Anthrenus (Nathrenus) purcharti, Háva, 2014

Háva, Jiří, 2014, A new species of the genus Anthrenus from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 191-195 : 192-194

Anthrenus (Nathrenus) purcharti sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 )

Type locality. Yemen, Socotra Island, Hagher mountains, area of Mt. Scand, 12°34′33′′N 54°01′31′′E, ca. 1300- 1500 m.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J: ‘ YEMEN, SOKOTRA Isl., Skant area , 1300-1500 m, 12°34′33′′N 54°01′31′′E, 31.i.-1. ii.2010, L. Purchart lgt.’ ( NMPC) . PARATYPES: 2JJ, same data as holotype (1 NMPC, 1 JHAC).Type specimens were labelled with red, printed labels bearing the text as follows: ‘ HOLOTYPE [or PARATYPE, respectively] Anthrenus (Nathrenus) purcharti sp. nov. J. Háva det. 2013’.

Description. Holotype. Measurements. TL = 2.9 mm, EW = 1.6 mm; body narrow and elongate, elytra parallel-sided, slightly broader behind middle ( Fig. 1 ). Integument of elytra and pronotum brown, integument of head dark brown. Dorsal surface covered with blackish, whitish and light brown scales, ventral side mainly with whitish scales, with some intermixed brown scales.

Head with a mixture of black, brown and whitish scales. Labial palpi brown. Antennae with 11 antennomeres, antennomeres I–VIII light brown, antennomeres IX–XI darker; antennal club oblong oval, trimerous ( Fig. 2 ). Eyes large, with brown microsetae; inner margin not emarginate. Median ocellus presents on frons.

Pronotum ( Fig. 1 ) discally with blackish scales and one very narrow transverse fascia bearing whitish scales; lateral parts and area adjacent to scutellum covered with intermixed whitish and light brown scales.

Elytral pattern consists of three transverse stripes made up from whitish and light brown scales; first stripe located subbasally, second postmedially and third preapically. In addition, predominantly light brown scales form more or less distinct patches along elytral base, in middle of elytra and on elytral apex; other parts of elytra covered with blackish scales ( Fig. 1 ). Scales drop-shaped, widest in posterior third; apex broadly rounded. Epipleuron very short, with light brown scales.

Ventral side. Prosternum covered with whitish scales only; antennal fossa broad and closed. Mesoventrite and metaventrite covered with whitish scales only. Abdominal ventrites covered with whitish scales; ventrites II–V with small spots of light brown scales at lateral margins.

Legs entirely brown, with some short, light brown setae, femora also with few whitish scales.

Male genitalia as in Fig. 3 .

Female unknown.

Variability. Both paratypes agree well with the holotype, especially in shape and distribution of pronotal and elytral scales. Measurements: TL = 3.3–3.4 mm, EW = 1.7–1.8 mm.

Differential diagnosis. Based on the antenna with 11 antennomeres, and eye with complete median margin, the new species is classified in the subgenus Nathrenus . The subgenus currently contains 66 species worldwide. Only one species of this subgenus is known from the Arabian Peninsula: Anthrenus (Nathrenus) jakli Háva, 2001 ( Oman, Yemen); A. purcharti sp. nov. differs from this species in larger body length (2.3–2.6 mm in A. jakli ), shape and structure of antennae, drop-shaped scales of dorsal surface (setiform scales in A. jakli ), and in shape of male genitalia (see also HÁVA 2001). From Nathrenus species occurring in north-eastern Africa, i.e. Anthrenus (N.) nadeini Kadej & Háva, 2008 ( Ethiopia) and A. (N.) verbasci (Linnaeus, 1767) ( Somalia and Sudan), the new species differs in larger body, and shape and structure of antennae and genitalia. The only other Anthrenus species known from Socotra – visually similar Anthrenus (Anthrenops) longus Arrow, 1915 – differs from A. purcharti sp. nov. in different number of antennomeres (9 antennomeres in A. longus ).

Etymology. Patronymic, dedicated to the collector of the new species Luboš Purchart (Brno, Czech Republic).

Collection circumstances. The type series was collected in the highest mountain zone of the Socotra Island, the Skand Mt. (ca. 1300−1500 m a.s.l.), covered with evergreen woodland (alliance Crotonion sulcifructi, association Leucado hagghierensi-Pittosporetum viridiflorum) ( Fig. 4 ) (L. Purchart, pers. comm.).

Distribution. So far known only from the highest part of Hagher Mts., Socotra Island, Yemen.

Figures

Figs 1–3. Anthrenus (Nathrenus) purcharti sp. nov., holotype. 1– dorsal habitus; 2 – male antenna; 3 – aedeagus in dorsal view. Drawings are schematic, without setation.

Fig. 4. Skand, the type locality of Anthrenus (Nathrenus) purcharti sp. nov.