Neefia rufovestita Bellamy, 2003, sp. nov.

Neefia rufovestita, sp. nov.

(Figs. 8, 24)

Description of Holotype. Small, 5.4 x 2.3 mm; subcylindrical, flattened above, transversely convex below; body black with green­blue reflections above on frontovertex, pronotum and elytral posteriad fascia and on entire ventral surface and legs, anterolateral portion of elytra around humeri purple; elongate­ovoid area on lateral pronotal explanate area with short recurved white setae; elytra nearly completely densely covered with brickred setae, only short anterolateral area comprising humerus and basal depression and less than apical 1/4 without setae; metacoxal plate with dense short recumbent off­white squamae on widened lateral third; surface imbrications elevated most strongly on pronotum; large, round deep punctures on head and pronotum, following imbrications; punctures on elytral more shallow, more elongate; punctures on underside small, shallow. Pronotum nearly 1.5 times wider than long, widest just anteriad to obtuse lateroposterior angles; anterior margin biarcuate on either side of angulate median lobe; posterior margin bisinuate, median lobe truncate, rounded laterally; lateral margin slightly diverging from posterior margin to feebly rounded median arcuation before narrowing to anterior angles. Genitalia as in Fig. 24.

Variation. 3, 5.0 ­ 5.9 x 1.9 ­ 2.2 mm, 2, 6.1 ­ 6.5 x 2.4 ­ 2.6 mm; the coloration and elytral vestiture is uniform and matches that of the holotype very well. One paratype appears slightly discolored, perhaps indicating that it was kept in fluid at some time.

Specimens examined. Holotype, (MNHN): Madagascar Est, Belalono, 30 km S. O. Sambava, xi.1967, Vadon et Peyrieras; 2, 2 paratypes, same data as holotype; 1, paratype, same data except xi.1968. Paratypes deposited in TNSC and CLBC.

Etymology. The specific epithet is chosen for the nearly entire brick­red elytral vestiture, lacking only subapically.

Remarks. With the nearly entire elytral vestiture, this species is immediately distinguishable from all other congeners that have the elytral fasciae restricted to the anterior half or less.