Monolepta leuce Weise, 1903

Wagner, Thomas, 2020, Revision of Monolepta Chevrolat, 1836 species from North-East Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Bonn zoological Bulletin 69 (2), pp. 225-247 : 242-243

Monolepta leuce Weise, 1903

( Figs 4 , 19 )

Monolepta leuce Weise, 1903: 214 .

= Monolepta puncticeps var. A. Chapuis, 1879: 24.

Further material examined. 49 specimens, 17 find- ings. Eritrea . 7 ex., Umg. Asmara , 15.20N / 39.00E, VII .2001, L. & M. Stalmans ( IRSN). – Ethiopia . 15 ex., Alemaya , 9.24N / 42.01E, Bob Hill, Celtis Africana, VI .1964 ( USNM); 1 ex., Wolisso, Ghion , 8.32N / 37.58E, VI .1965, A. B. Gurney ( USNM) ; 5 ex., Rock Valley nr. Harar, VI .1965, A. B. Gurney ( USNM) ; 5 ex., Alemaya, VI .1965, A. B. Gurney ( USNM) ; 2 ex., Jimma , 7.40N / 36.50E, VII .1965, A. B. Gurney ( USNM) ; 3 ex., Addis , IV.1971, B. Feinstein ( USNM). – Kenya . 1 ex., Lombwua , 0.02S / 37.35E, Sandb. ( NHRS) ; 1 ex., Mt. Elgon , V . Clausnitzer ( ZFMK) ; 1 ex., 30 min., NW Nairobi , I.1968, K. V . Krombein ( USNH) ; 1 ex., Nyeri, 0.25S / 36.57E, II.1968, P. J. Spangler ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Gatamayu , 0.58S / 36.42E, 2330 m, II.1999, Th. Wagner ( ZMFK) ; 1 ex., L. Naivasha, 0.23S / 36.26E, sweeping Lake margin, X.2005 (CDr). – Tanzania . 1 ex., Ngorongoro , 3.11S / 35.34E, VIII .1978, G. Scudder ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Segera Camp am Highway Hotel , 5.19S / 38.33E, 325 m, 23.II.2008, U Heinig (CHe) ; 1 ex., Gonja, Chome NR, Soth Pare Mts. , 4.15S / 37.58E, XII .2011, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 2 ex., Mt. Meru NP; 3.14S / 36.50E, IV.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) .

Remarks. A detailed redescription was published in Wagner (2007b) that based on 755 studied specimens. Next to the female lectotype from Tanzania “Type / Mombo 7.99 / Monolepta leuce m. / ex. coll. J. Weise” (MNHB), a „variation type“ of Monolepta puncticeps var. A., a species synonymised with M. cruciata Guérin de Méneville, 1847 was described from Ethiopia “Abyss. Raffray / Monolepta puncticeps Chap. Type var.”. The younger name M. leuce has priority since the older name is infra-subspecific and thus not available, because a sin- gle letter as species name is not conform with the ICZN rules (cf. 11.9.1.).

Diagnosis. Most similar to M. pauperata which occurs allopatrically in lowland areas of Western Africa and can be easily distinguished by completely yellowish-red underside and the distinct elytral coloration. Monolepta deleta that is sympatric in Kenyan and Tanzanian High-

Revision of Monolepta Chevrolat, 1836 species from North-East Africa 243 lands, is on average smaller, elytra are broader and the pronotum is narrower and more bulged than in M. leuce . Most evident are the complete black antenna and legs of M. deleta . There are very few M. cruciata with pale elytral coloration similar to M. leuce ( Figs 13 Ad, 19A), but there is at least at black spot at humerus and black subhumeral margins.

Distribution and ecology. An abundant species of predominantely montane areas along the East African Rift from Eritrea through Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania southwards to Lake Malawi ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

Fig. 4. Distribution of M. postrema, M. leuce.

Fig. 19. Monolepta leuce Weise, 1903. A. Colour patterns. B. Basal antennomeres, males. C. Dto., females. D. Median lobe, a. lateral, b. dorsal, c. ventral, without endophallic structures.E. Spermathecae. F. Bursa-sclerite, dorsal. G. Dto., ventral.

Fig. 13. Monolepta cruciata Guérin de Méneville, 1847. A. Four different colour patterns. B. Basal antennomeres, males. C. Dto., females. D. Median lobe, a. lateral, b. dorsal. E. Dto., variation a. lateral, b. dorsal, c. ventral, without endophallic structures. F. Spermathecae. G. Bursa-sclerite, dorsal. H. Dto., ventral.