Madecassina quadrimaculata Kavanaugh and Rainio, 2016

Kavanaugh, David H. & Rainio, Johanna, 2016, Twenty-six New Species of Predaceous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Carabidae) from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (7), pp. 201-268 : 236-238

Madecassina quadrimaculata Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figure 20

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs.20A–B ), a male, in CAS, labeled: “ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., montane rainforest near Tsinjorano village , 100 m in from forest edge,”/ “ 21.09637°S 47.52085°E, 1050 m, 19.05.2005, collected by hand in daytime, F.J. Ratelolahy collector”/ “ HOLOTYPE Madecassina quadrimaculata Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label].

TYPE LOCALITY.— Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park .

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, quadrimaculata , is an adjective derived from the Latin words, quattuor, meaning four, and macula, meaning spot or spotted. The name refers to the two (subbasal and subapical) pairs of elytral spots seen in members of this species.

RECOGNITION.— Size average for genus, SBL = 5.2 mm. The holotype male of this species ( Fig. 20A ) keys to Madecassina maculata Alluaud (1899b) in Jeannel’s (1949) key based on the following combination of features: body black, forebody without metallic reflection, pronotum punctate laterally, and elytra shiny with four pale spots. It differs from members of M. maculata in having a smaller body size (SBL = 5.5–6.0 mm in M. maculata ), the pronotum punctate laterally and laterobasally only, with conspicuous transverse grooves and ridges on disc (in M. maculata the pronotum is punctate on the disc also, between the ridges, in contrast to what Jeannel said in his key), elytral intervals shinier due to more shallowly impressed isodiametric microsculpture (elytral intervals duller due to more deeply impressed isodiametric microsculpture in M. maculata ), the elytral spots much more distinct (much less so in M. maculata ) and median lobe of male genitalia with apex hooked dorsally and thicker in lateral aspect ( Fig. 20C ) and slightly swollen and bent right in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 20D ) (apex hooked but thinner in lateral aspect and more parallel-sided and straight in dorsal aspect in M. maculata males) (see Jeannel 1949, Fig. 474f).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— At present, known only from the type locality.

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— The unique holotype was collected in montane rainforest near Tsinjorano village at a distance of 100 m inside the forest edge at an elevation of 1050 m.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Digital images of holotype male of Madecassina quadrimaculata Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habitus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels C–D. Aedeagus of male genitalia; C. Left lateral aspect; D. Dorsal aspect. Scale lines A = 1.0 mm, C–D = 0.5 mm.