Monolepta vinosa 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 : 239

Monolepta vinosa Gerstaecker, 1871

( Figs 12 , 16 )

Monolepta vinosa Gerstaecker, 1871: 83 .

= Monolepta haroldi Chapuis, 1879: 22 ; Wagner 2007: 106.

= Monolepta buraensis Laboissière, 1920: 52 ; Wagner 2007: 106.

= Monolepta melanocta Laboissiere, 1931b: 45 ; Wagner 2007: 106.

= Monolepta neghellia Laboissière, 1938: 146 ; Wagner 2007: 106.

= Monolepta huamboensis Laboissière, 1939 ; Wagner 2007: 106.

Further material examined. 27 specimens, 10 findings. Ivory Coast . 2 ex., 25 km N Bouake , 7.50N / 5.00W, X.1971, black light trap, J. A. Gruwell ( USNM). – Kenya . 1 ex., Rabur , 0.08S / 34.49E, XI.1967, C. V. Reichart ( USNM). – Mocambique . 12 ex., Delagoa Bay , 25.58S / 32.25E, F. C. Bowditch, gift ex. MCZ Dupl. Series ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Beira , 19.49S / 34.52E, F. Monros coll 1959 ( USNM). – South Africa . 1 ex., Durban , 29.51S / 31.01E, F. C. Bowditch, gift ex. MCZ Dupl. Series ( USNM). – South Sudan . 1 ex., Lado Distr. , Nimule, 3.36N / 32.04E, X.1912 ( USNM). – Tanzania . 1 ex., Ukiriguru , 2.43S / 33.01E, VI.1969, I. A. D. Robert- son ( BMNH). – Uganda . 1 ex., „Lado Distr.“, Wadalai , 2.50N / 32.35E, X.1912 ( USNM). – Zambia . 1 ex., 27 km E of Solwezi , 12.11S / 26.30E, XI.2005 ( NME) ; 6 ex., Kalungu , N. of Isoka, 9.41S / 32.43E, 1280 m, XI.2016, Smith et al. ( BMNH) .

Remarks. A detailed redescription was published in Wagner (2007b, 2016). Type specimens for the valid name originated from Northern Tanzania. Two synonyms, Monolepta haroldi “Regione da boschiva Goudet ad Adoua 1000–2000 m 1873 / Abyss. Raffray“ (MCGD), coloration similar to Fig. 16 Ab, and Monolepta neghellia “Cotype / Miss. E. Zavattari nei Borana A. O. I. Moralev. 1937” (ZMUH), coloration similar to Fig. 16 Aa but with entirely black head, were described from Ethiopia. Up to now 1388 specimens out of 262 findings are revised.

Diagnosis. Monolepta vinosa is one of the largest African Monolepta species (total length 4.3–7.1 mm), and most specimens with cross-like elytral pattern longer than 5.5 mm belong to this species. The colour pattern of extended black elytral base, entirely red suture, a subapi- cal black spot that is finely reddish margined ( Fig. 16 Ac) is very characteristic and allows an easy differentiation from all other species. Some specimens with reduced red suture ( Fig. 16 Ac) are somewhat similar to very few large M. cruciata and the syntopic M. euchroma . In those specimens a dissection of the genitalia in both sexes with characteristic structures allows a clear differentiation ( Figs 5 , 13 , 16 ). For more details for M. euchroma see there.

Distribution and ecology. One of the most abundant Afrotropical species of Monolepta , mainly from savannahs but also known from forest regions ( Fig. 12 ).

Figures

Fig. 12. Distribution of M. ephippiata, M. gobensis, M. vinosa.

Fig. 16. Monolepta vinosa Gerstaecker, 1871. A. Three 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.

Fig. 5. Monolepta euchroma Fairmaire, 1883. A. Colour pattern. 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.