Lebia (Metalebia) apicoviolacea Kavanaugh and Rainio, 2016

Kavanaugh, David H. & Rainio, Johanna, 2016, Twenty-six New Species of Predaceous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Carabidae) from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (7), pp. 201-268 : 259-260

Lebia (Metalebia) apicoviolacea Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figure 35

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs. 35A–B ), a male, in CAS, labeled: “ MADAGASCAR: Fianaran. Pr. Ranomafana N.P. HQ. area 21°15’24”S 47°25’15E 25NOV1994, at night M.A. Ivie & D.A. Pollack ”/ “ HOLOTYPE Lebia (Metalebia) apicoviolacea Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label] . Paratypes (only 1): a female (in NMHN) labeled “ MADAGASCAR: Prov. Fianarantsoa, 7 km W Ranomafana , 1100 m 6-21 October 1988 W. E. Steiner ”/ “At black light in montane rain forest”/ “ PARATYPE Lebia (Metalebia) apicoviolacea Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [yellow label] .

TYPE LOCALITY.— Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park .

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, apicoviolacea , is an adjective derived from the Latin words, apex, meaning tip, and violaceus, meaning violet-colored. The name refers to the violet or purple metallic reflection of elytral apices, which contrasts distinctly with the green or bronze metallic reflection of the remainder of the elytra in members of this species.

RECOGNITION.— Size moderately small for genus, SBL of male = 3.8 mm, of female = 4.0 mm. Members of this species ( Fig. 35A ) key to subgenus Metalebia Jeannel (1949) and the madagascariensis group in Jeannel’s (1949) key: the basal elytral border is absent medially between the base of stria 3 and the scutellum; the elytral striae are deep and the elytral intervals convex and impunctate; the forebody has no metallic reflection and the elytra are uniform in color (but not necessarily in reflection); and the frons is slightly convex and without distinct frontal furrows between the eyes. Within the madagascariensis group, L. apicoviolacea members can be distinguished from those of all species except L. alluaudana , L. mirana Alluaud , L. ranomafanae and L. tanala by the presence of elytral metallic reflection (metallic reflection absent from the elytra of members of the remaining seven species). They are distinguished from members of L. mirana by their reddish labrum (black in L. mirana members) and from those of L. alluaudana by their small size and relatively short and broad elytra, with ratio of elytra length to width = 1.2–1.3 (size larger, SBL of males = 4.6–5.0 mm, of females 4.6– 5.3 mm, and elytra relatively longer, with ratio of elytra length to width = 1.4, in L. alluaudana members). They are distinguished from members of L. tanala in having the pronotum with lateral margins slightly sinuate anterior to slightly obtuse hind angles (lateral margins distinctly sinuate anterior to sharp, rectangular hind angles slightly projected laterally in members of L. tanala ) and from members of both L. ranomafanae and L. tanala in having elytra with distinct tricolored metallic reflection, green basally and on medial two-thirds, brassy on lateral one-third and violet in apical one-fifth (elytral metallic reflection uniformly faint or distinct metallic green or blue in members of L. ranomafanae and L. tanala ). Shape of the median lobe of the male aedeagus ( Fig. 35C–D ) is also diagnostic, with the shaft very slightly arcuate, dorsal and ventral margins more or less parallel in basal two-thirds in lateral view ( Fig. 35C ) and apex moderate in length and relatively broader in both lateral and dorsal ( Fig. 35D ) views than in males of other species of this species group (compare with Jeannel 1949, Fig. 440a-l).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— At present, known only from the type locality.

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— Both specimens of the type series were collected in secondary montane rainforest in the Talatakely area at elevations ranging from 900 to 1100 m. Both were collect- ed at night, one by hand from vegetation, and the other attracted to ultraviolet light.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Digital images of holotype male of Lebia (Metalebia) apicoviolacea Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habi- tus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels; C–D. Aedeagus of male genitalia; C. Left lateral aspect; D. Dorsal aspect. Scale lines A = 1.0 mm, C–D = 0.5 mm.