Microhoria terminata (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842)

Kejval, Zbyněk & Chandler, Donald S., 2020, Generic revision of the Microhoriini with new species and synonymies from the Palaearctic Region (Coleoptera: Anthicidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 60 (1), pp. 95-154 : 130-132

Microhoria terminata species-group

Diagnosis. Mostly smaller, weakly sclerotized species, always with uniform elytral setation ( Figs 145–147 , 151–155 ); quite variable in shape of pronotum and distinctness of its latero-basal setation ( Figs 156–159 ). Mesoventrite with nearly completely bordered lateral margins, always lacking submedian carinae; setose fringe of mesepimera strongly reduced ( Fig. 24 ); submarginal setose impressions of metaventrite and abdominal sternum III weakly developed (mostly indistinct); all tibiae with paired terminal spurs; elytral apices in males distinctly modified, channel of gland forming short tubular process (absent in single species, see Remarks), interior of process with long cuticular projections ( Fig. 44 ). Aedeagus ( Figs 93–122 ): tegmen with narrowed apex, frequently hook- -like, sometimes additionally with slender conspicuous projection ( Figs 94 , 96, 97 , and 120) that is unknown in other groups; gonopore free.

Distribution. Predominantly an eastern Mediterranean group that is most speciose in Greece and the Middle East (especially Turkey), with a few western Mediterranean species occurring in Italy, Spain, and southern France; nearly absent in North Africa except Egypt; single species known from southern part of Arabian Peninsula ( M. sawda sp. nov.). Ranging as far east as Nepal and Tibet, e.g. Microhoria hingstoni (Blair, 1927).

Species included (91 spp.). Microhoria aguilari Bonadona, 1960, M. akbesiana ( Pic, 1896), M. anahita sp. nov., M. angelinii ( Degiovanni, 2012) comb. nov., M. angulapex Koch, 1935, M. aphaenops (Pic, 1902), M. arcuatipes ( Krekich-Strassoldo, 1931), M. armeniaca (Pic, 1899) comb. nov., M. aspelia (Truqui, 1855), M. bacillisternum sp. nov., M. basithorax ( Pic, 1941) comb. nov., M. boyadjeani ( Pic, 1904), M. breviuscula ( Desbrochers des Loges, 1875), M. caliginosa (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849), M. caspia ( Desbrochers des Loges, 1875), M. cerrutii Bucciarelli, 1976, M. chakouri (Pic, 1909), M. corallicollis ( Reitter, 1889), M. cyrtopyga Bonadona, 1952, M. degener (Baudi di Selve, 1881), M. delagrangei (Pic, 1892), M. depressa (LaFerté- Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov., M. duplex ( Nardi, 2004) comb. nov., M. edmondi ( Pic, 1893) comb. nov., M. emaciata ( Pic, 1896), M. faceta Bonadona, 1960, M. fergana sp. nov., M. feroni Bonadona, 1960 , M. finalis ( Telnov, 2003) comb. nov., M. fornicata ( Krekich-Strassoldo, 1931), M. funeraria ( Marseul, 1879), M. garavuti sp. nov., M. gibbipennis sp. nov., M. halophila sp. nov., M. gorgus (Truqui, 1855), M. hazara sp. nov., M. heracleana sp. nov., M. hindukushica Telnov, 2010, M. hingstoni, M. humerifer (Pic, 1902), M. impavida sp. nov., M. informipes ( Krekich-Strassoldo, 1931), M. inobscura ( Pic, 1908) stat. nov., M. ionica ( Pic, 1901), M. iscariotes (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849), M. kabulensis sp. nov., M. kaifensis ( Pic, 1896), M. kermanica sp. nov., M. lafertei (Truqui, 1855), M. latipennis (Pic, 1892), M. leptostemma (Kolenati, 1846), M. leuthneri (Pic, 1897), M. lividipes ( Desbrochers des Loges, 1875) comb. nov., M. loebli Uhmann, 1989, M. luristanica (Pic, 1911) comb. nov., M. miranda ( Krekich-Strassoldo, 1931), M. monodi Bonadona, 1977, M. nectarina (Panzer, 1794), M. nepticula Bonadona, 1964, M. nicolasi (Pic, 1919), M. oertzeni ( Pic, 1901), M. ottomana (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849) , M. ovata (Marseul, 1897) , M. pahlavi sp. nov., M. palicari (Laporte, 1840), M. paralleliceps (Reitter, 1890) comb. nov., M. persica sp. nov., M. petraea (Pic, 1902), M. pinicola ( Reitter, 1889) , M. plagifer ( Krekich-Strassoldo, 1931), M. quadraticeps ( Desbrochers des Loges, 1875), M. raveli (Pic, 1899), M. rosti ( Pic, 1906), M. rubriceps ( Pic, 1896), M. rufescens ( Pic, 1893), M. sawda sp. nov., M. schmiedeknechti (Pic, 1899), M. sidonia (Truqui, 1855), M. stettini (Pic, 1892), M. strejceki sp. nov., M. subcaerulea ( Pic, 1906) comb. nov., M. sydowi (Pic, 1936), M. syrensis (Pic, 1902), M. taurica ( Pic, 1904), M. tenebricosa ( Pic, 1896), M. terminata (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842) , M. truncatipennis (Pic, 1897) comb. nov., M. unicolor (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842), M. vespertina (Rosenhaur, 1856), M. viridipennis (Pic, 1899) comb. nov. and M. winkleri Telnov, 2004.

Remarks. This group holds all Microhoria species formerly placed in the subgenus Platyhoria and nearly all Asian Tenuicomus ( CHANDLER et al. 2008, the latter as Tenuicollis). One species, M. cyrtopyga, lacks the tubular process of the male elytral apices, but displays a different modification – rounded subapical gibbosities. Similar gibbosities are developed in M. gibbipennis sp. nov. and are coupled with tubular projections.

PIC (1941) described Anthicus magnini var. basithorax from Crete. It was treated as Anthicus basithorax by CHANDLER et al. (2004, 2008). Its new placement in Microhoria is based on examination of the syntypes of Anthicus magnini in Pic’s collection (MNHN), whose original description is unknown, with this name being therefore regarded as a nomen nudum ( CHANDLER et al. 2004).

Microhoria anahita Kejval , sp. nov.

( Figs 94 , 146 )

Type locality. Iran, Isfahan Province, 70 km NE of Nain, Anarak env. [33°18′40″N 53°41′54″E].

Type material. HOLOTYPE:, ‘ Iran, Isfahan Prov., 70 km NE of Nain, Anarak env., 5.v.1999, K. Orszulik lgt. [p]’ ( NMPC) . PARATYPES: 19

24 ♀♀, same data as holotype ( ZKDC, DCDC, KOOC, MZLU, NMPC); 5 2 ♀♀, ‘ Persia: Kerman.H.E.J.Briggs.B.M.1933-246.[p]’ ( BMNH); 1, same label, in addition: ‘A. nectarinus v. atriceps Pic det. Dr. R. F. Heberdey [p+h]’ ( BMNH); 1, same label, in addition: ‘nectarinus v. atriceps Pic [h]’ ( NHMW).

Description. Male (holotype). Body length 3.5 mm. Head largely brownish-black, base and neck reddish, pronotum reddish, elytra largely yellowish to pale reddish, with vaguely outlined dark markings ( Fig. 146 ); legs reddish, antennae largely reddish, terminal antennomeres darker, brownish.

Head elongate, 1.3 times as long as wide including eyes, nearly evenly rounded posteriorly; eyes mediumsized, only moderately convex. Surface glossy, minutely, moderately densely punctate; punctures distinctly spaced; setation short, subdecumbent. Antennae slightly enlarged in apical third; antennomeres X 1.4 times as long as wide, XI conspicuously elongate, 3.2 times as long as wide.

Pronotum 1.1 times as long as wide, somewhat unevenly rounded anteriorly, pronotal disc moderately convex, outline in dorsal view with lateral margins nearly straightly narrowing posteriorly. Surface glossy; setation and punctation as on head; latero-basal margins with some longer, more raised setae.

Elytra 1.9 times as long as wide; humeri distinctly protruding; omoplates and postbasal impression slightly indicated; apices modified, channel of gland forming short tubular process at margin. Surface moderately glossy, rather densely punctate; punctation denser and somewhat coarser than on head; setation as on head, erect tactile setae absent.

Legs slender, simple; all tibiae with paired terminal spurs.

Abdominal sternum VII slightly produced and emarginate medially; sternum VIII inconspicuous, weakly sclerotized. Aedeagus ( Fig. 94 ): apically narrowed portion of tegmen bearing prominent median carina; endophallic armature with pair of robust, claw-like spines and apical bunch of slender spinules.

Variation. Body length (♀) 2.6–3.6 mm; head sometimes partly reddish anteriorly on frons; dark marking of elytra varying moderately in extent and prominence (vaguely to rather sharply outlined).

Female. Identical with male for most external characters; elytral apices simple; sternum simply rounded apically; tergum VII with shallow apical excavation.

Differential diagnosis. Microhoria anahita sp. nov. belongs to the M. terminata species-group. Externally it can be confused with M. strejceki sp. nov., having nearly the same body form and markings of the elytra, but differs clearly by the reddish unicolorous legs, somewhat larger eyes, more elongate and cylindrical terminal antennomeres, the shallowly excavate apex of female tergum VII (simply rounded in the latter species), and mainly by characters of

the aedeagus that are quite dissimilar (cf. Figs 94 versus 121).

Etymology. Anahita is the name of the Persian goddess of fertility and water; noun in the nominative case, standing in apposition.

Distribution. Iran.

Figures

Figs 138–150. 138–147 – Habitus: 138 – Microhoria ocreata (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1847) comb. nov.; 139 – M. oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860); 140 – M. olivacea (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov.; 141 – M. paupercula (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov.; 142 – M. babaulti (Pic, 1921) comb. nov.; 143 – M. cervi sp. nov.; 144 – M. sulaimanica sp. nov., paratype; 145 – M. terminata (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842); 146 – M. anahita sp. nov.; 147 – M. angelinii (Degiovanni, 2012) comb. nov.; 148 – M. apicordiger (Bonadona, 1958) comb. nov., apex of elytra; 150 – M. gibbipennis sp. nov., apex of elytra; 150 – M. angelinii, apex of female tergum VII.

Figs 151–163. 151–155 – Habitus: 151 – Microhoria bacillisternum sp. nov.; 152 – M. garavuti sp. nov.; 153 – M. gibbipennis sp. nov.; 154 – M. heracleana sp. nov., paratype, Stomio (ZKDC); 155 – M. truncatipennis (Pic, 1897) comb. nov. 156–161 – pronotum and base of head and elytra: 156 – M. angelinii (Degiovanni, 2012) comb. nov.; 157 – M. persica sp. nov., paratype (ZKDC); 158 – M. gibbipennis sp. nov.; 159 – M. truncatipennis; 160 – M. vosseleri (Pic, 1894); 161 – Microhoria sp., Spain, Jarama River env., near Madrid (ZFMK). 162 – M. depressa (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849), Azerbaijan, Zarat (ZKDC), apex of female tergum VII; 163 – M. gibbipennis sp. nov., apex of female tergum VII.

Figs 23–30. Mesothorax in ventral (left) and lateral (right) view: 23, 24 – Microhoria terminata (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842); 25, 26 – M. longiceps (La- Ferté-Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov.; 27, 28 – M. gigas (Pic, 1899) comb. nov.; 29, 30 – M. caeruleicolor (Pic, 1906) comb. nov. Scale bars: 100 μm (Figs 23, 24); 200 μm (Figs 25–30).

Figs 39–46. 39, 40 – Metacoxa: 39 – Liparoderus venator (Dufour, 1849); 40 – Microhoria oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860). 41–46 – Apex of male elytron: 41 – Microhoria fasciata (Chevrolat, 1834); 42 – M. paupercula (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov.; 43 – M. oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860); 44 – M. terminata (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842); 45 – M. caeruleicolor (Pic, 1906) comb. nov; 46 – M. heydeni (Marseul, 1879) comb. nov. Scale bars: 20 μm (Figs 41, 44–46); 50 μm (Figs 42, 43), 200 μm (Figs 39, 40).

Figs 93–95. Aedeagus: 93 – Microhoria terminata (W. L. E. Schmidt, 1842), lateral view; 94 – M. anahita sp. nov., lateral view, and apex of tegmen in dorsal view; 95 – M. bacillisternum sp. nov., lateral view, and apex of tegmen plus paired sclerites of endophallus in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – A (Figs 93, 94), B (Fig. 95).

Figs 96–99. 96–98 – Aedeagus: 96 – M. depressa (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849), Azerbaijan, Zarat (ZKDC), lateral view; 97 – M. edmondi (Pic, 1893), syntype, lateral view; 98 – M. fergana sp. nov., lateral view. 99 – M. fergana sp. nov., male abdominal segment VIII in ventral view. Scale bars:A – (Fig. 99), B (Figs 96, 97), C (Fig. 98).

Figs 100–104. 100 – Microhoria garavuti sp. nov., aedeagus in ventral (left) and lateral (right) view; 101 – M. hazara sp. nov., aedeagus in ventral (left) and lateral (right) view; 102 – same, detail of structure of endophallus; 103 – M. halophila sp. nov. aedeagus in lateral view; 104 – M. gibbipennis sp. nov., aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bar: 0.2 mm (except 102).

Figs 105–111. 105 – Microhoria heracleana sp. nov., aedeagus in lateral view; 106 – same, apex of tegmen in dorsal view; 107 – same, apex of everted endophallus, ventral view; 108 – M. impavida sp. nov., aedeagus in lateral view; 109 – M. inobscura (Pic, 1908), stat nov., aedeagus in lateral view; 110 – same, apical part in ventral view; 111 – M. kabulensis sp. nov., aedeagus in lateral (left) and ventral (right) view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – A (Fig. 111), B (Figs 105–109).

Figs 112–118. 112 – Microhoria kermanica sp. nov., aedeagus in lateral view; 113 – M. luristanica (Pic, 1911) comb. nov., Iran, Andimeshk, aedeagus in lateral view (ZKDC); 114 – M. ottomana (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov., holotype, aedeagus in lateral view; 115 – M. kermanica sp. nov., apex of tegmen, dorsal view; 116 – M. ottomana, apex of tegmen, dorsal view; 117 – M. pahlavi sp. nov., aedeagus in lateral view; 118 – same, apical portion in ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – (Figs 112, 115), B (Figs 114, 116), C (Fig. 113), D (Figs 117, 118).

Figs 119–122. Aedeagus: 119 – Microhoria persica sp. nov., lateral view; 120 – M. sawda sp. nov., ventral (left) and lateral (right view); 121 – M. strejceki sp. nov., lateral view, and apex of tegmen in dorsal view; 122 – M. truncatipennis (Pic, 1897) comb. nov., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – A (Figs 120, 121), B (Figs 119, 122).