Sicilicula malagasica, Perkins, 2017

Perkins, Philip D., 2017, Hydraenidae of Madagascar (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 4342 (1), pp. 1-264 : 209-212

Sicilicula malagasica , new species

Figs. 200 (habitus), 202 (aedeagus), 304 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Fianarantsoa, Abohimahasoa, village hotel Riandrano , hygropetric surface next to waterfall, N:-21° 6.203, E:47° 12.144, elev. 1208 m, 6 v 2006, Bergsten et al. (P37A) ( NHRS) . Paratypes (44): Same data as holotype (5 NHRS); Antananarivo, Onive River near Ilempona, 38 km S of Ambatolampy , elev. 1555 m, 19° 34' S, 47° 22' E, 29 x 1986, J. T. & D. A. Polhemus (CL 2239) (1 USNM) ; Vakinankaratra: Manjakatompo Stn. Forestière: Andongolongo : S 19.353639 E 0 47.300583, pool near source, elev. 1904 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 18' E, 24 i 2012, T. Ranarilalatiana & J. H. Randriamihaja (MADMJK12-12) (2 NHRS) ; Vakinankaratra: Manjakatompo Stn. Forestière: Poste : S 19.354194 E 0 47.308083, lake w. grass, elev. 1796 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 18' E, 24 i 2012, T. Ranarilalatiana & J. H. Randriamihaja (MADMJK12-14) (1 NHRS) ; Vakinankaratra: Manjakatompo Stn. Forestière: Tavolatara : S 19.349083 E 0 47.278028, pool near stream, elev. 2055 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 17' E, 24 i 2012, T. Ranarilalatiana & J. H. Randriamihaja (MADMJK12-09) (1 NHRS) ; Vakinankaratra: Manjakatompo Stn. Forestière: Tavolatara : S 19.349139 E 0 47.278361, swamp near source, elev. 2046 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 17' E, 24 i 2012, T. Ranarilalatiana & J. H. Randriamihaja (MADMJK12-08) (8 NHRS) ; Vakinankaratra: Manjakatompo Stn. Forestière: Tavolatara : S 19.349611 E 0 47.277889, 2050 m. 24:I:2012:swamp near source Field # MJK12-10, elev. 2050 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 17' E, 24 i 2012, T. Ranarilalatiana & J. H. Randriamihaja (MADMJK12-10) (9 NHRS) ; Antsiranana, Montagne d'Ambre, Sommet d' Ambre region , 30 mins walking distance to crater lake below the summit, elev. 1327 m, 13° 34' S, 49° 10' E, 1 xi–30 xii 2004, M. Balke (MD 008)(" MNCN AI-544 DNA specimen") (1 MNCN) ; Montagne d'Ambre, Petit Cascade [near Gite ], elev. 1020 m, 12° 30' S, 49° 10' E, 1 xi–30 xii 2004, M. Balke & D. Ottke (MD 002) (2 ZSMC) ; Fianarantsoa, Andringitra NP: Zomandao R., nr caves close to Camp Belamba , hygropetric and waterpools by the river, N -22° 8.192, E:46° 53.359, elev. 1601 m, 22° 8' S, 46° 53' E, 9 v 2006, Bergsten et al. (P39D) (1 NHRS) ; Namorona River, 7 km SW Ranomafana , from stream with mossy rocks and sandy bottom, montane rainforest, elev. 1200 m, 21° 16' S, 47° 26' E, 23 x 1988, W. E. Steiner, C. Kremen, R. Van Epps (3 USNM) ; Vatovavy Fitovinany: Ranomafana NP: 4km NE Vohiparara by the road: S 21.25433 E 0 47.40606, forceps picking: hygropetric rock, elev. 1050 m, 21° 15' S, 47° 24' E, 1 xi 2011, J. Bergsten, R. Bukontaite, T. Ranarilalatiana, & J.H. Randriamihaja ( MAD11-10 ) (10 NHRS) .

Differential Diagnosis. Quite similar in habitus to S. hygropetrica . 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) 1.67/0.68; head width 0.46; pronotum 0.39/0.52, PA 0.33, PB 0.37; elytra 0.99/0.68. Dorsum black, maxillary palpi and legs brown.

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

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles obtuse, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, coarsely crenulate at lateral lobes; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs strongly shining, very finely and very sparsely punctulate, without setae. Anterior and posterior ¼ and lateral lobes coarsely deeply punctate. Discal foveae ( Fig. 200 ) large and deep.

Elytra with disc very slightly depressed in front of midlength, sides weakly arcuate, widest at posterior 2/3, apices obliquely truncate; sutural apices minutely dehiscent; sides smooth, moderately explanate (but see female); posterior declivity gradual. Serial punctures 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. Intervals weakly rounded, width on disc about 2xpd, except sutural interval wider; most 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 dull, with sparse short setae. Tibiae straight. Wings fully developed.

Female: size (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.79/0.74; head width 0.51; pronotum 0.42/ 0.57, PA 0.38, PB 0.39; elytra 1.07/0.74. Elytral explanate margin very wide, widest at sharply rounded posterior angles, apices markedly truncate, conjointly forming shallow arcuate line.

Etymology. Named in reference to the geographical distribution.

Figures

FIGURE 200. Sicilicula malagasica, habitus, holotype male dorsal (right) and lateral, and female paratype (left).