Lotharia

Faille, Arnaud, Ribera, Ignacio & Fresneda, Javier, 2016, On the genus Aphaobius Abeille de Perrin, 1878, with description of a new species from the mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) of Austria (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae: Leptodirini), Zootaxa 4169 (1) : -

The genus Lotharia

The species Lotharia angulicollis Mandl, 1944 , the only representative of the genus, was described based on a single female. It is rather enigmatic because of its small size, external unique morphology and exceptional rarity. The description of the male led to the conclusion that this genus is phylogenetically close to Aphaobius ( Perreau 2003) . The finding of another exemplar in the type locality allowed us to add this genus to the analyses, which confirmed its sister relationship with the genus Aphaobius . However, the inclusion of other species of Aphaobius , as well as Aphaobiella Pretner, 1949 and Pretneria Müller, 1931 , would be necessary to determine more precisely the phylogenetic position of the genus Lotharia .

Aphaobius plus Lotharia are part of a strongly supported clade including Leptodirini endemic to the Western Alps, from Brescia ( Italy) to Slovenia: Oryotus Miller, 1856 , Orostygia Müller, 1912 , Cansiliella Paoletti, 1972 and Pholeuonidius Jeannel, 1911 , the last one sister to the rest. Vailati (1998) identified as O. moczarskii Müller, 1912 specimens of Orostygia from Grotta Vecchia Diga ( Italy, Pordenone, Valcellina). Subsequently, Piva (2005) noted that these specimens should be ascribed to O. rossii Porro & Quaia, 1969 , the name that we have used here.

The discovery of a new species of Aphaobius within the distribution area of A. kraussi was unexpected. A careful examination of other specimens of Aphaobius collected in the area would be necessary, especially the populations of A. kraussi from the Kamnik –Savinja Alps ( Fig. 6 ), to determine more precisely if the new species has a wider distribution, and if it may be syntopic with A. kraussi in some localities.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Distribution map of the genus Aphaobius in Austria and Slovenia. 1. A. kraussi; 2. A. brevicornis; 3. A. mixanigi; 4. A. haraldi sp. n.