Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871

Wagner, Thomas, 2020, Revision of Monolepta Chevrolat, 1836 species from North-East Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Bonn zoological Bulletin 69 (2), pp. 225-247 : 237-239

Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871

( Figs 7 , 15 )

Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871: 83 .

= Monolepta alternata Chapuis, 1879: 23 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta insignis Weise 1903: 212 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta sjöstedti Weise, 1909: 212 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta ugandaensis Laboissière, 1920 a: 52 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta lusingensis Laboissière, 1920 b: 98 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta bouvieri Laboissière, 1920 b: 98 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta striola Laboissière, 1920 b: 98 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

= Monolepta consociata Laboissière, 1920 b: 99 ; Wagner 2005: 264.

= Monolepta rugifrons Laboissière, 1920 b: 99 ; Wagner 2005: 264.

= Monolepta femoralis Laboissière 1940b: 66 ; Wagner 2005: 263.

Further material examined. 160 specimens, 46 find- ings. Botswana . 1 ex., Serowe , 22.54S / 26.42E, IX.1987, malaise trap, P. Forchhammer ( USNM). – Ethiopia . 1 ex., Wallo Prov. , 11.30N / 40.00E, V .1957, J. E. Lane ( USNM) ; 6 ex., Rock Valley nr. Harar, 9.19N / 42.8E, VI .1965, A. B. Gurney , entirely yellow, brownish abdomen, male with narrow brownish elytral base ( BMNH). – Ghana . 1 ex., Akosombo , 8.16N / 3.00E, VI .1973, L. Knutson ( USNM). – Ivory Coast . 7 ex., Tai NP, 174 m, 5.50N / 7.20W, canopy light, III.2017, Aristophanous et al. ( BMNH) ; 6 ex., Mt. Tonkoui peak, 7.27N / 7.38W, light, V .2016, Aristophanous et al. ( BMNH) ; 5 ex., Mt. Nimba camp, 7.35N / 8.25W, 823 m, V .2016, Aristophanous et al. ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Kromambira vill., 8.30N / 3.37W, 220 m, VIII .2016, Aristophanous et al. ( BMNH) ; 23 ex., Yeale Village, Mt. Nimba , 7.32N / 8.25W, IV.2016, Aristopahnous et al. ( BMNH). – Kenya . 1 ex., Chuyulu Hills , 2.35S / 37.50E, VI .1938 ( USNM); 1 ex., Malindi , 3.13S / 40.07E, V .1940, G. W. Jeffery ( USNM) ; 3 ex., Tsavo NP, Kitani Lodge , 3.05S / 38.40E, I.1968, Krombein & Spangler ( USNM) ; 3 ex., Amboseli GR, 2.38S / 37.14E, I.1968, blacklite, Krombein & Spangler ( USNM). – Liberia . 1 ex., Mt. Coffee , 6.30N / 10.39W, V .1897, coll. O. F. Cook ( USNM); 1 ex., Bendija , 1940, W. M. Mann ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Cape Mount , 7.10N / 11.00W, 1940, W. M. Mann ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Reputa , 1940, W. M. Mann ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Tropita , IX.1952, on Citrus , coll. Blicken- staff ( USNM). – Nigeria . 3 ex., Olokemeji , 7.20N / 4.03E, IV.1936, van Zwaluwenburg & McGough ( USNM) ; 3 ex., Ibadan , 7.23N / 3.56E, V .1936, van Zwaluwenburg & McGough ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Gindiri , 9.34N / 9.14E, XII .1968 ( USNM); 1 ex., Samaru Lake , 11.09N / 7.41E, II.1978, Don & Mignon Davis ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Gashaka Gundi NP, 7.19N / 11.35E, IV.2010 ( BMNH). – Sierra Leone . 5 ex., Tiwai Island , 7.33N / 11.21W, 120 m, VI 2016, Takano et al. ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Outambi-Kilimi NP, 9.40N / 12.10W, IX.2009, malaise trap, Takano et al. ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Njala , 8.00N / 10.00W, XI.1916, van Zwaluwenburg & McGough ( USNM) ; 9 ex., Kambana, Moa Riv- er, 7.33N / 11.05W, VI .2016, light trap, Takano et al. ( BMNH) ; 5 ex., Tiwai Island, Moa River , 7.33N / 11.21W, VI .2016, light trap, Takano et al. ( BMNH) ; 5 ex., Loma Mountains , 1050 m, 9.11N / 11.05W, VI .2016. light trap, Takano et al. ( BMNH). – South Africa . 3 ex., Nysvley , 24.29S / 28.42E, VI .1976, B. Levey ( BMNH). – South

Sudan. 1 ex., Kajokaji , 3.53E / 31.40E, IV.1912, gift ex. MCZ Dupl. Series ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Gilo , 4.02/ 32.51E, X.1979, A. L. Armstrong ( USNM) . – Tanzania. 1 ex., Lake Manyara, 3.36S / 35.56E, 1926, Smithsonian Chrys- ler Exp. ( USNM) ; 5 ex., Est-Usambara, Amani , IX.2003, Th. Wagner ( ZFMK) ; 26 ex., Kilimamoja, Kibaone , 3.23S / 35.49E, IV.2012, Light trap, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 8 ex., Orekeryan, Mt. Longido , 2.43S / 36.43E, VIII.2012, light trap, Smith et al. ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Giting, Mt. Hanang , 4.24S / 35.24E, 1946 m, XI.2011, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Mt. Meru NP; 3.14S / 36.50E, IV.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Ndarak- wai, 3.01S / 36.59E, 1310 m, IV.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Maskati, Nguru Mits. , 6.03S / 37.29E, 1759m, X.2010, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 7 ex., Mt. Hanang , 4.24S / 35.24E, 2434 m, V.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) . – Uganda. 1 ex., Kampala, 0.19N / 32.35E, VI.1940, A. F. J. Gedye ( USNM) . – Zambia. 2 ex., Kalungu, N. of Isoka , 9.41S / 32.43E, 1280 m, XI.2016, Smith et al. ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Lukuli River, Manda NP, 12.15S / 30.53E, XI.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Nkwali, S. Lungwa , 13.07S / 31.44E, XI.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) ; 3 ex., Greystone, Kitwe , 12.55S / 28.14E, 1179 m, XI.2012, Smith & Takano ( BMNH) . – Zimbabwe. 2 ex. Malvern , 26.12S / 28.06E, X.1897 ( USNM) .

Remarks. A detailed redescription was published in Wagner (2005, 2016). The type specimen of the valid name was described from Mombasa, Kenya. One of the numerous synonyms, Monolepta alternata , was described from Ethiopia. It is characterized by the black head and broad transversal bands (similar to Fig. 15 Ac). One of the most abundant and wide spread species of Monolepta in Africa. Up to now ( Wagner 2005, 2016) data on 3112 specimens out of 729 findings were studied.

Diagnosis. Monolepta vincta is most similar and very closely related to M. melanogaster and M. lepida . Both species are on average larger, and thus specimens small- er than 3.8 mm total length belong mainly to M. vincta . However, there is a high overlap in body size to M. lepida which is sympatric to M. vincta in North-East Africa. Next to the male genitalic patterns ( Figs 14D , 15D–F ), good diagnostic external characters are the lesser elongated second and third antennomeres and the broader pronotum in M. vincta (details see diagnosis of M. lepida ). Other similar species like M. melanogaster Wiedemann, 1823 , M. buquetii Chevrolat, 1836 , M. sharonae Wagner, 2005 , or M. ronbeeneni Wagner, 2005 occur only in southern and western Africa.

Distribution and ecology. This species is widely distributed and abundant in most parts of tropical Africa, but with increasing rarity in southern Africa ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

Fig. 7. Distribution of M. marginethoracica, M. nigropicta, M. vincta, M. lepida.

Fig. 15. Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871. A. Seven different colour patterns. B. Basal antennomeres, males. C. Dto., females. D. Median lobe, a. lateral, b. dorsal, c. ventral, without endophallic structures. E–F. Dto., variations. G. Spermathecae. H. Bursa-sclerite, dorsal. I. Dto., ventral.

Fig. 14. Monolepta lepida Reiche, 1858. A. Two different 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.