Ebenacobius duplicatus Haran gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: ADCA7273-EAD1-4701-A4BD-3C76BAA93182

Figs 2C, 4E, 6C

Differential diagnosis

Ebenacobius duplicatus Haran gen. et sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the distinct two rows of more or less well aligned punctures on elytral striae 1 to 8. Some specimens of E. costalis gen. et comb. nov. have irregular striae (Fig. 1E), but they never form two rows throughout the length of the striae.

Etymology

This species is named in reference to its peculiar striae, forming two parallel rows of punctures.

Type material

Holotype REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; “S. Afr. [REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA]; Limpopo Prov. Soutpans, near vivo. 10.1.2009; T. Beyers ” “Holotype; Ebenacobius duplicatus; Haran 2022”; TMSA.

Paratypes REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA – Limpopo Province • 1 ♂; Tshipisie, 22°36′ E, 30°10′ S; 11 Dec. 2005; Gussmann and Müller leg.; light trap; E-Y: 3693; TMSA • 1 ♀; Amatola farm, Soutpans; 22°56′ S, 29°23′ E; 17 Dec. 2003; R. Müller leg.; light trap; E-Y:3600; TMSA . – Mpumalanga Province • 3 ♀♀; Kruger National Park, Skukuza-Sabi River; 24°57′ S, 31°42′ E; 22 Feb. 1995; Endrödy-Younga leg.; riverinefor-litter; E-Y:3111; TMSA • 1 ♂; Kruger National Park, Shirombe Pan; 22°44′ S, 31°24′ E; 24 Jan. 1984; M.W. Mansell leg. SANC • 1 ♂; Kruger National Park, Skukuza Research Camp; 25°00′ S, 31°35′ E; 1–16 Dec. 2010; James Harrison leg.; UV light trap; TMSA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; CBGP • 3 ♀♀; Kruger National Park, Skukuza Research Camp; 24°59′54.7″ S 31°35′42.7″ E; 12–14 Dec 1985; S. and J. Peck; thornscrub and riverine lightraps; CMN.

Description

Male

BODY LENGTH. 3.0–4.0 mm.

COLOUR. Body integument brown to pale brown, apical ⅓ on tibiae, temples and rostrum dark brown; prothorax with two longitudinal dark strips on each side of the median line; basal 3/4 of elytra with a dense network of transverse shades; dorsum (prothorax + elytra) with short recumbent whitish setae forming 1–2 rows on each interstria, not concealing the integument.

HEAD. Rostrum as long as prothorax in lateral view, strongly and regularly downcurved; underside with a row of long setae, almost as long as 1 st segment of funicle, integument forming an angle before apex; in dorsal view covered with recumbent setae, more densely condensed basally; antennae inserted near apical ⅓ of length; head capsule coarsely punctate in dorsal view, with a short seta on each puncture, forming more dense tuft near dorsal margin on eyes; eyes slightly convex, moderately exceeding the lateral curve of head capsule in dorsal view; antennal funicle with segment 1 elongate, 2× longer than wide, as long as 2–4, 5–7 wider than long.

PROTHORAX. Variable in shape; slightly wider than long (W:L ratio: 1.16), widest at middle of length or in basal half, as wide as or narrower than elytra at humeral angles; sides slightly rounded or subparallel in basal half; apical constriction as long as width of apex of funicle; basal margin impressed near scutellar shield; integument densely punctate, space between punctures smooth and shiny, narrower than or equal to diameter of punctures; setae recumbent, oriented toward scutellar shield; prosternal process inserted between procoxae, directed anteriorly, truncate at apex.

ELYTRA. Sides subparallel in basal half, widest near middle of length (W:L ratio: 0.75); humeri raised; apex jointly rounded; striae made of two subparallel rows of punctures, wider than interstriae, interstriae convex, 9 forming a carina; scutellar shield rounded, glabrous.

ABDOMEN. Underside covered with small non-contiguous whitish setae.

LEGS. Profemora moderately thickened near middle of length; protibiae with external margin straight, meso and meta tibiae curved outward in apical half; tibiae armed with a small apical mucro; claws simple.

TERMINALIA. Body of penis elongate (W:L ratio: 0.38), slightly shorter that apodemes, widest at base, sides subparallel, narrowing in apical 1/5, apex acuminate; in lateral view curvature strong in basal half, straight in apical half, widening from base to apical 1/4, narrowing apicad in apical 1/4 (Fig. 6C).

Sexual dimorphism

Females can be distinguished from males by their rostrum which is narrower in dorsal view and less downcurved in lateral view than in ♂♂.

Remarks

The male specimens of this species show substantial variation of size and shape of prothorax,

Life history

The host plant of this species is unknown. Adult specimens were collected in December, January and February in leaf litter or using light traps.

Distribution

Republic of South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces).