Synarmostes caterinae, Ballerio, 2021

Ballerio, Alberto, 2021, The Ceratocanthinae of Madagascar and Comoro Islands: a revision of the genera Synarmostes and Goudotostes, and of the flightless Philharmostes, with description of 64 new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea, Hybosoridae), Fragmenta entomologica 53 (2), pp. 105-282 : 127-154

Synarmostes caterinae sp. nov.

( Figs 18 a-d, 31 j-l, 35) http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B70C83AE-1AAD-408D-8230-7FBCE0F4917F

Type series. Holotype, ♂, deposited in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA, labelled as follows: / CASTYPE 20247 / CASENT8135254 / Madagascar: Mahajanga Province. Parc National de Namoroka, 9.8 km 300° WNW Vilanandro 4-8 Nov. 2002 / 16° 28’ 00” S 045° 21’ 00” E coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. California Acad. of Sciences sift- ed litter-tropical dry forest elev. 140 m code: BLF6446 / Synarmostes caterinae n. sp. det. A. Ballerio 2020 Holotypus ♂ / [distended, glued on card, dissected, male genitalia glued in DMHF resin on a separate card, same pin]. Paratypes [3 ♂♂ dissected]: 9 ♂♂ and 7 ♀♀ (11 in CASC and 5 in ABCB), same collecting data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Synarmostes caterinae sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Synarmostes by the following combination of characters: a) small size, b) ventral ocular area small-sized, c) dorsal ocular area present, d) dorsal setation absent (20×), e) flightlessness, f) carinae of elytral apical third regular (without tubercles or other irregularities), g) scutellum smooth, without punctation, h) pronotal punctation consisting of short transverse comma-shaped punctures, i) pronotum with an anteromedian area smooth or with very sparse punctation, j) head with large impressed simple punctation. Synarmostes caterinae sp. nov. belongs to the antsingyi group of species and can be easily distinguished from the other species of the group because of the smooth scutellum.

Description. Size: HL = 0.6 mm; HW = 1.2 mm; PL = 1.00 mm; PW = 1.7 mm; EL = 2.0 mm; EW = 1.9 mm. Overall morphology as in generic diagnosis. Small-sized flightless Synarmostes . Body convex. Dark-brown with bronze sheen, shiny, dorsum glabrous (20×), underside, tarsi and antennae reddish-brown, setation yellowish-brown. Head: W/L ratio = 1.25, clypeal apex obtuse, apical projection small but distinctly protruding and sharp; dorsal ocular area small, interocular distance about 12 times the maximum width of dorsal ocular area, ventral ocular area small; head dorsal surface, except frons, uniformly covered by large impressed simple punctures. Fore margin with few transverse large irregular comma-shaped punctures. Interpunctural distance of large impressed simple punctures irregular: twice their width to four times larger than their width. Vertex smooth with one transverse impressed line interrupted in the middle. Pronotum: subrectangular (W/L ratio = 1.73), regularly convex, pronotal surface almost uniformly punctured, only sides, base and a small area on anterior portion of disc almost impunctate; punctures mostly comma-shaped, each one bearing a simple puncture internally, comma-shaped punctures transverse on disc and longitudinally oriented at sides. Interpunctural distance mostly shorter than or as long as punctural width. Scutellum : almost completely smooth. Elytra: longer than wide (W/L ratio = 0.90); subrectangular (dorsal view); inferior sutural stria reaching humeral area although under the form of a shallow fine line; humeral callus indistinct; elytral surface regularly convex, uniformly covered by relatively dense irregular punctation. Interpunctural distance once to three times the maximum width of punctures. Punctures comma-shaped mixed to some small horseshoe-shaped punctures mainly near elytral suture, small and transverse near base and sides of elytra, becoming larger and longitudunal on medial third, each one having a simple setigerous puncture internally. Elytral distal third with eight raised longitudinal carinae (excluding elytral suture). Wings: flightless. Male genitalia: aedeagus (L = 0.8 mm) with parameres as in Figs 31 j-k, spiculum gastrale (L = 0.8 mm) as in Fig. 31 l .

Etymology. Noun in the genitive case. Dedicated to my niece Caterina.

Distribution and habitat. Known only from the type locality in western Madagascar. The type series was collected by sifting litter in tropical dry forest. The vegetation cover of the area, a limestone massif, is classified as “Dry deciduous forest” ( Goodman et al. 2018), also known as “Western dry forest” ( Moat & Smith 2007). The collecting locality falls within the protected area “Parc National de Namoroka”.

Synarmostes chonguimontis sp. nov.

( Figs 19 a-d, 29 h-j, 36) http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6D0C4048-1152-4C17-BE3F-278D498A70D2

Type series. Holotype, ♂, deposited in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences , San Francisco, CA, USA, labelled as follows: / CASTYPE 20248 / Mayotte: Mont Chongui 28-30 November 2007 elev. 380 m 12°57’33”S 045°08’03”E Calif. Acad. of Sciences coll. B. L. Fisher et al. sifted litter rainforest collection code: BLF18922 / Synarmostes chonguimontis n. sp. det. A. Ballerio 2020 Holotypus ♂ / [distended, glued on card, dissected, male genitalia glued in DMHF resin on a separate card, same pin]. Paratypes [10 ♂♂ dissected]: 124 specimens (100 in CASC and 24 in ABCB), same collecting data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Synarmostes chonguimontis sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Synarmostes by the following combination of characters: a) small size, b) ventral ocular area small-sized, c) dorsal ocular area present, d) dorsal setation present (20×), e) flightlessness, f) carinae of elytral apical third regular (without tubercles or other irregularities), g) scutellum smooth, without punctation, h) pronotum with an anteromedian area smooth, i) parameres elongate and narrow in lateral view, j) elytral inferior sutural stria ending before humeral area. Synarmostes chonguimontis sp. nov. belongs to the humilis group of species and can be reliabily distinguished from the other species of the group only with the examination of the aedeagus, which has the distinctive shape indicated under letter i) above.

Description. Size: HL = 0.5 mm; HW = 0.9 mm; PL = 0.7 mm; PW = 1.4 mm; EL = 1.6 mm; EW = 1.5 mm. Overall morphology as in generic diagnosis. Small-sized flightless Synarmostes . Body strongly convex. Dark-brown with bronze sheen, shiny, dorsum with setigerous punctures bearing a medium-sized fine seta (20×), underside, tarsi and antennae reddish-brown, setation yellowish-brown.

Head: W/L ratio = 1.52, clypeal apex obtuse, apical projection distinctly protruding and sharp; dorsal ocular area small, interocular distance about 23 times the maximum width of dorsal ocular area, ventral ocular area small; head dorsal surface with disc almost smooth with only a few simple shallow punctures, sides of disc covered by sparse medium-sized comma-shaped punctation mixed to some horseshoe-shaped punctures with opening directed inwards. Fore margin with one or two transverse large comma-shaped punctures. Interpunctural distance of punctures irregular: half their width or once or twice larger than their width. Vertex smooth with one transverse impressed line shortly interrupted in the middle. Pronotum: subrectangular (W/L ratio = 1.15), regularly convex, pronotal surface with disc almost smooth, with only some sparse shallow simple punctures, sides covered by medium-sized sparse shallow transverse comma-shaped punctures, each one having a simple setigerous puncture inside. Interpunctural distance shorter than punctural width. Scutellum : almost completely smooth. Elytra: longer than wide (W/L ratio = 0.89); subrectangular (dorsal view); inferior sutural stria ending before humeral area; humeral callus indistinct; elytral surface regularly convex, uniformly covered by sparse shallow punctation. Interpunctural distance once to thrice the maximum width of punctures. Punctures transverse comma-shaped near base and sides of elytra, becoming horseshoe-shaped punctures with opening directed backwards on medial third, each one having a simple setigerous puncture inside. Elytral distal third with four raised longitudinal carinae (excluding elytral suture) sometimes with a longitudinal impressed irregular line between them. Wings: flightless. Male genitalia: aedeagus (L = 1.0 mm) with parameres as in Figs 29 h-i, spiculum gastrale (L = 0.9 mm) as in Fig. 29 j .

Etymology. Composite noun in the genitive, meaning “of Mount Chongui”, the type locality.

Distribution and habitat. Known only from the type locality, set in one of the four main mountain ranges of Mayotte, i.e., mount Choungui (or Chongui), which occu- pies the southern portion of the island. The type series was collected by sifting leaf litter in rainforest. The collecting locality falls within the protected area “Réserve forestière des Crêtes du Sud”.

Synarmostes compactus sp. nov.

( Figs 22 a-d, 30 g-i, 35) http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E0CD64EB-AFC2-435E-A1F5-7C5FCCF7370C

Type series. Holotype, ♂, deposited in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA, labelled as follows: / CASTYPE 20249 / CASENT8135431 / Madagascar: Toamasina Prov., Reserve Betampona Camp Rendrirendry 34.1 km 332° Toamasina el. 390 m 28 November 2005 / 17° 55’ 26” S 049° 11’ 59” E California Acad. of Sciences coll. Brian L. Fisher et al. sifted litter, rainforest collection code: BLF 13125 / Synarmostes compactus n. sp. det. A. Ballerio 2020 Holotypus ♂ / [distended, glued on card, dissected, male genitalia glued in DMHF resin on a separate card, same pin]. Paratypes: 1 ♀ ( CASC), same collecting data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Synarmostes compactus sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Synarmostes by the following combination of characters: a) medium size, b) ventral ocular area medium-sized, c) dorsal ocular area present, d) dorsal setation absent (20×), e) flightlessness, f) pronotum without callosities on disc, g) pronotum strongly saddle-shaped in lateral view, h) elytral punctation on basal and median thirds small (punctures on basal third with an average width of about 1/22 the maximum width of each elytron) and, at least on median third, longitudinally oriented (mostly comma-shaped or, when horseshoe-shaped, then with branches diverging), i) carinae of elytral apical third irregular (with some weak tubercles or other irregularities), j) parameres only slightly and shortly curved apically (lateral view). Synarmostes compactus sp. nov. belongs to the tibialis group of species and can be differentiated from the other species of the group by the combination of characters b), c), g), h) and j).

Description. Size: HL = 0.9 mm; HW = 1.3 mm; PL = 1.1 mm; PW = 2.2 mm; EL = 2.4 mm; EW = 2.2 mm. Black, shiny, dorsum glabrous (20×), underside, tarsi and antennae reddish-brown, setation yellowish. Head: W/L ratio = 1.45; clypeal apex obtuse, apical projection protruding and sharp, dorsal ocular area small, interocular distance about 24 times the maximum width of dorsal ocular area, ventral ocular area medium-sized; head dorsal surface uniformly covered by dense strongly impressed large simple punctation, smaller and less impressed on disc. Fore margin with some irregular transverse lines preceded by some transverse comma-shaped punctures. Interpunctural distance of simple impressed punctures irregular: from less than to once or three times larger than the punctural diameter. Vertex smooth with one continuous transverse impressed irregular line. Pronotum: subrectangular (W/L ratio = 1.78), irregularly convex, slightly depressed anteromedially with fore margin slightly raised, base and sides with sparse punctation, disc covered by dense short transverse impressed comma-shaped punctures, sides of disc covered by dense large impressed simple punctures. Interpunctural distance shorter than punctural diameter. Scutellum : base smooth, distal third covered by several transverse comma-shaped punctures. Elytra: longer than wide (W/L ratio = 0.90); subrectangular (dorsal view); inferior sutural stria reaching humeral area; humeral callus absent; elytral surface regularly strongly convex, covered by small dense comma-shaped punctures with opening directed backward. Interpunctural distance irregular: once or twice the length of punctural diameter. Elytral distal third with at least eight raised longitudinal irregular carinae. Wings: flightless. Male genitalia: aedeagus (L = 0.8 mm) with parameres as in Figs 30 j-h, spiculum gastrale (L = 0.8 mm) as in Fig. 30 l .

Etymology. Latin adjective in the nominative singular, meaning “compact”, because of the hard bodied appearance of this species.

Distribution and habitat. Known only from the type locality (Camp Rendrirendry, Betampona reserve) in Eastern Madagascar. The type series was collected by sifting leaf litter in rainforest. The vegetation cover consists of “humid forest” ( Moat & Smith 2007) also known as “moist evergreen forest” ( Goodman et al. 2018). The collecting locality falls within the protected area “Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Betampona”, one of the last remnants of forest in the foothills of the eastern escarpment.

Figures

Fig. 18 – Synarmostes caterinae sp. nov., a, dorsal view of distended holotype; b, ventral view of rolled up paratype; c, dorsal view of rolled up paratype; d, lateral view of rolled up paratype; Synarmostes monoculus sp. nov., e, dorsal view of distended holotype; f, ventral view of rolled up paratype; g, dorsal view of rolled up paratype; h, lateral view of rolled up paratype.

Fig. 31 – Aedeagi and spicula gastrales, a–c, Synarmostes antsingyi (Tsingy de Bemaraha); d–f, Synarmostes beankae sp. nov., holotype; g–i, Synarmostes bekaraokae sp. nov., holotype; j–l, Synarmostes caterinae sp. nov., holotype; m–o, Synarmostes monoculus sp. nov., holotype.

Fig. 19 – Synarmostes chonguimontis sp. nov., a, dorsal view of holotype specimen; b, ventral view of rolled up paratype; c, dorsal view of rolled up paratype; d, lateral view of rolled up paratype; Synarmostes dapaniensis sp. nov., e, dorsal view of distended holotype; f, ventral view of rolled up paratype; g, dorsal view of rolled up paratype; h, lateral view of rolled up paratype.

Fig. 29 – Aedeagi and spicula gastrales, a, Synarmostes humilis, holotype. b–d, Synarmostes humilis (Mont Combani); e–g, Synarmostes benaraensis sp. nov., paratype; h–j, Synarmostes chonguimontis sp. nov., paratype; k–m, Synarmostes dapaniensis sp. nov., paratype; n–p, Synarmostes karthalaenisis sp. nov., paratype; q–s, Synarmostes grinteri sp. nov., paratype.

Fig. 22 – Synarmostes compactus sp. nov., a, dorsal view of distended paratype; b, ventral view of rolled up paratype; c, dorsal view of rolled up paratype; d, lateral view of rolled up paratype; Synarmostes fortis sp. nov., e, dorsal view of distended holotype; f, ventral view of rolled up paratype; g, dorsal view of rolled up paratype; h, lateral view of rolled up paratype.

Fig. 30 – Aedeagi and spicula gastrales, a–c, Synarmostes aes sp. nov., holotype; d–f, Synarmostes separatus sp. nov., holotype; g–i, Synarmostes compactus sp. nov., holotype; j–l, Synarmostes fortis sp. nov., holotype; m–o, Synarmostes makirovanae sp. nov., holotype; p–r, Synarmostes lavasoae sp. nov., holotype.