Sicilicula hygropetrica, Perkins, 2017

Perkins, Philip D., 2017, Hydraenidae of Madagascar (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 4342 (1), pp. 1-264 : 213-216

Sicilicula hygropetrica , new species

Figs. 204 (habitus), 206 (aedeagus), 304 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Fianarantsoa, Matsiara Ambony, Ranomafana NP, near Sahamalaotra trail entrance, cascade with decaying leaves, elev. 1130 m, 21° 14' S, 47° 24' E, 2 xi 2014, P. D. Perkins ( MAD14-04.1 ) ( NHRS) . Paratypes (36): Same data as holotype (25 MCZ); Fianarantsoa, 20.1711S 47.091E, Amoron'i, ManiaUpstream Talaviana river from the crossing with RN7, 37km S of Antsirabe , rocky river with sandy bottom and some hygropetric rocks, elev. 1360 m, 20° 10' S, 47° 5' E, 1 xi 2014, J. Bergsten, T. Ranarilalatiana, S. Holmgren & P. D. Perkins ( MAD14-01 ) (11 NHRS).

Differential Diagnosis. Quite similar in habitus to H. malagasica . Both species have pronotal lateral lobes that are flat, narrowly margined, and denticulate. Reliable determinations will be based on careful examination of the male genitalia, which differ in curvature and width of the main piece, and the shape of the distal piece ( Figs. 202, 206).

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.71/0.71; head width 0.50; pronotum 0.43/0.57, PA 0.36, PB 0.37; elytra 1.00/0.71.

Dorsum black, maxillary palpi and legs brown.

Head with labrum/clypeus/frons length rations as 10/7/8. Labrum moderately finely, moderately sparsely punctulate, interstices shining. Clypeus and frons strongly shining, clypeus finely sparsely punctulate, frons much more finely and sparsely punctulate, size of punctures much small than 1xef. Anteocellar sulci deep. Ocelli distinct.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, coarsely denticulate at lateral lobes; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs quite convex, strongly shining, very finely and very sparsely punctulate, without setae. Anterior and posterior ¼ punctate. Lateral lobes very sparsely moderately coarsely punctate, interstices strongly shining. Posterior discal foveae ( Fig. 204 ) large and deep; anterior foveae with ill-defined margins.

Elytra with disc very slightly depressed in front of midlength, sutural interval slightly raised at summit of posterior declivity, sides weakly arcuate, widest near midlength, apices obliquely truncate; apices conjointly rather sharply rounded; sides smooth, moderately explanate (but see female); posterior declivity gradual. Serial punctures moderately large and deep, without discernable setae, on disc slightly larger 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, series two and three terminating on posterior declivity. Intervals weakly rounded, width on disc about 2–3xpd, except sutural interval wider; intervals without setae.

Mentum moderately densely punctulate, submentum much more finely and 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, glabrous dull mesoventral plaques and small glabrous strongly shining inverted V-shaped basomedian area on mesoventrite in front of intercoxal sternite.

Ventrite 1 with weak sublateral and submedial basal carina on each side; ventrite 6 shining, with sparse short setae. Tibiae straight. Wings fully developed.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 206) length ca. 0.39 mm, main piece 0.26 mm, distal process beyond main piece 0.13 mm; main piece arcuate in both ventral and lateral views, widened in distal ½; basal ring and basal 1/3 of main piece large; distal process sinuate; setae of main piece rather long.

Female: size (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.79/0.74; head width 0.53; pronotum 0.43/ 0.59, PA 0.39, PB 0.46; elytra 1.03/0.74. Females with explanate elytral margin very slightly wider than male, widest at ca. posterior 2/3, apices conjointly rather sharply rounded.

Etymology. Named in reference to the hygropetric habitat.

Figures

FIGURE 204. Sicilicula hygropetrica, habitus, holotype male dorsal (right) and lateral, and female paratype (left).