Biflabelotillus foveolatus Pic, 1949

Pavel, Filip & Purchart, Luboš, 2024, Revision of Madagascan Cleridae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea). Part I. - The genus Biflabelotillus Pic, 1949 (Tillinae), Zootaxa 5519 (3), pp. 384-394 : 386

Biflabelotillus foveolatus Pic, 1949

Figs 1, 4, 7, 10 , 13–20

Biflabellotilus [sic!] foveolatus Pic, 1949: 3 (original description).

Biflabellotillus [sic!] foveolatus – CORPORAAL (1950): 17 (catalogue); WINKLER (1961): 32; MENIER (1979): 75 (habitat character drawings).

Type locality. Madagascar, Analanjirofo Region, Maroantsetra District, Antongonivitsika .

Type material studied. LECTOTYPE (designated here), ♂ ( MNHN): [white, handwritten] Madagascar / Antongonivitsika / XI. 47, Michel! [white, handwritten] Type // [white, handwritten] Biflabelotillus ng / foveolatus nsp // [white, handwritten] genre pres Paradoxocerus Kr. // [red, printed] ♂ HOLOTYPE // [blue] // [red, printed] SPECIMEN FIGURE / FAUNE DE MADAG. / J.J. MENIER / 1933 – 1991 // LECTOTYPE Biflabelotillus bicolorus sp. nov. det. F. Pavel & L. Purchart 2024 [red, printed label].

Additional material examined. (1 ♂ IJC): Central Madagascar, Analamanga Region [formerly Antananarivo province], Ankazobe District , Manankazo env., 28.11.2001, Z. Mráček leg.; (1 ♂ FPC) : Madagascar, Alaotra Mangora Region, Moramanga District, Lakato , 1.1969, G. Dujardin-Delacour leg.; (1 ♂ FPC) : same as previous but 2. 1969; (1 ♂ IJC): Central Madagascar, Analamanga Region, Ambohitantely Special Reserve , S18°11’51’’ E47°17’03’’, 1530m, at light, 24.– 29.11.2011, M. Trýzna leg.

Remarks. As Pic (1949) made no reference to specimens in his description it cannot be assumed that the nominal species-group name, Biflabelotillus foveolatus , was based on a single specimen. Despite being labelled ‘holotype’ (a recent, not original, label) most likely by Menier the ‘type’ located in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) must be considered a syntype ( ICZN 1999: Article 73.2) and is therefore available for lectotype designation ( ICZN 1999: Article 74.1).

Differential diagnosis. B. foveolatus can easily be distinguished from both B. peyrierasi and B. bicolorus sp. nov. by brown elytra (black in B. peyrierasi and bicoloured in B. bicolorus sp. nov.; Figs 14 , 22 , 34 ). From B. peyrierasi it further differs by body length which is equal or larger than 10 mm (less than 9 mm in B. peyrierasi ), subparallel, slightly widened elytra (parallel in B. peyrierasi ), smooth elytral interstriae (the latter with tubercles in B. peyrierasi ) and last but not least the shape of ultimate antennomere more or less securiform (elongate-oval in B. peyrierasi ; Figs 4, 5 ). From the new species B. bicolorus sp. nov. it can also be distinguished by distinctly securiform ultimate antennomere (more or less securiform in B. foveolatus ; Figs 4,6), parallel-sided pronotum (not parallel in B. bicolorus sp. nov.; Figs 7, 9 ) and dark brown abdomen (distinctly pale-brown in B. bicolorus sp. nov.; Figs 18 , 35 ).

Redescription. Size of holotype 10.0 x 2.4 mm. Winged, dark brown, with elytra and abdomen brown ( Figs 14–18 ).

Head. Head including eyes broader than pronotum (DV) in ratio 1:0.8 (HW = 2.1 mm). The space between eyes (frons) narrow (HW / FW = 3.5). Ultimate antennomere almost securifom, 3.4x longer then broad ( Fig. 4 ).

Pronotum. Longer than wide in ratio 1:1.7 (PL = 2.5 mm, PW = 1.5 mm), cylindrical, apical two thirds of pronotum parallel sided, basal third strongly trangled ( Fig. 7 ).

Elytra. Subparallel, 2.6x longer than their width (EL = 6.3 mm, EW = 2.4 mm), with posterior half slightly widening posteriad. Three fourths of elytral surface with bitubecrulate foveae, the latter absent in apical fourth ( Fig. 14, 17 ). Space between foveae approx. 1–3x larger than diameter of foveae.

Scutellum. Almost rounded with the basal margin distinctly cut-out in middle ( Fig. 19 ).

Variability of size. Examined males (n=2): body length 11.75–11.9 mm, HW = 2.42–2.63 mm, HW / FW = 2.99–3.31, PL = 2.5–2.58 mm, PW = 1.8–2 mm, EL = 8.25–8.7 mm, EW = 3.25–3.55 mm. Female unknown.

Distribution. Central and Eastern Madagascar – Analamanga, Alaotra Mangora and Sava Regions ( Fig. 38 ) ( Menier 1979).

Figures

FIGURE 38. Distribution map of the genus Biflabelotillus. B. foveolatus—red triangle, B. peyrierasi—white circle, B. bicolorus sp. nov.—yellow rhombus.

FIGURE 1–12. Biflabelotillus foveolatus—1, 4, 7, 10; B. peyrierasi—2, 5, 8, 11; B. bicolorus sp. nov., holotype—3, 6, 9, 12. Fig. 1–3—right antenna, antennomers II-VI; 4–6—right antenna, antennomers IX–XI (red arrows indicate last antennomere); 7–9—head and pronotum, dorsal view; 10–12—head, front view.

FIGURE 13–20. Biflabelotillus foveolatus Pic, 1949—13–15 (lectotype), 16–20 (non-type). Fig. 13—labels of the lectotype; 14, 17—habitus, dorsal view; 15,16—habitus, lateral view; 18—habitus, ventral view; 19—scutellum; 20—bituberculate foveae (white arrows indicate the two tubercles on the top of the fovea).

FIGURE 21–27. Biflabelotillus peyrierasi Menier, 1979—21–23 (holotype), 24–27 (non-type, male). Fig. 21—labels of the holotype; 21, 24—habitus, dorsal view; 23, 25—habitus, lateral view; 26—scutellum; 27—bituberculate foveae (white arrows indicate the two tubercles on the top of the fovea).

FIGURE 33–37. Biflabelotillus bicolorus sp. nov., holotype. Fig. 33—habitus, lateral view; 34—habitus, dorsal view; 35— habitus, ventral view; 36—scutellum; 37—bituberculate foveae (white arrows indicate the two tubercles on the top of the fovea).