Pleophylla mpumalanga, 2017

PLEOPHYLLA MPUMALANGA AHRENS, BECKETT, EBERLE & FABRIZI View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 4A – D View Figure 4 , 6)

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Type material examined: Holotype: ♂ “ S. Afr.: KwaZuluNatal Tygerkloof 27.51 S 31.19 E / 28.10.2002: E-Y: 3563 grassland & forest leg. TMSA staff” ( TMSA) GoogleMaps . Paratype: 1 ♂ “ S. Afr.: KwaZulu Natal Ngome State forest / 27.48 S - 31.25 E; 18- 22.1.1993 Kr uger € & Dombrowsky” ( ZFMK) GoogleMaps .

Description: Body length: 12.1 mm, elytral length: 8.9 mm, maximum width: 6.1 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: 0.61. 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 carinate. Elytra with dark spots; erect dorsal pilosity on elytra dense (more than ten setae per interval); sutural interval in apical declivity of elytra distinctly elevated but convex; white, fine pilosity 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: 1/1.28. Metatibia, ratio of width/length: 1/4.2. Metatarsi dorsally smooth; first metatarsomere as long as subsequent one. Aedeagus: Fig. 4A – C View Figure 4 . Habitus: Fig. 4D View Figure 4 .

Diagnosis: Pleophylla mpumalanga sp. nov. differs from P. navicularis and P. silvatica sp. nov. in the thick, white pilosity of the elytra being condensed to longitudinal patches rather than being nearly evenly distributed.

Variation: Body length: 11.0 – 12.1 mm, elytral length: 8.7 – 8.9 mm, maximum width: 6.0 – 6.1 mm. Female: unknown.

Etymology: The new species is named ‘ mpumalanga ’ after its occurrence in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.