Vladimirellus, DellacaSa & DellacaSa, 2002

DellacaSa, M. & DellacaSa, G., 2002, Systematic Redefinition Of Taxa Belonging To The Genera Ahermodontus Báguena, 1930 And Ammoecius Mulsant, 1842, With Description Of The New Genus Vladimirellus (Coleoptera: Aphodiidae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 48 (4), pp. 269-316 : 273-277

Vladimirellus gen. n.

Type species: Aphodius socors BALTHASAR, 1967

Diagnosis: Species parvae, subovatae, fortiter convexae, glabrae. Nigrae. Capite cupuliformi; epistoma antice transversim modice carinato; clypeo medio leviter sinuato, lateribus denticulato; pronoto basi marginato; scutello parvo, triangulari, lateribus distincte sulcato; elytris humeribus denticulatis; striis latis, fortiter impressis, distincte crenulatis, punctis medio granulo-catenulatis; interstitiis modice convexis, utrinque striolatis. Metatibiis setis apicalibus longitudine aequalibus.

Description: Length 4.0 mm. Short, oval, strongly convex, glabrous. Blackish. Head cupuliform, epistoma anteriorly with feeble transverse carina, clypeus faintly sinuate at middle, denticulate at sides, thinly bordered laterally, border glabrous; genae widely rounded, faintly protruding more than eyes; frontal suture feebly raised, weakly tuberculate at middle. Pronotum transverse, doubly coarsely punctured, base bordered. Scutellum small, regularly triangular with curved sides and laterally with two distinct oblique impressions. Elytra sharply denticulate at shoulder; striae wide, rather shiny, strongly impressed, distinctly crenulate, punctures granulate at middle and joined each other by a fine carina; interstices feebly convex, strongly microreticulate, sparsely finely and irregularly punctured, at each side with a superficial striola along the stria ( Fig. 6 ). Fore tibiae distally tridentate and proximally faintly serrulate at outer margin; upperside smooth. Middle and hind tibiae with strong transverse carinae on outer face; apically fimbriate with very short and equal spinules. Pygidium glabrous, strongly microreticulate thus dull, superficially confusedly punctured, with trace of longitudinal groove toward apex. Sexual dimorphism probably shown in males (females unknown) mainly by fore tibiae apical spur stout, cylindrical, abruptly downward curved toward apex. Aedeagus strongly sclerotized with very short paramera apically rounded ( Figs 7–8 ). Epipharynx with anterior margin feebly bisinuate and widely rounded at sides; epitorma drop-shaped; corypha with rather short and stout apical spiculae protruding beyond front margin; pedia pubescent toward corypha only and with severalstrongchaetaeseriallyarrangedobliquely;chaetopariaedenseandmoderately elongate ( Fig. 5 ).

Distribution: Northeastern Palearctic region (Siberia).

Etymology: Named in honour of Dr. VLADIMIR BALTHASAR, describer of the type species.

Remarks – The genus is readily distinguishable from Ammoecius because of the peculiar shape of the elytral striae.

Vladimirellus socors ( BALTHASAR, 1967) , comb. n.

( Figs 1 , 5–8 )

Aphodius ( Ammoecius ?) socors BALTHASAR, 1967: 127 .

Aphodius (Ammoecius) socors : DELLACASA M. 1988: 200.

Type locality: “Thomsk, Sibirien”. [Siberia.]

Type depository: BALTHASAR collection, National Museum, Prague.

Type material: Holotype, male, with handwritten locality label: “Thomsk” and printed label “Reitter collection”.

Redescription of male – Length 4.0 mm. Oblong, stout, strongly convex, strongly microreticulate thus strongly dull, glabrous ( Fig. 1 ). Blackish, clypeal margin and legs dark brownish; antennal club piceous. Head cupuliform; epistoma strongly microreticulate and indistinctly punctured, anteriorly with a feebly raised transverse short carina; clypeus very feebly sinuate at middle, denticulate at sides, denticles distinctly upturned; genae widely rounded, shortly and sparsely ciliate, faintly protruding more than eyes; frontal suture somewhat more shiny, slightly raised laterally and with a weak median tubercle; frons relatively more superficially microreticulate, regularly and densely punctured; epipharynx: Fig. 5 . Pronotum feebly transverse, strongly microreticulate, doubly punctured; larger punctures densely and regularly scattered throughout, mixed much smaller ones; sides thinly bordered, parallel toward base; hind angles obtusely rounded; base faintly bisinuate, thickly bordered. Scutellum with a median carina feebly raised, lateral impressions confusedly irregularly punctured. Elytra shortly oval, sharply denticulate at shoulder; striae wide, rather shiny, strongly impressed, distinctly crenulate, punctures with a small central granule joining each other by a fine carina; interstices feebly convex, strongly microreticulate, sparsely, finely and confusedly punctured, at each side with a superficial striola along the stria ( Fig. 6 ). Fore tibiae with apical spur stout, cylindrical, longer than first two tarsal segments combined, abruptly downward curved toward apex; middle tibiae with inferior apical spur short, obliquely truncate apically. Superior apical spur of hind tibiae nearly as long as inferior one and distinctly shorter than first tarsal segment (other segments lackinginthesolespecimenavailable).Metasternalplatenearlyflat,stronglymicroreticulate,irregularly punctured and with median longitudinal groove shiny and slightly impressed. Aedeagus: Figs 7–8 .

ambrosi PARDO ALCAIDE, 1936 (male, length 4.0 mm; Morocco: Taxdirt, B. Sicar.)

aedeagus (dorsal and lateral view)

Female unknown.

Distribution: Known only from the holotype from the type locality.

Figures

Figs 5–14. Vladimirellus socors (BALTHASAR, 1967): 5 = epipharynx, 6 = elytral sculpture, 7–8 = aedeagus (dorsal and lateral view). Ahermodontus ambrosi PARDO ALCAIDE, 1936: 9 = epipharynx, 10–11 = aedeagus (dorsal and lateral view). A. marini BÁGUENA, 1930: 12 = epipharynx, 13–14 =

Figs 1–4. Habitus of: 1 = Vladimirellus socors (BALTHASAR, 1967) (male, length 4.0 mm; Russia: Siberia Thomsk), 2 = Ahermodontus bishoffi (VŠETEČKA, 1939) (female, length 4.5 mm; Albania: Logara), 3 = A. marini BÁGUENA, 1930 (male, length 4.0 mm; Spain: Castellón, Onda), 4 = A.