Anaulacaspis seclusa (FAGEL, 1969)

(Figs 108–120, Map 6)

Melagria seclusa FAGEL, 1969: 21 f.

Falagria (Melagria) klapperichi COIFFAIT, 1982: 88 f.; syn. n.

Type material examined: M. seclusa: Holotype ♂: “ Turkmenistan, Baïram-Ali, 11–24.V.1959 / G. Fagel det., seclusa n. sp. ( Melagria) / R.I.Sc.N.B., I. G. 24885 / Type / Falagria seclusa Fagel, det. R. Pace 1985 / Anaulacaspis seclusa (Fagel), det. V. Assing 2016” (IRSNB) . Paratypes: 1 ♀: same data as holotype (IRSNB); 1 ♂ [teneral]: “ Turkmenistan, Repetek, 8–10.V.1952 / R.I.Sc. N.B., I. G. 248851 / G. Fagel det., seclusa n. sp. ( Melagria) / Paratype / Falagria seclusa Fagel, det. R. Pace 1985” (IRSNB) ; 1 ♂: “ Persia merid., 1862–63, Coll. P. Doria / Coll. et det. A. Fauvel, Falagria naevula Er., R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.4797 / G. Fagel det. 1968, Falagria seclusa n. sp. / Paratype / Falagria seclusa Fagel, det. R. Pace 1985” (IRSNB) .

F. klapperichi: Holotype ♂: “♂ / 14.1.53, S-Afghanistan / J. Klapperich, Scham - Schir - Ror, 950 m, b. Kandahar / Falagria klapperichi nov. spec. / Typus Falagria klapperichi O. Scheerpeltz / Falagria klapperichi H. Coiffait 1981 / Holotypus / Museum Koenig Bonn / Anaulacaspis seclusa (Fagel), det. V. Assing 2016” (ZFMK) . Paratypes: 1 ♀: “ Allotypus / Typus Falagria klapperichi O. Scheerpeltz / ♀ / 14.1.53, S-Afghanistan / J. Klapperich, Scham - Schir - Ror, 950 m, b. Kandahar / H. Coiffait det. 1981 / Museum Koenig Bonn” (ZFMK); 1 ♀: “♀ / 14.1.53, S-Afghanistan / J. Klapperich, Scham - Schir - Ror, 950 m, b. Kandahar / Cotypus Falagria Klapperichi O. Scheerpeltz / Falagria Klapperichi H. Coiffait 1981 / Museum Koenig Bonn ” (MNHNP) .

Comment: The original description is based on a male holotype and a male paratype from “ Turkmenistan: Baïram-Ali”, a female paratype from “ Turkmenistan: Repetek”, and a male paratype from “ Persia merid.” (FAGEL 1969). Falagria klapperichi was described based on a male holotype and two female paratypes from “Sud Afghanistan, Scham-Schir-Ror près Kandahar, 950 m, 14-I-53, J. Klapperich leg.” (COIFFAIT 1982). An examination of the type specimens of both names revealed that they are conspecific. The aedeagus of the holotype (Figs 115–116) is at the low end of the size range, but otherwise no characters were observed suggesting that A. klapperichi should represent a distinct species. Hence the synonymy proposed above.

Additional material examined: Armenia: 1 ♀ [identification doubtful], Ecmiadzin, 9.III.1916, leg. Eichler (NHMW) .

Iran: Azarbayjan-e Gharbi: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, N Takab, 3 km NE Takht-e-Soleyman, 36°38'N, 47°14'E, 2270 m, 8.IX.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss) . Kordestan: 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 27 km SW Saqqez, 2 km SW Mir Deh, 36°08'N, 46°03'E, 1600 m, 3.IX.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss); 1 ♂, road Sanandaj – Divandarreh, 21 km S Divandarreh, 35°46'N, 47°05'E, 1890 m, 6.IX.2008, leg. Frisch & Serri (cAss) . Qazvin: 1 ♀, Ab Garm, 35°48'N, 49°23'E, 1500 m, 21.VI.2004, leg. Frisch (MNB) . Golestan: 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ [1 ♂ teneral], Golestan National Park, Tang Rah, 37°24'N, 55°47'E, 490 m, 4.VI.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss) .

North Khorasan: 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ [partly teneral], road Shirvan – Quchan, 24 km SSW Faruj, Garmab, 37°03'N, 58°07'E, 1710 m, 1.VI.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss) . Razavi Khorasan: 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ [1 ♂, 1 ♀ teneral], 20 km NW Torbat-e, Heydariyeh, Senobar, 35°26'N, 59°06'E, 1730 m, 29.V.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss) . Semnan: 1 ♂, Firuzkuh–Semnan, 27 km NW Semnan, Aftar, 35°34'N, 53°09'E, 1580 m, 21.V.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB) . Ilam: 1 ♀, Sarableh – Kuhdasht road, NW Sarneh, 33°41'N, 47°04'E, 890 m, 17.X.2011, leg. Frisch (cAss) . Lorestan: 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 35 km E Kuhdasht, Kashkan, 33°35'N, 47°53'E, 1010 m, 17.X.2011, leg. Frisch (MNB, cAss). Chahar Mahal-oBakhtiyari: 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, Izeh–Lordegan, 7 km SW Manj, 31°34'N, 50°34'E, 1250 m, 20.X.2011, leg. Frisch (MNB, cAss) . Kerman: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Rayen–Darb Behesht, 2 km W Goruh, 29°21'N, 57°21'E, 2700 m, 28.V.2010, leg. Frisch (MNB, cAss); 1 ♀ [teneral], Darb Behesht– Jiroft, 50 km N Jiroft, 10 km N Delfard Goruh, 29°04'N, 57°33'E, 2650 m, 28.V.2010, leg. Frisch (MNB); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Banan mountains, pass Mahan–Sirch, 30°12'N, 57°24'E, 2800 m, 20.V.2010, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB); 30 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀ [partly teneral], Kuhpaye, 30°29'N, 57°19'E, 1800 m, 29.IV.2007, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss); 1 ♂, Keyber mountains, Khabr, 28°49'N, 56°20'E, 2060 m, 21.IV.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (cAss); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Anar – Shahr-e-Babak road, Javazm, 30°31'N, 55°02'E, 2180 m, 18.V.2010, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB, cAss); 1 ♂, pass Mahan – Sirch, 30°12'N, 57°24'E, 2800 m, 20.V.2010, leg. Frisch & Serri (cAss); 1 ♀, Darb Behesht – Jiroft, 50 km N Jiroft, 10 km N Delfard Goruh, 29°04'N, 57°33'E, 2650 m, 28.V.2010, leg. Frisch & Serri (cAss) . Fars: 1 ♀, road Estahban–Darab, 23 km NW Darab, 28°53'N, 54°24'E, 24.IV.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB) . Hormozgan: 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, W Hajiabad, Dar Agah, 28°22'N, 55°43'E, 1110 m, 22.IV.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB); 1 ♀ [slightly teneral], 9 km SW Hajiabad, 28°15'N, 55°51'E, 840 m, 22.IV.2006, leg. Frisch & Serri (MNB) . Sistan va Baluchestan: 1 ♀, Iranshar [27°12'N, 60°41'E], 800 m, 11.–21.V.1954, leg. Richter & Schäuffele (NHMW). Locality not specified or not identified:1 ♀, “ Persien ” (NHMW) .

Afghanistan: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Kandahar, W Kandahar, 31°37'N, 65°36'E [sic], 31.VII.1975, leg. Senglet (cAss) .

Turkmenistan: 1 ♂, Kov-Ata, 110 km NW Ashchabad, 10.V.1989, leg. Wrase (cAss) .

Redescription: Body length 2.1–2.9 mm; length of forebody 1.1–1.4 mm. Tergite VIII as in Figs 108, 113, 119. Highly similar to A. desertorum, except as follows: Pronotum on average more slender and with less pronounced sexual dimorphism; infuscate mediolateral spot of elytra on average less extensive.

♂: pronotum with shallower and less extensive median impression; posterior margin of sternite VIII (Figs 109, 114) obtusely pointed in the middle; median lobe of aedeagus (Figs 110–111, 115–118) 0.32–0.38 mm long; ventral process apically more slender in lateral view.

♀: posterior margin of sternite VIII (Figs 112, 120) distinctly concave in the middle.

Intraspecific variation: The coloration is subject to pronounced intraspecific variation. In dark-coloured specimens, the body is practically completely black, except for the yellowish posterior margin of the elytra and the brownish humeral angles and suture, and the legs and the basal antennomeres are brown to darkbrown. Moreover, the aedeagus is quite variable in size and shape: the ventral process may be more or less strongly curved and more or less slender in lateral view (Figs 110–111, 115–118).

Distribution and natural history: Male-based records are currently known from Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan (Map 6). The altitudes range from 490 to 2800 m. Teneral specimens were collected in April, May, and June.