Epirotyphlus janae Hlaváč, Janák & Baňař, sp. nov.

Figs 55–76, 86–87

Material studied. Holotype, ♂: SERBIA with one label “SERBIA or. 22.v.2024 / Majdan Kučajna, 230m / 44.44561 N, 21.63905 E / soil washing, J. Janák lgt. / hornbeam forest“ [white, printed] (JJRC) . Paratypes: 2♂♂, 3♀♀ same data as for holotype (1♂, 3♀♀ in JJRC, 1♂ in MMBC) .

Diagnosis. Gular sutures confluent anteriorly slightly behind midlength of head capsule (Fig. 61); antennae long, antennomeres 3–10 transverse; antennomeres 5 larger than 4 and 6; antennal club composed from five antennomeres (Figs 62–63), incrassate, last four antennomeres setose, with sensorial appendages which are inserted on lower part and oriented towards upper part of antennomere (Fig. 63); procoxal cavities rounded on anterior margin, with small excision on lateral part (Fig. 65, arrow); tergites 1–5 (IV–VIII) and visible sternites 2–4 (IV–VI) (Fig. 57) lacking basal impression (Fig. 57); tarsal formula 3-3-3 (Figs 71–73); aedeagus elongate, about 3 times as long as wide; distal, ventral part of median lobe with deep excision, lateral arms truncate; lacking parameres, lateral protrusions of median lobe short (Figs 74, 75). Terminal abdominal segments of female (Fig. 76) with one paired longitudinal sclerite and large asymmetric structure in middle.

Description. Body (Figs 55, 56) about 0.9 mm long, completely depigmented.

Head capsule (Fig. 58) about 1.2 wider than long; about as wide and as long as pronotum; head capsule separated from neck region by occipital constriction, neck region retracted into pronotum; gular sutures (Fig. 61) confluent anteriorly slightly behind midlength of head capsule; maxillary palpi (Fig. 60) with palpomere 2 dilated, about as wide as 3 and about half of length of 3; palpomere 4 very small.

Antennae (Figs 62, 63) long, scape about 1.45 times as long as pedicel, about 1.2 times as long as wide; pedicel as long as wide, 3.5 times as long as antennomere 3; antennomeres 3–10 transverse; antennomeres 5 larger than 4 and 6; antennal club composed from five antennomeres, incrassate, 10 slightly wider than long, elliptical, terminal antennomere subspherical. Last four antennomeres (Fig. 63) setose, with sensorial appendages which are inserted on lower part and oriented towards upper part of antennomere.

Pronotum (Fig. 64) about 1.1 times as wide as long, widest in anterior third, after that convergent posteriad; anterior angles widely rounded; posterior angles sharper; about 1.1 times as long as elytra.

Venter, prosternum (Fig. 65) fused with proepisternum, procoxal cavities rounded on anterior margin, with small excision (Fig. 65, arrow) on lateral part.

Elytra (Fig. 64) about as long as wide, widest on posterior margin.

Abdomen long, considerably longer than length of head capsule, pronotum and elytra combined. Visible tergites 1–5 (IV–VIII) and visible sternites 2–4 (IV–VI) (Fig. 57) lacking basal impression. Visible sternite 6 (IX) of male (Figs 67, 68) symmetric, visible sternite 7 (IX) in male (Fig. 70) with small setae; sparsely setose in posterior half, visible tergite 7 (X) with median posterior excision which is prolonged with wide, deep impression (Fig. 69). Visible tergite 5 (VIII) (Fig. 66) 1.25 times as long as wide.

Legs (Figs 71–73) short, all tibia distally dilated, tarsal formula 3-3-3; first tarsomere longer than 2, 3 longer than 1 and 2 combined.

Aedeagus (Figs 74, 75) about 0.17 mm long, elongate, about 3 times as long as wide; distal, ventral part of median lobe with deep excision, lateral arms truncate; basal part less than half of length of median lobe; with elongate, long, internal apophysis; lacking parameres, lateral protrusions of median lobe short. Terminal abdominal segments of female (Fig. 76) with one paired longitudinal sclerite and large asymmetric structure in middle.

Etymology. Patronymic, named after Jana Janáková, the wife of the second author to thank her for being a companion on trips to the Balkan countries.

Remarks. E. janae has the same type of the aedeagus as E. zecevici but it differs from latter mainly by apically narrowed lateral projections and truncate lateral arms of median lobe (Pace 1984, Figs 2–4).

Natural History. All specimens were collected by soil-washing on a south-facing slope above the road at the edge of a deciduous forest (hornbeam, hazel, maple, oak). Volume of sample was about 100 liters (Figs 86–87).

Distribution. Serbia.