Afrosmicronyx sopubiae Haran & Perrin 2017, comb. n.

Afrosmicronyx sopubiae (Marshall, 1940) comb. n.

Figs 2C, 3C, 5C, 6C

Smicronyx sopubiae Marshall, 1940: 53

Material examined. Holotype ♂: [Kenya] ‘ Holotypus [Red label]’ ‘Corydon Museum. Expdt. Chyulu Hills. vi.1938. Alt. 5600’ ‘ Smicronyx sopubiae. Mshl. Type ♂’ (fitted with a red holotype label, BMNH). Paratype, 1♂: data as for holotype (RMCA).

Redescription. (♂) Body length 4.8–5.0 mm. Body integument black; vestiture consisting of rounded recumbent scales, as long as wide or slightly elliptical, scales grayish with shades of black and white scales, elytra with a conspicuous quadrate whitish spot proximally near middle on interstria 4. Head. Rostrum thick, as long as head plus prothorax, distinctly downcurved at base, with longitudinally confluent rugose punctures, densely covered by scales concealing integument in basal half, not concealing integument on apical half, apex with sparse small punctures; transversal furrow at base of rostrum shiny and deep, head short; antennae reddish black, funicle rather stout, segment 1 elongate, slightly longer than 2+3. Prothorax. Isodiametric, widest near middle, narrowed at apex, sides slightly rounded, bisinuate at base; integument densely and coarsely punctuate; scales brownish-gray, homogeneous, vestiture with a mix of broadly ovate scales and arcuate setiform paler scales; median carina not visible. Elytra. Sides moderately convex, subparallel in basal half, rounded on apical half, widest near middle, (ratio w/l: 0.65); humeri raised; width at base much wider than base of pronotum; striae narrow, interstriae flat wide and shiny, apex of interstria 5 with strong declivital callosity, followed by depression; scutellum very small, squamose. Abdomen. Underside covered with gray and whitish scales, ventrites 1–2 elongate, 1st as long as 2+3, 2 shorter than ventrites 3–5. Legs. Dark brownish, femora clavate, armed with one strong ventral tooth; tibiae bisinuate, armed with one acute ventral tooth proximally near middle. Genitalia. Penis short (ratio w/l: 0.58), sides sub-parallel, slightly converging near apex, apex rounded, moderate and regular curvature in lateral view (Fig. 6C). Females not examined.

Life history. Bred from galls on roots of Sopubia sp. (Orobanchaceae) in June at an altitude of 1700–1800 m (Marshall 1940). Adults collected in May, June and July (Marshall 1940).

Distribution. Kenya.

Discussion. Afrosmicronyx sopubiae is distinct from the other species of the genus by its thick rostrum and its two distinct whitish spots near the middle of each elytron.