Liothorax kraatzi ( Harold, 1868 ) Harold, 1868

Dellacasa, Marco, Gordon, Robert D. & Dellacasa, Giovanni, 2007, Systematic review to the genus Liothorax (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Zootaxa 1407, pp. 23-42 : 31

Liothorax kraatzi ( Harold, 1868) , new combination

( Figs. 26–31 )

Aphodius kraatzi Harold, 1868: 84

Aphodius graecus: Motschulsky in Harold, 1871: 269 (nomen nudum) Aphodius (Nialus) kraatzi: Reitter 1892: 203

Aphodius (Nialus) kraatzi ab. castanopterus: Endrödi 1955: 48 (unavailable name) Aphodius (Liothorax) kraatzi: Dellacasa 1983: 278

Nialus haagi: Ádám 1994: 13

Type locality: Graecia [ Greece] (for Liothorax kraatzi ).

Type depository: Unknown to authors (for Liothorax kraatzi ).

Redescription: Length 4.0–5.0 mm; body elongate, cylindrical, convex, shiny, glabrous. Color black; antennal club pale brown; legs reddish brown ( Fig. 30 ); some individuals have color brownish red ( Fig. 31 ). Head anteriorly at middle gibbose, with fine rather dense punctures. Clypeus weakly sinuate medially, rounded laterally; genae rounded, barely protruding beyond eyes; frontal suture faint, slightly raised medially. Pronotum convex, transverse; with dual, irregular, dense punctures; lateral margins with thin border; hind angles obtusely rounded; basal border interrupted medially. Scutellum with sparse punctures. Elytra elongate, parallel-sided; striae deep, with distinct punctures, not crenulate; interstriae narrow, convex, shiny, with superficial and sparse punctures. Hind tibiae with superior apical spur as long as first tarsomere; first tarsomere as long as following three combined. Male head with medial gibbosity distinct; frontal suture distinct, somewhat raised with trace of a central tubercle; pronotum on disc with punctures less dense than in female. Female head with medial gibbosity faint; frontal suture nearly obsolete.

Distribution: Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Central Asia.

Bionomy: This species is saprophagous and stenotopic and occurs in open habitats, mainly in damp soil at pond margins. Adults are active in late spring, summer, and autumn.

Figures

FIGURES 26 – 31. Liothorax kraatzi (Harold, 1868) (Lac Valthos, Euboea m., Greece): 26. habitus of male; 27 – 28. aedeagus, dorsal and lateral view; 29. epipharynx; 30 – 31. color variations.