Anthomalachius Tshernyshev, 2009

Tshernyshev, Sergei E., 2009, Anthomalachius, a new genus of soft-winged flower beetles (Coleoptera, Malachiidae: Malachiinae), Zootaxa 2094 (1), pp. 23-35 : 24-25

Anthomalachius Tshernyshev , gen. n.

Type species: Clanoptilus strangulatus ( Abeille de Perrin, 1885) , by present designation.

Diagnosis. Anthomalachius belongs to the tribe Malachiini , near Cyrtosus Motschulsky and Axinotarsus Motschulsky. It can be separated from the genus Cyrtosus by the slender first antennal segment, uniformly dark coloration of the pronotum and structure of the elytral appendage ( Figs. 2 , 10 , 19 ). The longitudinal pronotum strongly impressed near the hind angles, bunches of dark bristles in apical segments of tarsi, triangular impression and specific structure of the appendage differentiate Anthomalachius from Axinotarsus . The complex of characters mentioned above separates this new genus from Clanoptilus , which previously included these species. The shape of the male elytral appendage is quite specific and is a special character of the genus Anthomalachius in comparison with the other representatives of the Malachiini ; it is comparable only with the same structure of some Axinotarsus or Anthocomus species. Other distinguishable characters are given below, in the key to genera of the tribe Malachiini .

Description. Mid-size malachiid beetles, ranging from 4 to 5.5 mm in length ( Figs. 39–44 ). Surface almost completely dark-green with metallic luster except for elytral apices, mouthparts and thoracic mesepimera orange or yellow; covered with black, erect and slightly adpressed hairs. Antenna 11-segmented ( Fig. 8 ), moniliform in both sexes, long, reaching basal half of elytra; the 1 st antennomere slighly enlarged, clavate; 2 nd antennomere the smallest, half as long as 3 rd antennomere; remaining segments elongate, cylindrical, subparallel. Interocular plate on head between antenna very slightly impressed at middle. Pronotum longitudinal, strongly impressed near the basal sides, with elevate margins near the hind angles. Thoracic mesepimera and vesicles yellow. Front tarsi 5-segmented, all segments simple, distal tarsomere with several strong long dark bristles. Elytral apices in male with transverse depressions which are very fine (as in A. foveatus ) or strong (as in A. strangulatus ). Appendage arranged on sutural side of elytral apex, lacking in A. foveatus , very small in A. pseudospinosus and quite large in A. stragulatus ; complete appendage consists of oval vertical plate and two smaller plates above and underneath bearing groups of hairs. Apical tergite elongate, rectangular ( Fig. 3 , 11 , 20 , 28 , 34 ); apical sternite transverse, semi-round, narrowly and strongly emarginate in the middle ( Fig. 4 , 12 , 21 , 29 , 35 ); phallic tegmen (parameres) with elongate processes widened in the apical half ( Fig. 13 ); aedeagus typically malachiine, but sharper and with complex arrangement of inner sac structure ( Fig. 14, 15 ).

Distribution. All species of the genus Anthomalachius are limited in their distributions, as follows: central, eastern and southern Europe, North Africa - A. spinosus (Er.) ( Fig. 7 ); from Central Europe ( Germany, Italy, Hugary, Ukraine, Russia) to Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) - A. strangulatus (Ab.) ( Fig. 16 ); Central Asia ( Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan) - A. senylia (Tshern.) ( Fig. 25 ); South-East Kazakhstan, Turkey - A. pseudospinosus (Medv.) ( Fig. 32 ); Transcaspian (Kazakstan, Russia) and Mongolia - A. foveatus (Medv.) ( Fig. 38 ).

Habitat. Specimens have been collected from shrubs and grasses along riversides.

Etymology. The name of the genus is derived from parts of two generic names, both of which bear resemblance to the new genus: Antho [comus] and Malachius .

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Anthomalachius spinosus (Erichson, 1840), male, apex of left elytra, dorsal (1); appendage in elytral apex, lateral (2); apical tergite (3); apical sternite (4); tegmen (5); aedeagus, lateral (6); locality (7). Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 8–16. Anthomalachius strangulatus (Abeille de Perrin,1885), male, right antenna (8); apex of left elytra, dorsal (9); appendage in elytral apex, lateral (10); apical tergite (11); apical sternite (12); tegmen (13); aedeagus, dorsal (14); aedeagus, lateral (15); locality (16). Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 17–25. Anthomalachius senylia (Tshernyshev, 2000), male, right antenna (17); apex of left elytra, dorsal (18); appendage in elytral apex, lateral (19); apical tergite (20); apical sternite (21); tegmen (22); aedeagus, lateral (23); aedeagus, dorsal (24); locality (25). Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 39–44. Anthomalachius spp., male habiti, A. spinosus (Erichson, 1840) (39); A. strangulatus (Abeille de Perrin,1885) (40); A. senylia (Tshernyshev, 2000) (41); A. pseudospinosus (Medvedev, 1964) dorsally (42), and ventrally (43); A. foveatus (Medvedev, 1964) (44). Scale bar 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 26–32. Anthomalachius pseudospinosus (Medvedev, 1964), male, apex of left elytra, dorsal (26); appendage in elytral apex, lateral (27); apical tergite (28); apical sternite (29); tegmen (30); aedeagus, lateral (31); locality (32). Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 33–38. Anthomalachius foveatus (Medvedev, 1964), male, apex of left elytra, dorsal (33); apical tergite (34); apical sternite (35); tegmen (36); aedeagus, lateral (37); locality (38). Scale bar 0.5 mm.