Laemostenus (Antisphodrus) farsicus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2017

Tahami, Mohadeseh Sadat, Muilwijk, Jan, Lohaj, Roman & Sadeghi, Saber, 2017, Study of Laemostenus species across Zagros and Central zone of Iran, with the description of seven new cavernicolous species and notes on subgenus Iranosphodrus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Sphodrini), Zootaxa 4344 (1), pp. 115-136 : 125-127

Laemostenus (Antisphodrus) farsicus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj , sp. nov.

( Figs. 13 , 16, 19 , 21 )

Type material. Holotype male, labelled: “ Iran, Fars, Haft Barm, Cheshme Talou Cave ; 21.v.2016 ; leg. Tahami, Felix, Muilwijk ”/ Laemostenus farsicus sp. nov. Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2016 (red label Holotype). Paratypes: two males, seven females, the same data as holotype, one female, the same locality as holotype, but 28.ix.2015 , leg. M.S. Tahami, K. Eftekhari / Laemostenus farsicus sp. nov. Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2016 (red label Paratype). Holotype and 2 paratypes deposited in ZM–CBSU, 4 paratypes in cMU, 4 paratypes in cFE.

Diagnosis. A medium sized, brachypterous, depigmented Laemostenus sg. Antisphodrus of the zagrosensis species-group; Colour reddish-brown, appendages paler. Microsculpture of head fine, pronotum and elytra with distinct microsculpture ( Fig. 13 ).

Description. BL 14.2–17.1 mm, (holotype 14.7 mm). Head narrower than pronotum, wider than long (HL/ HW: 0.9), with only posterior pair of supraorbital setae, anterior pair missing, one paratype with one anterior supraorbital seta on left side; frontal furrows fine, eyes slightly convex, reduced (0.5 mm), shorter than temples (0.7 mm), neck very short. Clypeus with two long setae; labrum with six setae. Antennae long, slender, reaching anterior third of elytral length, antennomere 3 without accessory setae except a few apical ones, distinctly longer than antennomeres 1+2; antennomeres 4–11 pubescent.

Pronotum as long as wide, slightly sinuate before posterior angles; as long as wide (PL/ PW: 1.0). Basal impressions shallow, with few punctures. Anterior angles slightly protruding and obtuse, posterior angles almost rectangular, obtuse. Lateral margins finely punctate, with one pair of baso-lateral setae situated near posterior angles and one pair of antero-lateral setae situated in anterior fourth of pronotal length.

Elytra narrow, elongate (EL/EW: 1.7), with maximum width at middle, disc not depressed; base wider than pronotal base. Humeri moderately rounded, with small tooth. Striae distinct, with fine punctures, intervals flat. Scutellar striae present; scutellar setiferous punctures situated in stria 1. Umbilicate series consists of 18–19 irregularly situated setiferous punctures; two setae at apex of stria 7.

Mesosternum unarmed, without teeth before mesocoxae. Abdominal sternites brown, shiny, with fine superficial wrinkles and distinct microsculpture, each sternite with two setae.

Legs elongate, slender. Protibiae with fine hairs at apex of internal anterior sides. Mesotibiae with scattered pubescence, metatibiae with dense pubescence, limited to apical fifth. Tarsi dorsally with decumbent pubescence; claws smooth. Male protarsi strongly dilated.

Aedeagus: ( Figs. 16, 19 ) median lobe large (2.88 mm); dorsal margin arcuate to short apex in lateral view, ventral margin more or less straight; apex broad and almost rectangular in dorsal view.

Ovipositor: as on Fig. 21 .

Differential diagnosis. This new species differs from L. zagrosensis sp. nov. and L. speleophilus sp. nov. by the absence of anterior supraorbital setae, pronotum distinctly sinuated posteriorly, strongly dilated male protarsi and by the shape of aedeagus.

Distribution and habitat. So far known only from the twilight and dark zones of the type locality, Cheshme Talou Cave, Fars Province.

Etymology. Topotypic, named after the province in which the cave is situated.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 13. Habitus in dorsal view of Laemostenus zagrosensis (holotype) (11), Laemostenus speleophilus (holotype) (12), Laemostenus farsicus habitus (holotype) (13).

FIGURES 14 – 19. Aedeagus. In lateral view, Laemostenus zagrosensis (14), Laemostenus speleophilus (15), Laemostenus farsicus (16). In dorsal view, Laemostenus zagrosensis (17), Laemostenus speleophilus (18), Laemostenus farsicus (19).

FIGURES 20 – 21. Ovipositor. Laemostenus zagrosensis (20), Laemostenus farsicus (21).