Mahavelo, 2023

Arriaga-Varela, Emmanuel, Tomaszewska, Wioletta, Szawaryn, Karol, Robertson, James, Seidel, Matthias, Ślipiński, Adam & Fikáček, Martin, 2023, The resurrection of Cerasommatidiidae, an enigmatic group of coccinelloid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (4), pp. 1078-1115 : 1108-1111

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac082
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:99842C3A-879F-4552-96B7-204D79CF3EDF
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7814199
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C2CE00-FFE7-FFBA-3EAA-0F98FD8E4732
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Mahavelo
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

MAHAVELO SZAWARYN, TOMASZEWSKA & ARRIAGA- VARELA GEN. NOV.

( FIGS 17 View Figure 17 , 18 View Figure 18 , 19C, D View Figure 19 , 20C View Figure 20 )

Zoobank registration: urn: lsid: zoobank. org:act: DF9A1833-7A95-4B99-9148-AFCB9248D39B

Type species: MahaƲelo madagasus by present designation.

Diagnosis: MahaƲelo is a distinctive genus in Cerasommatidiidae by the lack of a scutellar shield ( Fig. 18C, F View Figure 18 ), and by having the prosternal process provided with single, longitudinal, median carina ( Fig. 18D View Figure 18 ). In general appearance it is most similar to Cerasommatidia , sharing the glabrous appearance of pronotal and elytral surfaces (covered with tiny inconspicuous hairs), pronotum without internal sublateral carinae, and pronotal and elytral surfaces covered with single size punctae ( Fig. 18C, F View Figure 18 ). However, apart from its unique characters, MahaƲelo can also be separated from Cerasommatidia by having the pronotal hind angles with small, oblique indentation to receive the humeral corner of the elytron ( Fig. 18C View Figure 18 ) (absent in Cerasommatidia ).

Description: Length 1.00 mm, width 0.79 mm. Body short oval and convex, 1.3 times as long as wide. Coloration uniformly brown ( Fig. 17A–C View Figure 17 ).

Head ( Figs 17D, 18B View Figure 1 View Figure 2 View Figure 3 View Figure 4 View Figure 5 View Figure 6 View Figure 7 View Figure 8 ) with dorsal surface uniformly covered with short fine setae. Clypeus large, rectangular. Frontoclypeal suture distinct but feebly marked, straight. Ventral antennal grooves deep and broad between eyes and mouthparts, long, extending beyond posterior eye level. Antenna ( Fig. 18A View Figure 18 ) approximately 0.35 of length of body; antennal club one-quarter of total antennal length; antennomeres 1–5 much longer than wide, with antennomere 3 longer than antennomere 4 and 5; antennomeres 6–9 less elongate. Eyes comparatively small, moderately prominent, coarsely facetted ( Figs 17D View Figure 17 , 18B View Figure 18 ). Maxillary palpomere 1 narrow, elongate; palpomere 2 weakly trapezoidal and somewhat bulbous ( Fig. 17E View Figure 17 ). Galea large, densely setose apically. Lacinia about half as wide as galea, with dense setae at apex and inner margin. Labium with mentum widest near basal third, palpomere 2 large, bulbous, somewhat oval; terminal palpomere short, subquadrate, about as long as penultimate, truncate apically.

Prothorax. Pronotum 2.7 times wider than long, widest at base, and strongly convergent anteriorly ( Fig. 18C View Figure 18 ). Anterior pronotal margin narrowly bordered with regular bordering line; base without distinct bordering line. Pronotal sides weakly rounded, narrowly bordered; hind angles with small, oblique indentation to receive humeral corner of elytron. Pronotal disc moderately convex, with uniform sparse fine punctures bearing tiny, thin hairs ( Fig. 18C View Figure 18 ). Prosternum ( Fig. 18D View Figure 18 ) with anterior margin scarcely arcuate posteriorly; prosternal process narrow, at apex about 0.60 of width of procoxal cavity, with long, single median carina but not reaching anterior prosternal margin or apex of prosternal process; prosternal process extending posteriorly to hind level of procoxae. Hypomeron with deep, long and straight antennal grooves.

Pterothorax. Mesonotum lacking scutellar shield. Mesoventrite strongly transverse, with intercoxal process smooth, almost flat, with raised anterior border complete ( Figs 17G View Figure 17 , 18E View Figure 18 ); 1.2 times as wide as mesocoxal diameter. Metaventrite as long as abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 combined; discrimen absent; anterior margin with bordering carina simple, straight at intercoxal process and widening towards lateral corners ( Fig. 18E View Figure 18 ); central area of metaventrite with fine setiferous punctures. Anterior part of metanepisternum with lateral sub-triangular projection on its external margin. Elytra about as long as wide, with lateral margins invisible from above ( Figs 17A View Figure 17 , 18F View Figure 18 ). Surface covered with uniform, small setiferous punctures bearing tiny, thin hairs. Epipleura incomplete but almost reaching elytral apex ( Fig. 18G View Figure 18 ), narrow, with internal bordering line wide, present from the level of mid coxae to apex ( Fig. 18E View Figure 18 ); basal part of epipleuron with short groove corresponding to projection of metanepisternum. Hindwings reduced.

Legs. Trochanters produced posteriorly ( Fig. 18E View Figure 18 ). Femora weakly flattened (mid and hind femora more distinctly than fore femora); with g r o o v e s f o r t i b i a e p r e s e n t t h r o u g h o u t w h o l e length. Claws with distinct sharp, subquadrate tooth at base.

Abdomen with ventrite 1 with anterior bordering carina below coxae widening laterally ( Fig. 18G View Figure 18 ), absent on intercoxal process; postcoxal lines absent.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 17H View Figure 17 ). Aedeagus with penis short and stout, sclerotized, weakly curved, wider near apex, asymmetric, with small acute apical projection. Tegmen moderately large, basal, throne-shaped, weakly sclerotized; tegminal strut short.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 17J View Figure 17 ). Spermatheca of moderate size, elongate, irregularly reniform, submembranous ( Fig. 17K View Figure 17 ); bursa copulatrix large; sperm duct long; accessory gland small membranous, of irregular shape.

Etymology: The name is derived from the Mahavelo Forest, Madgascar , where this genus was first found. Gender masculine.

Distribution: Madagascar ( Fig. 20C View Figure 20 ).