Neuraphes (Paraphes) syunikus MEYBOHM, 2019

Assing, Volker & Schülke, Michael, 2019, The Staphylinidae of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Coleoptera), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 69 (1), pp. 91-173 : 162-163

Neuraphes (Paraphes) syunikus MEYBOHM spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2972F28B-0968-4810-B9F5-471E93F97F43

( Figs 63–65 )

Type material: Holotype: “ ARMENIA [27] – WSW Kapan , W Kajaran, 39°09'22"N, 46°06'13"E, 2050 m, mixed forest, 10.VII.2018, V. Assing / Neuraphes syunikus m. Meybohm det 2018 / Holotypus ” (cMey) . Paratypes: 9: same data as holotype (cMey); 4 : same data as holotype, but leg. Schülke (cSch); 1, 1: “ARME- NIA [AR18-27a] WSW Kapan , W Kajaran, 39°09'22"N, 46°06'13"E, 2050 m, mixed decid. forest, litter/grass roots sifted, 13.VII.2018, leg. M. Schülke ” (cSch); 1: “ARME- NIA [28] – ca. 30 km W Kapan, 39°15'13"N, 46°04'16"E, 2040 m, forest margin, 11.VII.2018, V. Assing ” (cMey); 1: “ ARMENIA [41a] – pass N Goris, 39°35'34"N, 46°19'29"E, 1900 m, small stream valleys, 10.VII.2017, V. Assing ” (cMey) .

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective derived from Syunik, the name of the province where the type specimens were found.

Description: External characters as in N. gomarantsus , except as follows:

Body length 1.50–1.57 mm. Body slightly bicoloured: head and pronotum reddish-brown, glossy; elytra darker, brown or black. Male habitus as in Fig. 63 .

Head length 0.25 mm, width 0.28 mm; temples moderately pronounced.

Female antenna 0.75–0.79 mm long, antennomeres I 1.8 times as long as broad, II distinctly narrower and slightly shorter than I, 1.8 times as long as broad, III and IV distinctly narrower and much shorter than II, 1.3 times as long as broad; V as long as III and IV, but slightly broader, 1.2 times as long as broad, VI as broad as V but shorter, as broad as long, VII much larger than VI, as broad as long, VIII–X (measured without apical conical part) each as long as III, VIII much broader than VII, 1.5 times as broad as long, IX broader than VIII, 1.8 times as broad as long, X broader than IX, twice as broad as long, XII as long as, or slightly shorter than IX–X combined. Male antenna 0.82 mm long, distinctly longer and more slender than in most females.

Pronotum 0.45 mm long and 0.36 mm broad; base with a transverse groove ending laterally in a distinct pit.

Elytra 0.94 mm long and 0.62 mm broad; apices of elytra slightly oblique; setae suberect, about as long as antennomere II.

: elytra ( Fig. 64 ) subapically near suture with distinct longitudinal elevation, this elevation posteriorly with a large circular pit separated from apical margin of elytra and from suture by half its diameter; diameter of this pit equal to width of antennomere VII; anterior margin of this impression with dense, very short and straight setae; elytral apices each with an obtuse erect tooth and with conspicuous long setae directed posteriad.

Aedeagus 0.28 mm long and 0.12 mm broad, shaped as in Fig. 65 ; vestigial parameres distinct, reaching middle of median lobe; large sclerites bent ventrad apically; basal lobes of distal sclerite large, apical lobes small.

Comparative notes: Neuraphes syunikus and N. gomarantsus clearly differ in body size, coloration, and particularly in the modifications of the male elytra. Regarding the latter, N. syunikus is most similar to N. caudatus REITTER, 1896 .

Distribution and natural history: The genus is represented in the Caucasus region (including North Turkey) by numerous described and undescribed species, most of which have restricted distributions and are confined to higher altitudes. The two species described above were collected at elevations between 1900 and 2190 m and may be endemic to South Armenia.

The specimens were sifted from leaf litter, debris, and grass roots in various types of forest and in montane meadows.

3.6.8 Paederinae (by VOLKER ASSING)

Figures

Figs 57–65:Euconnus longilaminatus(57), E. tavushus (58), E. karabakhus (59), Neuraphes gomarantsus (60–62), andN. syunikus