Copelatus mahajanga Pederzani & Hajek , 2005

Ranarilalatiana, Tolotra, Raveloson Ravaomanarivo, Lala Harivelo & Bergsten, Johannes, 2019, Taxonomic revision of the genus Copelatus of Madagascar (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae): the non- erichsonii group species, ZooKeys 869, pp. 19-90 : 19

Copelatus mahajanga Pederzani & Hajek, 2005 Figs 5B , 8B

Copelatus mahajanga Pederzani & Hájek, 2005: 104.

Type locality.

Madagascar, Mahajanga Distr., Mahajanga env. [ca. 15°43'S, 46°18'E]

Type information from OD.

Based on male (holotype), 3 male and 4 female (paratypes). I. Janis 1-10 December 1996. HT & 5PT in NMPC. Two paratypes in collection of Pederzani, Ravenna, Italy.

Type material studied.

Mahajanga. Boeny: Mahajanga I/Mahajanga II [district cannot be verified based on original description or labels]: -HT♂(GP) (NMPC): // MADAGASCAR 1996, Mahajanga Distr., Mahajanga env., Dec. 1-10., I. Janiš leg. // HOLOTYPE, COPELATUS, mahajanga sp. nov., F. Pederzani & J. Hájek det.2005 //

Additional material studied.

Mahajanga. Boeny: Ambato-Boeny, Mitsinjo, Soalala: -3♂ (GP), 1♀ (NMW): // Data in NHRS | JLKB | 000010719-22 // RM: Betsiboka Bas (PO124) | Loc. Ambohimanatrika | Kamoro Riv. // 47°10'06", 16°28'55" | alt. 40 m 01.04.1993 // Leg. ORSTOM ANTANANARIVO // -1♂ (GP) (NHRS): // NHRS-JLKB | 000010717 // Madagascar: Mahajanga: Boeny: | Ankarafantsika NP. S16.30341 | E046.81073, 74 m.a.o. 29.XI.2009 | 22W Black Light, Field# MAD09-07 | Leg. J. Bergsten, N. Jönsson, | T. Ranarilalatiana, H.J. Randriamihaja // -2♀ (NHRS): // NHRS-JLKB | 000065747 (JB802), 65732 // Madagascar: Mahajanga: Boeny: | Mahavavy Kinkony RS. S16.13337 | E045.95778, 19 m.a.o. 04.XII.2009 | Water net, Field# MAD09-25 | Leg. J. Bergsten, N. Jönsson, | T. Ranarilalatiana, H.J. Randriamihaja // -2♀ (NHRS): // NHRS-JLKB | 000010724 (JB195), 65748 // Madagascar: Mahajanga: Boeny: | Mahavavy Kinkony RS. S16.01334 | E046.00376, 24 m.a.o. 06.XII.2009 | Water net, Field# MAD09-33 | Leg. J. Bergsten, N. Jönsson, | T. Ranarilalatiana, H.J. Randriamihaja // -2♂ (GP), 3♀ (CAS): // CASENT-8131811-5 // Madagascar: Mahajanga | Province, Parc National de | Namoroka 16.9 km 317° NW | Vilanandro 12-16 Nov 2002 // 16°24'24"S, 045°18'36"E // Colls. Fisher, Griswold et al.| California Acad. of Sciences | sifted litter, (leaf mold, rotten | wood) in tropical dry forest | elev 100 m code: BLF6582 // -1♀ (CAS): // CASENT-8135013 // Madagascar: Mahajanga | Prov. Parc National de | Namoroka 16.9 Km 317° NW | Vilanandro elev 100 m | 12-16 November 2002 // 16°24'24"S, 045°18'36"E | Coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. | California Acad. of Sciences | malaise trap- | tropical dry forest | collection code BLF6581 // -1♂ (GP) (CAS): // CASENT-8135001 // Madagascar: Mahajanga | Province Parc National de | Namoroka | 17.8 Km 329° WNW Vilanandro | elev 100 m: 08-12 Nov 2002 // 16°22'36"S, 045°19'36"E | Colls. Fisher, Griswold et al. | California Acad. of Sciences | pitfall trap- in tropical dry forest, | collection code BLF6506 // Mahajanga. Melaky: Antsalova: -1♂ (GP) (NHRS): // NHRS-JLKB | 000010723 (JB190) // Madagascar: Mahajanga: Melaky: | Tsingy de Bemaraha NP: S19.03572 | E044.77507, 66 m.a.o. 15.XII.2009 | Water Net, Field# MAD09-58 | Leg. J. Bergsten, N. Jönsson, T. | Ranarilalatiana, H.J. Randriamihaja // Toamasina. Alaotra Mangoro: Moramanga: -5♂ (GP), 3♀, 11 ex. (Alc) (NHRS, DEUA & PBZT/MBC): // NHRS-JLKB | 000010554-5, 10596-601, 10795 (Alc.) // MAD: TOAM: Alaotra Mangoro: | Betsabora river by RN2 near | Antasmpanana village, 6Km W | of Moramanga: MAD14-81: river | with side pools: 18.9247S | 48.1828E: 900 m: 24.XI.2014 // Leg. J. Bergsten, | J.H. Randriamihaja | & T. Ranarilalatiana // -3♂ (GP) 26 ex. (Alc.), 7 ex. (Alc.) (NHRS, DEUA & PBZT/MBC): // NHRS-JLKB | 000010602-3, 10825, 10796(Alc.), 10826(Alc.) // Madagascar: Toamasina: Alaotra | Mangoro: RN2, Betsabora river | 10Km W of Moramanga: S18.92438 | E048.18273, 940 m. 06.XI.2011: | GB Nets and sieves: river and | pools: Field# MAD11-21 // Leg. J. Bergsten, R. | Bukontaite, T. | Ranarilalatiana & | H.J. Randriamihaja //

Diagnosis.

Close to C. marginipennis in habitus appearance but body shape more elongate. On average C. mahajanga have a broader transverse testaceous band at base of elytra ( Fig. 8B ), and the first elytral stria is more abbreviated anteriorly, starting at approx. one quarter to one half posterior of base. Penis shape is unique in C. mahajanga , bisinuate in ventral view with an expanded apex, not resembling that of any other Copelatus species in the irinus group from Madagascar.

Description.

Body length 5.2-6.2 mm. Body shape oblong oval, rather convex, brown to dark brown. Head ferrugineous brown, paler in front, sometimes darker around eyes, finely microreticulate and punctate, two shallow depressions between eyes. Pronotum dark brown, paler at sides. Dorsal surface with fine microsculpture and scattered punctures, lateral sides of pronotum striolate with the widest striolate area in the posterior corners. Elytra brown, paler at sides and at apex, with a broad testaceous transverse band at base ( Fig. 8B ). Elytral surface finely reticulate and punctate. Six clearly impressed elytral striae present and one fairly long submarginal stria; first stria abbreviated anteriorly, starting at approx. one quarter to one half posterior of elytral base; other striae (second to sixth) starting more or less at base; submarginal stria starting around middle; striae 1-5 approaching apex of the elytron, but the second and fourth are a little shorter; the sixth stria much abbreviated posteriorly and sometimes the sixth unites with fifth apically approx. 1/5 from apex.

Ventral side ferrugineous brown, metacoxa and abdominal ventrites striolate and punctate. Prosternal process similar to C. marginipennis but lateral parts of metaventrite slightly narrower and metacoxal lines less divergent anteriorly. Antennae, palps, pro- and mesothoracic legs brown, but metathoracic legs ferrugineous dark brown.

Male: protibia modified, widened in front, strongly angled after base, with several long spines on the outer side of distal half. Tarsomeres I–III of pro- and mesolegs enlarged, with pads of numerous setae. Penis unique: in ventral view with a bisinuate shape and a widening asymmetrical apex; in lateral view abruptly curved near middle, with a right angle of more or less 90 degrees, the basal part robust ( Fig. 5B ). Parameres broad ( Fig. 5B ).

Female: similar but smaller than the male, legs not modified.

Distribution.

Endemic to Madagascar. Known from several places in Mahajanga province and near Moramanga ( Fig. 11B ). We have seen material from around Mahajanga (Type series), Mahavavy Kinkony Reserve, Namoroka NP, Tsingy de Bemaraha NP, Ankarafantsika NP, Kamoro River south of Ankarafantsika NP and collected the species both in 2011 and 2014 at Betsabora River 6 km W of Moramanga which expanded the known distribution significantly. Note that the name Betsabora is uncertain and recovered from locals on site for this river which is a tributary to Mangoro River. Ampanihifana may be the correct name.

Habitat and ecology.

Type series probably collected by light trap ( Pederzani and Hájek 2005), and we collected it with black light by a leaf-choked forest pool in Ankarafantsika NP. Also collected with pitfall traps and from leaf-litter in Namoroka NP before the rainy season in November, indicating the species can tolerate periods when the habitats dry up without immediately seeking new water. We collected the largest series at Betsabora River at an elevation of 940 m. This small river runs through a savannah type area with mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem subsequent to degradation and deforestation. The river site consisted of grassy, vegetation-rich margins, bays and side pools, further described in Michat et al. (2017). Around the Mahajanga area all sites are lowaltitude, 100 m or lower.

Comments.

Copelatus mahajanga was the most recently described Copelatus species from Madagascar (Peredzani and Hájek 2005) and was previously only known from the type series and lowland west type locality "Mahajanga env." without further details. The discovery of the species in Betsabora River at mid-altitude in the east indicates that the species may have a much wider distribution and ecological niche. As the species is very similar to C. marginipennis habitually, it might be misidentified as such in collections if male genitalia were not examined.

Figures

Figure 5. Male genitalia. From left to right, aedeagus in right lateral, ventral, left lateral views and left paramere. A Copelatus marginipennis B Copelatus mahajanga C Copelatus pulchellus.

Figure 8. Habitus, dorsal view. A Male: Copelatus marginipennis B Female: Copelatus mahajanga C Female: Copelatus sp. 1 (Bemaraha) D Male: Copelatus pulchellus.

Figure 11. Distribution maps of Copelatus species. A C. marginipennis (circle), C. baculiformis (square) B C. mahajanga (circle), C. sp. 2 (square) C C. pulchellus (circle), C. peridinus (square) D C. distinguendus (circle), C. sp. 1 (square).