Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) kovaci Sustek , 2000

Makranczy, Gyoergy, 2015, Description of the male of Leptotyphluskovaci Sustek, 2000, the only Central European species of the Mediterranean genus Leptotyphlus Fauvel, 1874 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Leptotyphlinae), ZooKeys 509, pp. 141-146 : 143-144

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) kovaci Sustek, 2000 Figs 1-6, 7-10

Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) kovaci Šustek, 2000: 151.

Material examined.

SLOVAKIA, Silická planina, 1 km SSE Ardovo, Ardovská jaskyňa, dark oak-maple forest at cave entrance, 310 m, top 15 cm of soil (roots, stones, humus), soil-washing {016}, 48°31 ’18” N, 20°25 ’16” E, 30.V.2009, leg. Gy. Makranczy (1 male, 2 females, HNHM, 1 female, BMNH); SLOVAKIA, Jelšavský kras, Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa, 1.5 km E Jelšavská Teplica, forest at cave entrance, 230 m, soil-washing 1-4 m from outcoming stream, 20 cm deep {115}, 48°36 ’18” N, 20°17 ’42” E, 25.IV.2010, leg. Gy. Makranczy (1 male, HNHM).

Partial redescription

(male). Measurements in mm (separately for male from Ardovská jaskyňa / male from Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa): head width = 0.14 / 0.155; maximum width of pronotum = 0.135 / 0.15; maximum width of elytra = 0.12 / 0.14; maximum width of abdomen = 0.14 / 0.15; head length from front margin of clypeus to the beginning of neck = 0.14 / 0.14; length of pronotum in the middle-line = 0.14 / 0.16; length of elytra from hind apex of scutellum = 0.09 / 0.10; length of abdomen = 0.71 / 0.75 (all measured from dorsal view). Forebody as in Fig. 1 ( Ardovská jaskyňa) and Fig. 4 ( Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa). Head subrectangular, length about 4/5 of width, parallel-sided, neck separated by transversal groove. Pronotum very slightly narrower than head, both anterior and posterior pronotal margins truncate, sides narrowing behind, gently arched anteriorly, more strongly on posterior portion; anterior angles narrowly rounded, posterior angles more broadly. Elytra together less broad than pronotum, trapezoid, shoulders not developed, posterior margin almost truncate, very slightly concave at suture. Abdomen ( Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa) as in Fig. 5, very elongate and parallel-sided; segment VII with much shortened inner laterosclerites. Antenna ( Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa) as in Fig. 6, antennomeres 3-11 strongly transverse, articles 9-11 with modified setae. Dissected genital segments of male from Ardovská jaskyňa: sternite VIII (dorsal view) as in Fig. 2, segments IX–X (ventral view) as in Fig. 3.

Aedeagus (Figs 7-10). Greatly asymmetrical. Sternal lamina (l) strongly developed, elongate, with a broadened, hammer-like apex. Sternal lobe (ls) well-developed, in lateral view on the side of sternal lamina opposite to basal orifice, exceeding half length of sternal lamina; in parameral view sternal lobe situated at right side of sternal lamina. Both left and right parameres well-developed, each with 4 strong setae on apex; apices approaching but not reaching half of length of sternal lamina from basal capsule. Copulatory pieces: p1 not developed (in most other related species a large, broad blade-like structure, often approaching apex of sternal lamina), p2 present but weakly developed, without any peculiar formation, p3 (often helicoid in related species) present but inconspicuous (a little sticking out in the Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa specimen, but can be explained as variability). Proximal callus (cp) on basal capsule (cb) very strongly developed, apically with a deflexed edge.

Sexual dimorphism: none besides the usual differences in terminalia. The much wider genital segments mentioned in the original description are an artefact resulting from squeezing the specimens by mounting them between glass surfaces.

Remarks.

Based on the structures of the male genitalia, the species belongs to the subgenus Leptotyphlus as correctly stated in the original description and to the Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) tyrrhenius species group (sensu Pace (1996)). Similar species are Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) uccellinensis Pace, 1978 and Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) aithaliensis Orousset, 1983, but in Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) kovaci the sternal lobe is on the opposite side of the sternal lamina, compared to most other known species, and the p1 lobe of copulatory pieces is not developed. The sole male specimen from Gemerskoteplická jaskyňa is slightly larger, with somewhat broader head. However, the comparison of the aedeagi reveals only minor differences that may be due to infraspecific variation or distortions. There is no evidence suggesting that the two male specimens may represent different species. On the other hand, the aedeagus of Leptotyphlus (Leptotyphlus) kovaci differs quite remarkably from the most similar congeners in Tuscany and Corsica. The knowledge of the male genitalia may gain greater significance when more species are discovered, especially from more southern mountain ranges of the Carpathians or from the northern Balkans.