Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967

Moravec, Jiří, Brzoska, David & Vybíral, Jan, 2021, New or rare Madagascar tiger beetles- 21. Physodeutera (Microlepidia) propripenis sp. nov., Ph. (M.) marginemaculata (W. Horn) and Ph. (M.) peyrierasi Rivalier (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Zootaxa 4941 (1), pp. 33-50 : 45

Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967

( Figs 40–49 , 52 )

Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967: 268 .

Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi: Moravec 2002a: 91 , figs: 234–243, 712.

Type locality. “Ankarana”.

Type material. Holotype ♁ (by monotypy) in MNHN, labelled: “Ankarana” [handwritten // “Type” [red, printed] // “Peyrierasi / Rivalier / type” [handwritten // “aedéage 1814” [handwritten, referring to the aedeagus mounted separately by Rivalier] // “ Holotype (by monotypy) / Physodeutera (Microlepidia) / peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967 / design. by J. Moravec, 2000” [red, printed] // “ Physodeutera (Microlepidia) / peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967 / det. Jiří Moravec 2000” [printed].

Other material examined. 2 ♁♁, 1 ♀ in MNHN: “Mus. Paris / Ankarana / XII.67, Vadon et Peyrieras”. 1 ♁ in CCJM (ex APCA): “Ankarana / XII.67 / Vadon et Peyrieras” // “ Ph. peyrierasi / Rivalier / Rivalier det.” “ Physodeutera (Microlepidia) / peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967 / det. Jiří Moravec 1999” .

Recent data: 1 ♁, 1 ♀ in MHCW, 1 ♀ in CJVB, 1 ♀ in CCJM: “N. Madagascar, Ankarana N.P. / Mahamatsina [Mahamasina] env., 5-6.I.2007 / S12°58´08.7´´; E49°08´10.3´´ / Jan Vybíral leg.”. 1 ♁ in CCJM with same locality label except for: “ F. Pavel leg.” // “ Physodeutera (Microlepidia) / peyrierasi Rivalier, 1967 / det. Jiří Moravec 2020” .

Differential diagnosis. Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi shares the sexually dimorphic shape of labrum ( Figs 42–44 ) and truncate aedeagus apex ( Fig. 46 ) with Ph. (M.) marginemaculata , but may be distinguished by its generally somewhat smaller body (particularly in males), longer male labrum with better indicated ( Fig. 43 ) or even wide, blunt median tooth ( Fig. 42 ) and more elongate, parallel-sided elytra with wider humeri and elytral surface evenly convex with indistinct juxtahumeral and discal impressions and markedly reduced elytral maculation ( Figs 47–49 ). Nevertheless, similarly to Ph. (M.) marginemaculata treated above, the elytral maculation is rather variable also in Ph. (M.) peyrierasi . It may consist of only small humeral macula in males or possessing also small sublateral-median macula in both sexes, or the elytra may be immaculate in some females (the humeral macula is always absent in females).

Variability. Besides the above-mentioned variability in the number of whitish elytral maculae, the male labrum may also possess somewhat prolonged anteromedian lobe (but never forming acute tooth) as in Fig. 42 , while the anteromedian lobe in other males may be truncate in middle and with only indicated minute tooth (as in Fig 43 ), corresponding also with the male labrum illustrated by Rivalier (1967. fig. 7) for the holotype.

Distribution and biology ( Fig. 52 ). Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi is a very rare species known hitherto only from the holotype and three above-listed historical specimens, all with “Ankarana” on their labels. Four other examined specimens were caught quite recently in a dry deciduous forest inside the Special Reserve of Ankarana near the eastern entry to the reserve (S12°58´08.7´´; E049°08´10.3´´). The locality is near a camping site with bungalows called Mahamasina (in error written as “Mahamatsina” on the labels). Adults had the same behaviour as those of Ph. (M.) marginemaculata .

Remarks. For detailed redescription see the monograph ( Moravec 2002a).

As discussed previously ( Moravec 2002a), the sympatric occurrence in the area of the massif of Ankarana apparently excludes the possibility to consider Ph. (M.) peyrierasi to be a geographic subspecies of Ph. (M.) marginemaculata . Consequently, and taking into consideration the tremendous biodiversity in Madagascar, we prefer also here to consider the differences between these two taxa sufficient to keep them as two separate species.

Figures

FIGURES 40–49. Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi Rivalier. 40—habitus, ♁, 10.3 mm, Mahamasina (CCJM); 41— part of head, type locality Ankarana (CCJM ex APCA); 42–44—labrum: 42—♁, type locality (CCJM ex APCA); 43—♁, Mahamasina (CCJM); 44—♀, ibid.; 45—pronotum, ♁, ibid.; 46—aedeagus showing internal sac, type locality (CCJM ex APCA); 47–49—elytron: 47—♁, type locality (CCJM ex APCA); 48—♁, Mahamasina (CCJM); 49—♁, ibid. (CCJM). Bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 50–52. Distribution of three Physodeutera species in North Madagascar. 50— Physodeutera (Microlepidia) propripenis sp. nov.; 51— Physodeutera (Microlepidia) marginemaculata (W. Horn); 52— Physodeutera (Microlepidia) peyrierasi Rivalier.