Oxypodinus levasseuri PACE
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.13135042 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13134981 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D142D77B-286D-FFF7-FEC6-4296C7201448 |
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
scientific name |
Oxypodinus levasseuri PACE |
status |
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Oxypodinus levasseuri PACE View in CoL ( Figs 15 View Figs 1-15 , 17 View Figs 16-17 )
M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Madagascar: 20 exs., Fort Dauphin, Andohahela National Park, Col de Manangotry, 24.74°S, 46.85°E, 650 m, primary rain forest near road, XI.2005, leg. Erpenbach (cAss).
C o m m e n t s: The species was described by PACE (1999) based on material from " N.-O. de Fort-Dauphin, Massif de l´Andohahelo", apparently close to the locality reported above ( Fig. 17 View Figs 16-17 ). Unlike most of the males examined here, the holotype illustrated in PACE (1999: Fig. 542) seems to lack any modifications of the male abdominal sternites III and IV ; moreover, PACE (1999) indicates that the body is "jaune rougeâtre, avec une large bande abdominale brune", where as the present material is of dark brown to blackish coloration. On the other hand, the primary sexual characters, including the highly distinctive spermatheca (see PACE (1999: Fig. 543)) are identical. Also, the length and shape of the lateral processes of sternite III and IV are subject to pronounced intraspecific variation; in the smallest of the six males examined, they are almost completely reduced. Thus, the evidence suggests that the holotype is probably a very small teneral male. The processes of a larger male are illustrated in Fig. 15 View Figs 1-15 .
The species is currently known only from the Andohahela range in the Fort Dauphin region, southeastern Madagascar ( Fig. 17 View Figs 16-17 ). The specimens listed above were collected from inflorescences of Impatiens vilersii CONSTANTIN & POISSON , where they were encountered in considerable numbers, even on blossoms that had opened only during the preceding night. The beetles seemed to be feeding pollen from the stamina ( Fig. 16 View Figs 16-17 ). Repeatedly, copulating beetles were observed (ERPENBACH pers. comm.).
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