Unravelling the taxonomic assessment of an interesting new species from Socotra Island: Blepharidina socotrana sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Biondi Maurizio, Iannella Mattia, dʼAlessandro Paola
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59(2): 499-505, 2019
Published online: 31st October 2019
Published in print: 31st December 2019
Views: 1469
Abstract: The description of Blepharidina socotrana sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae:
Galerucinae: Alticini), with clear Afrotropical affinities, from Socotra Island
is provided. Photos of the main diagnostic morphological characters, including
aedeagus, are supplied. A phylogenetic analysis of all species of Blepharidina
Bechyné, 1968, performed to clarify the taxonomic position of the new species,
confirms the presence of two clades referable to as Blepharidina s. str. and B.
(Afroblepharida Biondi & D’Alessandro, 2017), and places the new species
within Afroblepharida, even though with a moderate support.
Key words: Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Afroblepharida, Blepharidina s. str., parsimony analysis, Socotra Island, Yemen, Afrotropical Region