Malthodes seregiusi Kazantsev, 2021

Kazantsev, S. V., 2021, New species of Malthodes Kiesenwetter, 1852 from the Caucasus, with taxonomic notes on Malthininae (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) of Russia, Caucasian Entomological Bulletin (Caucas. entomol. bull.) 17 (2), pp. 285-291 : 288

Malthodes seregiusi Kazantsev , sp. n.

( Figs 2, 10–13)

Material. Holotype, ♂ ( ICM): [South Russia], “ Sochi reg., 30 km NNE Adler, Chvizhipse V., 220-550 m, 29.IV-6.V.2013, S. Kurbatov leg.” . Paratype: 1♂ ( ICM), same label .

Diagnosis. Malthodes seregiusi sp. n. is similar to M. pseudobesucheti Wittmer, 1970 , described from Turkey, with the same type of aedeagus, differing in the uniformly dark brown pronotum,just with narrow light brown anterior and posterior margins, parallel-sided, not widening distally and only slightly incised apically ultimate sternite and distinctly shorter parallel-sided ultimate tergite, with semirectangular apical incision, as well as by the conspicuously less hooked in lateral aspect laterophyses of the aedeagus with more bulging in dorsal aspect bases ( Figs 10–13).

Description. Male.Dark brown to black, with lighter anterior tibiae and elytral apices; anterior and posterior pronotal margins narrowly, as well as antennomeres 1–2 and base of antennomere 3 light brown.

Head transverse, with fine scarce punctation below antennal prominence. Eyes relatively large, interocular dorsal distance ca. 1.3 times greater than eye diameter. Antennae filiform, attaining to elytral apices, with antennomere 3 ca. 1.1 times shorter than pedicel (antennomere 2) and ca. 1.4 times shorter than antennomere 4; with sub-erect, dense short pubescence ( Fig. 2).

Pronotum transverse, ca. 1.5 times as wide as long, narrowly margined throughout, convex basally, straight anteriorly, with slightly diverging anteriorly straight sides, small posterior and canted anterior angles, with fine scarce punctation. Scutellum triangular, rounded at apex ( Fig. 2).

Elytra elongate, ca. 2.2 times as long as wide at humeri, shortened, attaining to abdominal apex, slightly narrowing distally, without traces of longitudinal costae; apices somewhat swollen; pubescence relatively dense, short and decumbent ( Fig. 2).

Legs slender, tibiae straight, subequal in length to femurs, hind tarsus ca. 1.3 times shorter than hind tibia ( Fig. 2).

Terminal tergite transverse, parallel-sided, with broad shallow rectangular distal incision, penultimate tergite elongate, almost parallel-sided, with almost unmodified sides; ultimate sternite elongate, gradually narrowing distally, slightly bent in the middle in lateral view, with minute triangular distal incision ( Figs 10, 11).

Aedeagus semi-oval, with narrowed distally, slightly curved median lobe and prominent laterophyses, almost unhooked in lateral aspect and conspicuously bulging bases ( Figs 12, 13).

Length (from anterior head margin to end of folded wings): 2.9–3 mm. Width (humerally): 0.6–0.7 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The name of the new species is derived from the latinized first name of Dr Sergey Kurbatov (Moscow, Russia), who collected the type series.