Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) ambalihana, Sziráki, György, 2020

Sziráki, György, 2020, A Contribution To Knowledge Of The Genus Coniopteryx (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) In Madagascar, With Descriptions Of 18 New Species, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 66 (3), pp. 203-246 : 204-206

Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) ambalihana sp. n.

( Figs 1–6)

Examined material – Holotype: male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Ampasidava, Forêt d’Ambilanivy , 3.9 km S of Ambaliha, 13°47’55” S, 48°09’42” E, 600 m a.s.l., 4–9. III. 2001, rain forest, Malaise trap, leg.: F, G et al.; deposited in the collection of CAS; CASTYPE number: 20010. Paratypes: 6 males, same data as holotype ; 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, 7 km N of Joffreville , 12°20’ S, 49°15’ E, 360 m a.s.l., 13–16. V . 2001, dry forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH, 1 male, Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park , radio tower at forest edge, 21°15’03” S, 47°24’26” E, 1130 m a.s.l., 15–22. XI. 2001, mixed tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH ; 1 male, Madagascar, Toamasina Province, botanic garden near to entrance to Andasibe National Park , 18°55’35” S, 48°24’28” E, 1025 m a.s.l., 1–5. IX. 2001, tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH. Seven paratype specimens are deposited in the collection of CAS , while two are housed in HNHM.

Description: Length of the body 1.3–1.8 mm. Vertex, antennae and palpi light brown or pale ochreous, genae distinctly darker than vertex. Anterior edge of vertex with a prominent, laterally flattened projection. Eyes moderately large, black. Antennae 0.7–1.0 mm, 25–29 segmented. Scape about as long as wide, pedicel 1.4 times longer than wide. Median flagellar segments cca 1.5–2.0 times wider than long, while proximal ones (apart from the last segment) about as long as wide. Pedicel and the first flagellar segment with a moderately large, setose outgrowth ( Fig. 1). Some of the other basal flagellar segments have also small outgrowth with setae. Ordinary hairs are arranged in two regular rings on pedicel, and in two irregular ones on flagellar segments. Scale-like hairs cover the proximal half of pedicel loosely, and situated in an apical whorl on flagellar segments.

Legs and the large part of thorax light brown or pale ochreous; sutures, apodemes and the shoulder spots medium brown. Length of the fore wing 1.6–2.0 mm, of hind wing 1.2–1.6 mm. Wing membrane almost hyaline, or distinctly light brown. Pregenital part of abdomen pale ochreous.

Male terminalia ( Figs 2–6) well sclerotized, medium or dark brown. Hypandrium about 1.3 times longer than high in lateral view. Processus terminalis very strong, and curved up sharply. Its median incision practically invisible in ventral view, while u-shaped in caudal view. Processus lateralis rather slender, and directed dorsally. Anterior apodeme of hypandrium laterally rather wide having a proximal lobe, medially narrow and curved backwards extremely. Gonarcus moderately sclerotized, without significant caudal projection and with narrow ventral apodeme. Stylus forked; its long outer branch curved forwards distinctly. Inner branch of stylus long and narrow, and there is an arched bridge between the two inner branches. Paramere evenly bent in lateral view. Processus ventralis of this sclerite small. Processus apicalis moderately large, and directed upwards. Its ventro-caudal angle in lateral view rounded, in caudal view sharp. The penis sclerite consists of two distinctly sclerotized rods truncated at their anterior ends.

Remarks: Coniopteryx (C.) ambalihana sp. n. belongs to the Coniopteryx lobifrons group sensu SZIRÁKI 2005, and is close to Coniopteryx (C.) malgasensis Sziráki, 2015 .

The main distinctive features of the new species are: − hypandrium distinctly longer than high in lateral view; − processus terminalis of hypandrium very strong, and curved up sharply; − processus lateralis rather slender and directed dorsally; − median part of the anterior apodeme of hypandrium curved backwards extremely; − inner branch of stylus narrow and long.

Etymology: The new species is named after Ambaliha, as most of the type material was collected at a locality situated near this town.