Blattochaeta brankojalzici D. Čeplík, Lakota & J. Čeplík, 2021

Čeplík, Dávid, Lakota, Ján & Čeplík, Jaroslav, 2021, Two new species of the genus Blattochaeta Reitter, 1910 (Insecta, Coleoptera Leiodidae, Cholevinae, Leptodirini) from Montenegro, Zootaxa 4969 (1), pp. 86-100 : 87-92

Blattochaeta brankojalzici D. Čeplík, Lakota & J. Čeplík , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–4 , 11a–11b )

Material studied. Holotype, ♂: two labels: MONTENEGRO „ Montenegro , Sinjajevina Mts. , Njegovuđa village , Rudanca, Blažova pećina cave, coordinates 43°04‘26.3“N, 19°21‘43.1“E (WGS 84), 27.05.2015, D. Čeplík, J. Lakota, G. Dunay & J. Čeplík lgt.“ (white printed); „ HOLOTYPE Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov., D. Čeplík, Lakota & J. Čeplík det., 2021“ (red printed), ( CNHM) . Paratypes, 2 ♀♀: same data as for the holotype but collected 27.05.2015 – 14.05.2016 by traps ( CDC, CJL) . Paratypes are labelled with red printed labels „ PARATYPE Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov., D. Čeplík, Lakota & J. Čeplík det., 2021“ .

Description. Body medium–sized, bathyscioid, elliptically elongate, convex, weakly pigmented, with fine pubescence and punctures, colour from yellowish–brown to reddish–brown ( Fig. 1 – holotype slightly immature). Body length 4.55 mm in male, 4.68–5.00 mm in females. L: 4.05–4.40 mm. Head approximately as long as wide or slightly longer than wide (due to the measuring technique of the head capable of being retracted), HL: 0.74 mm, HW: 0.74 mm, eyes completely absent, with posterior neck region and genae more or less glabrous. Transverse occipital crest present but weakly–defined. Clypeus subhexagonal, clypeofrontal suture distinct, frontoclypeus densely setose, labrum densely setose. Mandibles short, robust, with proximal and subapical incisors and one or two small teeth between. Maxillary ultimate palpomere conical, apically pointed, slender and much shorter than the thick penultimate palpomere. Antennae (AL: 2.27–2.34 mm), finely pubescent ( Figs 2a–2b ), inserted in the middle of the median third of the head. Pedicel approximately 1.77 times longer than scape. Antennomere 8 as long as wide (slightly longer than wide in male L/W: 1.10 and slightly wider than long in females L/W: 0.91). Relative length of antennomeres (male): (1) 0.17, (2) 0.31, (3) 0.17, (4) 0.16, (5) 0.18, (6) 0.16, (7) 0.26, (8) 0.11, (9) 0.22, (10) 0.23 and (11) 0.37. Relative width of antennomeres (male): (1) 0.08, (2) 0.08, (3) 0.07, (4) 0.07, (5) 0.08, (6) 0.09, (7) 0.13, (8) 0.10, (9) 0.13, (10) 0.14 and (11) 0.14. Antennomere length/width ratios (male): (1) 2.12, (2) 3.87, (3) 2.42, (4) 2.28, (5) 2.25, (6) 1.77, (7) 2.00, (8) 1.10, (9) 1.69, (10) 1.64 and (11) 2.64. Relative length of antennomeres (female): (1) 0.18, (2) 0.31, (3) 0.19, (4) 0.15, (5) 0.17, (6) 0.17, (7) 0.26, (8) 0.11, (9) 0.21, (10) 0.19 and (11) 0.33. Relative width of antennomeres (female): (1) 0.10, (2) 0.11, (3) 0.06, (4) 0.07, (5) 0.08, (6) 0.11, (7) 0.14, (8) 0.12, (9) 0.16, (10) 0.18 and (11) 0.15. Antennomere length/width ratios (female): (1) 1.80, (2) 2.81, (3) 3.16, (4) 2.14, (5) 2.12, (6) 1.54, (7) 1.85, (8) 0.91, (9) 1.31, (10) 1.05 and (11) 2.20.

Pronotum trapezoidal, strongly convex, wider than long, widest at base (PL/PW: 0.55–0.62), lateral edges evenly rounded, at posterior margin widest, slightly protruding backwards, narrower than elytra. PL: 1.14–1.20 mm. PW: 1.82–2.14 mm. Dorsal surface strongly pubescent. Prosternal ventral surface sparsely pubescent.

Elytra elongately oval, pubescent, with maximum width at mid–length, longitudinal parasutural striae absent. EL: 2.91–3.20 mm. EW: 2.00– 2.28 mm. EL/EW: 1.40–1.45. Punctation dense, consisting of approximately 18–20 punctures across the mid–width of each elytron, weak punctuation and pubescence on apical part. Scutellum widely triangular and pubescent.

Venter. Mesoventral and metaventral surface sparsely pubescent. Mesocoxal cavities separated, mesoventral process well–developed. Metacoxae separated by bifid posterior metaventral process. Mesoventral carina ( Figs 11a– 11b ) developed, prolonged posteriorly, not extended over metaventrite, with backwardly oriented setae. Sternites pubescent with short, fine setae, with reticulate and leathery aspect.

Protarsi with four slender, undilated segments in both sexes, first protarsomere slightly longer than second and third, fourth longest. Mesotarsi and metatarsi pentamerous in both sexes. Claws wide and well–developed, empodium with one bifurcate seta. Protibiae armed with spines, one very distinct external subapical spine, internal subapical side with one shorter and one longer subapical multi–toothed spurs. Mesotibiae and metatibiae armed with lateral spines, with apical crown of spines (two external spines distinctly longer) of unequal length ( Gnaspini et al. 2020) and two internal apical multi–toothed spurs.

Genitalia. Aedeagus ( Fig. 3 ) robust, elongate, sclerotised. Inner sac of median lobe elongate and tubular with developed chitinized structures along its length. Aedeagus 1.37 mm long, median lobe maximum width 0.42 mm, basal lamina maximum width 0.59 mm. Median lobe from dorsal aspect sub–parallel, then slightly widened and distinctly narrowed towards rounded apex which is widely beak–shaped and longer than parameres. Parameres elongate, thin, arcuate, curved inward apically, shorter than median lobe, slightly curved before apex club which bears one apical and two lateral short setae. Basal lamina of the median lobe with large posterior expansion. Inner sac of aedeagus (endophallus) consists of apical, medial and basal sections: comparatively short and weakly sclerotized apical reinforcement bands, more sclerotized on its inner margins, medially positioned curved sclerotized structures, feather–like structures, connection nodules and basal phanera; ejaculatory duct is illustrated. Spermatheca with basal, narrow medial and apical regions ( Fig. 4 ). Female ventrite VIII densely pubescent with anterior expansion stout. Each style with four setae, stylus cylindrical, with one long seta.

Sexual dimorphism: Female slightly larger than male.Antennal length 2.34 mm in male and 2.27 mm in females. Antennomere 8, ratio L/W: 1.10 in male and 0.91 in females. Shape of mesoventral carina variable.

Differential diagnosis and remarks. Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov. differs from other species by antennomere 8 approximately as long as wide (slightly longer than wide in male L/W: 1.10 and slightly wider than long in females L/W: 0.91), versus antennomere 8 longer than wide (L/W: 1.22 in males, 1.09 in females, Blattochaeta peterhlavaci sp. nov.), or antennomere 8 much longer than wide (L/W: 1.72 in male, Blattochaeta remyi ; L/W: 1.66 in male, Blattochaeta montenegrina ; L/W: 1.80–2.02, Blattochaeta marianii kusijanovici ; L/W: 1.50–2.50, studied Blattochaeta marianii ssps.; L/W: approximately 2.00, Blattochaeta matchai , according Jeannel, 1924). Related available species of the genus can be separated from Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov. further as follows:

– Blattochaeta peterhlavaci sp. nov. by: denser punctation on elytra, which is approximately 20–25 punctures across the mid–width of each elytron (versus approximately 18–20 punctures in Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov.); basal lamina maximum width 0.49 mm (versus basal lamina maximum width 0.59 in Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov.); spermatheca with only slightly narrow medial region (versus spermatheca with distinctly narrow medial region in Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov.); other differences in aedeagi and spermathecae of both species are shown in the accompanying figures.

– Blattochaeta remyi by: total body length approximately 4.30 mm in male, length approximately 3.80 mm in male (versus total body length 4.55–5.00 mm, length 4.05–4.40 mm in new species); EW: 1.94 mm in male (versus EW: 2.00– 2.28 mm in new species); aedeagus length 1.10 mm (versus aedeagus length 1.37 mm in new species); basal lamina maximum width 0.41 mm (versus basal lamina maximum width 0.59 mm in new species); median lobe maximum width 0.34 mm (versus median lobe maximum width 0.42 mm in new species); parameres slightly longer than median lobe (versus parameres shorter than median lobe in new species); other differences in aedeagi of both species are shown in the accompanying figures.

– Blattochaeta montenegrina by: antennal length 2.85 mm in male (versus antennal length 2.27–2.34 mm in new species); EW: 2.34 in male (versus EW: 2.00– 2.28 mm in new species); sparse punctation on elytra, which is approximately 15 punctures across the mid–width of each elytron (versus approximately 18–20 punctures in new species); other differences in aedeagi of both species are shown in the accompanying figures.

– Blattochaeta marianii ssps. and B. matchai by: antennal length 2.50–3.20 mm (versus antennal length 2.27– 2.34 mm in new species); basal lamina maximum width 0.46–0.50 mm (versus basal lamina maximum width 0.59 mm in new species); total body length 4.85–5.80 mm, length 4.20–5.00 mm (versus total body length 4.55–5.00 mm, length 4.05–4.40 mm in new species); EW: 2.30–2.70 mm (versus EW: 2.00– 2.28 mm in new species).

Etymology. Dedicated to our dear friend biospeleologist Branko Jalžić (Zagreb, Croatia), Croatiaʼs authority on speleobiology, speleology and speleodiving.

Distribution and natural history. The new species is known only from the type locality, the Blažova pećina cave ( Fig. 15 ), coordinates 43°04‘26.3“N, 19°21‘43.1“E (WGS 84), situated at the elevation of 1451 m a.s.l., and located near the villages Njegovuđa and Rudanca in northern Montenegro, Sinjajevina Mts. The holotype was found on the cave wall, about one meter above surface and approximately 50 meters from the cave entrance. Two aditional females were attracted to the pitfall trap. The bait used was a combination of rotten fish and blue cheese, with a saturated solution of vinegar and salt as preservative. Topography of the Blažova pećina cave was provided in Njunjić et al. 2015.

Associated subterranean Coleoptera from the type locality: Anthroherpon sinjajevina Njunjić et al. 2015 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov., habitus, dorsal aspect, scale bar 1.00 mm.

FIGURES 2–5. Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov., 2: antennae, male antenna (2a), female antenna (2b), dorsal aspect, scale bar 0.35 mm; 3: aedeagus, dorsal aspect, scale bar 1.37 mm; 4: spermatheca, dorsal aspect, scale bar 0.15 mm. FIGURE 5. Blattochaeta peterhlavaci sp. nov., spermatheca, dorsal aspect, scale bar 0.18 mm.

FIGURES 10, 12. Blattochaeta peterhlavaci sp. nov., 10: head, dorsal aspect, scale bar 0.74 mm; 12: mesoventral carina, male (12a), right lateral aspect, scale bar 0.23 mm, female (12b), right lateral aspect, scale bar 0.22 mm. FIGURE 11. Blattochaeta brankojalzici sp. nov., mesoventral carina, male (11a), right lateral aspect, scale bar 0.25 mm, female (11b), right lateral aspect, scale bar 0.26 mm.

FIGURES 15–16. 15: Blažova pećina cave, the entrance; 16: Distribution of the genus Blattochaeta, according numbers in the catalogue.