Argopistes jenisi, Biondi & Iannella & D'Alessandro, 2024

Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia & D'Alessandro, Paola, 2024, Argopistes Motschulsky from Madagascar with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 1202, pp. 303-327 : 303-327

Argopistes jenisi sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 8 A

Type material.

Holotype ♀: “ Madagascar / Tamatave prov. / Ambodinifody / 26. 12. 1996 / Ivo Jeniš leg. ” [printed on white card] [18 ° 53.20 ' S; 48 ° 3.04 ' E] ( BAQ).

Diagnosis.

Argopistes jenisi sp. nov. is recognizable by the combination of the following characters: intense black color that contrasts with the yellow antennae, tarsi, and maxillary palpi (Fig. 3 A, B ); filiform antennae (Fig. 3 A, B ); wide last abdominal sternite, distinctly longer than first (Fig. 3 B ). Spermatheca is also diagnostic due to the subglobose basal part ventrally enlarged, and the short ductus, subventrally inserted (Fig. 3 C ).

Description of the holotype

(♀). Body broadly elliptic in dorsal view (Fig. 3 A ), strongly convex in lateral view; total length of body ( LB) = 4.44 mm; maximum pronotal width at the base (WP = 2.60 mm); maximum width of elytra in the middle (WE = 3.76 mm); WE / WP = 1.45. Dorsal integuments (Fig. 3 A ) entirely black with evident blueish metallic reflections; ventral parts (Fig. 3 B ) intensively black; head black; frons and mouthparts black, with yellowish maxillary palpi; antennae entirely yellowish (Fig. 3 B ); legs, including articulations, black, with yellowish tarsi (Fig. 3 B ). Head entirely hidden by the pronotum; vertex surface rough and distinctly punctate, with a pair of large setiferous pores; area of frontal calli weakly raised; frons elongate, with rough, irregular surface; frontal ridge thin and short; frontogenal sutures strongly raised; eyes large, elongate, slightly kidney-shaped; interantennal space clearly narrower than antennal sockets. Antennae filiform (Fig. 3 B ), as long as ~ 1 / 2 the body length ( LAN = 2.12 mm; LAN / LB = 0.48); segments 1–2 thicker; segments 3–11 slightly and gradually flattened; LA = 100: 42: 33: 47: 47: 40: 41: 44: 43: 39: 64. Pronotum (Fig. 3 A ) clearly transverse ( LP = 1.20 mm; WP / LP = 2.17); lateral margins strongly convergent anteriorly, weakly curved, weakly expanded, not visible in dorsal view; basal margin arcuate and distinctly sinuate; surface smooth, with very small and very dense punctation; surface moderately raised parallel to the lateral margins; a large setiferous pore at the anterior angles. Scutellum small, subtriangular. Elytra ( LE = 4.04 mm; LE / LP = 3.37) distinctly curved laterally (Fig. 3 A ), distinctly longer than wide ( WE / LE = 0.93), jointly rounded apically; lateral margins finely bordered, visible in dorsal view; surface smooth; punctation very small, dense, and confused; points slightly larger towards lateral and apical parts, and partially arranged in some longitudinal lines. Humeral calli moderately raised. Macropterous. Prosternum with posteriorly open procoxal cavities and large intercoxal prosternal process. Mesosternum very short. First abdominal sternite distinctly shorter than fifth (Fig. 3 B ); its central area bordered by ridges is moderately wide, rounded anteriorly, laterally subparallel. Anterior and middle legs without modifications. Posterior femora greatly swollen ( WF / LF = 0.68), elongate-subtriangular; posterior tibiae thick, distinctly shorter than femora, apically widened and prolonged into a spur-like process on inner side; outer side of hind tibia apically toothed; apical spur simple, lanceolate. Spermatheca ( LSPC = 0.38 mm; LE / LSPC = 10.63) with apparently wrinkled surface (Fig. 3 C ); basal part subglobose, with a small protrusion just below the distal part; apical part moderately elongate, narrowing towards the apex; ductus subventrally inserted, quite narrow and short, uncoiled.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the collector of the new species: Ivo Jeniš from the Czech Republic, renowned expert on Coleoptera Cerambycidae .

Distribution.

Central-eastern Madagascar (Toamasina province; Fig. 8 A ). Malagasy chorotype.

Ecological notes.

Host plant unknown. The only known occurrence locality falls within an area characterized by the vegetation division ‘ Malagasy Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen Forest’.

Figures

Figure 3. Argopistes jenisi sp. nov. A holotype, habitus in dorsal view B ibid, ventral view C ibid, spermatheca. Abbreviations: 1 st: first abdominal sternite; 5 th: fifth abdominal sternite; ca: central area of the first abdominal sternite bordered by ridges. Scale bars: 3 mm (A, B); 300 μm (C).

Figure 8. Distribution and habitat suitability of the Argopistes species in Madagascar. A occurrence locality for each species B probability of presence of the occurrence localities, and potential suitability areas for the genus in Madagascar from ENMs.