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Vitali
Member Rosalia
Estonia
991 Posts |
 Posted - 28/12/2011 : 19:24:28
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Probably one more example of a species close to the Indo-Pacific fauna.
Collected in Tanzania.
Length 9 mm.
Merionoeda or Merionoedina? |
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Francesco
Forum Admin
Luxembourg
9431 Posts |
Posted - 28/12/2011 : 20:11:40
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Merionoeda surely; Merionoedina has entire elytra and resembles to Kunbir.
It seems to me Merionoeda africana Distant, 1899. |
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Vitali
Member Rosalia
Estonia
991 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2011 : 10:43:15
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I found the original description of Merionoeda africana and it does not correspond to the beetle in photo.
According to the description “anterior and intermediate legs … ochraceous”, which is not the case here.
The description of pronotum is also different. In Merionoeda africana, it should have “a central longitudinal linear incision and a large discal foveate impression, its lateral margins slightly convex and pilose”. It is almost opposite in my beetle: the pronotum has a strongly elevated central smooth line, which looks almost as a rib (especially in the region of a deep basal depression) and 2 oblique side elevations, so that the whole smooth area resembles a backward trident. A very prominent feature are also vertical lateral stripes of golden pubescence parallel to the front margins of pronotum (can be barely seen in the photo), which is not mentioned in the description. Finally, “Pronotum about half as long again as the head…” does not correspond to the beetle in photo. (Sorry for the quality of the photo. That is why I give such a detailed description).
Is it possible to find a list of African Merionoeda? There should not be too many species. |
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Francesco
Forum Admin
Luxembourg
9431 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2011 : 11:58:26
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Sorry for this misidentification, Vitali: I have got M. africana in my collection at home, but I did not remember all these features.
Here I have got the description of M. acutipennis Villiers, 1968 from Congo, but it does not correspond to your specimen. I will look for further African species. |
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Littlebeetle23
Member Purpuricenus
France
296 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2011 : 19:44:50
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This is a typical Merionoeda africana aethiopica Adlbauer, 1994.
The differential diagnosis with M. africana africana is the colour of the legs and the pilosity of the pronotum...
In the literature, this subspecies is only known from Ethiopia, from the south in the Omo Valley (where I collected some specimens), not far from the Kenya border.
Merionoeda congoensis is the only other species from this genus (at my knowledge). |
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Francesco
Forum Admin
Luxembourg
9431 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2011 : 20:24:27
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I have also found the description of M. congolensis Hintz, 1919 from Zaire, which is characterised by the second abdominal segment yellow instead of black
Well... a new record to signalise, Vitali! |
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Vitali
Member Rosalia
Estonia
991 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2011 : 10:13:10
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Well, I am glad you were right about the species, Francesco. Very interesting indeed. Such big differences between subspecies.
Besides, Merionoeda africana was described from Lydenburg area in the Republic of South Africa. The subspecies M. a. aethiopica – from Ethiopia.
Merionoeda africana (nominative subspecies?) is mentioned by Sakalian & Georgiev, 2011 from Kenya.
My beetle, M. a. aethiopica, was collected in Ruvuma region, in the extreme south of Tanzania (closer to the type locality).
Francesco, if we stay with M. a. aethiopica, then please change the name also in the subject line of this ad. There is M. a. africana now. |
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Francesco
Forum Admin
Luxembourg
9431 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2011 : 10:19:03
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| Indeed °_° |
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Tanzania, Merionoeda africana aethiopica
