Hesperoides, a new “hairy” flea beetle genus from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Abstract

Hesperoides afromeridionalis gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa (Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal) is described. Despite some similarities with Hespera Weise, it exhibits major affinities with the genera attributed to the subtribe Aphthonini, especially with Aphthona Chevrolat and Montiaphthona Scherer. Data on distribution are supplied, along with preliminary ecological notes. Photomicrographs of main morphological characters, including male and female genitalia, and metafemoral extensor tendon are provided. Key to the six "hairy" flea beetle genera occurring in sub-Saharan African and their habitus photos are also given.

Unravelling the taxonomic assessment of an interesting new species from Socotra Island: Blepharidina socotrana sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…RUN (GOLOBOFF et al 2008b). Table 1; fi gures available in BIONDI et al 2017, D'ALESSANDRO et al 2018a. Head 1.…”

“…The list is still far from being complete, as demonstrated by the new species and genera recently described and by the huge amount of unidentifi ed material preserved in public collections and depositories (Biondi pers. data;BIONDI 2017;BIONDI & D'ALESSANDRO 2010a,b, 2012, 2013a,b, 2015, 2017a,b, 2018BIONDI et al 2017;D'ALESSANDRO & BIONDI 2018;D'ALESSANDRO et al 2014D'ALESSANDRO et al , 2018aDÖBERL 2010). As for Socotra Archipelago, notwithstanding the remarkable increase in the knowledge of the invertebrate biota in the last 20 years (HÁJEK & BEZDĚK 2012, 2017, it seems that the collecting effort to evaluate the actual insect diversity in this area has been insuffi cient (HÁJEK & BEZDĚK 2017).…”

“…data;BIONDI 2017;BIONDI & D'ALESSANDRO 2010a,b, 2012, 2013a,b, 2015, 2017a,b, 2018BIONDI et al 2017;D'ALESSANDRO & BIONDI 2018;D'ALESSANDRO et al 2014D'ALESSANDRO et al , 2018aDÖBERL 2010). As for Socotra Archipelago, notwithstanding the remarkable increase in the knowledge of the invertebrate biota in the last 20 years (HÁJEK & BEZDĚK 2012, 2017, it seems that the collecting effort to evaluate the actual insect diversity in this area has been insuffi cient (HÁJEK & BEZDĚK 2017). Based on most of the present data, the biota of Socotra Archipelago is composed mainly of Afrotropical elements, generally shared with Somali or Ethiopian areas, and, to a lesser extent, Palaearctic elements (BATELKA & BO-LOGNA 2014, MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2014, BIONDI & D'ALESSANDRO 2017b), and shows a remarkable endemism rate found at both species and genus level (BATELKA 2012, MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2014, BEZDĚK & HÁJEK 2017.…”

Ugandaltica gen. n., a tiny flea beetle from the forest canopy in Central Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

“…There is a higher species richness of flea beetles in the tropics of the southern hemisphere, even though our knowledge about this tribe is still incomplete for many of these areas (Biondi and D’Alessandro 2010a, 2012, Nadein and Beždek 2014). Based on our current knowledge, the whole Afrotropical region, including Madagascar, hosts about 1600 known species, ascribed to 101 different genera (Biondi and D’Alessandro 2010a, 2010b, 2012, 2013a, 2013b, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, Döberl 2010, D’Alessandro et al 2014, 2016, 2017, Biondi et al 2017, Biondi personal data); and sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, hosts 85 flea beetle genera of which about 65% are endemic (Biondi and D’Alessandro 2010a, 2012, Biondi 2017, Biondi et al 2017). One of the most interesting, but still poorly and/or methodologically incorrectly investigated habitats is the forest canopy (Wagner 2000, Basset et al 2003a, 2003b, Furth et al 2003, Charles and Basset 2005, Davis et al 2011).…”

Two new species of Chaetocnema Stephens from South Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, 86 flea beetle genera are recorded of which about 66% are endemic (Biondi 2017, Biondi & D'Alessandro 2010a, 2010b, 2011, 2013a, 2013b, 2016, 2017, 2018, Dö-berl 2010, 2014, 2017, Biondi et al 2017.…”