Ptenidium (Gillmeisterium) tanalai, Darby, Michael, 2014

Darby, Michael, 2014, Studies of Madagascan Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) 2: The genus Ptenidium including three new species, Zootaxa 3793 (3), pp. 350-360 : 358

Ptenidium (Gillmeisterium) tanalai sp. n.

( Figs. 3 , 6, 16, 19, 22, 27, 28, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38)

Habitus Fig. 3 . Length 0.87–1.07 mm. Colour dark reddish brown, the elytra slightly lighter than the pronotum, head almost black, antennae and legs yellow. Antennae Fig 22 . Head width across eyes 0.29–32mm, with 6–8 symmetrically arranged long setae in the anterior half. Mentum with evenly rounded anterior margin and broad base. Pronotum length 0.23–0.30 mm, width 0.39–0.44 mm, with scattered very short pubescence, the lateral margin with a distinct median fovea Fig. 6, four basal foveae of approximately equal size and two anterior foveae less clearly marked; scutellum base with two longitudinal excavations giving the impression of forming a central keel or four foveae depending on the light source; elytra length 0.56–0.62 mm, width 0.43–0.50mm, with scattered very short pubescence. Proventral process almost parallel sided, the central raised portion broad and flat, widening posteriorly Fig.16 . Lateral arms of meso/metaventral suture near sides of mesocoxae with wavy edges Fig.38 . Abdominal ventrites with scalloped posterior margins Fig. 37 , skeletal plates of anterior tergites around wing folding spicule patches fringed with fine hairs Fig. 36 ; pygidium with 4/5 large teeth Fig 35 .

Female: Spermatheca Figs 27, 28

Male: Aedeagus Fig. 31 .

Etymology. This epithet is taken from the name of a tribe of Madagascan forest dwellers.

Remarks. Immediately distinquishable from azafady and lamdai by its darker colour and narrower form, and by the distinctive shape of the pronotum anterior to the median foveae.

Type data. Holotype: ♀, S.21˚15’ E.47˚25’, 970–990m, 13–15.xi.2010, P. Banar ( BMNH). Paratypes, all by sifting and Winkler Apparatus extraction from the Ranomafana National Park: 46 exs, S.21˚15’ E.47˚25’, 970–990m, 13–15.xi.2010, P. Banar ( BMNH); 6 exs, by stream close to main entrance, 17.xi.2010, P. Banar ( BMNH); 6 exs, 21˚14’51” E.47˚24’13”, 1079m, 16–18.xi.2010, P. Banar ( BMNH).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Ptenidium spp. habitus. 1, P. azafady; 2, P. lambdai; 3, P. tanalai. 4 – 6. Lateral border of the pronotum. 4, P. azafady x 985; 5, P. lambdai x 1180; 6, P. tanalai x 935. 7 – 11. Scutellum. 7, P. reitteri x 850; 8, P. pusillum x 600; 9, P. azafady x 555; 10 – 11, P. lambdai x 1120.

FIGURES 17 – 22. 17 – 19. Ptenidium spp. mentum. 17, P. azafady x 1160; 18, P. lambdai x 1560; 19, P. tanalai x 1600. 20 – 22. Ptenidium spp. antennomeres 3 – 11. 20, P. azafady; 21, P. lambdai; 23, P. tanalai.

FIGURES 12 – 16. Ptenidium spp. proventral process. 12, P. pusillum x 1480; 13, P. reitteri x 2320; 14, P. azafady x 1580; 15, P. lambdai x 1380; 16, P. tanalai x 890.

FIGURES 36 – 39. Ptenidium tanalai. 36, abdominal tergites showing spines on plates around wing folding spicule patches x 1560; 37, abdominal ventrites showing scalloped edges x 1500; 38, meso / metaventral suture showing wavy edge. x 715; 39, hairs on the underside of the posterior margin of the elytra x 1920.

FIGURES 29 – 35. 29 – 31. Ptenidium spp. aedeagus. 29, P. azafady; 30, P. lambdai; 31, P. tanalai. 32. Ptenidium lambdai male 7 th ventrite. 33 – 35. Ptenidium spp. pygidium teeth. 33, P. azafady x 1240; 34, P. lambdai x 1400; 35, P. tanalai x 2000.

FIGURES 23 – 28. Ptenidium spp. spermatheca. 23 – 24, P. azafady; 25 – 26, P. lambdai; 27 – 28, P. tanalai (28 A viewed from a little above and 28 B a little below).