SPIXIANA 43 1 63-79 München, Oktober 2020 ISSN 0341-8391 New data on the Eumolpinae from Malawi with description of five new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) Stefano Zoia Zoia, S. 2020. New data on the Eumolpinae from Malawi with description of five new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Spixiana 43 (1): 63-79. A brief critical knowledge update on the Eumolpinae of Malawi is provided. Five new species of Eumolpinae Euryopini (Colasposoma (C.) langeri sp. nov., C. (C.) su- turale sp. nov., C. (C.) collare sp. nov., Pathius daccordii sp. nov., Lefevrea fabianae sp. nov.) are described from Malawi and compared with related taxa. Colasposo- ma (C.) tinantae Burgeon, 1941 is reported for the first time for Malawi and its ae- deagus is illustrated. Stefano Zoia, via Ponte Nuovo, 109/4, 20128 Milano, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] Introduction P. (P.) torridus Baly, 1878 [Sub-Saharan Africa between 18° N and 30° S (Zoia 2007)]; The Eumolpinae fauna of Malawi is still poorly Mecistes thompsoni Zoia, 2009 [Malawi, Zimbab- known. Referring to the list published in Zoia (www. we, Botswana and South Africa (Zoia 2009)]. chrysomelidae.it/afr_Eum – accessed November I recently received from Michael Langer (Nie- 2018), the species so far known for Malawi sum up derwiesa, Germany) a few specimens for study, to 21 taxa. However, the presence of 15 among them which includes some recently collected Eumolpinae needs confirmation, as these were generically report- Euryopini from Malawi. Most of these belong to new ed for “Nyassa” (Lake Malawi) or “Nyassaland”, on taxa, their description is the object of the present the border among three different countries. Moreo- contribution. A further species is here reported for ver, this is the only known geographic indication for the first time for Malawi. All these taxa belong to eight of these taxa. Twelve of the above-mentioned the tribe Euryopini. taxa are more or less widespread in other countries With the present study, the number of Eumolpi- of Sub-Saharan Africa, too, with Heteraspis vicina nae species known from Malawi rises to 12, a very (Harold, 1877) reaching Yemen and Saudi Arabia. low number in view of the presumable faunal rich- The six species so far recorded from Malawi ness of the country. so far are: Semmiona woodi Bryant, 1941 [recorded only from the type locality: Chiromo]; Material and methods Platycorynus dejeani Bertoloni, 1849 [widely distributed in Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa, As for other published contributions dealing with the recorded for Malawi by Kuntzen (1913)]; same subject, the reported length of the specimens in- Pachnephorus (P.) crocodilinus Zoia, 2007 [Sub- cludes the head closely inserted into the prothorax. The Saharan Africa between 18° N and 30° S (Zoia 2007)]; ratio of frons width to eye width, in order to describe the dimensions of eyes in relation to that of the entire P. (P.) grobbelaarae Zoia, 2007 [Southern Africa head, is evaluated in frontal view along a horizontal line between 15° S and 32° S (Zoia 2007)]; at a level of the minimum width of the frons and the 63 corresponding widest point of the eye. The dissected distal border concave. Penultimate article of maxil- aedeagi are glued on a card pinned together with the lary palp nearly as long as wide, the ultimate conical, specimen; the dissected female genitalia are preserved nearly two times longer than wide and two times in a plastic micro-vial, pinned together with the speci- longer than the penultimate. Antennae (Fig. 23) men. slender, nearly reaching the distal third of elytra. Holotypes of the new taxa here described are depos- Antennomeres slender, 7th-11th slightly widened. ited in the collections of the Zoologische Staatssamm- lung in Munich (Germany). Length of the antennomeres of the left antenna of the M holotype, in mm: 0.25-0.21-0.19-0.23-0.24- The following acronyms are used: 0.19-0.23-0.22-0.22-0.22-0.29; length/width ratio: MDcoll Mauro Daccordi collection (Verona, Italy) 2.2-3.0-3.1-3.8-3.6-3.0-2.7-2.6-2.7-1.4-3.1. MLcoll Michael Langer collection (Niederwiesa, Ger- Pronotum strongly convex, nearly 1.5-1.6 times many) wider than long (1.22 × 1.85 mm in the holotype), SZcoll Stefano Zoia collection (Milano, Italy) the maximum width slightly before mid-length in ZSM Zoologische Staatssammlung in Munich (Ger- many) males, near the basal third in females; the base finely bordered throughout, nearly so wide or a little wider than the distal edge; distal edge not bordered; sides Colasposoma (Colasposoma) langeri sp. nov. of pronotum, as seen from above, nearly regularly Figs 1-4, 18-25 bent throughout in MM, distally straightened in fe- males, bordered; surface with moderately strong Type specimens. Holotype M (ZSM): Malawi/Nyi- and irregularly arranged punctation, the distance ka N. P. (2222 m) Zambian Rest House, S 10°34.4' / between two adjacent punctures smaller than the E 033°42.3' 30.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman [printed white diameter of a puncture; the surface between the label]; Holotypus Colasposoma (Colasposoma) langeri punctures smooth; pronotum glabrous on discus, n. sp. S. Zoia det. 2018 [printed red label]. – Paratypes with a fine pubescence at sides; in lateral view, the (23 MM, 21 WW): Malawi/Nyika N. P. (2222 m) Zambian pronotum in MM is more strongly convex than in WW Rest House, S 10°34.4' / E 033°42.3' 30.XII.2009 leg. L. and with a more evident impression along the distal Friedman (1 M, 1 W ZSM; 1 M, 1 W MDcoll; 14 MM, 12 WW border. Pronotal corners extended into a low small MLcoll; 7 MM, 7 WW SZcoll). tooth bearing a seta. Diagnosis. A brachypterous Colasposoma Laporte, Scutellum semicircular, nearly two times wider 1833 of small size and metallic green coloration, than long, smooth, with a few punctures or totally characteristic in the transversal distal impression of impunctate. pronotum in males, short convex elytra, presence of Surface of hypomera smooth, slightly plicate, tubercles and a carina on each elytron of WW. with a few light punctures, the distal margin straight, not produced frontward, not separated from the Description edge of prosternum which is regularly concave. Prosternum nearly 1.4 times longer than wide Habitus as in Figures 1-2; body length of the M between the procoxae, surface strongly convex in holotype 3.2 mm, of the MM paratypes 2.8-3.7 mm, middle, finely punctured and with a long hyaline of the WW paratypes 2.9-3.7 mm. pubescence. Ventral side of body with sparse and Body dark brown to black, the abdomen with a thin setae present on the meso- and metasternum light greenish metallic hue; hypomera in large part and on the abdominal sternites. metallic green; dorsum and head metallic green, Mesoventrite nearly 1.3 times longer than wide scutellum and adjacent edge of elytral base usually between the mesocoxae, finely punctured and pu- with golden reflections; in a few females the whole bescent; mesocoxae closer to each other than the dorsum with golden reflections or totally metal- procoxae; mesoepimera smooth, with a very fine lic reddish-brown; labrum, mandibles and palpi 1 microreticulation. Metaventrite in its middle /2 reddish-brown; antennae brown, the 1st segment th th shorter than the space between the procoxae, punc- at least partially metallic, segments 7 -11 darker. tured, finely rugose; metacoxae a little more spaced Frons (Fig. 3) large, slightly convex; surface with dense punctation, the punctures relatively Figs 1-4. 1-3. / small in diameter and impressed, with a very short Colasposoma (C.) langeri sp. nov. M holo- type; 1. dorsal view; 2. lateral view; 3. head. 4. W para- pubescence; eyes small, strongly convex, the space type, elytral sculpture. between the inner border of the eyes in frontal view Figs 5-7. Colasposoma (C.) suturale sp. nov., M holotype; is nearly 7 times the width of an eye; ocular sulci 5. dorsal view; 6. lateral view; 7. head. absent; clypeus not distinct from the frons and with Figs 8-10. Colasposoma (C.) collare sp. nov., M holotype; a somewhat stronger and confluent punctation, its 8. dorsal view; 9. lateral view; 10. head. 64 65 than mesocoxae; metathoracic episterna tapering to Comparative notes. Main distinctive characteristics rear, nearly 3 times longer than wide, with a fine of C. (C.) langeri sp. nov. are the small body size, microreticulation. the distally transversely impressed pronotum, the Elytra strongly convex, 1.1 times longer than short elytra with sides regularly bent throughout, wide (in the holotype: elytral length in dorsal view starting from their base, and the peculiar sculpture 1.87 mm, distance from the base of scutellum to of the elytra in females. C (C.) langeri sp. nov. is elytral apex 2.2 mm; width at base 1.75 mm, maxi- presumably close to C. (C.) wittei Burgeon, 1941a mum width 2 mm); elytral sides a little widening (Katanga; holotypus examined at the Musée royal from the humeri to about one third of their length, de l’Afrique centrale, Tervuren) in its habitus, in then regularly bent till the apices; apices in a slightly the reduced metathoracic wings and the presence acute angle, somewhat more acute in WW. In MM the of a longitudinal carina on each elytron of females. elytral punctation is stronger than on pronotum C. (C.) wittei clearly differs in a duller coloration of and less close, it is partially arranged in irregular dorsum, particularly of elytra, with a finer puncta- striae and equally impressed on the whole surface. tion, a wider and less convex pronotum, not transver- In WW the elytral punctation is somewhat finer and sally impressed distally and with distal edge finely more confusedly arranged except for a few nearly bordered throughout, proportionally shorter elytra, a regular striae near the suture on the apical slope less elevated carina on the elytra of female from the and near the elytral sides.