Microhoria ocreata (LaFerte-Senectere, 1847) Kejval & Chandler, 2020

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 : 124

Microhoria ocreata species-group

Diagnosis. Usually elongate species, with widely rounded head base and rather uniform short setae on elytra (at most weakly divergent in postbasal area, no conspicuous setose bands, Fig. 138 ); pronotal characters comparatively stable, with subparallel postero-lateral margins (never distinctly constricted in dorsal view) and inconspicuous setation. Mesoventrite with partly bordered margins (sulcus always thin to barely evident laterally), sometimes with indication of longitudinal submedian carinae (somewhat bulging medially); setose fringe of mesepimera well-developed; submarginal setose impressions of metaventrite and abdominal sternum III absent or indistinct; all tibiae with paired terminal spurs; elytral apices in males distinctly modified, with sclerotized cavity. Aedeagus ( Figs 74, 75 ): tegmen capsuliform, rounded to flatly produced and somewhat tapering apically (never bilobed); endophallus with longitudinal sclerite, bearing gonopore apically and an extremely long, slender, flexible spine, originating from its base and pointing apically.

Distribution. Mediterranean Region ( Algeria, Egypt, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia). The record of Tenuicomus pallicrus from Saudi Arabia by UHMANN (1998) is probably erroneous.

Species included (7 spp.). Microhoria agriliformis ( Pic, 1893) comb. nov., M. alfierii (Pic, 1923) comb. nov., M. escalerai ( Pic, 1904) comb. nov., M. meloiformis (Reitter, 1890) comb. nov., M. ocreata ( LaFerté-Sénectère, 1847) comb. nov., M. pallicra (Dufour, 1849), and M. tarifana ( Pic, 1904) comb. nov.

Remarks. This group holds some species placed previously in Tenuicomus ( CHANDLER et al. 2008, as Tenuicollis). They resemble members of the M. fasciata and M. schimperi groups based on characters of the mesoventrite and the male elytral apices, but differ by the reduced submarginal setose impressions of the metaventrite and abdominal sternum III, and by characters of the aedeagus (endophallic armature and position of the gonopore).

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 74–77.Aedeagus:74 – Microhoria ocreata (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1847) comb. nov., lateral view; 75 – same, ventral view; 76 – M.oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860), lateral view; 77 – same, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – A (Figs 76, 77), B (Figs 74, 75).