Hovadelium ardoini, Schawaller, Wolfgang, 2013

Schawaller, Wolfgang, 2013, Revision of the genera Hovadelium Ardoin and Mimolaena Ardoin (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Laenini) from Madagascar, with remarks on tribal assignment 1, ZooKeys 326, pp. 55-67 : 58-59

Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. Figs 3, 11

Type specimens.

Holotype male: E Madagascar, Fianaratsoa Prov., Ambohimahamasoa, 1300-1400 m, 21.-23.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, SMNS. - Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 20 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. HNHM, 5 ex. TMSA, 5 ex. ZSM. - E Madagascar, Ranomafana NP, Sahavondrona, 1150-1250 m, 3.-4.II.1995, leg. J. Janák, 13 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. NMPC, 5 ex. ZSM. - E Madagascar, Ranomafana NP, Vohiparara, 1100-1200 m, 21.-24.I.1993, leg. J. Janák, 2 ex. SMNS. - E Madagascar, Fianaratsoa Prov., Ranomafana, 29.XI.-2.XII.1995, leg. I. Jeniš, 1 ex. SMNS. - E Madagascar, Maromiza, Andasibe ( Périnet), 1000-1200 m, 9.II.1993, leg. J. Janák, 1 ex. SMNS. - E Madagascar, Maromiza, Andasibe ( Périnet), 930-1000 m, 7.-10.I.1995, leg. J. Janák, 5 ex. SMNS. - E Madagascar, Maromiza, Andasibe ( Périnet), 7.XI.1998, leg. R. Müller, 1 ex. TMSA.

Diagnosis.

Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. is similar to Hovadelium discoidale Ardoin, 1961, but lacks the striking deep groove ventral of the eyes. Both can be separated also by the shape of the pronotum widest behind the middle in Hovadelium discoidale (Fig. 5), but widest in the middle in Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. (Fig. 3), and by the anterior angles of the pronotum, which are distinctly marked in Hovadelium discoidale , and completely rounded in Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. The elytral punctural rows are identical in both species, but the disc of the elytra is flattened in Hovadelium discoidale , whereas in Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. the elytra are more convex. See also under Hovadelium bremeri sp. n. and key below.

Description.

Body length 3.3-4.7 mm, unicoloured dark brown. Eyes flat, not prominent; without a deep groove ventral of the eyes. Head with deep clypeal suture and two pairs of long setae as characteristic for the genus; frons shining and without punctures. Shape of the antennomeres see Fig. 3. Pronotum subquadrate, widest in the middle, anterior and posterior angles completely rounded, anterior and posterior margin finely bordered, lateral margins with broader border, anterior margin not excavated; surface slightly convex, with fine and sparse punctation, punctures only weakly impressed, surface between punctation shining and only slightly shagreened; propleura shining, without punctation. Elytra with nine punctural rows in distinct striae, these punctures small and elongate, only slightly broader than striae, without setae; intervals convex, shining and without punctures nor tubercles, interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta. Ventrites shining, ventrites 1-4 in the middle with a pair of longer setae, last ventrite in both sexes unbordered. Femora and tibiae in both sexes without teeth or other modifications. In males protarsi only slightly dilatated, without other external differences. Aedeagus see Fig. 11.

Etymology.

Named in honour of Jean Paul Ardoin (1918-1978), former pharmacist in Arcachon (France), author of the Malagasy genera of Laenini and specialist of other tenebrionids from Africa and Madagascar.