Oosagitta gen. nov. from tropical Africa, with revision of two species and description of four new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

• Main Authors: Sabine Kortenhaus, Thomas Wagner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Consortium of European Natural History Museums 2013-10-01
• Series: European Journal of Taxonomy
• Subjects: Afrotropical Region; taxonomy; Ootheca; new genus; new species
• Online Access: http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/179

After our taxonomic revision of <em>Ootheca</em> Chevrolat, 1837, and the description of <em>Oothecoides</em> Kortenhaus &amp; Wagner, 2011 and <em>Ootibia</em> Kortenhaus &amp; Wagner, 2012, it became clear that a further four galerucine species, closely related to the above named taxa, form a distinct monophyletic group, that constitutes a new genus, <em>Oosagitta</em> gen. nov. with <em>O. anningae</em> sp. nov., <em>O. geescheae</em> sp. nov., <em>O.</em><em> melanopicta</em> sp. nov. and <em>O. thomasi</em> sp. nov.. <em>Exosoma angolensis</em> Laboissière, 1939, the type species of the new genus, and <em>Ergana minuta</em> Laboissière, 1937 are newly transferred to <em>Oosagitta</em> gen. nov. All species of <em>Oosagitta</em> gen. nov. are characterized by a broad body and pronotum, a more or less convex dorsum and short legs, and as such are most similar to the other above named genera. The antennae of <em>Oosagitta</em> gen. nov. are distinctly longer than those of <em>Ootheca</em>, <em>Oothecoides</em> and <em>Ootibia</em>. Genital structures of the males allow a reliable identification of the genus. (Re-)descriptions are given for all species, including semi-schematic illustrations depicting the habitus outline, shape of the basal antennomeres and the median lobe. Photographs of the name-bearing types and distribution maps are provided.