Lucanus xerxes ( Král, 2004 ), Kral, 2004

Bartolozzi, Luca, Ghahari, Hassan, Sprecher-Uebersax, Eva & Zilioli, Michele, 2014, A checklist of stag beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Lucanidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3887 (3), pp. 422-436 : 426-427

Lucanus xerxes ( Král, 2004)

( Figs. 2–4 , 22–23 )

Pseudolucanus xerxes Král, 2004: 184 .

Examined material. 1 male, Fars: Kakan, E Yasug, 10.VII.2004, M. Formanek ( CLB) ; 1 male, Fars: Vazag, ~ 2450 m, 30.VI.2005, T. Hácz and G. Petranyi (CLN) ; 1 female, same data (CMZ) ; 1 male, Kuhgiloyeh & Boyerahmad: Mts. Zagros, 10 km S of Yasug, ~ 1500–2000 m, 14–15.VI.2000, T. Hácz (CLN) ; 2 males, Kuhgiloyeh & Boyerahmad: Mts. Zagros, 10 km S of Yasug, ~ 1500–2000 m, 6.VII.2000, T. Hácz (CLN) ; 1 male, 1 female, Kuhgiloyeh & Boyerahmad: Yasug, ~ 2200 m, 28.VI.2005, T. Hácz and G. Petrányi (CLN) ; 2 males, Kuhgiloyeh & Boyerahmad: 20 km S Yasug, 24.VI.2006, T. Hácz ( CKDS).

Distribution. Endemic to Iran.

Distribution in Iran. Fars, Kuhgiloyeh & Boyerahmad, Lorestan ( Král 2004).

Remarks. In this paper we do not use the subgenus Pseudolucanus , because the validity of this taxon needs to be clarified. Cox et al. (2013) demonstrated that two supposed Pseudolucanus species were nested within Lucanus in molecular analyses. More species and specimens need to be tested to fully assess the validity of Pseudolucanus .

Lucanus xerxes has a peculiar hexamerous and very widened antennal club. The female of this taxon has never been described, so we include a description below, based on a specimen from MZC.

Description of the female ( Figs. 2–4 ). Length, including mandibles: 33.6 mm. Length, without mandibles: 31.3 mm. Maximum head width: 7.9 mm. Maximum pronotum width: 12.6 mm. Maximum elytra width: 14.5 mm.

General form ( Fig. 2 ) stout; fairly shiny, the entire body including antennae, palpi, and legs almost black. Head ( Fig. 3 ) transverse (w/l ratio 1.66), densely and coarsely punctate; frontal ridge concave. Frons sloping, projecting into a short, apically distinctly notched epistoma; anterior angles blunt, produced into a rather thin, punctate canthi; the latter penetrating less than half a diameter into the eye. Eyes globular; temples very short, not prominent. Mandibles short, evenly curved from base to pointed apex, with coarse punctation. Mandibles with strong dorsal keel extending from base to mid-length, terminating with a strong blunt tooth; inner teeth large, laminar, with irregularly sinuous edges. Mentum trapezoidal with rounded anterior angles and only slightly convergent lateral edges; with large, strong punctation covered with sparse, long, yellow setae. Antennal scape weakly curved, fringed along the outer side with long yellow setae. Antennomere 4 obviously shorter and broader than 3 ( Fig. 4 ), inner side produced into a distinct apical triangular tooth. Antennal club with 6 antennomeres; lamellae progressively longer and more thickened at apex from antennomeres 5 to 8; antennomeres 8 to 10 approximately equal length. Antennomere 5 pubescent only on distal surface, proximal surface only with scattered setae; remaining antennomeres entirely pubescent.

Pronotum ( Fig. 3 ) transverse (w/l ratio 1.66), glabrous, evenly and finely punctate; punctation gradually stronger towards sides. Anterior edge of pronotum deeply bisinuate, anterior angles rather sharp; lateral edges slightly rounded until the feebly produced median angles, then almost straight and convergent basally, clearly sinuate just before the sharp posterior angles; posterior edge slightly bisinuate. Prosternal process feebly protruding. Scutellum ogival, punctate throughout except on a narrow lateral margin and median line. Elytra fairly shiny; strongly, densely, almost regularly punctate throughout; larger intervals only slightly broader than the narrower intervals. Elytral base weakly oblique; humerus rounded; lateral edge evenly curved from base to apex with a well-marked, lateral groove; sutural angles rounded. Protibiae strongly flattened and widened towards apex with 2 robust apical teeth and 3 triangular, lateral teeth; the first 2 teeth large, the 3rd much smaller. Mesotibiae and metatibiae with 3 sharp preapical teeth.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Female of Lucanus xerxes, habitus.

FIGURE 3. Female of Lucanus xerxes, head and pronotum.

FIGURE 4. Female of Lucanus xerxes, antenna.

FIGURES 16 – 27. 16 — Dorcus parallelipipedus (male), 17 — Dorcus parallelipipedus (female), 18 — Dorcus peyronis (male), 19 — Dorcus peyronis (female), 20 — Dorcus prochazkai (male), 21 — Dorcus prochazkai (female), 22 — Lucanus xerxes (male), 23 — Lucanus xerxes (female), 24 — Lucanus ibericus ibericus (male), 25 — Lucanus ibericus ibericus (female), 26 — Lucanus ibericus subvelutinus (male), 27 — Lucanus ibericus subvelutinus (female).