Elodes gerdmuelleri, Klausnitzer, 2009

Klausnitzer, Bernhard, 2009, Contribution to the knowledge of Elodes sericea species-group with description of two new species from Middle Asia (Coleoptera, Scirtidae) *, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 711-728 : 723-724

Elodes gerdmuelleri sp. nov.

( Figs. 17–22 ) Type locality. Kazakhstan, Talas Alatau , 1200 m a.s.l. Type material, HOLOTYPE: J, Kazakhstan, Talasskii Alatau, 1200 m, 18.05.1990, leg. Karasew ( DEI). PARATYPES: 1 J, the same data as in holotype ( BKDC) ; 1 J, Dzhabagli , Taldy-Bulak, 20.05.1990, leg. Konstantinov ( BKDC) .

Description. Body elongate, subparallel, 2.11–2.26 times as long as wide. Body length 4.79–4.89 mm.

Head brown, densely punctate, hairs light, directed anteriorly. Antennomeres 1–3 brown, rest of antennae blackish-brown. Lengths of antennomeres 1–4: 0.25 mm, 0.13 mm, 0.05 mm and 0.44 mm.

Pronotum plain light brown, strongly punctate with light vestiture, hairs directed laterally and posteriorly; posterior corners distinctly explanate, anterior margin broadly rounded. LP 1.02–1.04 mm; BP 2.12–2.15 mm.

Scutellum brown, shallowly punctate. Elytra brown, becoming gradually blackish-brown posteriorly, with light broad stripe running obliquely almost to middle of elytra. Longitudinal ridges distinctly developed. Vestiture light and dense. BE 1.06–1.16 mm; LE 3.77–3.85 mm.

Legs brown.

Male. Tergite 7 plate-shaped, with bacilla lateralia making up a loop in anterior third. Tergite 0.71–0.78 mm long; plate 1.05–1.10 mm wide and in the middle 0.61–0.64 mm long; bacilla lateralia (irrespective of curvature) 0.40–0.50 mm long.

Sternite 8 ( Fig. 17 ) with large, posteriorly rounded pterygia. Stalk in the middle with narrow rod-shaped sclerotization, the rod reaching just base of pterygia (arrow); stalk bifurcate laterally and strengthening base of pterygia. Entire sternite 0.89–1.00 mm long and 0.75–0.80 mm wide, stalk up to base of pterygia 0.58–0.65 mm long. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 18 ) with sclerotized, posteriorly almost straight plate and with bacilla lateralia reaching midlength of plate. Tergite 0.96–1.12 mm long; plate 0.59–0.76 mm wide; bacilla lateralia (irrespective of curvature) 0.70–0.80 mm long.

Tergite 9 with sclerotized bacilla lateralia, plate weakly sclerotized posteriorly. Tergite ca. 0.88 mm long; plate 0.43 mm wide; bacilla lateralia (irrespective of curvature) 0.65 mm long. Sternite 9 posteriorly with patch of longer setae, lateral margins strengthened, anteriorly interconnected by fine membrane. Sternite 1.30 mm long; plate 0.48 mm wide.

Tegmen ( Fig. 19 ) with parameres straight and narrow, gradually tapering distad and projecting into distinctly detached, narrow, approximately 0.15 mm long tip ( Fig. 20 ). More strongly sclerotized area at base between parameres (arrow). Tegmen 1.97–2.18 mm long and 0.35–0.36 mm wide.

Penis very slender ( Fig. 21 ), distinctly constricted behind the detached apex (arrow), 2.26–2.51 mm long and 0.16–0.19 mm wide; index of slenderness 13.2–14.1. Parameroids 0.22–0.23 mm long, posteriorly with well defined lateral tooth (up to apex 0.04 mm long), densely covered with sensory pores ( Fig. 22 ), base with transverse ridge (arrow).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. This new species is named in honour of my dear friend Gerd Müller-Motzfeld (Zoological Institute, Greifswald University), who died during an expedition to Kyrgyzstan on 24 July 2009, to recognize his special effort in the research of the beetle fauna of Middle Asia.

Distribution. By now known only from the Alatau mountains. The type locality in Talas Alatau in Kazakhstan is situated in the mountains north of Talas in Kirgizia. The mountain chain, called also the Kirgizskij Khrebet, extends from ca. 42°45′N to ca. 42°55′N, and from ca. 71°34′E to ca. 73°31′E. Taldy-Bulak lies somewhat north of Alatau (43°20′N, 75°16′E) and the locality Dzhabagli is situated in the western part of the Talas Alatau.

Figures

Figs.17–22. Elodes gerdmuelleri sp. nov., male.17 – sternite 8; 18 – tergite 8; 19 – tegmen; 20 – tegmen, parameres; 21 – penis; 22 – penis, parameroide.