Madachauliodes torrentialis Paulian

Liu, Xingyue, Price, Benjamin W., Hayashi, Fumio, Moor, Ferdinand De & Yang, Ding, 2014, Revision of the Megaloptera (Insecta: Neuropterida) of Madagascar, Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 320-336 : 329-331

Madachauliodes torrentialis Paulian

( Figs. 3 , 27–31 , 38 )

Madachauliodes torrentialis Paulian, 1951: 60 . Type locality: Madagascar (Mont Tsaratanana).

Diagnosis. In appearance, this species is characterized by the brown head with distinct vertexal scars, the antennae with flagellum entirely dark brown, and the hindwing MA vein not connecting to Rs. Considering the genitalia, this species is also characterized by the long male ectoproct with strongly narrowed and acutely produced apex, the median plate of the male tenth gonocoxite respectively with acute projections on posterolateral and posteromedial portions, the female eighth gonocoxite with posterior half much more sclerotized, and the female ectoproct strongly produced posterodorsad.

Description. Male. Body length 29.3–32.3 mm; forewing length 27.0– 36.5 mm, hindwing length 23.8–32.5 mm (n = 4).

Head brown to blackish brown; clypeus yellow, vertex with a pair of distinct yellowish longitudinal scars and several smaller ovoid yellowish scars; occiput dorsally with two pairs of yellowish scars. Compound eyes blackish brown; ocelli yellow, medially margined black. Antennae uniformly dark brown except for scape and pedicel yellow. Mouthparts yellow; apex of mandibles, maxillary palpi, and labial palpi blackish brown.

Prothorax brown, pronotum yellowish on anteromedial portion and respectively with yellowish longitudinal stripes on medial and lateral portions of posterior half; meso- and metathorax brown, metanotum slightly paler. Legs yellow, densely setose; fore leg with apex of tibia and entire tarsi brown; mid and hind legs with distal four tarsomeres brown; tarsal claw yellow with brownish tip. Wings ( Fig. 3 ) hyaline, pale smoky brown; pterostigmatic areas much darker. Forewing with numerous brownish spots, which are mainly along longitudinal veins, and with a darker marking across stem of 1A and anterior branch of 2A; markings on distal nygmata and branching point of CuA also darkened. Hindwing almost immaculate, distally with a few indistinct brownish spots along Rs. Veins dark brown. MA presents as a rather thin, oblique veinlet, which does not reach to Rs on hindwing.

Abdomen pale brown, pregenital segments dorsally with transversely circular yellowish markings (visible only in specimens preserved in alcohol). Ninth tergum ( Fig. 27 ) subquadrate in dorsal view, with arcuately convex anterior and shallowly concave posterior margins. Ninth sternum ( Fig. 28 ) slightly shorter than ninth tergum, subtrapezoidal in ventral view, with posterior margin arcuately incised. Ectoproct ( Figs. 27–29 ) much longer than ninth tergum, anteriorly robust, strongly narrowed posteriad, leaving an acutely produced and slightly incurved apex; a small obtuse projection presents on anteroventral portion; inner portion bearing numerous small rhabdoidshaped setae. Tenth gonocoxite ( Figs. 28–29 ) nearly as long as ⅔ of ninth tergum, directed posteroventrad, but posteriorly curved dorsad; lateral arm short and broad, anteriorly narrowed and posteriorly rounded in ventral view; median plate subquadrate and anteriorly produced in ventral view, posterolaterally with a pair of small dentiform projections, posteromedially with a larger subtriangular projection.

Female. Body length 30.5–40.5 mm; forewing length 34.8–44.5 mm, hindwing length 29.7–39.8 mm (n = 3).

Eighth gonocoxite ( Figs. 30–31 ) broad, slightly narrowed posteriad in ventral view, posterior margin slightly concaved, posterior half much more sclerotized than anterior half, medial longitudinal incision reduced. Ninth gonocoxite ( Fig. 30 ) broadly rectangular, with a stout gonostylus on posteroventral corner. Ectoproct ( Figs. 30–31 ) slightly shorter than ninth tergum, strongly produced posterodorsad, with acutely pointed tip; inner surface feebly sclerotized and sparsely setose.

Materials examined. MADAGASCAR: 1♂, [Sawa Region], Bas[sin]. Lokoho, Riv[er]. Manantenina, Loc[al]. Marojejy Camp II, 14°25′57″S, 49°45′37″E, 17.X.1996, J. Legrand & D. Randriamasimanana, St44-16/P0623 ( MCZL); 1♀, [Sawa Region], Bas[sin]. Lokoho, Riv[er]. Andranomifotatra, Loc[al]. Marojejy Camp IV, 14°26′04″S, 49°44′05″E, 12.XI.1996, E.L. Quinter & T. Nguyen, St44-22/P0711 ( MCZL); 1♂, Bas[sin]. Manampatrana, Riv[er]. Aff. De Sahavatoy, Loc[al]. Andringitra Camp 3, 22°12′50″S, 46°58′30″E, 22.XI.1993, A. Orstom, St30-08/P0171 ( MCZL); 1♂ 1♀, Prov. Fianarantsoa, 7 km W[est] Ranomafana [currently belongs to Amoron’i Mania Region, 21°14′S, 47°25′E], 900 m, 20/ 24.III.1990, W.E. Steiner ( USNM); 1♀, Prov. Fianarantsoa, 7 km W[est] Ranomafana [currently belongs to Amoron’i Mania Region, 21°14′S, 47°25′E], 900 m, 20/ 31.I.1990, W.E. Steiner ( USNM); 1♂, Prov. Fianarantsoa, 7 km W[est] Ranomafana [currently belongs to Amoron’i Mania Region, 21°14′S, 47°25′E], 900 m, 1/ 7.III.1990, W.E. Steiner ( USNM).

Distribution. ( Fig. 38 ) Madagascar (Amoron’i Mania, Diana, Sawa).

Remarks. The primary type of M. torrentialis was not designated by Paulian (1951) and without any information on sex and depository of the type, the whereabouts of the type is still unknown ( Penny 1999). A neotype of this species should be designated if the primary type cannot be found. Nevertheless, the genitalic figure in the original description ( Paulian 1951) is sufficient for subsequent identification, as this species can be readily distinguished from the other two species of Madachauliodes by the long male ectoproct, which is acutely produced posteriorly and has a small obtuse projection on anteroventral portion, by the male tenth gonocoxite with one posteromedian projection and a pair of posterolateral projections, and by the strongly produced female ectoproct. While the overall appearance of M. torrentialis is quite similar to the other two species, the antennae in M. torrentialis are much darker than those in M. bicuspidatus and M. ranomafana , which may be useful for the specific identification.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Habitus images of Madachauliodes spp. 1. M. bicuspidatus Liu, Price & Hayashi, sp. nov., holotype male; 2. M. ranomafana Penny, male; 3. M. torrentialis Paulian, male. Scale bars = 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 27 – 31. Madachauliodes torrentialis Paulian. 27. Male genitalia, dorsal view; 28. Male genitalia, ventral view; 29. Male genitalia, lateral view; 30. Female genitalia, lateral view; 31. Female genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 38 – 39. Distribution maps of Megaloptera from Madagascar. 38. Madachauliodes species; 39 *. Haplosialis afra. Footnote: * The distribution, i. e. the type locality “ Condot ” of Haplosialis madegassa cannot be specifically located.