Calotheca borowieci sp. nov. and C. Orophila sp. nov. from Southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini)

Abstract

Calotheca is a species-rich sub-Saharan flea beetle genus with many undetermined specimens that are currently being studied. We here describe two new species from southern Africa: Calotheca borowieci sp. nov. from Zimbabwe, and C. orophila sp. nov. from KwaZulu-Natal in the Republic of South Africa. They show the greatest similarity to one another and, to some extent, to Calotheca marmorata (Baly). Photographs of the main diagnostic characters are provided for these new species, and for C. marmorata, which include the habitus, median lobe of the aedeagus, and spermatheca. Information on their geographic distribution and host plants are also reported.