Monolepta euchroma Fairmaire, 1883

Wagner, Thomas, 2020, Revision of Monolepta Chevrolat, 1836 species from North-East Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Bonn zoological Bulletin 69 (2), pp. 225-247 : 229-230

Monolepta euchroma Fairmaire, 1883

( Figs 2 , 5 )

Monolepta euchroma Fairmaire, 1883: 111 .

Further material examined. Ethiopia. 19 specimens, 4 findings . 2 ex., Addis Abeba, Neri, 1941 ( USNM) ; 15 ex., Addis Abeba, 9.01S / 38.45E, “roses”, IX.1963, P. M. Schroeder ( USNM) ; 1 ex., Bale , 6.40N / 39.40E, IX.2000, P. Leonard ( IRSN) ; 1 ex., Kaffa Pr. , 1850 m, 40 km W Bonga, 7.16N / 36.04E, IV.2007, J. Halada ( NME) .

Remarks. A detailed redescription was published in Wagner (2007b). Next to the two type specimens from “ Abyssinie A. Raffray Voy. 1881” (MNHN), only ten specimens have been studied of this obviously rare species ( Wagner 2007b).

Diagnosis. External and genital characters of this large species are most similar to M. vinosa which is obviously phylogenetically closely related. Both species occur sympatrically in the Ethiopian Highlands whereas M. vinosa has a much wider distribution covering most regions of the Afrotropis. However, there are some constant differences in detail between both species. The elytral pattern of M. euchroma is dominated by the black transverse bands ( Fig. 5A ), with elytral apex always black but not red margined like in M. vinosa with similar predominantly black elytra ( Fig. 16A ). The female genitalic morphol- ogy (spermathecae and bursa sclerites, Figs 5E–G , 16E– G ) of both species are not clearly distinguishable, but the median lobe of M. euchroma is more slender, the ventral groove is narrow, and lateral endophallic spiculae have a small apical enlargement ( Fig. 5D ), but not hammer-like as in M. vinosa ( Fig. 16D ).

Distribution and ecology. Only known from few mon- tane sites in the Ethiopian Highlands ( Fig. 2 ).

230 Thomas Wagner

Figures

Fig. 2. Distribution of M. longiuscula, M. euchroma, M. jeanneli, M. cruciata.

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. 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.