Thorictus sharafi Hava & Abdel-Dayem, 2021

Hava, Jiri, Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Aldhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The subfamily Thorictinae (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) from Saudi Arabia, ZooKeys 1029, pp. 155-174 : 155

Thorictus sharafi Hava & Abdel-Dayem sp. nov. Figs 15 , 16

Material examined.

Holotype. Saudi Arabia • 1 ex; Baha Region, Alqamh Park, Belgershi ; 19°48.407'N, 41°42.718'E; alt. 1931 m; 17 May 2010; Dr M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA . Paratypes. Saudi Arabia • 1 ex; Baha Region, Amadan, Mandaq; 20°12.163'N, 41°13.906'E; alt. 1881 m; 19 May 2010; Dr M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 1 ex; Baha Region, Shohba forest ; 20°02.723'N, 41°28.565'E; alt. 2324 m; 14 May 2010; Dr M.R. Sharaf leg. JHAC .

Description of holotype.

Body small, brown covered by short yellow setae on dorsal surfaces and short setae on ventral surfaces. Measurements (mm): TL 2.1, PW 1.1, EW 1.2. Head finely punctate with short yellow setae. Labial palpi entirely brown. Antennae brown, with 11 antennomeres, antennal club compact with three antennomeres. Pronotum as finely punctate as head, covered by short yellow setation. Lateral margin of pronotum not dentate. Pronotum in posterior part near scutellum without bumps. Ventral posterior pronotal angles without long yellow setation. Scutellum not visible from above. Elytra very finely punctate covered by short yellow setation. Each elytron in anterior part near humeri with one very small bump. Epipleuron finely punctate; anterior angles with short yellow setation. Prosternum finely punctate. Mesosternum finely punctate, mesosternal bulge. Metasternum finely punctate. Visible abdominal ventrites very finely punctate, covered by short yellow setae. First abdominal ventrite with anterior, longitudinal striation. Legs brown, covered by yellow setae.

Variability.

Body measurements (mm): TL 2.1-2.2, PW 1.0-1.1, EW 1.1-1.2.

Differential diagnosis.

This new species is similar to T dohrni John, 1965 (Ethiopia), but differs from it by the abovementioned characteristics.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a Latinized noun in the genitive case in the masculine form based on the honorific name "Dr Mostafa Sharaf," who collected the specimens of this species.

Ecological notes.

This new species inhabits areas at elevations of 1881-2324 m within the African pencil cedar forest, Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. ( Cupressaceae ) in the Baha Province (Figs 17 , 18 ). All specimens were collected by hand-picking under stones during May. Host unknown.

Geographical distribution.

This species is known only from its type locality in the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia, at Alqamh Park, Amadan, and Shohba Forest in the Baha Province (Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Map of Saudi Arabian provinces and distribution of Thorictinae species.

Figure 15. Habitus dorsal aspect of Thorictus sharafi Hava & Abdel-Dayem, sp. nov.

Figures 16. Thorictus sharafi Hava & Abdel-Dayem, sp. nov. a head lateral eye b ventral setation on pronotum and metepisternum, T dohrni John, 1965 c head lateral eye d ventral setation on pronotum and metepisternum (according to John 1963).

Figure 17. Photo of African pencil cedar forest, Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. (Cupressaceae), living habitat of Thorictus sharafi Hava & Abdel-Dayem, sp. nov. holotype at Alqamh Park, Belgershi, Baha Province, in the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia, at 1931 m elevation.

Figure 18. Living habitat of Thorictus sharafi Hava & Abdel-Dayem sp. nov. paratype in the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia, Baha Province, within the African pencil cedar forest, Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. (Cupressaceae) of Shohba forest at 2324 m elevation.