Microhoria strejceki Kejval, 2020

Kejval, Zbyněk & Chandler, Donald S., 2020, Generic revision of the Microhoriini with new species and synonymies from the Palaearctic Region (Coleoptera: Anthicidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 60 (1), pp. 95-154 : 146

Microhoria strejceki Kejval , sp. nov. ( Fig. 121 )

Type locality. Tajikistan, Aruk-Tau Mts, Gara-Vuti env., pr. Shaartuz, cca 600 m.

Type material. HOLOTYPE:, ‘USSR-Tadžikistan 21.4.1978 Aruk-Tau (cca 600 m) Gara-Vuti env. (pr. Šaartuz) J. Strejček lgt. [p]’ ( NMPC) . PARATYPES: 2, same data as holotype ( ZKDC); 1, ‘USSR Tadžikistan Babatag Mts. 30.4.1977 J. Strejček lgt. [p]’ ( ZKDC); 2 ♀♀, ‘USSR Tadžikistan Babatag Mts. 30.4.1977 Sv. Bílý lgt. [p]’ ( NMPC); 1, ‘USSR, Tardzjekistan, 1981 Hissar Mts., 1.300 –1.600 m 50 km N Dushanbe, 19.6. GUSHARA,Varzob river Karel Majer leg.[p]’ ( ZKDC); 2, ‘ SU, Tadshikistan, Pamir Dschailgan, Muxu-Ufer b. Dep-Schaar, 2150m NN 29.VI.1990, leg. Hartmann [h; partly illegible] // Microhoria nepticula Bonadona det. GUhmann1991 [p+h]’ ( ZSMC).

Description. Male (holotype). Body length 3.5 mm. Head black; pronotum reddish, disc darkened medially; elytra yellowish, with brown apex, base, wide transverse band at about mid-length, and suture in basal half (narrowly connecting basal spot with band); femora brown, tibiae and tarsi yellowish to pale reddish; antennae reddish-brown, antennomeres I, VII–XI distinctly darkened.

Head moderately elongate, 1.3 times as long as wide, widely rounded posteriorly (posterior angles indistinct); eyes small, at most moderately convex. Surface glossy, minutely but distinctly punctate; punctures distinctly spaced, sparser medially; setation short, subdecumbent to appressed. Antennae moderately enlarged in apical half; antennomeres X as long as wide, XI 2.4 times as long as wide.

Pronotum 1.1 times as long as wide, moderately narrower than head including eyes, evenly rounded anteriorly, pronotal disc moderately convex, outline in dorsal view with lateral margins nearly straightly narrowing posteriorly. Surface glossy, minutely punctate; punctation and setation as on head.

Elytra 1.9 times as long as wide, subparallel, slightly impressed medially on basal half; humeri distinctly protruding; apices modified, channel of gland forming short tubular process. Surface moderately glossy, distinctly and densely punctate; punctation and setation slightly coarser than on head, with scattered, very short erect setae.

Legs slender, simple; all tibiae with paired terminal spurs.

Abdominal sternum VII slightly emarginate apically; sternum VIII forming paired subtriangular sclerites that are rounded and setose posteriorly; tergum VII and VIII simple. Aedeagus ( Fig. 121 ): tegmen elongate, narrowed and triangular (arrowhead-like) apically; endophallic armature with pair of robust, longitudinal sclerites, and clustered slender spines.

Female. Identical with male for most external characters; elytral apices simple; sternum VII simple; tergum VII simple, evenly rounded apically.

Variation. Body length (♀) 3.1–3.9 mm; pronotum entirely reddish or largely black, elytra with transverse band complete and connected with basal spot along suture, or widely interrupted medially (markings forming four widely separated spots).

Differential diagnosis. Microhoria strejceki sp. nov. belongs to the M. terminata species-group. At first sight it can be easily confused with the sympatric M. edmondi , but differs by the more widely rounded base of the head, less convex eyes, characters of the aedeagus (cf. Figs 121 versus 97), and by the simple tergum VII of the females (distinctly emarginate apically in M. edmondi ).

Etymology. Named in honour of the late Czech entomologist Jaromír Strejček, who collected part of type series, including the holotype; noun in the genitive case, standing in apposition.

Distribution. Tajikistan.

Figures

Figs 119–122. Aedeagus: 119 – Microhoria persica sp. nov., lateral view; 120 – M. sawda sp. nov., ventral (left) and lateral (right view); 121 – M. strejceki sp. nov., lateral view, and apex of tegmen in dorsal view; 122 – M. truncatipennis (Pic, 1897) comb. nov., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – A (Figs 120, 121), B (Figs 119, 122).