Clypeolus hallae Brown, Leschen & Groenteman, 2025

Clypeolus hallae Brown, Leschen & Groenteman sp. nov.

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( Figures 1–14 View FIGURES 1–2 View FIGURES 3–10 )

Description: Body length 4.31 mm to 5.54 mm ( x̄ = 4.80 mm, s = 0.52, n = 4), height 2.21 mm to 2.85 mm ( x̄ = 2.50 mm, s = 0.27, n = 4).

In fresh specimens, all surfaces densely covered with broad, ribbed, loosely appressed, subcircular scales predominantly light grey or light bluish grey in colour, but with scattered mottling of black scales ( Figures 1–2 View FIGURES 1–2 ). These black scales form a vague semicircle on the pronotum anda dark, diffusely hourglass-shaped area on the centre of the elytral disc from the anterior 1/3 to the elytral declivity. This darker area roughly outlines a medial pale area on the anterior 1/3 of the elytral disc and a vague oblique pale strip originating from the midpoint of interstria 8 and extending to interstria 4 at the elytral declivity. A patch of bright scales forms a small macula towards elytral apex, at junction between interstriae 5 and 8. Dorsum without extensive narrow, erect scales; though some broad scales clothing the dorsum are inclined, resulting in an unkempt, shaggy appearance.

Head: Tuft of erect pale scales in front of eyes. Vertex between eyes clothed with scales of similar colour to behind eyes and pronotum.

Rostrum: Females with rostrum longer and thinner than males, length 1.33 mm to 1.70 mm ( x̄ = 1.52 mm, s = 0.26, n = 2), width 0.51 mm to 0.55 mm ( x̄ = 0.53 mm, s = 0.03, n = 2), length/width ratio 2.61 to 3.09 ( x̄ = 2.85, s = 0.34, n = 2), bare at apex, epifrons flattened. Males with rostrum shorter and wider, length 1.23 mm to 1.25 mm ( x̄ = 1.24 mm, s = 0.01, n = 2), width 0.53 mm to 0.54 mm ( x̄ = 0.54 mm, s = 0.01, n = 2), length/width ratio 2.28 to 2.36 ( x̄ = 2.32, s = 0.06, n = 2), scaled to apex, epifrons weakly convex. Antennae inserted about midpoint.

Antennae: Scape densely squamose; short, about as long as first two funicle segments combined. Funicle segments 1 and 2 subequal in length, about 2 × longer than segment 3; segments getting consecutively shorter and broader distad. Club fusiform, segment 1 making up about 1/2 total length of club.

Pronotum: Length 1.45 mm to 1.91 mm ( x̄ = 1.65 mm, s = 0.20, n = 4), width across anterior margin 1.04 mm to 1.30 mm ( x̄ = 1.13 mm, s = 0.12, n = 4), width across posterior margin 1.93 mm to 2.52 mm ( x̄ = 2.15 mm, s = 0.26, n = 4), ratio of length to width across posterior margin 0.75 to 0.80 ( x̄ = 0.77, s = 0.03, n = 4). Anterior margin medially emarginate, flanked by tufts of erect scales. In dorsal view, lateral margins weakly sinuous: constricted in anterior 1/3, subparallel in posterior 2/3, resulting in the posterior margin being 1.9 × the width of the anterior margin. Disc of pronotum in posterior portion convex, but not strongly; a medial carina present. Dorsal margin of pronotum in lateral view level. Posterior margin straight. Pleural area convex, slightly paler than disc, but not strongly contrasting; evenly curved to disc, without a strong demarcation between the two.

Elytra: Length 3.25 mm to 4.05 mm ( x̄ = 3.46 mm, s = 0.40, n = 4), width across widest point (approximately mid-length) 2.52 mm to 3.32 mm ( x̄ = 2.87 mm, s = 0.34, n = 4), length/width ratio 1.14 to 1.29 ( x̄ = 1.21, s = 0.06, n = 4). Humeri projecting anteriad of posterior margin of pronotum. Base of interstriae 3 and 5 slightly swollen, 5 more so than 3. Elytral striae with large, rectangular punctures, usually concealed by vestiture. Disc with inconspicuous fascicles of raised scales on interstria 2 before the declivity and interstria 5 at summit of declivity. The lateral pale patches are subtle, but can be discerned; not reaching forward to humeri but starting at about the anterior 1/4. Interstria 8 subcarinate, especially posterior of the midpoint. Disc level in lateral view, on same plane as the pronotal disc; lateral margins descending strongly, such that the apex is substantially below the abdomen. Apex broadly rounded in dorsal view.

Legs: All femora bearing a short, acute ventral tooth in distal 1/3, often somewhat obscured by scales.

Abdomen: Ventrite 1 evenly convex in females; concave in males. Paired dark maculae flanking medial line of ventrite 2.

Male genitalia ( Figures 3–6 View FIGURES 3–10 ): Penis with apex acuminate; ventral surface poorly sclerotised; two large rectangular sclerites present toward the base of penis, apparently dorsally positioned and free; base somewhat produced anteriad and truncate ( Figure 3 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Temones very long, nearly 3 × as long as body of penis; width fairly even throughout length, but narrowing towards penis; joined to penis subbasally ( Figure 4 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Endophallus with large, strongly sclerotised, Y-shaped sclerite and fields of papillae ( Figure 3 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Tegmen incomplete, broken on dorsum between parameroid lobes; ring broad, especially ventrally in the transition to the manubrium; parameroid lobes large, nearly as long at body of penis, clothed with stout setae proximally and elongate setae apically ( Figure 3 View FIGURES 3–10 ); manubrium about 1.5 × as long as parameroid lobes. Spiculum gastrale shorter than temones ( Figure 5 View FIGURES 3–10 ); arms of basal plate lobate, widely divergent ( Figure 6 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Hemisternites 8 narrow ( Figure 6 View FIGURES 3–10 ).

Female genitalia ( Figures 7–10 View FIGURES 3–10 ): Tergite 8 strongly sclerotised, isosceles trapezium-shaped with the apical margin narrower than the basal margin, broadly emarginate and strongly toothed ( Figure 7 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Styli subcylindrical, apically clothed with numerous setae ( Figure 8 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Hemisternites elongate, broader at base than at apex in dorsal view ( Figure 8 View FIGURES 3–10 ); broadest in middle in lateral view ( Figure 9 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Vagina and bursa copulatrix membranous, no sclerites present in either part; common oviduct inserted just apicad of middle. Spermatheca semi-circular, apex broadly rounded, no apparent projection for insertion of the lobe or duct; gland large, globular ( Figure 9 View FIGURES 3–10 ). Sternite 8 large, total length about as long as ovipositor; basal plate about 2/3 the length of the spiculum ventrale, broadly lobed apically, bearing fine setae, weakly sclerotised medially, posterior angles square ( Figure 10 View FIGURES 3–10 ).

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Larvae: Body length 3.33 mm to 6.23 mm ( x̄ = 5.05 mm, s = 0.97, n = 9); prothorax height 1.20 mm to 2.10 mm ( x̄ = 1.61 mm, s = 0.27, n = 9); stout, strongly curved, tapering posteriad. Head width 0.94 mm to 1.51 mm ( x̄ = 1.18 mm, s = 0.18, n = 9), hypognathus; strongly pigmented red-brown darkening to black along oral margin, sutures pallid, two broad pallid lines either side of middle of vertex isolating two red-brown crescents at top of head; frontal sutures conspicuous, straight not undulate; endocarinal line present, about 1/2 length of frons; anterior margin entire. Two pairs of ocelli present; anterior pair large, circular, positioned on frontal suture near base of mandible; posterior pair faint, ring-shaped, positioned near dorsoepicranial seta 5. Antennae conical. Tormae strongly sclerotised, divergent apicad. Pronotum variably pigmented, glabrous. Premental sclerite trident-shaped with lateral arms smoothly arcuate and with basal arm acuminate. Prothorax with large oval spiracle. Prosternum slightly pigmented. Setae pallid, generally short and inconspicuous, but with longer setae on the dorsum of Abd 6–9. Abdominal segments with three dorsal folds; spiracles small, circular, poorly pigmented. Anus terminal, 4-lobed.