C Madagascar, Plateau Soaindrana, Andringitra-Ambalavao, 2090 m, 16.I.1958, leg. R. Paulian, ♀ holotype MNHN.

C Madagascar, Andringitra, Andohariana, 2000–2100 m, mission C.N.R.S., 1 ex. MNHN (det. Ardoin). – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, Ikoka, 1300–1400 m, 12.–13.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 11 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. ZSM. – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, 1300–1400 m, 14.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 11 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. TMSA, 5 ex. ZSM. – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, cote 1579, 1500–1600 m, 15.–18.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 11 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. HNHM, 5 ex. NMPC, 5 ex. ZSM. – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, 1700 m, 17.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 1 ex. SMNS.

Body length 2.7–4.0 mm (the holotype has a length of 4.0 mm and not of 5.0 mm as given by Ardoin 1961). Pronotum subquadrate, widest before the middle, with rounded anterior and posterior angles, surface slightly convex, with fine and sparse punctation, between punctation slightly shagreened. Elytra with punctural rows in striae, intervals convex, slightly shagreened and with an irregular row of tubercles, interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta. Aedeagus see Fig. 10.

Holotype male: E Madagascar, Fianaratsoa Prov., Ambohimahamasoa, 1300–1400 m, 21.–23.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, SMNS. – Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 20 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. HNHM, 5 ex. TMSA, 5 ex. ZSM. – E Madagascar, Ranomafana NP, Sahavondrona, 1150–1250 m, 3.–4.II.1995, leg. J. Janák, 13 ex. SMNS, 5 ex. NMPC, 5 ex. ZSM. – E Madagascar, Ranomafana NP, Vohiparara, 1100–1200 m, 21.–24.I.1993, leg. J. Janák, 2 ex. SMNS. – E Madagascar, Fianaratsoa Prov., Ranomafana, 29.XI.–2.XII.1995, leg. I. Jeniš, 1 ex. SMNS. – E Madagascar, Maromiza, Andasibe (Périnet), 1000–1200 m, 9.II.1993, leg. J. Janák, 1 ex. SMNS. – E Madagascar, Maromiza, Andasibe (Périnet), 930–1000 m, 7.–10.I.1995, leg. J. Janák, 5 ex. SMNS. – E Madagascar, Maromiza, Andasibe (Périnet), 7.XI.1998, leg. R. Müller, 1 ex. TMSA.

Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. is similar to Hovadelium discoidale Ardoin, 1961, but lacks the striking deep groove ventral of the eyes. Both can be separated also by the shape of the pronotum widest behind the middle in Hovadelium discoidale (Fig. 5), but widest in the middle in Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. (Fig. 3), and by the anterior angles of the pronotum, which are distinctly marked in Hovadelium discoidale, and completely rounded in Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. The elytral punctural rows are identical in both species, but the disc of the elytra is flattened in Hovadelium discoidale, whereas in Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. the elytra are more convex. See also under Hovadelium bremeri sp. n. and key below.

Body length 3.3–4.7 mm, unicoloured dark brown. Eyes flat, not prominent; without a deep groove ventral of the eyes. Head with deep clypeal suture and two pairs of long setae as characteristic for the genus; frons shining and without punctures. Shape of the antennomeres see Fig. 3. Pronotum subquadrate, widest in the middle, anterior and posterior angles completely rounded, anterior and posterior margin finely bordered, lateral margins with broader border, anterior margin not excavated; surface slightly convex, with fine and sparse punctation, punctures only weakly impressed, surface between punctation shining and only slightly shagreened; propleura shining, without punctation. Elytra with nine punctural rows in distinct striae, these punctures small and elongate, only slightly broader than striae, without setae; intervals convex, shining and without punctures nor tubercles, interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta. Ventrites shining, ventrites 1–4 in the middle with a pair of longer setae, last ventrite in both sexes unbordered. Femora and tibiae in both sexes without teeth or other modifications. In males protarsi only slightly dilatated, without other external differences. Aedeagus see Fig. 11.

Named in honour of Jean Paul Ardoin (1918–1978), former pharmacist in Arcachon (France), author of the Malagasy genera of Laenini and specialist of other tenebrionids from Africa and Madagascar.

Holotype male: E Madagascar, 30 km ESE Betroka, Vohitrosa Forest, 1400–1500 m, 17.–18.XII.1998, leg. J. Janák, SMNS. – Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 7 ex. SMNS, 2 ex. ZSM.

Hovadelium bremeri sp. n. and Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. are similar, both share the general body shape, the lacking of a groove ventral of the eyes, the shining surface of pronotum and elytra, the elytral interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta, and the lacking tubercles on the elytral intervals. In Hovadelium bremeri sp. n., the body length is somewhat shorter in the average, the pronotum is narrower towards base, the pronotal punctation is larger and denser, the anterior pronotal margin is unbordered in the middle, the punctures of the elytral rows are larger, and the apicale of the aedeagus is shorter. See also under Hovadelium ardoini sp. n. and key below.

Body length 2.8–3.5 mm, unicoloured dark brown. Eyes flat, not prominent; without a deep groove ventral of the eyes. Head with deep clypeal suture and two pairs of long setae as characteristic for the genus; frons shining and without punctures. Shape of the antennomeres see Fig. 4. Pronotum subquadrate, widest in the middle, anterior and posterior angles completely rounded, anterior margin unbordered in the middle, posterior margin finely bordered, lateral margins with broader border, anterior margin not excavated; surface slightly convex, with irregular larger, but not confluent punctation, punctures only weakly impressed, surface between punctation shining; propleura shining, without punctation. Elytra with nine punctural rows in weak striae, these punctures large and broader than striae, without setae; intervals convex, shining and without punctures nor tubercles, interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta. Ventrites shining, ventrites 1–4 in the middle with a pair of longer setae, last ventrite in both sexes unbordered. Femora and tibiae in both sexes without teeth or other modifications. In males protarsi only slightly dilatated, without other external differences. Aedeagus see Fig. 12.

Named in honour of Prof. Dr. H. J. Bremer (Osnabrück, Germany), who provided me with most of the newly collected specimens, and allowed to keep the larger part in SMNS.

“Madagascar” (without detailed data), collection Oberthuer, male holotype MNHN.

The type specimen has a quite unique character, namely the head with a deep groove ventral of the eyes (Fig. 5). Ardoin (1961) assumed that this might be a sexualdimorph character of males within the genus. However, in all the plenty herein presented males and females of other species of Hovadelium, such a groove is not present. Thus, this structure (of unknown biological function) is considered as not generic but just as specific for Hovadelium discoidale. Unfortunately, an exact type locality is unknown.

Body length 4.2 mm (not 5.0 mm as given by Ardoin 1961). Head with a deep groove ventral of the eyes (Fig. 5). Pronotum subquadrate, widest somewhat behind the middle, with marked anterior and rounded posterior angles, surface slightly convex, with fine and sparse punctation, between punctation slightly shagreened. Elytra with punctural rows in striae, intervals convex, shining and without tubercles, interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta. Aedeagus not examined herein (because of the fragility of the type).

None, not found in MNHN.

SE Madagascar, Plateau Andohahelo, SE Trafonaomby, 1770–1950 m.

SE Madagascar, 3 km NW Fort Dauphin, Pic St. Louis, 150–250 m, 19.II.2004, leg. P. Bulirsch, 6 ex. CRFL, 2 ex. SMNS. – E Madagascar, 38 km ESE Betroka, Kalambatrita Forest, 3 km SSE Ambaro, 1400 m, 29.XII.1998, leg. J. Janák, 2 ex. SMNS.

I hope not to fail in assigning the newly collected specimens to this species, described upon a single female. Distinct differences between the description and the new specimens do not exist, and the larger part of the new material originates from the surroundings of the type locality nearby Fort Dauphin.

Body length 4.0–6.0 mm (holotype 5.0 mm). Pronotum cordiform, anterior margin regularly excavated, widest before the middle, with rounded anterior and posterior angles, surface slightly convex, with fine and sparse punctation, between punctation distinctly shagreened. Elytra with punctural rows in striae, intervals convex, slightly shagreened and somewhat uneven (“petit granules peu saillants” in description), interval 7 at base near shoulders with a longer seta. Aedeagus see Fig. 13.

E Madagascar, Ambila Lemaitso (labelled as Ambila La Maintso), V.1990, leg. C. Raharimina, female holotype MZUF.

Body length 4.4 mm. Pronotum subquadrate, with slightly prominent anterior and with rounded posterior angles, surface slightly convex and with rough and partly confluent punctures. Elytra with rough irregular punctation without any separation in rows and intervals. Aedeagus unknown, only ♀ holotype known.

Holotype male: E Madagascar, Ranomafana NP, Vohiparara, 1100–1200 m, 21.–24.I.1993, leg. J. Janák, SMNS. – Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 3 ex. SMNS, 2 ex. ZSM. – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, 1600–1700 m, 17.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 1 ♀ SMNS. – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, 1500–1600 m, 15.–18.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 1 ♀ ZSM. – E Madagascar, Massiv Ambondrombe, 1300–1400 m, 14.III.1996, leg. J. Janák & P. Moravec, 1 ♀ SMNS.

To be recognized by the shape of the pronotum with spine-like posterior angles, by scattered and fine punctation of the pronotum, by only six elytral rows of punctures extinguished in the posterior and external part of elytra, and by the shape of the aedeagus. The two other known species of Mimolaena possess nearly rounded posterior angles of the pronotum, and the punctation on the pronotum is either fine and the elytra bear punctural rows (Mimolaena pauliani Ardoin, 1961), or the punctation on the pronotum is rough and dense and the elytra bear an dense irregular punctation not separated in rows and intervals (Mimolaena clarissae Ferrer, 1998). See also key below.

Body length 3.5–4.7 mm, unicoloured dark brown. Eyes (Fig. 8) not reduced, slightly prominent. Shape of the antennomeres see Fig. 8. Shape of pronotum see Fig. 8, disc with a few scattered punctures, most punctures bearing a longer erect seta; surface without any impressions, surface shining, lateral margins bordered, basal margin bordered and not bent downwards, posterior angles prominent spine-like, propleura unpunctured. Elytra (Fig. 8) with only six punctural rows without striae, these rows extinguishing in posterior and external part of elytra, punctures of rows of similar size as pronotal punctures, punctures of the elytral rows without setae, a few additional punctures apart from the rows laterally and distally on the elytra bear a longer erect seta, intervals shining without any punctures and setation, intervals flat. Ventrites shining, in males with fine punctation and short setation, in females nearly unpunctured and without setation, last ventrite in both sexes unbordered. Femora and tibiae in both sexes without teeth or other modifications. Aedeagus see Fig. 14.

Named in honor of J. Janák, one of the collectors of the type series and of other Malagasy Laenini.

C Madagascar, Plateau Soaindrana, Andringitra-Ambalavao, 2090 m, 16.I.1958, leg. R. Paulian, male holotype and 1 male paratype MNHN.

Body length 4.4–4.8 mm. Pronotum subquadrate, with rounded anterior and posterior angles, surface flat and with sparse and fine punctation. Elytra with distinct punctural rows without striae, size of the punctures diminishing laterally and apically. Aedeagus not examined herein (because of the fragility of the type). It is said (but not figured) in the description, that the apicale is short and acute at the tip, and the basale is long and bent.