Argopistes vadoni Biondi & Iannella & D'Alessandro 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Biondi, Maurizio
name: Iannella, Mattia
name: D'Alessandro, Paola
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Argopistes
Argopistes vadoni

description: Argopistes vadoni sp. nov.
Figs 7, 8 A
Type material.
Holotype ♂: “ Coll. Mus. Tervuren / N. E. Madagascar: / Ambodivoangy VII. 1961 / J. Vadon ” [printed on white card] [15 ° 17.30 ' S; 49 ° 36.88 ' E] (RMCA). Paratype ♀: “ Coll. Mus. Congo / Madagascar: Antakotako / 15. i. 1939 / J. Vadon ” [printed on white card) [15 ° 12.53 ' S; 49 ° 47.61 ' E] (RMCA).
Diagnosis.
Argopistes vadoni sp. nov. is one of the species with black or blackish dorsal integuments, and yellow and filiform antennae, but is distinguishable by the regular elytral punctation (Fig. 7 A). Median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca are both diagnostic. Median lobe of the aedeagus is easily recognizable by the apical part, distinctly slender in ventral view (Fig. 7 C). Spermatheca is unique for the combination of pyriform basal part, distal part homogenously thickened, and ductus subapically inserted, quite thickset, moderately elongated, and uncoiled (Fig. 7 D).
Description of the holotype
(♂). Body roundish in dorsal view (Fig. 7 A), strongly convex in lateral view; total length of body (LB) = 3.32 mm; maximum pronotal width at the base (WP = 2.00 mm); maximum width of elytra in the middle (WE = 2.84 mm); WE / WP = 1.42. Dorsal integuments (Fig. 7 A) entirely black with weak blueish metallic reflections; ventral parts (Fig. 7 B) dark reddish brown; head dark brown; frons and mouthparts brown, with yellowish maxillary palpi; antennae (Fig. 7 B) yellowish; legs, including articulations, reddish brown, with yellowish tarsi (Fig. 7 B). Head entirely hidden by the pronotum; vertex punctate, with a pair of large setiferous pores; frontal calli joined, clearly delimited and straight posteriorly; frons elongate, flat, roughly wrinkled; frontal ridge elongate, thin and sharp; frontogenal sutures distinctly raised; eyes large, elongate, slightly kidney-shaped; interantennal space clearly narrower than antennal sockets. Antennae (Fig. 7 B) filiform, as long as ~ 1 / 2 the body length (LAN = 1.76 mm; LAN / LB = 0.53); segments 1 and 2 thicker; segments 3–11 slightly and gradually flattened; LA = 100: 42: 33: 47: 47: 40: 41: 44: 43: 39: 64. Pronotum (Fig. 7 A) distinctly transverse (LP = 0.96 mm; WP / LP = 2.08); lateral margins strongly convergent anteriorly, weakly curved, weakly expanded, not visible in dorsal view; basal margin arcuate and distinctly sinuate; surface finely wrinkled, with very dense, small punctation; surface weakly raised parallel to the lateral margins; a large setiferous pore at the anterior angles. Scutellum small, subtriangular. Elytra (LE = 2.98 mm; LE / LP = 3.10) strongly curved laterally (Fig. 7 A), approx. as long as wide (WE / LE = 0.95), jointly rounded apically; lateral margins finely bordered, visible in dorsal view; surface micropunctate; main punctation small, arranged in 9 (+ 1 sutural) regular rows, more confused along lateral parts. Humeral calli moderately raised. Macropterous. Prosternum with posteriorly open procoxal cavities and large intercoxal prosternal process. Mesosternum very short. First abdominal sternite (Fig. 7 B) slightly longer than fifth; its central area bordered by ridges is wide, subovate. Anterior and middle legs without modifications. Posterior femora greatly swollen (WF / LF = 0.67), 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 of hind tibiae simple, lanceolate; first metatarsomere moderately enlarged. Median lobe of the aedeagus (LAED = 1.24 mm; LE / LAED = 2.40) (Fig. 7 C) with smooth surface; widest at the basal opening in ventral view, slightly curved inwardly; distal part distinctly thinner, sides convergent towards the rounded apex; in lateral view median lobe weakly curved, thicker in the central third; dorsal ligula formed by a central lobe, medially incised, and two lateral lobes; its base at apical ~ 1 / 3.
Variability.
Female paratype very similar in shape and color to the holotype. LE = 3.40 mm; WE = 3.16 mm; LP = 1.00 mm; WP = 2.12 mm; LAN = 1.72 mm; LSPC = 0.34 mm; LB = 3.60 mm; LE / LP = 3.40; WE / WP = 1.49; WP / LP = 2.12; WE / LE = 0.93; LAN / LB = 0.48; LE / LSPC = 10.00. First metatarsomere in female not enlarged. Spermatheca (Fig. 7 D) apparently wrinkled on most surface; basal part pyriform; collum short; distal part moderately elongate, apically truncate; ductus subapically inserted, quite thickset, moderately elongate, uncoiled.
Etymology.
The specific epithet refers to the collector of the new species: Jean Vadon (1904–1970) from France, one of the fathers of the entomological research in Madagascar.
Distribution.
Northern-eastern Madagascar (Toamasina province; Fig. 8 A). Malagasy chorotype.
Ecological notes.
Host plant unknown. The two known occurrence localities fall within areas characterized by the vegetation division ‘ Malagasy Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen Forest’.
description: Published as part of Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia & D'Alessandro, Paola, 2024, Argopistes Motschulsky from Madagascar with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), pp. 303-327 in ZooKeys 1202 on pages 303-327, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.122977