Afropselaphus assingi BRACHAT spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A29A770B-1104-4BB0-BA7E-ADA1CB04D204

(Fig. 153)

Type material: Holotype ♂: “GR – Crete [7a] 1590 m, SW Chania, SE Omalos, 35°19'19"N, 23°55'46"E, sifted, 26.XII.2013, V. Assing & T. Forcke / Afropselaphus assingi spec. nov. ♂, det. Brachat 2.2019 / Holotypus” (cBra) . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀: “ N35°19'07 E23°54'46, GR Kreta, 1060 m, Omalos E, 23.3.2019, leg. Meybohm & Brachat (17)” (cBra) .

Etymology: This species is dedicated to Volker Assing, who first discovered it.

Description: Similar to A. doernfeldae, distinguished as follows: body length 1.65–1.75 mm. Coloration yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Head 0.36 mm long and 0.26 mm broad; frontal foveae closer, separated by a distance less than their diameter; concave impression between frontal foveae and posterior margin of head more deeply impressed along middle. Antenna slightly shorter, 0.89 mm long. Pronotum 0.29–0.30 mm long and 0.26–0.28 mm broad. Elytra 0.37–0.38 mm long and 0.56–0.58 mm broad.

♂: metaventrite weakly convex, posteriorly flattened and with fine median sulcus; sternite IV in anterior half with a shallow oval median impression; aedeagus (Fig. 153) slightly longer (length 0.34–0.36 mm), apico-medially narrowed and bent ventrad; parameres each with two apical setae; internal sac with a long sclerite, this sclerite bifid and apically bent laterad.

Comparative notes: Afropselaphus assingi is distinguished from other Cretan species of the genus by the shape of the metaventrite and by the internal structures of the aedeagus.

Distribution and natural history: This species is most likely endemic to the Lefka Ori, East Crete. The type specimens were sifted from litter under bushes at 1060 and 1590 m.