Microhoria oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860)

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 : 124-125

Microhoria oedipus species-group

Diagnosis. Robust species, showing usually more distinct sexual dimorphism ( Fig. 139 ), mostly with modified elytral setation (swirled setae, setose bands); rather stable in pronotal characters, with distinct and longer setose latero-basal impressions. Mesoventrite with partly bordered lateral margins (sulcus absent laterally), and well-developed longitudinal submedian carinae ( Figs 13, 14 ); setose fringe of mesepimera well-developed ( Fig. 33 ); submarginal setose impressions of metaventrite and abdominal sternum III conspicuous; metatibiae more or less swollen and modified in males, with two terminal spurs; male metafemora with a row of coarser setae on inner side (at least in some species); elytral apices in males conspicuously modified, subtruncate to more or less strongly excavate and lobed, with scattered secretory pores ( Fig. 43 ). Aedeagus ( Figs 76, 77 ): tegmen hood-like, with simple pointed apex (‘cuculliform’); gonopore free.

Distribution. Northern Africa ( Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). Species included (13 spp.). Microhoria admirabilis ( Pic, 1894), M. biauriculata (Pic, 1920), M. fortissima ( Pic, 1894), M. leprieuri ( Baudi di Selve, 1877), M. lobata (Pic, 1905), M. normandi (Pic, 1915), M. obuncata Normand, 1950, M. oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860) , M. sicardi ( Pic, 1893), M. subtruncata (Pic, 1920), M. succinta ( Chevrolat, 1877), M. tunisica ( Pic, 1893), and M. valga (Fairmaire, 1875).

Remarks. This group holds the species formerly treated as Microhoria sensu stricto. They are undoubtedly closely related to members of the M. fasciata species-group, but differ by the more conspicuous sexual dimorphism. However, it should be stated, that both modifications of metatibiae and elytral apices of males in this group are variably developed and most of the above listed species were only briefly examined or included on the basis of original descriptions.

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 7–14. Mesothorax in ventral (left) and lateral (right) view: 7, 8 – Neocrohoria melanura (Fairmaire & Germain, 1863), Chile, Malleco prov., 4 km W Victoria (DCDC); 9, 10 – Aulacoderus mutatus (Gemminger, 1870); 11, 12 – Liparoderus venator (Dufour, 1849); 13, 14 – Microhoria oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860). Scale bars: 100 μm (Figs 7–10); 200 μm (Figs 11–14).

Figs 31–38. 31 – Neocrohoria melanura (Fairmaire & Germain, 1863), Chile, Malleco prov., 4 km W Victoria (DCDC), setae of metepisterna.32 – Liparoderus insignis (Lucas, 1843), antero-median margin of mesothorax. 33–36 – Mesothorax in lateral view (detail): 33 – Microhoria oedipus (Chevrolat, 1860); 34 – M. longiceps (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849) comb. nov.; 35 – M. caeruleicolor (Pic, 1906) comb. nov.; 36 – M. gigas (Pic, 1899). comb. nov. 37, 38 – Falsophilus minutus (Pic, 1894), after KEJVAL (2015): 37 – prothorax in ventro-lateral view; 38 – intercoxal process of abdomen. Scale bars: 100 μm.

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 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).