Cryptosphaeroides, Ballerio, 2008

Ballerio, Alberto, 2008, Descriptions of two new endemic genera and four new species of Ceratocanthinae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Hybosoridae) from Madagascar, Zoosystema 30 (3), pp. 605-628 : 607-612

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5395397
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E98E1C-FF8A-FFEA-FF0A-05BDB8C4C70C
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Cryptosphaeroides
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Genus Cryptosphaeroides View in CoL n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Pseudopterorthochaetes hystrix Paulian, 1991 .

ETYMOLOGY. — After the ancient Greek ΚΡΥπτός (hidden) and ΣΦΑΙΡΟΕΙΔής (subspherical). Th e name refers to the subspherical appearance typical of the Ceratocanthinae once they assume the rolled up posture, while at the same time highlighting the diffi culties of detecting such small beetles in the field. The gender is masculine.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Seemingly restricted to northern and western Madagascar, where all known species have been found by sifting leaf litter in dry seasonal forests. For more details see under individual species.

DIAGNOSIS. — Th e genus can be easily identified among all other Malagasy Ceratocanthinae genera because of the following combination of characters: 1) body covered by sparse long erect clavate setae; 2) body lacking carinae or tubercles and microsculpture made of large, very sparse punctures; 3) pronotum posteriorly with surface gradually declivous toward posterior margin; 4) sexual dimorphism involving the shape of protibiae and fore part of head; 5) protibiae almost straight; 6) antennae with pedicellus strongly bent backward (many other Ceratocanthinae genera have a bent pedicellus, but none in such an extreme way); and 7) parameres strongly asymmetrical.

DESCRIPTION

Small Ceratocanthinae , body dorsally shiny, ventrally alutaceous; setose; “rolling up” coaptations perfect; flightless.

Head wide (W/L ratio = 1.2-1.5), subpentagonal, fore portion triangular, apex sexually dimorphic, forming an obtuse angle (about 120°, excluding apical acute process), both sides of the angle smooth and almost rectilinear, not reflexed upward; genae almost aligned with fore margin, although a little more prominent forward ( Fig. 4D View FIG ), forming a right angle with genal canthus; genal canthus acutely protruding outwards, completely fused with occipital area; dorsal ocular area extremely small, reduced to a circle made of less than 10 ommatidia ( Fig. 4D View FIG ), next to the hind angles of head, ventral ocular area narrow, only slightly visible from above; head surface almost plane, with variable punctures, transversal striae and pubescence.

Pronotum distinctly wider than long (W/L ratio = 1.6-1.8), very slightly wider than elytra; fore margin feebly bisinuate; fore angles distinctly protrudent forward, sexually dimorphic, subtruncate at apex; sides obtusely rounded; the whole pronotal margins completely beaded by a shallow narrow continuous stria; pronotal surface regularly convex.

Scutellum wider than long (W/L ratio = 1.4), sides proximally subparallel and distinctly notched by elytral articular process, then convergent to form a triangle with elongate, acute apex and sides slightly curved inward. Surface slightly depressed in the middle. Apical portion of mesepisterna hardly visible from above, distinctly smaller than elytral articular process.

Elytra slightly longer than wide (W/L ratio = 0.93), apical 4th regularly rounded (dorsal view), apex slightly re-entering inward (lateral view); elytra convex, with maximum convexity at distal third; elytral suture raised only apically, sutural stria extremely fine and usually limited to distal third; inferior sutural stria present, reaching humeral area, delimiting a rather developed marginal elytral area; striated articular area narrow, made of 3-5 striae, visible in lateral view; humeral area rounded, lacking a distinct humeral callus; elytral articular process normally developed, smooth and shiny.

Apical vertical extremity of clypeus very short and transversely slightly grooved at each side. Labrum wide and short, setose, distally depressed at middle. Distal epipharynx ( Fig. 2H View FIG ) semicircular, longitudinally divided by a weak anterior median process; pariae slightly raised with respect to the haptolachus; median brush and corypha absent; apical fringe made of long fine setae, absent in the middle. Labium ( Fig. 2E View FIG ) ventrally flat, emarginated in the middle, emargination regularly wide-Ushaped; labial palpi (including palpiger) 4 jointed, first joint short and transverse, joint 2 short, joint 3 longer and plumper than preceding one, joint 4 subconical, apically bearing some short sensilla, all joints, apart from the last one, fringed with long setae. Maxillae ( Fig. 2F View FIG ) with an elongate single membranous lacinia, covered with fine long setae, monolobed galea proximally sclerotized and distally clothed with very coarse long fine setae with comb-like tip (galeal brush) ( Fig. 2G View FIG ), maxillary palpi (including palpiger) 4 jointed, palpiger very small, joint 2 and 3 wide and relatively short, wider than the following joint, joint 4 long and subconical, distinctly longer than the preceding 2 together, apically bearing some short sensilla. Mandibles ( Fig. 2 View FIG A-D) slightly asymmetrical, regularly curved, apiculus relatively long and acutely pointed, slightly exceeding the mesal brush, mesal brush narrow and well-developed, molar lobe very strong. Antennae 10-segmented ( Fig. 3G View FIG ), scape long (about half of the total length of antenna), distally slightly clavate/ securiform, pedicellus bent at about a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of scape, flagellum short, made of very short articles distinctly wider than long, antennal club made of 3 articles, articles hairy, relatively small.

Ventral areas of prothorax setigerously punctured. Hypomeron smooth, very folded in. Procoxae transversely oriented, apices nearly touching each other; fore trochanters relatively wide, with fore tips bearing a tuft of long setae; profemora slen- der, fore margin slightly curved inwards, surface almost smooth with few recumbent setae; protibiae straight, elongate ( Fig. 3B, F View FIG ), apical spur relatively long, sharp, distally curved downward, protarsi with first article distinctly longer than the following articles together, article 5 slightly longer than the 4th article, bearing 2 short curved fine claws, each tarsomere, except the last one, ventrally bearing a tuft of fine setae. Mesosternum narrow, short and plump, forming a sharp and fine carina protruding between mesocoxae and joining metasternum, mesocoxae large, almost adjacent to each other, transversely oriented, trochanters narrow, with hind tip acute, mesofemora slender, surface smooth, with hind edge emarginated at distal 3rd; mesotibiae slender ( Fig. 3C View FIG ), inner angle of apex with 2 straight apical spurs, mesotarsi inserted near the inner angle of apical edge, slightly longer than apical edge of tibia, with first 4 articles subequal, 5th slightly longer than the preceding one, bearing 2 small curved fine claws; each tarsomere, except the last one, ventrally bearing a tuft of coarse setae; trochanters of metafemora narrow, with hind tip acute, metafemora plumper than mesofemora, surface hairy, hind edge distally with a small emargination, metatibiae triangular ( Fig. 3D View FIG ), elongate, flat, ending with 2 straight and sharp fine spurs paired at the inner angle of the tibia, metatarsi almost as long as the apical edge of tibia, first article almost as long as the following 3 together, 5th almost as long as the first one, claws small and feebly curved; each tarsomere, with the exception of the last one, ventrally bearing a tuft of coarse setae. Outer face of mesotibiae and metatibiae with longitudinal striae along inner margin and a variable sculpturing and setation along outer margin.

Wings ( Fig. 3A View FIG ): flightless (micropterous: wings extremely reduced).

Sexual dimorphism: females have the apex of head protruding forwards with a narrow acute process bent upwards ( Fig. 4D View FIG ), fore angular areas of pronotum more protruding forwards, protibiae ( Fig. 3E, F View FIG ) apically elongate to fit to the head acute process while in the rolled up posture, and ending with 2 outer teeth, one directed outwards and the other directed downwards, apical spur of protibiae plumper than in males and with distal 3rd more dramatically bent downwards, mesotibiae more narrowed apically, with apical spur straight, whereas males have apex of head without any distinct acute process (e.g., Fig. 6A View FIG ), protibiae ending with a single small acute outer tooth, apical spur slender and more gently bent downwards, mesotibiae with the inner apical spur bent inward at a right angle (hooked) ( Fig. 3C View FIG ).

Male genitalia: genital segment fairly sclerotized, variably shaped with conspicuous differences at species level. Aedeagus with basal piece twisted, about as long as or slightly longer than parameres; internal sac relatively small; temones present; parameres strongly asymmetrical.

Female genitalia: no bursal sclerites and spermatheca weakly sclerotized; genital palpi weakly sclerotized, subcircular, relatively small and short.

REMARKS

On the basis of a preliminary analysis based on morphological characters of adults, the closest genus to Cryptosphaeroides n. gen. seems to be the other Malagasy endemic Goudotostes . Goudotostes presently contains only one described species: G. scabrosus (Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) . However in the material collected by Brian Fisher several undescribed species are present, which will be the subject of a subsequent paper. Comparison between Cryptosphaeroides n. gen. and a number of undescribed species of Goudotostes reveals that the latter shares with Cryptosphaeroides n. gen. the same basic morphology of mouthparts, the same shape and orientation of antennal pedicellus, the same pattern of sexual dimorphism ( Ballerio 2006) and the strongly asymmetrical parameres. The main differences between the two genera reside in the sculpturing of head, pronotum and elytra: Goudotostes has a glabrous dorsal body surface that is strongly sculptured, with carinae, tubercles and deep, dense puncturation, while Cryptosphaeroides n. gen. has a smooth dorsal surface with sparse large horseshoeshaped punctures and erect setae. Moreover, the pronotum of Goudotostes has a prominently raised posterior margin, whereas in Cryptosphaeroides n. gen. the pronotum is evenly convex, without any raised posterior margin.

Cryptosphaeroides hystrix ( Paulian, 1991) View in CoL n. comb. ( Figs 1-3 View FIG View FIG View FIG ; 4 View FIG A-D)

Pseudopterorthochaetes hystrix Paulian, 1991: 143 View in CoL (description and iconography). — Ocampo & Ballerio 2006: 190 (catalogue).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype ♀ ( MZUF): “ Madagascar: Parc de la Montagne d’Ambre , 23-25/IX/1989 legit L. Bartolozzi & S. Taiti / Holotype /“La Specola” Firenze 77 12/ Pseudopterorthochaetes hystrix n. sp. R. Paulian det./ Cryptosphaeroides hystrix Paulian , det. A. Ballerio 2006 ” [specimen in good condition, distended and glued on a card].

ETYMOLOGY. — Paulian did not explain why he chose this noun in apposition, but undoubtedly he wanted to refer to the erect setae, which give the beetle a thorny appearance, similar to a porcupine.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 40 ♂♂, 49 ♀♀ (CASC), 10 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ (coll.ABCB), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (MNHN):“ Madagascar: Province d’Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale d’Ambre, 3.5 km 235° SW Sakaramy, 325 m. 26-31 Jan. 2001 / 12°28’08” S 49°14’32” E, coll.Fisher, Griswold et al., Calif.Academy of Sciences, sifted litter in tropical dry forest, collection code: BLF2654” [8 ♂♂ and 6 ♀♀ dissected]. — 58 ♂♂, 56 ♀♀ (CASC), 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (coll. ABCB): “ Madagascar:Province d’Antsiranana, Montagne des Français, 7.2 km 142° SE Antsiranana (= Diego Suarez), elev. 180 m., 22-28 Feb 2001 / 12°19’22” S 49°20’17” E, coll.Fisher,Griswold et al., Calif.Academy of Sciences, sifted litter in tropical dry forest, collection code: BLF3128” [3 ♂♂ dissected]. — 1 ♀ (coll. ABCB):“ Madagascar: Province d’Antsiranana, Montagne des Français, 7.2 km 142° SE Antsiranana (= Diego Suarez), elev. 180 m., 22-28 Feb 2001 / 12°19’22” S 49°20’17” E 29.XII.2005, leg.A.Ballerio & J.E.Randrianirina”.— 2 ♂♂ and 1 ♀ (CASC):“ Madagascar:Provinced’Antsiranana,Foret d’Orangea, 3.6 km 128° SE Ramena, elev. 90 m., 22-28 Feb. 2001 / 12°15’32”S 49°22’29”E, coll. Fisher, Griswold et al., Calif. Academy of Sciences, sifted litter in littoral forest, collection code: BLF3200” [1 ♂ dissected].

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Th is species seems to occur in the dry tropical forests around Antsiranana (= Diego Suarez) in the northern tip of Madagascar. These forests belong mainly to the Western Domain ( Paulian 1961) and can be classified as “deciduous, seasonally dry,western forest” ( Du Puy & Moat 1996). While the forest of Montagne des Français is a typical dry, seasonally deciduous forest, the Sakaramy forest, fringing the humid rainforest of Montagne d’Ambre, shows some transitional characteristics with a true tropical rainforest (“evergreen humid rainforest, low altitude”, Du Puy & Moat 1996).Finally,the Orangea forest presently is a dry littoral forest (“coastal forest [eastern]”, Du Puy & Moat 1996), with very low canopy (average 3 m) and sandy soil, although a few stands of taller trees still exist (the collecting site was in a small taller wood, B. L. Fisher pers. comm.). All known specimens of C. hystrix n. comb. have been collected by sifting leaf litter.

DIAGNOSIS. — Besides the unique shape of aedeagus, C. hystrix n. comb. can be easily separated from the other known species with the presence of a distinct smooth carina delimitating the pseudoepipleuron and the puncturation of pronotum which is shallower than in all other species.

DESCRIPTION

HL = 0.66-0,77 mm; HW = 1.05-1.16 mm; PL= 0.95-1.00mm; PW = 1.76-1.91 mm; EL = 1.54- 1.63 mm; EW = 1.66-1.83 mm.

Black to dark brown, shiny; underside alutaceous, reddish-brown; head, pronotum and elytra with yellowish/whitish sparse long clavate erect pubescence.

Head: frons with impressed transverse small comma-shaped punctures, the remaining dorsal surface distally and laterally with sparse shallow relatively large horseshoe-shaped punctures and transversal irregular lines, disc almost smooth. Pubescence shorter than on pronotum and elytra.

Pronotum: surface with relatively dense shallow puncturation made of large transverse horseshoeshaped punctures (with horseshoe very opened, always centrifugally), each one bearing an erect seta internally, punctures irregularly spaced out. Scutellum: punctures as on pronotum, although shorter, more impressed and opened backwards. Elytra: surface covered by medium sized sparse (their distance being usually slightly larger than their width) shallow horseshoe-shaped punctures opened backwards and outwards, each one bearing a long erect clavate seta internally; border between dorsal elytral surface and pseudoepipleuron marked by a longitudinal weakly raised carina starting near humeral area and reaching elytral suture near the apex. Pseudoepipleuron with a few longitudinal shallow comma-shaped punctures.

Parameres: Fig. 4A, B View FIG . Genital segment: Fig. 4C View FIG .