Lebia (Metalebia) laterolucida Kavanaugh and Rainio, 2016

Kavanaugh, David H. & Rainio, Johanna, 2016, Twenty-six New Species of Predaceous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Carabidae) from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (7), pp. 201-268 : 255-256

Lebia (Metalebia) laterolucida Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figure 33

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs. 33A–B ), a female, in CAS, labeled: “CASENT 1006164”/ MADAGASCAR Fianarantsoa Prov. Parc Nacional Ranomafana Bell Vue Trail, tropical forest 21°15.5’S 47°25.6’E 1000 m M.E.Irwin and E.I. Schlinger MEI 99-MA-7 21-XII-1999 ”/ “ HOLOTYPE Lebia (Metalebia) laterolucida Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label].

Paratypes (only 1): a female (in CAS) labelled “CASENT 1049030”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely area , 850 m, 13 April 1998,”/ “ 21°14’S 47°22’E Malaise trap in mixed tropical forest, M.E.Irwin and E.I. Schlinger collectors, Stop 98- MAD-1”/ “ PARATYPE Lebia (Metalebia) laterolucida Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [yellow label] .

TYPE LOCALITY.— Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park.

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, laterolucida , is an adjective derived from the Latin words, lateris, meaning side, and lucidus, meaning bright or full of light. The name refers to the pale, translucent lateral pronotal margins, which contrast markedly with the dark pronotal disc in members of this species.

RECOGNITION.— Size moderate for genus, SBL of females = 4.5–5.0 mm. Members of this species ( Fig. 33A ) key to subgenus Metalebia Jeannel (1949) and the madagascariensis group in Jeannel’s (1949) key: the basal elytral border is absent medially between the base of stria 3 and the scutellum; the elytral striae are deep and the elytral intervals convex and impunctate; the forebody (head plus pronotum) has no metallic reflection and the elytra are uniform in color; and the frons is slightly convex and without distinct frontal furrows between the eyes. Within the madagascariensis group, L. laterolucida members are distinguished from those of L. alluaudana Jeannel (1949) , L. apicoviolacea sp. nov., L. mirana Alluaud (1936a) , L. ranomafanae sp. nov., and L. tanala Jeannel (1949) by the absence of metallic reflection on the elytra and punctation of the anterior dorsum of the head (both features present in members of the other five species). They differ from members of L. sulcipennis (Fairmaire) (1889) , L. nana Jeannel (1949) , and L. perrieri Jeannel (1949) in having the pronotum broad, ratio PW/PL = at least 1.5, and with lateral margins distinctly rounded at least in the anterior half pronotum (narrower and less rounded anteriorly in members of the three other species). From adults of L. rufa Jeannel (1949) , they differ in having the pronotal basal lobe distinctly margined (absent from the former). Lebia laterolucida adults are most similar to those of the two remaining species in Jeannel’s key, L. brunneipennis Jeannel (1949) and L. madagascariensis Chaudoir (1850) , but differ from them in having the dorsum of the head, pronotum and elytra dark piceous, with markedly contrasting pale yellow lateral pronotal margins (dorsum uniformly reddish brown and the lateral pronotal margins not or less markedly contrasting in color in the together two species). In addition, they are distinctly smaller than L. madagascariensis adults and have distinct elytral microsculpture (absent or at least very faint in L. brunneipennis adults).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— At present, known only from the type locality.

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— Both specimens of the type series were collected in mixed secondary tropical forest in the Talatakely area in malaise traps .

Figures

FIGURE 33. Digital images of holotype female of Lebia (Metalebia) laterolucida Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habitus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels. Scale line = 1.0 mm.