Madecassina bimaculata 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 : 234-236

Madecassina bimaculata Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figure 19

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs.19A–B ), a male, in CAS, labeled: “CASENT 1049022”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely area , 900 m, mixed tropical forest, 13 April 1998, 21°14.9’S 47°25.6’E,”/ “Stop # 98-29, D. H. Kavanaugh collector collected by beating suspended clusters of dead leaves and twigs”/ “ HOLOTYPE Madecassina bimaculata Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label] . Paratypes (total of 16): 1 female (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 1004001”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely area , 900 m, mixed tropical forest, 2-22 January 2001,”/ “ 21.25041°S / 47.41945°E, Stop# DHK-01-001, D.H. & K.M Kavanaugh, R.L. Brett, E. Elsom, F. Vargas, R. Ranaivosolo,”/ “ E.F. Randrianirina, N. Rasoamananana, T.J. Ravelomanana, and H.C. Raveloson collectors”/ “collected in daytime by beating live understory vegetation and/or dead leaves and other suspended debris” ; 1 female (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 1049023”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely area, 900 m, Trail FF, 21°14.9’S 47° 25.6’E,”/ “ 10-16 November 1998, beaten from vines, V. F. Lee & K. J. Ribardo collector” ; 1 male (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 1049024”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Parc National Ranomafana, Talatakely area , 900 m, mixed tropical forest, 24 April 1998,”/ “ 21°15.3’S 47°25.9’E,”/ “Stop # 98-76, D. H. Kavanaugh collector collected at night on standing tree trunk” ; 1 male (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 8068817”/ “ MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana National Park , radio tower at forest edge, elev 1130 m 9-20 March 2003 ”/ “ 21°15.05’S, 47°24.43’E collector: R. Harin’Hala California Academy of Sciences malaise, mixed tropical forest MA-02-09B-55” ; 1 male (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 1049026”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Vohiparara area , 1150 m, mixed tropical forest, 18 April 1998, 21°12.8’S 47°23.0’E,”/ “Stop# 98-52, D. H. Kavanaugh collector collected by beating live vegetation and suspended dead leaves and twigs” ; 1 female (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 1049025”/ “ MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Vatoharanana area, 1050 m, Ambatovory stream, 29 April 1998, 21°16.7’S 47° 26.1’E,”/ “Stop# 98-101, D. H. Kavanaugh collector collected by beating suspended clusters of dead leaves and twigs” ; 2 males and 1 female (in CAS and EM) labeled “CASENT 8072308” or “CASENT 8072309” or “CASENT 8072307”, respectively/ “ MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa Parc National de Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana elev 1100 m 27-31 March 2003 ”/ “ 21°15’24”S, 47°26’00”E California Academy of Sciences coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. beating low veg., montane rainforest code: BLF8401” ; 1 male (in MNHN) labeled “ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., Vatoharanana , Trail K at 150 m mark, 25.7.2005 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime from dead leaves of bushes and trees, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors” ; 2 females (in MNHN and MZF) labeled “ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., Talatakely , Trail SP at 50 m mark, 28.07.2005 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime from dead leaves of bushes and trees, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors” ; 2 females (in MNHN and MZF) labeled “ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., Valohoaka , Trail B at 555 m mark, 28.01.2005 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime from dead leaves of bushes and trees, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors”; and 2 females (in MNHN and MNHN) labeled “ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., Valohoaka , Trail B at 555 m mark, 16.11.2005 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime from dead leaves of bushes and trees, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collector”. All paratypes also bear the following label: “ PARATYPE Madecassina bimaculata Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [yellow label] .

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

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, bimaculata , is an adjective derived from the Latin words, bis, meaning two, and macula, meaning spot or spotted. The name refers to the pair of subapical elytral spots seen in members of this species.

RECOGNITION.— Size average for genus, SBL of males = 4.7– 5.5 mm, of females = 5.3–5. 6 mm. Members of this species ( Fig. 19A ) key most closely, to Madecassina picta Alluaud (1897) in Jeannel’s (1949) key based on the following combination of features: pronotum impunctate, elytra with two subapical pale spots and striae deeply impressed and legs testaceous in color. The only feature used in the key with which T. bimaculata members differ is the presence of is metallic reflection on the forebody—members of T. picta have evident aeneous or greenish metallic reflection on the head and pronotum, whereas T. bimaculata members are without metallic reflection. These two species are otherwise very similar externally; however the pronotum is proportionately slightly longer and more distinctly narrowed basally and the hind angles more sharply defined and rectangular in T. bimaculata members than in T. picta members (which have the hind angles slightly obtuse). Also, the apex of the median lobe of the male genitalia is shorter, thicker and straighter in lateral aspect ( Fig. 19C ) and more bluntly triangular in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 19D ) in T. bimaculata males than in those of T. picta males, which have the apex longer, narrower and distinctly hooked dorsally in lateral aspect and more narrowly rounded in dorsal aspect (see Jeannel 1949, Figs. 474g and 474i).

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

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— Specimens of this species have been collected in primary montane rainforest in the Vatoharanana and Valohoaka areas and in secondary montane rainforest in the Talatakely and Vohiparara areas, at elevations ranging from 900 to 1150 m. They have been collected mainly by beating live vegetation and suspended clusters of dead leaves and twigs.

Figures

FIGURE 19. Digital images of holotype male of Madecassina bimaculata Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habitus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels C–D. Median lobe of male genitalia; C. Left lateral aspect; D. Dorsal aspect. Scale lines A = 1.0 mm, C–D = 0.5 mm.