Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri, Vávra, 2015

Vávra, Jiří Ch., 2015, Review of the subgenus Attumbrinus (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae: Philomessor), with description of Philomessor lackneri sp. nov. from Morocco, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1), pp. 85-103 : 88-93

Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2, 6 , 14–17, 20 , 26, 27 , 33, 34 , 41–45 , 49 , 55, 57 , 59 )

Type locality. Morocco, High Atlas Mts., Oukaïmeden, 2357 m a.s.l., 31º13.822′N, 07º49.264′W.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( NMPC), ‘ MOROCCO 20.V.2011 / OUKAÏMEDEN ENV. (2357m) / N 31º13,822 ′ W07º49,264 ′ / Peter Koniar & Martin Švarc lgt. [white label, printed] ’. ALLOTYPE: ♀ [MD] ( JVAC), ‘ MOROCCO 20.V.2011 / OUKAÏMEDEN ENV.(2237m) / N 31º14,236 ′ W07º49,055 ′ / Peter Koniar & Martin Švarc lgt. [white label, printed] ’. PARATYPES: 1 ♀ ( MNHN), ‘ MAROC 19 3. 6 8 [19.iii.1968] / I T O [Ito near Azrou] / H. COIFFAIT [white label, printed] ’; 2 JJ ( TLAC, JVAC), ‘ Maroc centr. / Moyen Atlas / Ifrane env. [Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane, 33°27′N, 5°02′W, 1900 m a.s.l.] 17- 21.6.1998 / T. Lackner lgt. [white label, printed] ’; 1 ♀ ( NMPC), ‘ MOROCCO 21.V.2009 / OUKAÏMEDEN ENV. (2245m) / N 31º14,257 ′ W07º49,066 ′ / Peter Koniar & Martin Švarc lgt. [white label, printed] ’; 1 J ( JRUC), ‘ MOROCCO, Toubkal National / Park, Oukaimeden, on road / 2028, 1 870 m a.s.l., 14.V.2010 / 0613390E- 3457303N / Di Giulio, Maurizi, Bravi leg. [white label, printed] ’; 4 JJ 2 ♀♀ (1 J 1 ♀ in PKOC; 2 JJ, 1 ♀ [MD] in MSVC; 1 J in JVAC), same data as allotype .

Description. Male. Body length 3.0–3.4 mm (holotype 3.0 mm). Body slender ( Fig. 26 ). Winged. Head dark brown to black brown, pronotum dark brown. Elytra, legs and maxillary palpi light brown. Antennae brown, two basal antennomeres and the tip of the terminal one lighter. Pubescence light and of two kinds: entire body covered with short, dense and recumbent setae, somewhat longer on head and pronotum than on elytra; on elytra the short setae intermixed with long erect setae, which are, especially on disc, more than three times longer than the recumbent ones ( Fig. 34 ).

Head transverse, 1.2 times wider than long. Surface shiny, finely punctate, punctures separated by more than their diameter. Interspaces with very fine microsculpture. Eyes developed, feebly prominent.

Antennae ( Fig. 14 ) long and slender, 2.4–2.5 (holotype 2.5) times longer than pronotum. Three terminal antennomeres dorsoventrally flattened.

Pronotum transverse, 2.4–2.5 (holotype 2.5) times wider than long and 1.6–1.7 (holotype 1.6) times wider than head. Disc with pair of shallow lateral impressions at its midlength, furter paired impressions sometimes situated closer to median axis and base (also in holotype). Punctation of pronotum granular, very fine and dense, punctures separated by less than one diameter, at places contiguous. Microsculpture of interspaces very fine, but distinct.

Scutellum distinct, triangular, in middle finely and densely granulate.

Elytra oblong, feebly convex, 1.6–1.7 (holotype 1.6) times longer than wide, 2.8–2.9 (holotype 2.9) times longer than pronotum, their maximum combined width equal to or slightly wider than the width of pronotum. Tips of elytra separately rounded, almost rectangular. Punctation of elytra ( Fig. 33 ) granular and of two kinds. Fine granular punctures occurring all over surface of elytra, somewhat coarser and sparser than on pronotum and separated by more than one diameter, are intermixed with distinctly raised and larger granules bearing long erect setae. Microsculpture between punctures absent and elytra therefore appear more shiny than pronotum.

Three basal protarsomeres ( Fig. 41 ) dilated, becoming gradually narrower distad. Apical margins of tarsomeres simply emarginate. First tarsomere wider than apical margin of protibia and almost twice as wide as the second. Protibia ( Fig. 42 ) feebly outcurved. Mesotarsus long and narrow, as long as mesotibia. Mesotibia ( Fig. 44 ) feebly curved, its inner margin except for basal portion with fine, dense and erect setae. Metatarsus long and narrow, as long as metatibia. Metatibia ( Fig. 49 ) straight, its inner margin only in apical portion with fine, dense and erect setae.

Abdominal terga without impressions. Outer margin of sternum VIII broadly emarginate in middle ( Fig. 6 ). Genital segment oval, anterior part wide, extremely elongated, trifid anterolaterally and strongly sclerotized ( Figs 9, 10 ). Aedeagus in dorsal view narrowed in basal portion, widest in middle and in apical portion tapering into long acute point ( Fig. 1 ), in lateral view regularly arcuate with feebly S-shaped apical portion ( Fig. 2 ), parameres narrow, equally broad all along their length with two long setae at apex, distinctly not reaching tip of aedeagus ( Fig.1 ).

Female. Body length 2.9–3.3 mm (allotype 3.0 mm). Body slender ( Fig. 27 ). Colouration as in males (allotype and 2 paratypes), or head and pronotum black brown and elytra brown (1 paratype).Antennae ( Fig. 15 ) shorter than in male, 2.4–2.5 (allotype 2.5) times longer than pronotum. Pronotum transverse, 1.8–1.9 (allotype 1.9) times wider than long. Elytra 1.6–1.7 (allotype 1.6) times longer than their combined width, 3.0–3.1 (allotype 3.1) times longer than pronotum and their maximum combined width equal to or slightly wider than pronotum.

Three basal protarsomeres ( Fig. 43 ) dilated, but narrower than in males, gradually narrowed distad. First tarsomere slightly narrower than apical margin of protibia and only a little wider than the second. Apical margins of the first and second protarsomere ( Fig. 45 ) with distinct median tooth.

Sternum VIII ( Fig. 20 ) as wide as long, on inner margin with long and tapering spiculum ventrale, outer margin rounded with long setae. Terga IX and X ( Fig. 17 ) feebly sclerotized, only apex of tergum X and lateral margins of tergum IX more sclerotized. Tergum X long and narrow, dilated in apical portion, apex rounded with long setae. Stylus ( Fig. 16 ) long and narrow, with long setae.

Geographic variability. Populations from Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane and Oukaïmeden somewhat differ in the size and the shape of the pronotum. Specimens from Tizi-n-Tretten are in average larger, their pronota are more convex, less narrowed anteriorly and posterior margin more emarginate at posterior angles than in the specimens from Oukaïmeden. With respect to coincident habitual proportions and further morphological characters given above I consider both populations conspecific and the mentioned differences to be local variation.

Differential diagnosis. Philomessor lackneri sp. nov. is placed in the subgenus Attumbrinus Jeannel, 1936 because of the long and erect pubescence of elytra ( Fig. 34 ) and fine, dense and long pubescence of mesotibiae ( Fig. 44 ). It differs from Philomessor (Attumbrinus) henroti Růžička, 1996 first of all in the shape of pronotum, which is not deeply emarginate at the base besides posterior angles ( Figs 26, 27 vs. 32, 40), different pubescence and double punctation of elytra ( Figs 33, 34 vs. 39) and also in narrow body and different shape of aedeagus. From P. (A.) cloueti ( Portevin, 1907) it differs especially in the shape of the posterior margin of pronotum, which is straight in P. (A.) cloueti ( Fig. 54 ), but convex in P. (A.) lackneri sp. nov. ( Figs 26, 27 ); pronotum is as wide as elytra at humeri in P. (A.) cloueti ( Fig. 30 ), but distinctly wider in P. (A.) lackneri sp. nov. ( Figs 26, 27 ); both species further differ also in the length of terminal antennomeres ( Figs 14, 15 vs. 13), more outstanding difference between the two kinds of punctation and longer setae on elytra in P. (A.) lackneri sp. nov. ( Figs 33, 34 vs. 37, 38), and in the shape of the male genital segment ( Figs 9, 10 vs. 12).

Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. is most similar to P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 , from which it differs in the narrower shape of body ( Figs 26, 27 vs. 28, 29) and the pubescence of metatibiae ( Figs 49 vs. 51), in males in its straight metatibiae ( Figs 26 vs. 28), the shape of aedeagus and the length of parameres ( Figs 1 vs. 3), the shape of genital segment ( Figs 9, 10 vs. 11) and the emargination of the outer margin of the sternum VIII ( Figs 6 vs. 8); in females in dilated protarsi ( Figs 43 vs. 47), in the shape of terga IX and X ( Figs 17 vs. 19), and in the shape of spiculum ventrale on the sternum VIII ( Figs 20 vs. 18). Diagnostic key to all four species of the subgenus Attumbrinus is given above.

Etymology. Dedicated to the renowned specialist on the family Histeridae and one of the collectors of the new species, Tomáš Lackner (Košice, Slovakia).

Collecting circumstances. All specimens of the new species were collected in the ant nest of the genus Messor Forel, 1890 ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ). The specimens from Oukaïmeden, collected by Peter Koniar and Martin Švarc were found in the nests of Messor abdelazizi Santschi, 1921 on pastures ( Figs 55, 57 ) at altitude 1870–2357 m a.s.l. Specimens from Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane were found in the nest of Messor sp. under a big stone on a pasture at the forest border at 1900 m a.s.l. Detailed data on the collection of the single female from the locality Ito are unknown.

Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. seems to be sympatric and syntopic with P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 ; both species were found together in the same ant nests on two localities (Oukaïmeden and Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane) (see Fig. 59 ).

Distribution. Morocco: Oukaïmeden in the High Atlas Mts.; Ito near Azrou, Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane, both localities in the Middle Atlas Mts. ( Fig. 59 ).

Figures

Figs 1–8. 1, 3 – aedeagus in dorsal view; 2, 4, 5 – aedeagus in lateral view; 6–8 – sternum VIII in ventral view, males. 1, 2, 6 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. (HT); 3, 4, 8 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (3, 8 – LT; 4 – Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane, Morocco); 5, 7 – P. (A.) cloueti (Portevin, 1907) (5 – HT; 7 – Kairous, Algeria).

Figs 13–20. 13, 14 – antenna, males; 15 – antenna, female; 16 – stylus in dorsal view, female; 17, 19 – terga IX and X in dorsal view, females; 18, 20 – sternum VIII in ventral view, females, sv – spiculum ventrale. 13 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) cloueti (Portevin, 1907) (HT); 14–17, 20 – P. (A.) lackneri sp. nov. (14 – PT, Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane, Morocco; 15, 16, 20 – AT; 17 – PT, Oukaïmeden, Morocco); 18, 19 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (Oukaïmeden, Morocco).

Figs 26–29. 26, 28 – general habitus, males; 27, 29 – general habitus, females. 26, 27 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. (27 – HT, 29 – AT); 28, 29 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (Oukaïmeden, Morocco).

Figs 33–40. 33, 35, 37, 39 – punctation of elytron in dorsal view, males; 34, 36, 38 – pubescence of elytron in lateral view, males; 40 – posterior margin of pronotum in posterolateral view, male. 33, 34 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. (PT, Oukaïmeden, Morocco); 35, 36 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (Oukaïmeden, Morocco); 37, 38 – P. (A.) cloueti (Portevin, 1907) (Kairous, Algeria); 39, 40 – P. (A.) henroti Růžička, 1996 (HT).

Figs 41–48. 41 – protarsus, male; 42 – protibia in dorsolateral view, male; 43, 47 – protarsus, females; 44, 46, 48 – mesotibia in lateral view, males; 45 – detail of basal protarsomeres, female. 41–45 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. (41, 42, 44 – PT, Oukaïmeden, Morocco; 43, 45 – AT); 46, 47 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (Oukaïmeden, Morocco); 48 – P. (A.) cloueti (Portevin, 1907) (Kairous, Algeria).

Figs 49–54. 49, 51, 53 – metatibia in lateral view, males; 50 – antenna, male; 52 – antenna, female; 54 – pronotum, male.49 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. (PT, Oukaïmeden,Morocco); 50–52 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (Oukaïmeden, Morocco); 53–54 – P. (A.) cloueti (Portevin, 1907) (Kairous, Algeria).

Figs 55–58. 55 – habitat of Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. and P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (Oukaïmeden, Morocco, 22.v.2009); 56 – habitat of P. (A.) bolivari (Mischlifen, Morocco, 27.v.2011); 57 – nest of Messor abdelazizi Santschi, 1921, under a stone on a pasture (Oukaïmeden, Morocco, 20.v.2011); 58 – male of P. (A.) bolivari in the nest of Messor abdelazizi (Oukaïmeden, Morocco, 20.v.2011). Photographs by P. Koniar and M. Švarc.

Fig. 59. Distribution of Philomessor (Attumbrinus) Jeannel, 1936 in the northwest of Africa.

Figs 9–12. Genital segments in ventral view, males. 9, 10 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) lackneri sp. nov. (9 – PT, Tizi-n-Tretten near Ifrane, Morocco; 10 – HT); 11 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936 (HT); 12 – P. (A.) cloueti (Portevin, 1907) (Kairous, Algeria).

Figs 30–32. General habitus of types with original labels, males. 30 – Philomessor (Attumbrinus) cloueti (Portevin, 1907), holotype; 31 – P. (A.) bolivari Jeannel, 1936, lectotype; 32 – P. (A.) henroti Růžička, 1996, holotype. An asterisk ‘*’ denotes upper and under side of the same label.