Revision of the Afrotropical flea beetle subgenus Blepharidina s. str. Bechyné (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) Author Iannella, Paola D’Alessandro Mattia Author Biondi, Maurizio text Zootaxa 2019 2019-01-16 4545 1 journal volume 27649 10.11646/zootaxa.4545.1.2 d8036fa9-32eb-4c5f-bdb2-428d22250ea8 1175-5326 2618635 1D2EC333-517D-4FC1-A0AA-61EDD8BE8BEE Blepharidina aliquantula sp. nov. ( Figs 1 , 26 , 38 , 68 ) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DC3DCC40-9994-4A33-AB3D-798DFF6D8842 Blepharidina (Blepharidina) burtli ( Bryant) : Biondi et al . 2017: 129 (pars) Type material . Holotype ♂ : “ Somalia , Mogadiscio ( 2°02'N 45°21'E ), 17.vi.1934 , S. Patrizi leg.” (MSNG). Diagnosis . Blepharidina aliquantula sp. nov. shows major affinity with B. kasigauensis sp. nov. and B. regalini sp. nov. due to the similar shape of the aedeagus ( Figs 38 , 45 , 54 ). However, B. aliquantula sp. nov. has clearly smaller size, brighter color on the dorsal integuments ( Figs 1, 9 , 18 ) and the aedeagus more distinctly bent dorsally at the apical third in lateral view ( Fig. 38 ). The new species also differs from B. kasigauensis sp. nov. for the antero-lateral part of pronotum ( Figs 26, 28 ), visible in dorsal view (not visible in B. kasigauensis because downward oriented), and from B. regalini sp. nov. , for the different punctation on the antero-lateral surface of pronotum ( Figs 26, 33 ). Description of the holotype ( ♂ ). Body elliptical-elongate, rather convex ( Fig. 1 ); LB = 4.81 mm ; maximum pronotal width (WP = 2.03 mm ) in basal third; maximum elytral width (WE = 2.66 mm ) in middle. Head brown with yellowish antennae; labrum with lateral pale patches; pronotum with bright yellow and brown patches, latter mostly on groups and lines of punctures; elytra bright yellow with brown striae of punctures and some large and irregular brown patches (4 medial and 5 lateral); legs brown, with slightly paler tarsi. Head distinctly pubescent, roughly and densely punctate; frontal grooves short, weakly impressed; frontal tubercles slightly elongate, flat; interantennal space little wider than length of first antennomere; interocular space wider than transverse ocular width; antennae as long as half body length (LAN = 2.41 mm ; LAN/LB = 0.50); LA: 100:46:69:69:85:69:69:69:69:69:85. Pronotum subrectangular, distinctly transverse (LP = 1.19 mm ; WP/LP = 1.71), with clearly sinuate lateral margin; anterior margin slightly thicker than basal margin, and slightly sinuate laterally; anterior angles distinctly prominent laterally; pronotal surface with lines and groups of differently sized punctures ( Fig. 26 ); pronotal base with two moderately impressed lateral longitudinal striae. Scutellum brown, subtriangular. Elytra moderately elongate (LE = 3.63 mm ; WE/LE = 0.73; LE/LP = 3.05), subparallel laterally, jointly rounded and entirely covering pygidium posteriorly; punctation clearly impressed, arranged in 9 (+ 1 scutellar) regular rows; interstriae flat, apart from most lateral weakly carinate posteriorly. First pro- and mesotarsomeres distinctly dilated; tarsal claws bifid. Ventral parts brown; last abdominal ventrite without distinctive preapical impressions. Aedeagus (LAED = 2.31 mm ; LE/LAED = 1.57) ( Fig. 38 ) in ventral view slightly sinuate laterally, with subtriangular apical part and small median tooth; ventral sulcus wide, open towards basal part; in lateral view, median lobe distinctly narrowed subapically, with clearly bent dorsally apical third; dorsal ligula short, connected to apical fourth. Etymology . The specific epithet is a Latin female adjective referring to its small size. Distribution . Somalia ( Fig. 68 ). Possibly Northern-Eastern Afrotropical (NEA) chorotype. Ecological Notes . Not available. The collection site falls within the area of Eastern African Xeric Scrub vegetation (belonging to the Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland formation).