Malagasmus thalesi Gimmel, 2013

Gimmel, Matthew L., 2013, <strong> Genus-level revision of the family Phalacridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) </ strong>, Zootaxa 3605 (1), pp. 1-147 : 88

Malagasmus thalesi Gimmel , sp. nov.

( Figs. 25 ; 41c, d )

Holotype. Female , “ MADAGASCAR: Prov. \ Toliara; Ifaty, \ 23°09’S, 43°37’E \ 17–22 Sept. 1993 // Malaise trap in \ desert scrub forest; \ collrs. W.E.Steiner; \ R. Andriamasimanana // HOLOTYPE ♀ \ Malagasmus \ thalesi Gimmel \ des. M.L. Gimmel 2011 [red label]” ( USNM), point mounted.

Paratypes (8 females, USNM). Same data as holotype, with “ PARATYPE ♀ \ Malagasmus \ thalesi Gimmel \ det. M.L. Gimmel 2011 [yellow label]” .

Description. Total length 2.7–3.7 mm; elongate, flattened posteriorly. Color rufotestaceous dorsally, apex of elytra gradually lighter in color, ventral surface and appendages similar in color, or with ventrites slightly darker; moderate diffraction grating present on scutellar shield and elytra, absent from pronotum. Antennomeres IX and X projected anterolaterally, antennomere XI elongate; antennal club nearly as long as funicle ( Fig. 25b ). Punctation of head and pronotum quite dense, weak, punctures of two distinct sizes; elytra with a single sutural stria in apical 4/5, other striae faintly indicated, without distinct rows of punctures, background punctation weaker than that of pronotum, with distinct transverse strigae on apical 4/5, strongest laterally and apically; microsculpture absent. Prosternum not setose medially; apex of prosternal process with short, ventrally-directed, hairlike setae. Protibial ctenidium extending about ¾ length of tibia. Mesotibia with ctenidium on kickface with spines longer than those on protibia and directed more apically; spurs about as long as apex of tibia; mesotarsomere I elongate, longer than II and III combined. Metaventrite without strong punctures; moderately setose medially; with metaventral lines strong, arcuate, enclosing an area about 1/3 length of metaventrite behind mesocoxa ( Fig. 25f ). Metatibia ( Fig. 25d ) with ctenidium similar to that of mesotibia, but with a slight outward bend about 1/3 from apex; metatarsomere I longer than remainder of tarsus; metatarsomeres I and II with rows of strong spines.

Male genitalia unknown. Spermatheca as illustrated ( Fig. 25h ).

Diagnosis. This species may be recognized by the characters given in the generic diagnosis.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Toliara Province in southwestern Madagascar ( Fig. 44a ).

Etymology. Named in honor of the great Greek thinker, Thales of Miletus (c. 620–546 BCE), the first known philosopher to adopt a naturalistic, non-mystical view of existence. The epithet is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 25. Malagasmus thalesi, female. (a) Left mandible, dorsal; (b) left antenna (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (c) Left protibia and tarsus, dorsal; (d) left metatibia and tarsus, ventral (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (e) Hind wing (scale bar = 1.0 mm). (f) Meso- and metaventrite, ventral (scale bar = 1.0 mm). (g) Metendosternite (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (h) Spermatheca (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 41. Photographs. Olibrus sp.: (a) dorsal. Antennogasmus cordatus, holotype: (b) dorsal. Malagasmus thalesi, holotype: (c) dorsal; (d) ventral. Olibrosoma testacea: (e) dorsal. Apallodes sp.: (f) dorsal. Augasmus humilis: (g) dorsal; (h) ventral. Entomocnemus sp., southeast Asia: (i) dorsal.

FIGURE 44. Collection localities. (a) Malagasmus thalesi distribution in Madagascar; (b) Malagophytus steineri distribution in Madagascar; (c) Antennogasmus cordatus distribution in southern Africa and Madagascar; (d) Paracylomus asiaticus distribution in Sri Lanka; (e) Platyphalacrus lawrencei distribution in Western Australia.