Sicilicula J. Balfour-Browne

Perkins, Philip D., 2017, Hydraenidae of Madagascar (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 4342 (1), pp. 1-264 : 201

Sicilicula J. Balfour-Browne

Sicilicula J. Balfour-Browne 1958: 136 .

The genus Sicilicula Balfour-Browne currently comprises eight Malagasy species and one previously described species from Réunion, S. borbonic a Balfour-Browne (1958). The type of the genus, S. teres , is based on a single female; no new specimens of that species were seen during this study. S. teres , a flightless species, has a distinctive habitus that differs from that of other females described herein ( Fig. 193).

The genus is clearly related to another member of the Prosthetopinae , the South African genus Parasthetops Perkins & Balfour-Browne (1994) . Sicilicula differs in having a more compact body form, a larger head, more strongly cordiform pronotum, and generally shorter elytra. In addition, there is unusual sexual dimorphism: females have wider elytra, sometimes having very wide explanate margins (e.g., Fig. 199 ). Females also have dehiscent elytral apices, an unusual character for hydraenids. The aedeagi in Sicilicula have a much larger distal piece, compared to the main piece, than do members of Parasthetops . The long flexible flagellum present in some species of Parasthetops are not known in Sicilicula .

Members of Sicilicula are almost always collected in hygropetric microhabitats, such as seeps over rocks next to waterfalls, or rockpools near streams, waterfalls or seeps (e.g., Figs. 342–343 . Most records are from the Central Highlands, at elevations ranging from 1055 m to 2055 m. All species are very similar in color: black dorsally and ventrally, legs and maxillary palpi dark brown. Two species, S. teres and H. sexplanata are brachypterous, the other species have regular sized wings. In general, the pronotum of females is slightly more strongly cordiform than the pronotum of males.

Figures

FIGURE 199. Sicilicula sexplanata, habitus, holotype male dorsal (right) and lateral, and female paratype (left).

FIGURES 342 – 343. 342. Author collecting specimens of Sicilicula hygropetrica from a small rock pool being filled by a seep, adjacent to waterfall. 343. Ranomafana National Park, Setam Lodge sign with " artificial " hygropetric areas on stones; arrow indicates rock where seven specimens of Sicilicula n. sp. were collected (all females!). Photos. by Johannes Bergsten (342) and author (343).