Aulacochthebius plicicollis (Fairmaire)

Perkins, Philip D., 2017, Hydraenidae of Madagascar (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 4342 (1), pp. 1-264 : 218-220

Aulacochthebius plicicollis (Fairmaire)

Figs. 210 (habitus), 212 (aedeagus), 305 (map)

Ochthebius plicicollis Fairmaire 1898a: 223 .

Type material. Lectotype (male), here designated: " Madag, (Peries); type; plicicollis Frm. ; MUSEUM PARIS COLL MAURICE REGIMBART 1908 ; LECTOTYPE Ochthebius plicicollis Fairmaire 1898 , design. P. D. Perkins 2015 [red]" (MNHN).

Specimens examined (14): Toamasina, Berenty Reserve, nr. Amboasary , 19.x.1970, on mud by R. Mandrare (9 BMNH) . Mahajanga, Forêt de Tsimembo, 11.0 km 346° NNW Soatana , sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) in tropical dry forest, elev. 50 m, 18° 59' S, 44° 26' E, 21–25 xi 2001, Fisher, Griswold et al. (BLF 4508) (2 CAS) ; Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 3.4 km 93° E Bekopaka, Tombeau Vazimba , sifted litter, tropical dry forest, elev. 50 m, 19° 8' S, 44° 49' E, 6–10 xi 2001, Fisher, Griswold et al. (BLF 4232) (3 CAS) .

Differential Diagnosis. Differentiated from A. perlaevis by the larger size (ca. 1.34 mm vs. 1.20 mm), the deeper pronotal impressions, with the midlongitudinal impression joining the anterior and posterior transverse impressions, and the longer and slightly denser dorsal pubescence. The aedeagi of the two species differ in shapes of the distal part of the main piece, in both ventral and lateral views ( Figs. 212, 213 ).

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.34/0.62; head width 0.38; pronotum 0.34/0.57; elytra 0.84/0.62. Dorsum black except hyaline borders of prothorax transparent. Eyes with moderately coarse, convex facets. Frons with deep impressions, borders of impressions rounded, smooth; clypeus with very few, very shallow punctures, almost impunctate; labrum anterior margin arcuate in both sexes.

Pronotal relief very smooth, with very sparse and very short indistinct setae; anterior and posterior transverse impressions deep, anterior contiguous with transverse impression immediately behind anterior margin of lateral lobe; median longitudinal impression shallow, extended from anterior to posterior impression. Pronotum lateral hyaline borders very wide, extended from posterior to anterior angles, outer margin strongly arcuate; sides behind lateral lobes with conspicuous setae immediately above hyaline border; sides of lateral lobes with few conspicuous setae; anterior hyaline border moderately wide.

Elytra very smooth, ten seriate-punctate, punctures very small and shallow, each with short seta, which extends almost to adjacent puncture; setae on margin dense and long at anterior angles, otherwise very short and continuing posteriorly almost to apices.

Females average slightly larger than males: males ca. 1.19–1.34 mm; females ca. 1.2 8– 1.49 mm.

Distribution. Currently known from two localities in central Madagascar ( Fig. 305 ).

Figures

FIGURES 212 – 213. Aulacochthebius plicicollis, aedeagus of lectotype; Aulacochthebius perlaevis, aedeagus of holotype.

FIGURES 303 – 306. Geographical distributions of Protozantaena species, Sicilicula species, Aulacochthebius species, and Ochthebius alluaudi.