Steriphodon, Abeille de Perrin, 1895

Telnov, Dmitry, 2021, Redefinition of Steriphodon Abeille de Perrin, 1895 (Coleoptera: Anthicidae), with a new species description, checklist, and key to species, Zootaxa 5020 (1), pp. 141-165 : 163

Key to species of Steriphodon

No key to the Palaearctic and Afrotropical species of Steriphodon was previously available. The keys to the species from the Indian subcontinent ( Abdullah 1967a & b; 1968) are unreliable. Confident identification yet possible only for males, but both sexes remain unknown for several species of the genus.

1 Males without ventral median projection on morphological sternite III; dorsal pubescence generally appressed ( Figs 1–2 , 23–24 )........................................................................ 2 ( chobauti species group)

- Male sternite III provided with conspicuous ventral median projection; dorsal pubescence at least in part distinctly raised, suberect ( Figs 42–44 , 62 ) except in S. indicum ....................................... 5 ( abdominalis species group)

2 Distance between compound eyes across frons variably narrower than dorsal eye length............................. 3

- Distance between compound eyes across frons wider than dorsal eye length....................................... 4

3 Tarsal claws basally slightly appendiculate; ratio of elytral length to combined width across humeral area ~2.3–2.45; punctures of elytral disc coarser; anterior margin of compound eye situated at short distance from insertion of antenna; male terminalia and genitalia as in Figs 26–33..................................................................... S . bedeli

- Tarsal claws not appendiculate; ratio of elytral length to combined width across humeral area ~2.6–2.75; punctures of elytral disc comparatively less coarse; anterior margin of compound eye touches insertion of antenna; male terminalia and genitalia as in Figs 10–17 , 19–20................................................................. S . ottomerkli sp. nov.

4 Frons about 2–2.5x as wide as dorsal eye length; punctures distinctly annular and flat on dorsal forebody; elytra almost parallel, not narrowing laterally towards apex; compound eyes small; dorsum generally darker coloured, dorsal forebody contrastingly darker than elytra in some specimens; femora darker than tibiae and tarsi; male terminalia and genitalia as in Figs 34–41............................................................................................... S . chobauti

- Frons less than twice as wide as than dorsal eye length; punctures not or in part annular and moderately deep on dorsal forebody; elytra gradually narrowing towards apex; compound eyes large; dorsum generally paler brown, dorsal forebody not contrastingly darker than elytra; legs uniformly pale yellowish-brown; male terminalia and genitalia as in Figs 18 , 21–22............................................................................................ S . harenosus

5 Tarsal claws simple to toothed basally (basal tooth large); male median ventral median projection of morphological sternite III comparatively shorter, extending to sternite IV ( Figs 43 , 63–64 )................................................ 6

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Steriphodon ottomerkli sp. nov., holotype ♂. 1—Habitus, dorsal view; 2—ditto, lateral view; 3—Head, an- terodorsal view [not to scale].

FIGURES 23–25. External morphology of Steriphodon Abeille de Perrin, 1895. 23—S. bedeli (Abeille de Perrin, 1894), ♂ from Wadi Jizan Saudi Arabia, habitus, dorsal view; 24—25—S. chobauti (Abeille de Perrin, 1894), ♂ from Defilia, Morocco, habitus, dorsal view (24), head, dorsal view (25) [not to scale].

FIGURES 42–44. External morphology of Steriphodon doncasteri Abdullah, 1967, ♂ paratype. 42—Habitus, dorsal view; 43—ditto, lateral view (consider abdominal projection); 44—ditto, another ♂ paratype, habitus, dorsal view [not to scale].

FIGURES 60–64. External morphology of Steriphodon scoparius (Champion, 1916). 60—Paralectotype ♀, habitus, dorsal view; 61—ditto, head, dorsal view; 62—Lectotype ♂, head, dorsal view; 63—Lectotype ♂, abdomen bdomen, lateral view (consider abdominal projection); 64—ditto, ventral view (consider abdominal projection) [not to scale].

FIGURES 26–33. Male terminalia and genitalia of S. bedeli (Abeille de Perrin, 1894), ♂ from Wadi Jizan Saudi Arabia. 26—Tergite VII, dorsal view; 27—Tergite VIII, dorsal view; 28—Morphological sternite VII, ventral view; 29—Morphological sternite VIII, ventral view; 30—Spiculum gastrale; 31—Tegmen; 32—Median lobe; 33—ditto, apical portion, enlarged [not to scale].

FIGURES 10–13. Male terminalia of Steriphodon ottomerkli sp. nov., holotype. 10—Tergite VII, dorsal view; 11—Morpho- logical sternite VII, ventral view; 12—Tergite VIII, dorsal view with apical setation removed; 13— Morphological sternite VIII, ventral view with apical setation removed [not to scale].

FIGURES 14–18. Median lobe of Steriphodon Abeille de Perrin, 1895. 14—S. ottomerkli sp. nov., holotype; 15—ditto, apical half, enlarged; 16—ditto, apical one third, enlarged; 17—Median part (enlarged) with gonopore armature; 18—S. harenosus Telnov, 2016, specimen from 23 km NWN Bila’I, S Iran, apical one third, enlarged [not to scale].

FIGURES 19–22. Tegmen of Steriphodon Abeille de Perrin, 1895. 19—S. ottomerkli sp. nov., holotype; 20—ditto, apical por- tion, enlarged; 21—S. harenosus Telnov, 2016, specimen from 23 km NWN Bila’I, S Iran; 22—ditto, apical portion, enlarged [not to scale].

FIGURES 34–41. Male terminalia and genitalia of S. chobauti (Abeille de Perrin, 1894), ♂ from Defilia, Morocco. 34—Tergite VII, dorsal view; 35—Tergite VIII, dorsal view; 36—Morphological sternite VII, ventral view; 37—Morphological sternite VIII, ventral view; 38—Spiculum gastrale; 39—Tegmen; 40—Median lobe; 41—ditto, apical portion, enlarged [not to scale].