Laemostenus (Antisphodrus) speleophilus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2017

Tahami, Mohadeseh Sadat, Muilwijk, Jan, Lohaj, Roman & Sadeghi, Saber, 2017, Study of Laemostenus species across Zagros and Central zone of Iran, with the description of seven new cavernicolous species and notes on subgenus Iranosphodrus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Sphodrini), Zootaxa 4344 (1), pp. 115-136 : 124-125

Laemostenus (Antisphodrus) speleophilus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj , sp. nov.

( Figs. 12 , 15, 18 )

Type material. Holotype male, labelled: “Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Farsan, Baba Heidar, Sarab Cave; 8.v.2016; leg. M.S. Tahami, H. Darvishniya, Y. Bakhshi”/ Laemostenus speleophilus sp. nov. Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2016 (red label Holotype). Paratype: one male, the same data as holotype”/ Laemostenus speleophilus sp. nov. Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2016 (red label Paratype). Holotype deposited in ZM–CBSU, 1 paratype in cMU. Diagnosis. A small, brachypterous Laemostenus sg. Antisphodrus species of the zagrosensis species-group; Colour dark brown, pronotum paler and shiny, legs and antennae reddish-brown. Microsculpture of pronotum fine, head and elytra with distinct microsculpture ( Fig. 12 ).

Description. BL 13.2 (holotype)– 14.5 mm. Head narrow, longer than wide (HL/HW: 1.1), with two pairs of supraorbital setae, temples not prominent, frontal furrows distinctly impressed, eyes strongly reduced (0.4 mm), very slightly convex, distinctly shorter than temples (0.95 mm). Clypeus with two long setae; labrum with six setae. Antennae reaching anterior fourth of elytral length, antennomere 3 without accessory setae except a few apical ones, as long as antennomeres 1+2; antennomeres 4–11 pubescent.

Pronotum elongate, as wide as head; slightly longer than wide (PL/ PW: 1.1). Basal impressions distinct, long, with few punctures. Lateral margins irregularly punctate, with two pairs of setae present in lateral furrow, a pair of baso-lateral setae situated near posterior angles, a pair of antero-lateral setae situated in anterior third of pronotal length. Anterior angles slightly protruding, rounded at apex, posterior angles acute, sharp.

Elytra ovate elongate; (EL/EW: 1.6), with maximum width in posterior fourth, flattened; elytral disc with depression; base slightly wider than pronotal base. Humeri moderately rounded, tooth reduced or absent. Striae distinct, with punctures, intervals flat. Scutellar striae present; scutellar setiferous punctures situated in stria 1. Umbilicate series consists of 18 irregularly divided setiferous punctures; two setae at apex of stria 7.

Mesosternum unarmed, without teeth before mesocoxae. Abdominal sternites dull brown, with superficial wrinkles and distinct microsculpture, each sternite with two setae.

Legs elongate. Protibiae with sparse apical hairs at internal sides. Mesotibiae at ventral sides with scattered pubescence; metatibiae with dense pubescence, limited to apical fourth. Tarsi dorsally with decumbent pubescence; claws smooth. Male protarsi strongly dilated.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 15, 18 ) median lobe short (2.10 mm); slightly arcuate to short and obtuse apex in lateral view, apex very broad and widely rounded in dorsal view.

Ovipositor: unknown.

Differential diagnosis. This new species differs from L. zagrosensis sp. nov. by a more elongated head, smaller, more distinctly reduced eyes, as well as by the shape of the elytra and aedeagus.

Distribution and habitat. So far known only from the twilight zone of the type locality, Sarab cave, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.

Etymology. “Speleo” is an Italian term which has taken its origin from Latin “spēlēō ” meaning “cave”, and “ philus ” meaning “liking” or “attracted to”, generally means cave-dwelling.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 13. Habitus in dorsal view of Laemostenus zagrosensis (holotype) (11), Laemostenus speleophilus (holotype) (12), Laemostenus farsicus habitus (holotype) (13).

FIGURES 14 – 19. Aedeagus. In lateral view, Laemostenus zagrosensis (14), Laemostenus speleophilus (15), Laemostenus farsicus (16). In dorsal view, Laemostenus zagrosensis (17), Laemostenus speleophilus (18), Laemostenus farsicus (19).