Lechius aalbui, Iwan, Dariusz & Kamiński, Marcin Jan, 2012

Iwan, Dariusz & Kamiński, Marcin Jan, 2012, Revision of the Malagasy genus Lechius Iwan, 1995 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), Zootaxa 3399, pp. 23-34 : 24-25

Lechius aalbui sp. nov.

(Figs 1, 10, 16, 23, 27, 30)

Type data. Holotype, male ( CASC): “ MADAGASCAR: Toliara Prov., Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km, 131° SE Ankidranoka, 22°13`59``S 43°21`59``E ”, “elev 80m, 12 – 16 Mar 2002, coll: Fisher, Griswold et al., California Acad. of Sciences, sifted - in tropical dry forest, coll. code: BLF6070”, “CASENT 8029749”. Paratypes: female ( CASC) same data as holotype except: “CASENT 8029750”. Male ( MIIZ) same data as holotype except: “CASENT 8029752”.

Locus typicus. Southwestern Madagascar (Forêt de Beroboka).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Rolf Aalbu (Sacramento, California).

Diagnosis. This species is similar to L. steineri in the structure of the pronotum (lateral margination complete; conspicuous punctures on disc) ( Fig. 10 ). The two species can be distinguished based on the structure of the male genitalia (the penis of L. aalbui sp. nov. is flattened dorsoventrally; the parameres are extended at the apex) (Fig. 28).

Description. Measurements. Body—length = 9.0 – 10.0 mm; width ratio elytra/pronotum ca.1.1; length ratio elytra/pronotum (pl) ca. 2.2. Clypeus—clypeal emargination width/depth ratio ca. 6.6. Antennae—length ratio antenna/pronotum (apl) ca. 1.1; ratio length of antenna/width of 3rd antennomere ca. 6.3; length ratio of antennomere 3rd/2nd ca. 3.0. Maxillary palp—ratio width of maxillary palp/length of 3rd antennomere ca. 0.9. Prono-tum—pronotum length (pl)/width ratio ca. 0.6; length ratio pronotum (pl)/anterior pronotal angles (apl) ca. 0.9. Elytra—elytra length/width ratio ca. 1.4. Scutellum—width ratio anterior margin of elytra/scutellum at base ca. 3.2. Metaventrite—length ratio cavity of hind coxa/metaventrite between the insertions of mid and hind coxae ca. 2.6. Abdomen—width ratio process of I abdominal ventrite/process of metaventrite ca. 2.0. Legs—male protibia length/width ratio ca. 4.5; female protibia length/width ratio ca. 4.5; both sexes profemur length/width ratio ca. 3.6. Tarsi—length ratio metatarsomere 1st/2nd ca. 3.8.

Habitus as in Fig. 23 .

Head punctures as in L. steineri (Fig. 5). Anterior margin of clypeus with shallow median emargination. Mentum slightly narrowing towards apex; submentum with elongated base.

Pronotal disc dull with conspicuous punctures (2 – 3 diameters apart) ( Fig. 10 ). Lateral border of pronotum complete ( Fig. 10 ). Hypomeron with longitudinal depression near the lateral border as in L. steineri ( Fig. 12 ).

Elytral row with punctures, most noticeable near the base ( Fig. 16 ). Interrows dull with punctures 2 – 3 diameters apart ( Fig. 16 ). Elytral base sinusoidal. Elytral humeri rounded. Scutellum triangular.

Intercoxal process of prosternum straight with complete bordering (as in L. longiclavis sp. nov., Fig. 17 ). 5th abdominal ventrite bordered.

Male legs as in L. longiclavis sp. nov. (Fig. 6, 7). Female legs simple.

Apical part of aedeagal tegmen equal to 0.25 of the rest of tegmen. Parameres extended at the apex. Clavae short (Fig. 27).

Ovipositor as in L. longiclavis sp. nov. (see Fig. 28). Paraproct longer then coxites. First two sclerites wide and short; remaining sclerites narrow and long. Spermatheca as in Fig. 30.

Comments. Following information about sampling period (a), habitat description (b) and altitude (c) was recorded from specimen labels: (a) 12 – 16 III 2002; (b) Tropical dry forest (sifted); (c) 80m.

Distribution. South Madagascar ( Fig. 19 ).

FIGURES 1–7. Chosen body elements: L. aalbui sp. nov. (1), L. longiclavis sp. nov. (2, 6, 7), L. abacoides (3), L. madagascariensis (4), L. steineri (5). Eye (1), 5th abdominal ventrite (2), head and its puncturation (3 – 5), male front leg.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 16. Chosen body elements: L. abacoides (8, 11, 14), L. longiclavis sp. nov. (9, 13), L. aalbui sp. nov. (10, 16), L. steineri (12), L. madagascariensis (15). Pronotum and its puncturation (8 – 10), pronotal hypomeron (11,12), elytral humeri (13), puncturation of elytral disc (14 – 16).

FIGURES 20 – 24. Body structure. L. abacoides (20), L. longiclavis sp. nov. (21), L. madagascariensis (22), L. aalbui sp. nov. (23), L. steineri (24).

FIGURES 17 – 19. Intercoxal process of prosternum of L. longiclavis sp. nov. (17). Male mesofemora of L. madagascariensis (18). Distribution of the species of Lechius (19).