Melaenus piger (Fabricius 1801)

Ball, George E. & Shpeley, Danny, 2005, Taxonomic review of the Tribe Melaenini (Coleoptera: Carabidae), with observations on morphological, ecological and chorological evolution, Zootaxa 1099 (1), pp. 1-120 : 1-120

Melaenus piger (Fabricius 1801)

( Figs. 1A , 5A–G , 7A–K , 8A–D , 10 )

Brachinus piger Fabricius 1801: 219 . TYPE MATERIAL: not seen (the type is in the Zoological Museum , University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark (Andrewes 1921: 164)).

Melaenus piger Schaum 1847: 49 .—Erichson 1847: 142.—Motschulsky 1855: 42.—Andrewes 1921: 164, 185.—1930: 212.—1935: 28.

Type locality. Eastern India, as recorded in the original description (Fabricius 1801: 219) .

Recognition. See Fig. 1A and key to melaenine taxa.

Description. With character states of genus Melaenus , restricted as follows. Habitus as in Fig. 1A . Measurements: see Melaenus in Tables 3–11, and "Comparisons" below, under M. elegans Dejean. Male genitalia: phallus, endophallus and parameres as in Figs. 8B–D .

Habitat, habits and seasonal occurrence. This species lives primarily in the tropical deciduous forest/savannah vegetation zone, but also the rain forest zone (Table 17), at altitudes between sea level and 1000 m. Andrewes (1935: 27) recorded specimens to be common in refuse bordering rice fields, and wrote that the beetles fly at night. Erwin (1984: 379) wrote that specimens "are found in disturbed areas, in decaying vegetation." From these statements we infer that members of C. piger may occupy open areas, rest under cover by day, and are active at night. Based on label data, we infer that the period of maximum adult activity is in June, extending overall from March to December.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 10 ). This species is known only from Sri Lanka and India, in the western part of the Oriental Region.

Relationships and chorological affinities. This species is the putative adelphotaxon of M. elegans Dejean , the only other known species of Melaenus . Their marked structural similarities to one another suggest a very close relationship. They form a vicariant pair with M. piger restricted to the Indian sub­continent and M. elegans occurring only on the African continent.

Material examined. We have seen 86 specimens from the following localities, all of which are in the Oriental Region. Included also are records published by Andrewes (1930) .

INDIA. Andhra Pradesh State: Kurnool ( Andrewes , 1930) Bombay State: Bandra; Belgausa; "Bombay State"; Igatpuri Nagpur ( Andrewes , 1930) . Madhya State: Balaghat; Hoshangabad ( Andrewes , 1930); Jabalpur , VI.1906, F. Benton, 1 (USNM); Mhow (Andrewes, 1930) . Madras State. Bonamalea , VI.1962, P.S. Nathan, 1 (USNM); Karikal, 1 (MRAC); Karikal, VIII.1964, 2 (USNM); Karikal, T.R.S. Nathan (CMNH): VIII.1982, 5; VII.1984, 2; VIII.1986, 3; VII.1987, 1; VII.1988, 2; Kurumbagaram, IX.1951, P.S. Nathan, 33 (UASM); same, VI.1952, 11 (UASM); same, IV.1962, 1 (UASM); Madras; Ootacamund (Andrewes, 1930); Pondicherry, 2 (USNM); same, VII.1963, 2 (USNM); Tinnevelly (Andrewes, 1930); Uppaluru, VI.1962, Biff, 4 (UASM) . Mysore State: Belgaum, 1927, C.F. Baker, 1 (USNM); same, 2 (OXUM). New Goa State: Panjim, XII.1924, J.C. Bridwell, 1 (USNM) . Orissa State: Chatrapur (Andrewes, 1930). State not determined. "Bengal"; Kunavaram ( Andrewes , 1930); "India", 1 (OXUM); "North India", Capt. Boys , 1 (OXUM); "South India", 2 (MRAC); Tabalpun , 1600', X.1957, P.S. Nathan, 3 (USNM); W. W. Jar [sic], Worth, 1 (OXUM) . SRI LANKA. Anu District: Belaya Wowai, 8ºS, 80º30'E, nr. Padaviya , 150', 4–5.XI.1970, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1 (USNM); Padaviya, 180', 2–8.XI.1970, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1 (USNM); Padaviya, 180', 27.II–9.III.1970, Davis & Rowe, 1 (USNM) . North Central District: Horouwpotana ( Andrewes , 1930) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs illustrating dorsal habitus: A, Melaenus piger Fabricius (SBL 7.33 mm); B, Cymbionotum fernandezi, new species (SBL 3.96 mm).

FIGURE 5. Antenna and elytron of Melaenus piger Fabricius illustrated with SEM photographs. A, antennomeres 1–3, anterior aspect. B, antennomere 3, illustrating ridged microsculpture. C, antennomeres 6 and 7, posterior aspect, illustrating form and setation. D, antennomere 6, illustrating setae and medial longitudinal carina. E, left elytron, dorsal aspect, illustrating form and striation. F and G, left elytron, dorsal aspect, illustrating microsculpture mesh pattern, punctation and setation. Legend: A2, A3, A6 and A7, antennomeres 2, 3, 6 and 7; ac, antennal carina; mtr, microtrichial ridge; qfs, quadrifurcate seta; sp, strial puncture. Scale bars: A, C and F = 100 µm; B, D and G = 10 µm; and E = 1mm.

FIGURE 7. Structural features of Melaenus piger Fabricius illustrated with SEM photographs. A, B, left maxilla, dorsal and ventral aspect, respectively; C, D, labium, ventral and dorsal aspect, respectively; E, F, left middle tibia, apical portion, and basal portion of tarsomere 1, anterior aspect, E—low magnification, F—high magnification, showing microsculpture; G, middle tarsomere 5, apical portion, and claws, ventral aspect; H–K, ovipositor, left gonocoxa—H, gonocoxa 1 and 2; I– K, gonocoxite 1, apical portion and gonocoxite 2, lateral, dorsal and ventral aspects, respectively. Legend: c, cardo; cs, coeloconic sensillum; ats, anterior tibial spur; avl, apical ventral lobe of t­5; css, clamshell sensillum; dls, dorsal lobe of stipes; e, epilobe of mentum; es, ensiform seta; g1, galeomere 1; g2, galeomere 2; gc1, gonocoxite 1; gc2, gonocoxite 2; gs, glossal apical seta; gsap, glossal sclerite, apical portion; gsbp, glossal sclerite, basal portion; gsc, glossal sclerite; gsmp, glossal sclerite, medial portion; ifs, inner face sculpticell; lc, lacinia; lct, lacinial tooth; ll, lateral lobe of mentum; lp1, labial palpomere 1; lp2, labial palpomere 2; lp3, labial palpomere 3; m, mentum; mp2, maxillary palpomere 2; mp3, maxillary palpomere 3; mp4, maxillary palpomere 4; ms, paramedial seta of mentum; m­sms, mental­submental suture; mt, mental tooth; mtb, middle tibial brush; ns, nematiform seta; ofs, outer fimbriate sculpture; pf, palpifer; pfs, palpiferal seta; pg, paraglossa; pge, palpiger; pts, posterior tibial spur; sm, submentum; sms, submental seta; ssf, subapical sensory furrow; ta1, tarsomere 1; tc, tarsal claw; up, unguitractor plate; va, ventral articulation; vls, ventral lobe of stipes; vtls, ventrolateral seta. Scale bars: A–E and G–K = 100 µm; F = 10 µm.

FIGURE 8. Structural features of Melaenus piger Fabricius illustrated with line drawings. A, left hind wing with venation, dorsal aspect. B–D, phallus and endophallus, in part. Legend: wing veins and cells—AA1+2 and AA3+4, anal veins 1+2 and 3+4, respectively; MP3 and MP4, posterior median veins 3 and 4, respectively; o, oblongum cell; RA4, anterior radial vein 4; RP2 and RP3+4, posterior radial veins 2 and 3+4, respectively; w, wedge cell. Male genitalia: x, sclerite x of endophallus. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 10. Geographical range of the species of Melaenus Dejean illustrated on an outline map of southwestern Asia, southern Europe, and Africa.