Taxonomic changes in Synanthedonini from Madagascar, with description of two new genera and species (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)
Author
Bartsch, Daniel
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-06-11
4433
1
174
186
journal article
29930
10.11646/zootaxa.4433.1.11
63a66d44-a2f0-478a-9e74-9c439bf873d6
1175-5326
1287073
DB01DC36-A123-41C3-B870-C73DD35BF6C2
Rodolphia hombergi
Le Cerf, 1911
Figs 1–5
Holotype
:
♀
,
Madagascar
, Soanirano [South-Eastern
Madagascar
, west of Fort-Dauphin (Tolagnaro), river Soanirano] (
MNHN
).
=
Malgassesia pauliani
Viette, [1955]
syn. nov.
Holotype
:
♂
,
Madagascar
, extreme-Sud, piste entre
Faux-Cap
et le cap
Sainte-Marie
(
MNHN
).
Additional material examined:
2♂
,
2♀
,
Madagascar
, Reg. sud
de l'Ile
, Bekily, Nov. [19]33 (
MNHN
).
Rodolphia hombergi
is a very distinct and strongly sexual dimorphic species. The four examined specimens from Bekily are part of a rather large homogenous series, which was caught at the same place and time. In size and coloration, the females of this series agree well with the female
holotype
and there is no doubt regarding their conspecifity. The description of the male by
Viette (1982: 26)
was also based on this series. The male
holotype
of
Malgassesia pauliani
Viette, 1955
syn. nov.
is a heavily damaged, greasy specimen. It is somewhat difficult to assess, but the structure and coloration of labial palps, wings and abdomen show no differences from the males from Bekily. More important, the genitalia structures of one male from Bekily, figured by
Viette (1982: 27, fig. 12)
and of the
holotype
of
M. pauliani
(
Viette 1982: 38, fig. 24
) are strikingly similar. Direct comparison of the two slides revealed no significant differences, except for the somewhat different embedding position. Furthermore, the collecting localities of all specimens examined lie close together in southern
Madagascar
, with less than
180 km
distance.