Study of Laemostenus species across Zagros and Central zone of Iran, with the description of seven new cavernicolous species and notes on subgenus Iranosphodrus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Sphodrini)
Author
Tahami, Mohadeseh Sadat
Author
Muilwijk, Jan
Author
Lohaj, Roman
Author
Sadeghi, Saber
text
Zootaxa
2017
2017-11-06
4344
1
115
136
journal article
31619
10.11646/zootaxa.4344.1.4
3c782ba4-ed7e-4064-a613-2c95aae16bbe
1175-5326
1042317
E87548A3-3CDF-43DA-A5F2-5BE87F8F1910
Laemostenus (Iranosphodrus) troglophilus
Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj
,
sp. nov.
(
Figs. 23
,
25
,
27, 29
,
31
)
Type material.
Holotype male, labelled: “Iran, Yazd, Tange Chenar, Nafas Cave;
28.viii.2014
; leg. M.S. Tahami, H. Entezari, M. Sheykh Rasti, Meshki”/
Laemostenus troglophilus
sp. nov.
Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj; 2016 (red label Holotype). Paratypes: one male and one female, the same data as holotype /
Laemostenus troglophilus
sp. nov.
Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj 2016 (red label Paratype). Holotype and one paratype deposited in ZM–CBSU, one paratype in cMU.
Diagnosis.
A medium sized, brachypterous
Laemostenus
sg.
Iranosphodrus
species. Upper side including legs and antennae dull black, female
paratype
with bluish shine on elytra. Pronotum and head shiny, with fine microsculpture, elytra matt, with distinct microsculpture (
Fig. 23
).
Description.
BL 15.8–16.0 (
holotype
) mm. Head narrow, parallel-sided, distinctly longer than wide (HL/HW: 1.1), with only posterior pair of supraorbital setae; frontal furrows short, but distinct; eyes flat, reduced (
0.5 mm
), shorter than temples (1.0 mm). Clypeus with two long setae; labrum with six setae. Antennae in
holotype
missing, antennae in
paratypes
rather short, reaching anterior eighth of elytral length, antennomere 3 without accessory pubescence except a few apical setae, antennomeres 4–11 pubescent. Mandibles short.
Pronotum cordiform, distinctly wider than head, as long as wide (PL/ PW: 1.0). Basal impressions short, sparsely punctuated. Lateral bead with superficial punctuation, two antero-lateral setae present, basolateral setae missing. Anterior angles prominent, at apex rounded, posterior angles almost rectangular.
Elytra ovate elongate, relatively broad (EL/EW: 1.6–1.7), with maximum width at apical third; disc with small antero-medial depression; base wider than pronotal base. Humeri moderately rounded, with a small tooth. Striae fine, with punctures, intervals flat. Scutellar striae present; scutellar setiferous punctures situated in striae 1. Umbilicate series consists of 18 setiferous punctures, more interrupted in middle; two setae at apex of stria 7.
FIGURES 26–29.
Aedeagus. Iin lateral view,
Laemostenus yazdensis
(26),
troglophilus
speleophilus
(27). In dorsal view,.
Laemostenus yazdensis
(28),
Laemostenus troglophilus
(29).
FIGURES 30–31.
Ovipositor.
Laemostenus yazdensis
(30),
Laemostenus troglophilus
(31).
Mesosternum with small teeth before mesocoxae, in male
paratype
reduced. Metepisternum longer than wide (
Fig. 25
). Abdominal sternites black, with superficial wrinkles and dense microsculpture.
Legs short. Meso- and metatibiae almost straight, not curved, with short ventral brush of setae near apex. Profemori without teeth at ventral sides. Protibiae with sparse, short hairs between cleansing apparatus and apical setae. Tarsi with decumbent pubescence at dorsal sides; claws with small teeth, male protarsi slightly dilated.
Aedeagus: (
Figs. 27, 29
) median lobe of aedeagus short (
1.93 mm
), slightly arcuate, regularly narrowing to the apex in lateral view; dorsal view, apex moderately rounded in dorsal view.
Ovipositor: as on
Fig. 31
.
Differential diagnosis.
L. (I.) troglophilus
sp. nov.
differs from
L. yazdensis
sp. nov.
by the presence of small mesosternal tooth, absence of tooth on profemori, by the shape of pronotum and metepisternum as well as median lobe of aedeagus. Both new species differs from
L. (I.) rudichae
by straight mesotibiae, more oval elytra, and more short and stout appendages.
Distribution and habitat.
So far known only from the twilight zone of the
type
locality, Nafas cave.
Etymology.
The name is taken from the Greek origin, “
trōglo
” means “cave”, and “
philus
” means “liking” or “attracted to”, generally means cave-lover.