Afroaltica subaptera , new genus and new species of flea beetles from the southern Africa ( Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae : Alticinae )

Afroaltica subaptera, a new genus and species of flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) from the eastern regions of southern Africa (Eastern Transvaal and Kwazulu-Natal), is described. Afroaltica gen. n. shows some similarities with the genus Dibolia Latreille, 1829 but it is easily distinguishable mainly by the simple-shaped apical spur of hind tibiae, not bifid. External habitus, scanning electronic micrographs of particular morphological features and line drawings of metafemoral spring and male and female genitalia of the new taxon are provided.


INTRODUCTION
The Alticinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a subfamily composed of minute-to-medium sized beetles whose enlarged hind femora and renowned jumping ability have earned the common name of "flea beetles".They are highly specialized phytophagous insects, widespread in all the zoogeographical regions.Both adult and larval stages feed on stems, leaves or roots, more rarely on flowers, in almost all higher plant families.The world fauna of this subfamily is represented by approximately 9000 species and 500 genera described (Petitpierre, 2000).
The flea beetle fauna from the Afrotropical region is still very poorly known.At the moment, it includes, considering also Madagascar, about 100 genera and 1600 species (Scherer, 1961;Biondi, unpubl. data).
During recent collecting trips made by one of us (Biondi) in the Republic of South Africa, many specimens of a singular-shaped flea beetle were collected in several sites of the Eastern Transvaal and Kwazulu-Natal provinces.After a brief inspection we realized that these specimens possessed some important morphological features attributable to a new genus, described in this paper.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Studied material of this new taxon mainly consists of preserved dry insects from collection of the senior author and two specimens provided to us by courtesy of the institution ZMHB.The specimens were examined and dissectioned using WILD MZ8 and MZ12.5 binocular microscopes.Microscope photos were taken by a Leica DFC500 camera.Scanning electron micrographs were taken by a PHILIPS SEM XL30 CP.Line drawings were performed using the graphics software Corel-DRAW vers.10.

Abbreviations
Morphology.LAED -length of median lobe of aedeagus; LAN -length of antenna; LE -length of elytron; LP -length of pronotum; LSP -length of spermatheca; WE -width of elytra; WP -width of pronotum.

Afroaltica gen. n.
Diagnosis.Afroaltica gen.n. occupies a rather isolated position within the subfamily Alticinae.The new genus shows some morphological similarities with the genus Dibolia Latreille, 1829, widespread in the most parts of the world, such as a compact, elliptical, moderately elongate and strongly convex body shape (Fig. 2), metafemoral spring structure (Fig. 14) and procoxal cavities posteriorly open (Fig. 12).However, Afroaltica gen.n. is easily distinguishable by having: apical spur of hind tibiae simple, not bifid; antennae short, enlarged in distal half (Fig. 2); an evident furrow laterally to clypeus locating first antennomere in resting position (Figs 3-4); all tibiae, especially hind tibiae, dorsally channelled and distally strongly enlarged (Figs 2, 9); middle tibiae in male with an evident hollow, probably sensorial, on ventral side (Fig. 10).
Type species.Afroaltica subaptera sp.n.Etymology.This genus name refers to the geographic region where it lives and means "flea beetle from Africa".Geographical distribution.Republic of South Africa: Eastern Transvaal and Kwazulu-Natal provinces (Fig. 1).
Legs mostly reddish brown, with hind femora and proximal half of hind tibiae partially dark brown; hind apical tibial spur moderately elongate, piceous, centrally inserted; 1 st anterior and middle tarsomere subtriangular, moderately enlarged; middle tibiae distinctly larger than anterior, with an evident elongate hollow, probably sensorial, excavated on inner side of distal half (Fig. 10).Ventral integument reddish brown, weakly obscured on abdomen; last sternite without special preapical impression but with subrugose and pubescent surface.

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Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 15) clearly thickset (LAED = 0.84 mm; LE/LAED = 2.45), with smooth surface; in ventral view distinctly tapered from base to apex; distal part slightly lanceolate apically, without any evident median small tooth; ventral sulcus very weakly excavated, more evident in apical part; dorsal ligula wide, apically subtruncate; in lateral view, median lobe moder-ately arcuate in basal third and rather straight in distal 2/3s.Paratypes very variable in color and in size (Fig. 19), but very similar to the holotype in shape and sculpture.Chromatically they show often dorsal integument clearly bicolored, with variations from reddish brown to dark brown.Female generally bigger than male (Fig. 19); middle tibiae generally narrower, without elongate sensorial hollow on inner side.Spermatheca (Fig. 16) with basal part subcylindrical, distinctly tapered towards proximal end; distal part very developed, with collum and apical part not separate; ductus of spermatheca little elongate, uncoiled, ventrally inserted at basis of the basal part; styli and spiculum ventrale as in Figs 17-18.
Etymology.The species name was chosen to emphasize the strong wing reduction exhibited by this new species.
Ecology.Afroaltica subaptera sp.n. was collected along road sides and forest edges, between 1200 and 1700 m of altitude, on Gramineae.