Sicilicula cordicollis, Perkins, 2017

Perkins, Philip D., 2017, Hydraenidae of Madagascar (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 4342 (1), pp. 1-264 : 212

Sicilicula cordicollis , new species

Figs. 203 (habitus), 205 (aedeagus), 304 (map)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Fianarantsoa, Namorona River, 7 km SW Ranomafana, from stream with mossy rocks and sandy bottom, montane rainforest, elev. 1200 m, 21° 16' S, 47° 26' E, 23 x 1988, W. E. Steiner, C. Kremen, R. Van Epps ( USNM). Paratypes: Same data as holotype (5 USNM).

Differential Diagnosis. Similar in habitus to H. hygropetrica ; differing therefrom by the smaller size (ca. 1.58 vs. 1.71), the denticulate but non-margined lateral lobes of the pronotum, and the large elytral serial punctures, relative to the pronotal punctures. The pronotum in both the male and female is more strongly cordiform than that of H. hygropetrica . The aedeagal main piece and distal processes are shaped differently in the two species ( Figs. 205, 206).

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.58/0.66; head width 0.46; pronotum 0.37/0.51, PA 0.37, PB 0.33; elytra 0.96/0.66.

Dorsum black, maxillary palpi and legs brown.

Head with labrum/clypeus/frons length rations as 10/5/8. Labrum finely, moderately sparsely punctulate, interstices shining. Clypeus and frons strongly shining, clypeus moderately finely and moderately sparsely punctulate, frons punctures sparser and finer, size of punctures much small than 1xef. Anteocellar sulci deep. Ocelli distinct.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides not margined or only extremely finely so behind lateral lobes, coarsely crenulate at lateral lobes; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs strongly shining, very finely and very sparsely punctulate, without setae. Anterior and posterior ¼ and lateral lobes coarsely punctate. Median groove and discal foveae ( Fig. 203 ) large and deep, coarsely punctate, median groove wide, slightly narrowed near midlength.

Elytra with disc very slightly depressed in front of midlength, sides weakly arcuate, widest at ca. midlength, apices conjointly rounded; sutural apices minutely dehiscent; sides smooth, moderately explanate (but see female); posterior declivity gradual. Serial punctures large and deep, without discernable setae, on disc distinctly larger than largest pronotal punctures, interstices about 1xpd or slightly less; without granules. Series striate-impressed, series one and two more weakly so in posterior 1/2 than other series, series two and three joining series one on posterior declivity. Intervals weakly rounded, width on disc about 2xpd, except sutural interval wider; intervals without setae.

Mentum moderately densely punctulate, submentum much more finely and sparsely punctulate; interstices shining.

Metaventral disc with oval impression in basal 1/2. Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–5 clothed with dense setae except glabrous midlongitudinal prosternal ridge, glabrous dull mesoventral plaques and small glabrous strongly shining inverted V-shaped basomedian area on mesoventrite in front of intercoxal sternite. Ventrite 1 with weak sublateral and submedial basal carina on each side; ventrite 6 weakly shining, with sparse short setae. Tibiae straight.

Wings fully developed.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 205) length ca. 0.40 mm, main piece 0.25 mm, distal process beyond main piece 0.15 mm; main piece in ventral view widened in distal ½ and produced in point on right side; basal ring large; distal process sinuate; setae of main piece rather long.

Female: size (length/width, mm): body (length to elytral apices) 1.63/0.70; head width 0.47; pronotum 0.38/ 0.54, PA 0.38, PB 0.34; elytra 0.96/0.70. Females with explanate elytral margin wider than males ( Fig. 203 ), widest at ca. posterior 2/3; in dorsal view apices conjointly sharply rounded, in posterior view apices truncate, sutural apices minutely dehiscent.

Etymology. Named in reference to the markedly cordiform pronotum.

Figures

FIGURE 203. Sicilicula cordicollis, habitus, holotype male dorsal (right) and lateral, and female paratype (left).