Afrotropicaltica fulvipennis ( Jacoby, 1895 ), 2025

D'Alessandro, Paola & Biondi, Maurizio, 2025, A new flea beetle genus from sub-Saharan Africa, and taxonomic remarks on the Blepharida genera group in the Afrotropical region (Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 1228, pp. 139-159 : 139-159

Afrotropicaltica fulvipennis ( Jacoby, 1895) , comb. nov.

Fig. 1

Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby, 1895: 179.

= Blepharida favareli Achard, 1922: 8 , syn. nov.

Blepharida fulvipennis ( Jacoby, 1895): Achard 1922: 9, Bryant 1942: 161.

Diamphidia fulvipennis ( Jacoby, 1895): Bechyné 1960: 111, Scherer 1969: 371.

Diamphidia fulvipennis favareli ( Achard, 1922): Bechyné 1960: 111, Scherer 1962: 78, Scherer 1972: 16.

Diamphidia favareli ( Achard, 1922): Laboissière 1941: 240, Biondi et al. 2017: 112.

Comments.

Achard (1922) described Blepharida favareli and transferred Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby to the genus Blepharida , due to the similarities with B. favareli . Bryant (1942) transferred Cladocera fulvipennis to Blepharida , as already proposed by Achard (1922). Bechyné (1960) established the combination Diamphidia fulvipennis ( Jacoby, 1895) and considered the species described by Achard, Blepharida favareli , as a geographic form of D. fulvipennis . Scherer (1969) erroneously reported Diamphidia fulvipennis ( Jacoby, 1895) as Diamphidia fulvipennis Jacoby, 1893 . We formalize here the synonymy between Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby, 1895 and Blepharida favareli Achard, 1922 .

Type material examined.

Holotype ♂ of Cladocera fulvipennis : “ Type H. T // Togo / Africa // 42 // Type // Jacoby Coll. / 1909–28 a. // Cladocera / fulvipennis / Jac. / Type ” [8°31.995'N 1°5.853'E] ( NHMUK) . MCZC hosts the following specimen: “ Type / 18327 // Boma / M. Tschoffen // Jacoby 2 nd / Coll. // fulvipennis Jac. ” [ Democratic Republic of the Congo, Boma , 5°50.762'S 13°4.296'E 5°52'32"S, 13°02'00"E] (photos available at https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Ent:18527) . Lectotype ♂ of Blepharida favareli Achard , here designated: “ Type // B. Favareli / Type / J. Achard det. // Ogooué / Sam-Kita ” [ Gabon, Samkita , 0°26.516'S 10°27.247'E] ( NMPC) . Paralectotype ♀ of Blepharida favareli Achard , here designated: “ Type // B. Favareli / Type / J. Achard det. // Fort-Sibut / Oubanghi-Chari ” [ Central African Republic, Fort-Sibut , 5°43.57140'N 019°05.11590'E] ( NMPC) . Paralectotype ♀ of Blepharida favareli Achard , here designated: “ Type // B. Favareli / Type / J. Achard det. // Musée du Congo / Eala / IX 1912 / R. Mayré ” [ Democratic Republic of Congo, Eala , 0°2.441'N 18°20.149'E] ( NMPC) .

Other material.

Cameroon • 16 specs, Victoria [= Limbé 4°1.917'N, 9°11.122'E], Jun.–Jul. 1902, L. Fea leg. ( MSNG) . CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC • 1 ♀, Bamingui-Bangoran Pr., 45 km SSW Bamingui [7°16.400'N, 19°55.580'E], 450 m, 13–15 May 2009, A. Kudrna Jr leg. ( BAQ) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO • 1 spec., Boma [5°50.762'S, 13°4.296'E], M. Tschoffen leg., Jacoby Coll. 1909-28 a ( NHMUK) ; 2 specs, ibid ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Eala [0°2.441'N, 18°20.149'E], Oct. 1935, J. Ghesquière leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., P. N. d’Odzala [1°16.167'N, 14°52.299'E], Mbandza, Nov. 1992, G. Carpaneto leg. ( BAQ) ; 1 spec., Ekoiongouma, N 1.20279E 17.88032 [1°12.16740'N, 17°52.81920'E], 341 m, 14 Feb. 2022, canopy light trap (- 10 m), C. N. Hackfort & A. Tsoumou leg. ( NHMUK) ; 1 spec., Lokandu [2°31.228'S, 25°44.566'E], Mar. 1939, [Capt.] Marée leg. ( NHMUK) ; 13 specs, ibid ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., ibid, 1939 ( RMCA) ; 3 specs, Equateur, Flandria [0°22.775'S, 19°5.500'E], 27 Oct. 1932, R. P. Hulstaert leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., ibid, 31 Mar. 1932 ; 1 spec., Flandria , 15 Mar. 1932 ; 1 spec., ibid, 1931 ; 1 spec., Cataractes de Luozi [ Luozi 4°54.711'S, 14°9.842'E], Dec. 1898, E. Luja leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Bas-Congo, Lemfu [5°21.206'S, 15°15.709'E], Jun. 1945, Rév. P. L. De Reir leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Tshuapa, Bokuma [0°40.648'S, 21°1.305'E], Dec. 1951, R. P. Lootens leg. ( RMCA) ; 10 specs, Kisantu [5°7.473'S, 15°7.749'E], P. Goossens leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., ibid, ex col. Seeldrayers ; 3 specs, ibid, 1905, col. Clavareau ; 1 spec., Uelé, Dingila [3°38.633'N, 26°3.515'E], Jun. 1933, J. V. Leroy leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Uelé, Paulis [= Isiro 2°46.212'N, 27°37.242'E], 1947, Abbeloos leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Uelé, Bambesa [3°27.170'N, 25°41.579'E], 15 Sept. 1933, Lefèvre leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Stanleyville [= Kisangani 0°30.542'N, 25°13.409'E], 1924, J. Ghesquière leg. ( RMCA) ; 3 specs, Dima [3°16.47444'S, 17°28.99290'E], 14 Sept. 1908, A. Koller leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Congo da Lemba [ Lemba 4°24.598'S, 15°20.277'E], Jan. 1913, R. Mayné leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., ibid, 1–15 Apr. 1913 ; 7 specs, ibid, oct. – Dec. 1911 ; 1 spec., Mongbwalu ( Kilo ) [1°55.640'N, 30°2.904'E], 1939, Mme Scheitz leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Kilo [ Kilo-Etat 1°49.738'N, 30°9.391'E], Dr. Abetti leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Ganda Sundi [4°52.000'S, 12°52.000'E], [Comte J.] de Briey leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Mahagi-Niarembe [ between Mahagi and Niarembe 2°16.917'N, 31°3.371'E], 1935, Ch. Scops leg. ( RMCA) ; 3 specs, Sud Ogowé, ‘ Ngomo [4°57.378'S, 23°37.289'E], [H. A.] Junod leg. ( RMCA) ; 2 specs, Bas Congo, Maydi [5°11.958'S, 15°9.195'E], 1945, Rév. P. Van Eyen leg. ( RMCA) ; 21 specs, ibid ; 28 specs, ibid, 1942 ; 2 specs, ibid, 1943 ; 3 specs, Kivu, Kavumu à Kabunga, km 82 ( Mingazi ) [2°1.870'S, 28°30.949'E], Apr. – Jul. 1951, H. Bomans leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., ibid, Nov. – Dec. 1951 ; 1 spec., ibid, 1951 ; 1 spec., Bas-Uele, Buta [2°47.787'N, 24°44.473'E], 1926, Fr. Joseph leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Mayumbe, Makaia N’Tete [ Mayumbe 2°30.000'N, 27°37.000'E], 24 Nov. 1915, R. Mayné leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Busira [0°5.233'S, 19°55.086'E], 18 Oct. 1905, Waelbroeck leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Equateur, Bohuma [1°8.099'N, 30°13.892'E], 1938, R. P. Hulstaert leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Ilenge [1°58.940'S, 19°52.474'E], 30 Jan. 1913, R. Mayné leg. ( RMCA) . GABON • 1 ♀, Gabon Français [0°59.062'S, 11°54.238'E] ( NMPC) . IVORY COAST • 1 spec., Andé, Bongouanou [Bongouanou 6°39.047'N, 4°11.247W], Mar. 1962, J. Decelle leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., 1171 m, Mt Tonkoui Peak , 07°27'15.2"N, 07°38'12.5"W [7°27.230'N, 7°38.148'W], 1–8 Nov. 2015, general collecting, M. Aristophanous, P. Moretto, E. Ruzzier leg. ( NHMUK) . KENYA • 1 spec., Brit. E. Africa, Nyangori, N Kavirondo [0°41.195'S, 35°0.679'E], 4800 ft, 18–19 May 1911, S. A. Neave leg. ( NHMUK) . UGANDA • 1 spec., Mawakota [ Mawokota region 0°36.800'S, 30°12.695'E], Nov. 1931, [V. G. L.] van Someren leg. ( NHMUK) ; 1 spec., Boy [Bay (?)], Entebbe [0°3.290'N, 32°28.216'E], 2800-4000 ft, forest within four miles of Kitabi Hill, May – Jun. 1913, C. A. Wiggins leg. ( NHMUK) ; 1 spec., Entebbe , 14 Aug. 1911, C. C. Gowdey leg. ( NHMUK) ; 1 spec., Prot. Entebbe , 12–20 Jan. 1912, S. A. Neave leg. ( RMCA) ; 1 spec., Kampala [0°19.253'N, 32°35.055'E], 1–10 Jan. 1918, C. C. Gowdey leg. ( NHMUK) ; 1 spec., Shores of L. Isolt, or Wamala [Wamala 0°7.799'N, 31°38.115'E], 3800 ft, 7–8 Jan. 1912, S. A. Neave leg. ( NHMUK) .

Redescription.

Body subelliptical-elongate in dorsal view with parallel sides (Fig. 1 A, B ), distinctly convex in lateral view; total length of the body (LB) = 8.10 ± 0.91 mm (6.50 ≤ LB ≤ 9.70 mm) in male, and 8.77 ± 0.65 mm (7.52 ≤ LB ≤ 9.51 mm) in female; maximum pronotal width in the middle: WP = 3.43 ± 0.29 mm (2.86 ≤ WP ≤ 3.78 mm) in male, and 3.71 ± 0.25 mm (3.30 ≤ WP ≤ 3.98 mm) in female; maximum width of elytra in the middle: WE = 4.37 ± 0.37 mm (3.69 ≤ WE ≤ 4.85 mm) in male, and WE = 4.94 ± 0.42 mm (4.46 ≤ WE ≤ 5.72 mm) in female; WE / WP = 1.27 ± 0.04 (1.22 ≤ WE / WP ≤ 1.33) in male, and WE / WP = 1.33 ± 0.05 (1.29 ≤ WE / WP ≤ 1.44) in female.

Head and pronotum yellowish (Fig. 1 A, B, D ); elytra reddish brown; scutellum paler than elytra, often of the same colour as the pronotum or slightly darker; underside yellowish to pale brown; mouthparts yellowish, with black distal part of mandibles; antennae and legs with two colour patterns: both antennae and legs rather homogenous, yellowish to reddish brown, at most with slightly paler tarsi; antennal segments 1–4 yellowish and 5–11 blackish, and legs mostly blackish with the exception of femora, paler in their proximal part. Head (Fig. 1 E ) with smooth to micropunctate surface and sparse, rounded punctures, denser on vertex and near the inner ocular margins; frontal grooves and frontal calli barely distinguishable; frontal carina wide, not raised; eyes large, ovoidal; interantennal space as wide as ~ 2 / 3 the length of the first antennomere. Antennae (Fig. 1 A, B ) filiform, longer than 1 / 2 the body length: LAN = 6.07 ± 0.44 mm (5.43 ≤ LAN ≤ 6.69 mm) in male, and 5.62 ± 0.39 mm (5.04 ≤ LAN ≤ 6.31 mm) in female, and LAN / LB = 0.75 ± 0.05 (0.65 ≤ LAN / LB ≤ 0.84) in male, and 0.64 ± 0.03 (0.60 ≤ LAN / LB ≤ 0.68) in female. LA = 100: 42: 83: 92: 117: 117: 117: 108: 100: 92: 125 in male, and 100: 42: 83: 83: 108: 100: 100: 92: 83: 83: 117 in female. Pronotum (Fig. 1 D ) distinctly transverse: LP = 1.79 ± 0.17 mm (1.50 ≤ LP ≤ 1.94 mm) in male, and 1.85 ± 0.12 mm (1.65 ≤ LP ≤ 2.04 mm) in female, and WP / LP = 1.91 ± 0.06 (1.80 ≤ WP / LP ≤ 2.00) in male, and 2.01 ± 0.03 (1.95 ≤ WP / LP ≤ 2.05) in female; lateral margins slightly convergent anteriorly, moderately to distinctly curved, moderately expanded, visible in dorsal view; basal margin moderately arched; surface smooth to micropunctate; main punctation formed by rounded punctures, clearly impressed, quite sparse and irregularly distributed. Scutellum subtriangular, laterally rounded. Elytra (Fig. 1 A, B, D ) subparallel, clearly longer than wide, jointly rounded apically. LE = 6.57 ± 0.54 mm (5.43 ≤ LE ≤ 7.23 mm) in male, and 7.21 ± 0.48 mm (6.40 ≤ LE ≤ 7.86 mm) in female; WE / LE = 0.67 ± 0.02 (0.63 ≤ WE / LE ≤ 0.70) in male, and 0.68 ± 0.02 (0.66 ≤ WE / LE ≤ 0.73) in female; LE / LP = 3.66 ± 0.12 (3.50 ≤ LE / LP ≤ 3.91) in male, and 3.90 ± 0.09 (3.80 ≤ LE / LP ≤ 4.05) in female. Lateral margins finely bordered, indistinctly visible in dorsal view; surface very finely micropunctate or microwrinkled; main punctation clearly impressed, dense, variably arranged in numerous rows or bands, or almost confused. Humeral calli distinctly raised. Macropterous. Posterior femora moderately swollen (WF / LF = 0.44 ± 0.01); apical spur of hind tibiae very short; first tarsomere of fore- and middle legs clearly enlarged in male. Median lobe of the aedeagus (Fig. 1 F ) in ventral view: outline mostly subparallel with slightly sinuate margins, and narrower subapical part; apex truncated, distinctly expanded laterally; surface smooth, concave laterally and prominent medially in the apical third; in lateral view median lobe distinctly curved, with slightly sinuate outline; dorsal ligula formed by a wide central lobe, and two shorter and thinner lateral lobes, with base at apical ~ 1 / 3; LAED = 2.26 ± 0.10 mm (2.13 ≤ LAED ≤ 2.43 mm); LE / LAED = 2.90 ± 0.19 (2.55 ≤ LE / LAED ≤ 3.17). Basal part of the spermatheca (Fig. 1 G ) subovate, abruptly narrowing towards the ductus insertion; ductus short, thick, uncoiled, ventrally inserted; distal part of the spermatheca clearly bent towards the basal part, thin, acute apically; LSP = 0.93 ± 0.05 mm (0.87 ≤ LSP ≤ 1.02 mm); LE / LSP = 7.78 ± 0.25 (7.33 ≤ LE / LSP ≤ 8.11).

Distribution.

Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Republic of South Africa, Togo, Uganda (Fig. 1 C ).

Ecological notes.

Ecology, including host plant, unknown.

Figures

Figure 1. Afrotropicaltica fulvipennis (Jacoby) comb. nov. A lectotype of Blepharida favareli Achard, male, Ogooué, Sam-Kita, habitus B holotype of Cladocera fulvipennis Jacoby, male, habitus C distribution D head, pronotum, and base of elytra, male, Cameroun, Victoria E head, Republique du Congo, P. N. d’Odzala, Mbandza F median lobe of the aedeagus, from left to right in ventral, dorsal, and lateral view, Republique du Congo, P. N. d’Odzala, Mbandza G spermatheca, paralectotype of Blepharida favareli Achard, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eala H metafemoral extensor tendon, Camerun, Victoria. Abbreviations: am: apical margin; bav: basal angle of the ventral lobe; dba: dorsal-basal angle; dl: dorsal lobe; dmv: dorsal margin of the ventral lobe; ea: extended arm; vba: ventral-basal angle; vl: ventral lobe. Scale bars: 3 mm (A, B); 1 mm (D, E, F, G); 500 μm (H).