Biflabelotillus bicolorus, Pavel & Purchart, 2024

Pavel, Filip & Purchart, Luboš, 2024, Revision of Madagascan Cleridae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea). Part I. - The genus Biflabelotillus Pic, 1949 (Tillinae), Zootaxa 5519 (3), pp. 384-394 : 389-393

Biflabelotillus bicolorus sp. nov.

Figs 3, 6, 9, 12 , 33–37

Type locality. Madagascar, 50 km W of Antananarivo, 20 km E-NE of Moramanga , 5 km S of Route nationale 2 ( RN 2 ) .

Type material. Holotype. (1 ♂ FPC): [white, printed label] MADAGASCAR EST // [white, printed + handwritten label] Route ANOSIBE / P.K. 40 / DATE 1–70 // [white, printed label] DUJARDIN-DELACOUR G. / ENTOMOLOGIE/ TANANARIVE // HOLOTYPUS Biflabelotillus bicolorus sp. nov. det. F. Pavel & L. Purchart 2024 [red, printed label].

Condition of type. Right front leg missing. Right antennomeres IV-XI missing.

Differential diagnosis. Both B. bicolorus sp. nov. and B. foveolatus can be distinguished reliably from B. peyrierasi mainly by elytral surface, as they have smooth elytral interstriae (tubercles present in elytral interstriae in B. peyrierasi ), by bituberculate foveae which are lacking in apical fourth in B. foveolatus and apical third of elytra in B. bicolorus , respectively (foveae cover whole surface in B. peyrierasi ), and space between foveae which is equal or larger than their diameter (smaller in B. peyrierasi ). Last but not least, ultimate antennomere is more or less securiform in B. bicolorus sp. nov. and B. foveolatus ( Figs 4, 6 ) whereas it is elongate-oval in B. peyrierasi ( Fig. 5 ). The new species most resembles B. foveolatus but differs in following characteristics: B. bicolorus sp. nov. is a smaller species with bicoloured elytra and non-parallel sided pronotum, the latter widest before middle ( Figs 9 , 33, 34) whereas B. foveolatus is a larger species with uniformly coloured elytra and parallel sided pronotum ( Figs 7 , 14–17). Additionally, these species can be distinguished as follows: in B. bicolorus sp. nov. the eyes are larger and less emarginated anteriorly, the space between eyes (vertex) very narrow with HW / FW = 4.26 ( Figs 9, 12 ), whereas in B. foveolatus the eyes are smaller, more emarginated anteriorly and the space between eyes is much wider with HW / FW = 2.99–3.31 ( Figs 7, 10 ). The terminal antennomere of B. bicolorus sp. nov. is broadened on one side (2.75x longer than broad) and somewhat resembling the shape of a securiform shape of a palpus ( Fig. 6 ), whereas in B. foveolatus it is more elongate (3.25x longer than broad) and not securiform in shape ( Fig. 4 ). Shape of antennomeres III-V is different, more tooth-like widened in B. foveolatus ( Figs 1, 3 ). Scutellum almost squared with slightly rounded sides in B. bicolorus sp. nov. whereas it is almost rounded in B. foveolatus with the basal margin distinctly cut-out in middle ( Figs 19 , 36 ). Prosternal inter-coxal process narrower in B. bicolorus sp. nov. (WPC / WPP = 3.25) than in B. foveolatus (WPC / WPP = 5).

Description. Size of holotype 9.0 x 2.5 mm. Winged, black, with apical half of elytra and tarsi rust-brown and abdomen pale-brown.

Head. Head including eyes broader than pronotum (DV) in ratio 1:0.7 (HW = 2.13 mm). The space between eyes (frons) very narrow (HW / FW = 4.26) ( Fig. 12 ). Antennae 1.47x longer than pronotum. Ultimate antennomere axe-like, widened ( Fig. 6 ).

Pronotum. Longer than wide in ratio 1:1.5 (PL = 2.25 mm, PW = 1.5 mm), subcylindrical but not parallel sided, widest before middle, sides of pronotum narrowing in basal third from pronotal base toward the middle part of pronotum, where it is distinctly widening and then slightly narrowing toward anterior edge of pronotum, surface roughly wrinkled, irregularly in dorsal part, more or less longitudinally coarsely wrinkled in lateral part ( Fig. 9 ).

Elytra. Subparallel, 2.7x longer than their width (EL = 6.75 mm, EW = 2.5 mm), with posterior half slightly widening posteriad. Anterior half of elytra black, posterior half rust-brown ( Fig. 34 ). Black part of elytra with bituberculate foveae arranged in regular rows and ending at interface of black and rust-brown area, whereas the latter is smooth with only several bituberculate foveae close to black area. Space between foveae approx. 1–3x larger than diameter of foveae.

Scutellum. Almost square with slightly curved sides ( Fig. 36 ).

Lower surface. Ventrite I brown to pale-brown, ventrites II-VI pale brown ( Fig. 35 ).

Distribution. Madagascar, Moramanga district. Known only from the type locality so far ( Fig. 38 ).

Etymology. Latin expression for having two colors or to be of two colors. Adjective – bicolorus , - a, - um.

Figures

FIGURE 38. Distribution map of the genus Biflabelotillus. B. foveolatus—red triangle, B. peyrierasi—white circle, B. bicolorus sp. nov.—yellow rhombus.

FIGURE 1–12. Biflabelotillus foveolatus—1, 4, 7, 10; B. peyrierasi—2, 5, 8, 11; B. bicolorus sp. nov., holotype—3, 6, 9, 12. Fig. 1–3—right antenna, antennomers II-VI; 4–6—right antenna, antennomers IX–XI (red arrows indicate last antennomere); 7–9—head and pronotum, dorsal view; 10–12—head, front view.

FIGURE 13–20. Biflabelotillus foveolatus Pic, 1949—13–15 (lectotype), 16–20 (non-type). Fig. 13—labels of the lectotype; 14, 17—habitus, dorsal view; 15,16—habitus, lateral view; 18—habitus, ventral view; 19—scutellum; 20—bituberculate foveae (white arrows indicate the two tubercles on the top of the fovea).

FIGURE 33–37. Biflabelotillus bicolorus sp. nov., holotype. Fig. 33—habitus, lateral view; 34—habitus, dorsal view; 35— habitus, ventral view; 36—scutellum; 37—bituberculate foveae (white arrows indicate the two tubercles on the top of the fovea).