species by the short white pilosity on the dorsal surface, and the almost absent erect pilosity on the pronotum.

Variation: Body length: 9.9 – 10.4 mm, elytral length: 6.6 – 6.7 mm, maximum width: 4.6 – 5.1 mm. Density of dark spots may vary, often body reddish brown and completely without spots. Female: antennal club of female straight, composed of five antennomeres, as long as the remaining antennomeres combined; sixth antennomere shorter than a quarter of club length. Eyes smaller than in male: ratio of eye diameter/interocular width: 0.5.

Etymology: This new species is dedicated to Riaan Stals ( SANC) in gratitude for his support of our research in South Africa.