Monolepta lepida Reiche, 1858

Wagner, Thomas, 2020, Revision of Monolepta Chevrolat, 1836 species from North-East Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Bonn zoological Bulletin 69 (2), pp. 225-247 : 236

Monolepta lepida Reiche, 1858

( Figs 7 , 14 )

Monolepta lepida Reiche, 1858: 263 .

Further material examined. 40 specimens, 13 find- ings. 4 ex., “ Arab. ”, Ehrenb., 30391 ( MNHB). – Egypt . 1 ex., Gebel Elba , 22.11N / 36.21E, VI .1928, coll. Alfieri ( USNM); 1 ex., Oasis Feiran , 28.45N / 33.40E, V .1935, coll. Alfieri ( NHMB); 3 ex., Wadi Feran , II.–III.1935 Sinai, W. Wittmer ( NHMB) ; 9 ex., Gebel Elba , I.1933, III.1938, H. Priesner ( NHMB) ; 1 ex., Wadi Isla, Bir Tarfa , S-Sinai, 32.00N / 34.18E, V .1940, coll. Alfieri ( USNM). –

Jordan. 6 ex., Wadi Schaib , 200 m, XI.1957, J. Klapperich ( USNM) ; 1 ex., 5 km N Mabada , 31.46N / 35.48E, IV.1994, Volkovich ( USNM) . – Oman. 1 ex., Dhofar, 18.00N / 54.00E, X.1979, T. B. Larsen ( USNM) . – Palestine. 2 ex., Jericho , 31.51N / 35.27E, IV.1899, Pic 1899 ( MNHN) ; 4 ex., Wadi Aczajot, Engedi Distr. , 31.27N / 35.23E, IV.1994, Volkovich ( USNM) . – Syria. 2 ex., Baly coll. ( BMNH) . – Yemen. 5 ex., Jabal al Tark , 16.40N / 53.05E, X.2005, M. Rejzek ( BMNH) .

Remarks. A detailed redescription was published in Wagner (2005). The holotype originates from Jerusalem (MNHN). 72 specimens out of 26 findings are listed in Wagner (2005), and further 58 specimens in 28 findings in Schlich & Wagner (2010).

Diagnosis. Most similar to M. vincta and both species occur sympatrically in north-east Africa. Including M. melanogaster from southern Africa, these three species are most likely a monophyletic group within Monolepta that can be derived from the similarity in external characters, coloration, and male genital patterns. In comparison to M. vincta , M. lepida is on average larger, and has reduced black elytral coloration ( Figs 14–15 ), while syntopic M. vincta often have broad transverse black elytral bands and a black head ( Figs.15 Ae, 15Ag, type of M. alternata from Ethiopia similar to 15Ac, but with broader transverse black bands).

Monolepta lepida can be distinguished by the elongated second and third antennomeres (length of second to third antennomeres: 0.75–0.88, M. vincta : 0.86–1.00; length of third to fourth antennomeres: 0.46–0.54, M. vincta : 0.27–0.35) and the narrow pronotum (pronotal length to width: 0.63–0.67, M. vincta : 0.57–0.64).

Distribution. Most specimens are known from the Ara- bian Peninsula and this species is the only one from the Afrotropical Region that reaches the Palaearctic Region in Israel, Jordan, and Syria. Further few specimens are recorded from Eritrea, Somalia, eastern Sudan, and Egypt ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

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

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.

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.