Argopistes janakmoravecorum, Biondi & Iannella & D'Alessandro, 2024

Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia & D'Alessandro, Paola, 2024, Argopistes Motschulsky from Madagascar with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 1202, pp. 303-327 : 303-327

Argopistes janakmoravecorum sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 8 A

Type material.

Holotype ♀: “ Madagascar Nord / 800-1000 m / 5 km à est d’Andapa / Lembonibona (1265 m) // forêt degradee, arbres, arbustes / 2. 3. 1996 / J. Janák + P. Moravec lgt. ” [printed on white card] [14 ° 40.63 ' S; 49 ° 41.63 ' E] ( BAQ).

Diagnosis.

Argopistes janakmoravecorum sp. nov. is easily distinguishable from the other Afrotropical Argopistes species by the combination of black dorsal integuments and clavate antennae with segments 1–5 yellowish and 6–11 blackened (Fig. 2 B ). Spermatheca is also strongly diagnostic, due to the elongate and distally coiled ductus (Fig. 2 C ).

Description of the holotype

(♀). Body roundish in dorsal view (Fig. 2 A ), very convex in lateral view; total length of the body ( LB) = 3.00 mm; maximum pronotal width at the base (WP = 1.68 mm); maximum width of elytra in the middle (WE = 2.56 mm); WE / WP = 1.52. Dorsal integuments black with weak metallic reflections (Fig. 2 A ); scutellum brownish; head brownish; frons and mouthparts yellowish; antennae (Fig. 2 B ) with segments 1–5 yellowish, 6 dark brown, 7–10 black, 11 black but distally paler; ventral parts (Fig. 2 B ) mostly dark brown; legs with femora and tibiae blackish, tarsi partially dark brown and articulations yellowish (Fig. 2 B ). Head entirely hidden by the pronotum; vertex irregularly punctate, with a pair of large setiferous pores; frontal calli barely delimited, not raised; frons elongate, with rough, irregular surface; frontal ridge barely detectable; frontogenal sutures weakly raised; eyes large, elongate, slightly kidney-shaped; interantennal space clearly narrower than antennal sockets. Antennae (Fig. 2 B ) clavate, as long as ~ 1 / 2 the body length ( LAN = 1.36 mm; LAN / LB = 0.45); LA = 100: 46: 32: 53: 58: 42: 47: 54: 49: 42: 69. Pronotum (Fig. 2 A ) clearly transverse ( LP = 0.78 mm; WP / LP = 2.15); lateral margins strongly convergent anteriorly and slightly folded ventrally, moderately curved, barely expanded, not visible in dorsal view; basal margin arcuate and distinctly sinuate; surface finely microreticulate, with very small and dense punctation; surface moderately raised parallel to the lateral margins; a large setiferous pore at the anterior angles. Scutellum small, subtriangular. Elytra (Fig. 2 A ) ( LE: 2.72 mm, LE / LP = 3.49) strongly curved laterally, slightly longer than wide ( WE / LE = 0.94), jointly rounded apically; lateral margins finely bordered, visible in dorsal view; surface subsmooth, with very small and dense punctation, similar to pronotum, mostly confused but arranged in a couple of lines of slightly larger punctures laterally. Humeral calli moderately raised. Macropterous. Prosternum with posteriorly open procoxal cavities and large intercoxal prosternal process. Mesosternum very short. First abdominal sternite slightly longer than fifth (Fig. 2 B ); its central area bordered by ridges is quite wide, arcuate anteriorly and slightly narrowing posteriorly. Anterior and middle legs without modifications. Posterior femora greatly swollen ( WF / LF = 0.61), elongate-subtriangular; posterior tibiae thick, distinctly shorter than femora, apically widened and prolonged into a spur-like process on inner side; outer side of hind tibia apically toothed; apical spur of hind tibiae simple, lanceolate. Basal part of the spermatheca (Fig. 2 C ) subpyriform, with a distinct ventral protrusion close to the distal part; collum very short; apical part short, narrowing towards the apex; ductus ventrally inserted, thickset, elongate, distally coiled; LSPC = 0.48 mm; LE / LSPC = 5.67.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the two collectors of the new species: Jiří Janák and Pavel Moravec from the Czech Republic, both esteemed experts on Coleoptera Carabidae . The name was composed by the union of the two surnames, applying Latin plural genitive.

Distribution.

Northern Madagascar (Antsiranana province; Fig. 8 A ). Malagasy chorotype.

Ecological notes.

Host plant unknown. The only known occurrence locality falls within an area characterized by the vegetation division ‘ Malagasy Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen Forest’.

Figures

Figure 2. Argopistes janakmoravecorum sp. nov. A holotype, habitus in dorsal view B ibid, ventral view C ibid, spermatheca. Scale bars: 3 mm (A, B); 300 μm (C).

Figure 8. Distribution and habitat suitability of the Argopistes species in Madagascar. A occurrence locality for each species B probability of presence of the occurrence localities, and potential suitability areas for the genus in Madagascar from ENMs.