Sicilicula ampla, Perkins, 2017

Perkins, Philip D., 2017, Hydraenidae of Madagascar (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 4342 (1), pp. 1-264 : 216-218

Sicilicula ampla , new species

Figs. 207 (habitus), 208 (aedeagus), 304 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Antananarivo, Onive River near Ilempona , 38 km S of Ambatolampy, elev. 1555 m, 19° 34' S, 47° 22' E, 29 x 1986, J. T. & D. A. Polhemus (CL 2239) ( USNM).

Differential Diagnosis. The largest known species of the genus (ca. 1.98 mm); also differentiated by the combination of the relatively elongate elytra, the denticulate but non-margined and non-convex lateral lobes of the pronotum, and the deeply notched labrum. the aedeagus ( Fig. 208 ) differs distinctively from that of other members of the genus. Females are not yet known.

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.98/0.79; head width 0.52; pronotum 0.47/0.62, PA 0.38, PB 0.45; elytra 1.14/0.79.

Dorsum black, maxillary palpi and legs brown.

Head with labrum/clypeus/frons length rations as 10/8/10. Labrum deeply notched, lobes slightly reflexed, ridge extended from base to apex of each lobe. Labrum finely, moderately sparsely punctate, interstices weakly shining. Clypeus and frons strongly shining, clypeus moderately densely punctate, frons more sparsely and finely punctulate, size of largest punctures on clypeus ca. 1xef. Anteocellar sulci deep. Ocelli distinct.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides very finely margined behind lateral lobes, coarsely denticulate at lateral lobes; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs strongly shining, very finely and very sparsely punctulate, without setae. Anterior and posterior ¼ and lateral lobes coarsely deeply punctate. Lateral lobes effacedly microreticulate. Discal foveae ( Fig. 207) large and deep; anterior and posterior parts of median groove very narrowly and very shallowly confluent.

Elytra with disc very slightly depressed in front of midlength, sides weakly arcuate, widest near midlength, apices separately rather sharply rounded; sutural apices minutely dehiscent; sides smooth, moderately explanate; posterior declivity gradual. Serial punctures large and deep, without discernable setae, on disc slightly smaller than largest pronotal punctures, interstices about 1xpd or slightly less; without granules. Series striate-impressed, series one and two more weakly so in posterior 1/2 than other series. Sutural stria becoming impunctate and deeply impressed over posterior declivity; series two and three terminating on posterior declivity. Intervals weakly rounded, width on disc about 2xpd, except sutural interval wider; intervals without setae.

Mentum and submentum finely sparsely punctulate; interstices shining. Metaventral disc with oval impression in basal 1/2. Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–5 clothed with dense setae except glabrous midlongitudinal prosternal ridge. Ventrite 1 with weak sublateral and submedial basal carina on each side; ventrite 6 shining, with sparse short setae in posterior 1/2. First three protarsomeres with small pad of adhesion setae. Tibiae straight. Wings fully developed. Females unknown

Aedeagus ( Fig. 208 ) length ca. 0.64 mm, main piece 0.48 mm, distal process beyond main piece 0.16 mm; main piece comparatively slender, slightly widened subapically in lateral view; distal process arcuate, widest at ca. midlength; setae of main piece moderately long.

Etymology. Named in reference to the relatively large body size.

Figures

FIGURES 208 – 209. Sicilicula ampla, aedeagus of holotype; Ochthebius alluaudi, aedeagus of lectotype.