Pogonostoma (Microstenocera) fleutiauxi, W. Horn, 1905

Moravec, Jiří & Trýzna, Miloš, 2022, New or rare Madagascar tiger beetles- 25. Pogonostoma (Microstenocera) borisbubeniki sp. nov., compared to P. (M.) andreevae Moravec, 2007 and a revised key to the species-group (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Zootaxa 5155 (2), pp. 245-260 : 248-249

Pogonostoma (Microstenocera) fleutiauxi species-group

Identification. Species of this species group (proposed by Moravec 2007) share black maxillae combined with testaceous labial or also maxillary palpi with those of P. (Microstenocera) schaumi species-group (modified by Moravec 2007) but are distinguished by their elytra with almost shiny elytral surface due to nearly smooth, shiny, or only indistinctly microtuberculate intervals between punctures.

Note. As discussed by the first author previously ( Moravec 2007), Rivalier (1970) created his P. (M.) schaumi species-group for species with testaceous labial palpi combined with “more or less brilliant” elytral surface, which also included P. (M.) fleutiauxi W. Horn, 1905 and other species with testaceous labial palpi. His division appeared, however, very heterogenous, partly due to the fact that also P. (Microstenocera) humbloti Rivalier, 1970 , placed by Rivalier into his P. (Microstenocera) anthracinum species-group, has testaceous labial palpi. Furthermore, Rivalier (1970) underestimated that some species, including P. (M.) schaumi W. Horn, 1893 , possess matt-tuberculate intervals between elytral punctures (previously recognized and described by Horn (1893), thus differing from P. (M.) fleutiauxi and other species with shiny, never bumpy elytral intervals. Consequently, only species with bumpy elytral intervals (and testaceous labial, or also maxillary palpi) were accommodated in P. (M.) schaumi species-group by Moravec (2007), while species with shiny, almost smooth, or only microtuberculate intervals combined with similarly coloured palpi were housed in P. (M.) fleutiauxi species-group, this division being maintained also here.

Revised key to species of P. (M.) fleutiauxi species-group

(labial palpi always yellow-testaceous)

1 Metatarsi consistently black (as usual in the genus).......................................................... 2

- Metatarsi ochre-testaceous (unique character within the genus). Maxillary (and labial) palpi, yellow. Antennae distinctly yellow-maculate (antennomere 5 yellow except for blackened apex). Posterior pronotal lobe testaceous. Leg knees yellow-testaceous..................................................................... P. (M.) andreevae Moravec, 2007

2 Maxillary palpi yellow-testaceous except for black-brown terminal palpomere or its apex (similarly coloured as labial palpi). Antennae distinctly yellow-maculate. Bases of tibiae or also apices of femora (knees) yellow-testaceous. Pronotal disc with notopleural sutures obvious in dorsal view on almost whole length, surface finely or more coarsely tuberculate-rugulose or wavy rugulose only limited posterior area continuously transverse-striate. Posterior pronotal lobe black or with brownish tinge.. 3

- Maxillary palpi black except for basal (shortest) palpomere at least partly whitish-testaceous. Antennae concolorous black (with only usual indistinct basal macula). Femora and tibiae concolorous black (including knees)........................... 4

3 Maxillary palpi entirely yellow-testaceous except for brown-darkened margin of terminal palpomere. Body 7.0– 8.5 mm long. Antennae in both sexes as long as body, antennomere 5 with only basal area yellow. Head temples short, 2.5 times shorter than eyes. Pronotal disc ellipsoidal to almost subglobose, finely to more coarsely tuberculate or granulate-rugulose on anterior and lateral areas, vermicular-rugulose in middle. Mesepisterna in both sexes with elongate but short anteromedian furrow in middle. Aedeagus stout with short, rounded apex, basal portion boomerang-bent.................. P. (M.) skrabali Moravec, 2000

- Maxillary palpi yellow-testaceous, but with black terminal palpomere (only its apical margin brownish-testaceous). Body 8.0– 8.8 mm long. Antennae in both sexes longer than body, antennomere 5 yellow except for blackened apical area. Head temples longer, 2 times shorter than eyes. Pronotal disc extremely finely sculptured, rugae almost vermicular on anterior area, irregularly wavy and more continuous on large median area, only anterior and lateral areas tuberculate. Mesepisterna in both sexes with deep, pit-like impression at dorsal proepisternal margin...................... P. (M.) borisbubeniki sp. nov.

4 Temples long, only 1.5 times shorter than eyes. Pronotal anterior lobe markedly narrower than posterior one. Elytra with conspicuous basodiscal convexity, delimited by deep discal impression from notably gibbose disc........................ 5

- Temples short, 2.4 times shorter than eyes. Surface of vertex markedly coarsely areolate-rugulose. Body 6.5–7.0 mm long. Pronotal anterior lobe only slightly narrower than posterior one. Pronotal disc elongate, angular-ellipsoidal notably coarsely transverse-parallel rugose; notopleural sutures well obvious in dorsal view. Pronotal posterior lobe indistinctly reddish-brown on basal area. Elytral discal impression moderate. Antennae shorter than body.......... P. (M.) rugosiceps Rivalier, 1970

5 Pronotal disc mostly widely ovoid, surface covered with very fine, mostly short, irregularly vermicular rugae which are more continuous and transverse-wavy only on posteromedian area; notopleural sutures thin, flat, but at least partly obvious in dorsal view. Posterior pronotal lobe black. Antennae in both sexes longer than body. Body 7.5–8.5 mm long. Aedeagus boomerangbent in middle “snake-like” shaped, apical portion rather voluminous, its dorsal (left) margin variably straight or slightly emarginate, ventral apical outline dilated, arcuate towards rounded apex............................................. 6

- Pronotal disc regularly subglobose, finely transverse wrinkled; notopleural sutures indistinct. Posterior pronotal lobe notably ochre-testaceous. Antennae of male as long as body, female antennae shorter. Body 8.5–9.0 mm long. Aedeagus of dolabriform (axe-like) shape with rounded apex............................................... P. (M.) basale Fleutiaux, 1899

6 Notopleural sutures well obvious in dorsal view in form of lines markedly narrower than dorsally visible outer proepisternal margins. Basal (shortest) palpomere of maxillary palpi black except for testaceous apical area. Second tooth of left mandible in male larger than third one...................................................... P. (M.) fleutiauxi W. Horn, 1905

- Notopleural sutures in dorsal view nearly copy ovoid lateral margins of pronotal disc. Basal (shortest) palpomere of maxillary palpi entirely whitish-testaceous. Second tooth of left mandible of male smaller than third one................................................................................................ P. (M.) globulithorax Rivalier, 1946