Strotocera spinosa, ., 2022

Strotocera spinosa sp. n.

( Fig. 8, 26-33)

ZooBank:http://zoobank.org/16E231AA-7FE0-48E4-AA9F-3DC5FB970A10

Holotype, ♂. – Zimbabwe, Masvingo Prov ., 15 km W Birchenogu [= Birchenough], BR. 600 m, 1.12.2005, leg. Halada (SMNS) .

Paratypes. – 2 ex., Tanzania mer. c. 950 m, 50 km NW Iringa, 7.-9.1.2007, 7°40'S; 35°22'E, leg. F. Kantner, pr. Iringa (1 ex. RGCM, 1 ex. SMNS). GoogleMaps

Description

Diagnosis. – Strotocera spinosa sp. n. specimens can be easily separated from all other Strotocera species by its characteristic spine at the protibial end. The most similar species, S. werneri Gerstmeier & Weiss, 2009 , is longer (10.7 mm in length) and has red brown legs ( S. spinosa sp. n. has black legs and brown tarsi).

Length. – 8.25-8.75 mm (3 specimens measured).

Head. – Head including eyes slightly wider than pronotal anterior margin, red brown, glossy, with very fine and diffuse punctation;with long, erect, light hairs. Eyes conspicuously protruding, eye width 0.38-0.40 mm, eye distance 0.78-0.80 mm, index 1.95-2.05. Antennae red brown to dark brown, short, stout, not reaching base when extended backwards; from A6 dilated inwards and with pubescence, from A7 wider than long; A11 with broad base, outer side slightly, evenly curved, inner side ventricose and almost pulling straight towards tip, in all only slightly pointed.

Pronotum. – Longer than wide, widest behind middle (l = 2.25-2.40 mm, w = 1.40-1.54 mm, length to width index 1:1.53-1.64), subparallel, constricted towards base, widest just behind middle (not really sinuate), anterior margin finely bulging, anterior transverse depression weak but visible, middle area anterior of transverse depression smooth, front extremity and sides wrinkled with very diffuse, weak punctation, behind transverse depression smooth with very fine, weak punctation; pronotum with relatively long, light, erect hairs, partially directed anteriorly.

Scutellum . – Roundish, posterior margin slightly emarginated.

Elytra . – Elytral base margined, elytra long, narrow (l = 5.50-5.58 mm, w = 1.80-1.96 mm, width to length index 1: 2.85-3.06), subparallel, apices very broadly, separately rounded, with conspicuous punctation, the first two rows (near suture) regular, then not so strongly regular, the punctures partially in wider distance, row 1 extending towards middle, rows 2-6 towards second third, from row 7 onwards shorter again and quite irregular, diameter of punctation mostly larger than interstices, punctures partially longitudinal, interstices partially with small punctation in between, last third almost smooth, only with diffuse, small punctation, apex more densely punctated, puntures large, but flattened; with long, light, erect hairs and shorter, posteriorly directed hairs.

Legs. – Short, stout, femora and tibiae dark red brown or black, tarsi brown, becoming lighter distally, pro- and mesotibiae almost straight, hind tibiae very slightly curved basally, outer side margin of protibial end shortly, ridge-like curved outwards, looking like a spine ( Fig. 33); claws including denticle long, stout. Tarsal soles very slightly emarginated.

Lower surface. – Posterior margin of gula bulging, inclined inwards, pads spherical, coming nearer in the middle. Palpi brown. Prosternal process relatively long, narrow, slightly dilated distally, partially covered by the roundish hypomeral tips. Without anterior mesoventral process, anterior margin of mesoventrite almost straight.

Genitalia. – See Fig. 26-32.

Distribution. – Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

Etymology. – The specific epithet, spinosa , a Latin adjective, refers to the spine-like ridge at the protibial end.