Delenda rhodopensis, Bekchiev, Rostislav & Brachat, Volker, 2014

Bekchiev, Rostislav & Brachat, Volker, 2014, Revision of the genus Delenda Croissandeau, 1891 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Zootaxa 3765 (6), pp. 583-592 : 589

Delenda rhodopensis sp. n.

( Figs. 3 c, 6c, 7b, 8)

Delenda carthago Croissandeau : Bekchiev, 2011: 268 (faunistic record)

Material examined. (17 ♂♂, 14♀♀). Holotype: 1 ♂, Bulgaria, East Rhodopes, Bial Gradets village, N41.41905 E25.90728, 27.10.2013, leg. R. Bekchiev, ( NMNHS); Paratypes: (8 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀) Bulgaria, East Rhodopes, Bial Gradets village, N41.41905 E25.90728, 31.03.2012, leg. R. Bekchiev; (1 ♀) same data but on 11.04.2013; (8 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀) same data but on 27.10.2013; (1 ♀) Bulgaria, East Rhodopes, Plevun village, N41.47928 E26.00690, 0 3.05.2013, leg. R. Bekchiev ( MNHB, MNHN, NMNHS, PCPH, PCVB).

Description. Male, length 1.41–1.47 mm. Head slightly wider than long, HL 0.24–0.26 mm, HW 0.30–0.32 mm; eyes each composed of about 10–20 facets. Antennal length 0.46 – 0.50 mm. Labrum as in Fig. 3 c. Pronotum about as long as wide, PL 0.24–0.28 mm, PW 0.29–0.32 mm. Elytra wider than long, EL 0.20–0.26 mm, EW 0.36– 0.38 mm. Legs short, without any modifications. Abdomen with first visible tergite (IV) wider than long (0.44– 0.48/ 0.18–0.20 mm), second (V) — 0.50–0.52/ 0.20–0.21 mm, third (VI)—0.46–0.50/ 0.21–0.22 mm. Length of aedeagus ( Fig. 6 c) 0.28–0.30 mm, parameres with narrow base, parallel-sided, slender, and slightly curved in middle, apex rounded. Female. Similar to male: BL 1.47–1.50 mm, HL 0.20–0.22 mm, HW 0.28–0.32 mm, PL 0.24–0.30 mm, PW 0.30–0.32 mm, EL 0.24–0.28 mm, EW 0.30–0.38 mm.

Biology. All specimens were collected by sifting leaf litter in xerophilous forests of Quercus sp., and Caprinus orientalis . ( Fig. 7 b).

Distribution. Bulgaria, East Rhodopes ( Fig. 8 ).

Etymology. The name is associated with the name of the Rhodopes Mountains, where all specimens were found.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Labrum of Delenda species (dorsal view, scale — 0.1 mm): a) D. carthago; b) D. frivaldszkyi; c) D. rhodopensis sp. n.

FIGURE 6. Aedeagi of Delenda species, lateral, right view (scale — 0.1 mm): a) D. carthago; b) D. frivaldszkyi; c) D. rhodopensis sp. n.

FIGURE 7. Habitats of Delenda: a) Bulgaria, Strandzha Mts., Marina reka River, Fagus forest with undergrowth of R. ponticum; b) Bulgaria, East Rhodopes, Bial Gradets Village, Caprinus bushes, type locality of D. rhodopensis sp. n.

FIGURE 8. Distribution of Delenda species: blue dots — D. carthago; green — D. frivaldszkyi; red — D. rhodopensis sp. n.