Anthrenus (Anthrenus) valenzuelai, Holloway & Herrmann, 2024

Holloway, Graham J. & Herrmann, Andreas, 2024, Anthrenus (Anthrenus) valenzuelai (Coleoptera, Dermestidae, Megatominae): a new species from Sardinia (Italy), Tunisia, and Morocco, Zootaxa 5453 (1), pp. 144-150 : 145-149

Anthrenus (Anthrenus) valenzuelai sp. nov. ( Figures 1–3 )

Specimen examined. Holotype: Anthrenus (Anthrenus) valenzuelai sp. nov. Italy, Sardinia, Siniscola, Graniro Beach (40.5868N 9.7522E), 11 th May 2022, A. Link leg., holotype male, one paratype (female) ( AHEC). One paratype (male), Bonachir, Zaghuam, Tunisia, 8 th May 2012, W. Ziegler leg. ( NHML). One paratype (male), S. Beni-Mellal, Afourer, Morocco (32.21079, -6.541244), 27 th May 1972, E. Konzelmann leg. ( GHEC). One paratype (female), Gafsa env., Tunisia centr. (34.431843, 8.780872), 5 th April 2001, M. Snízek leg. ( GHEC). One paratype (male) Azrou, Morocco [from flowers] (33.426164N -5.196789) 14 th May 2023, E. Valenzuela leg ( AHEC).

External characteristics. Holotype ( Fig. 1A , BL = 3.1 mm, BW = 2.2 mm) has small, amber coloured ocellus on centre of head just below level of top of eyes. Lower half of inner margin of each eye emarginated. Integument on head, thorax and basal part of elytra very dark brown, becoming reddish on elytra away from dark base towards apices. Dorsal surface covered in very dark brown, pale orangey brown, cream, and white scales. Cream scales largely restricted to and forming a pale trans-elytral sub-basal fascia broadest at outer margins, becoming progressively narrower towards elytral suture until about ¾ across each elytron where the fascia sweeps up to meet small, dark, triangular scutellar shield. Each elytron has two spots of white scales, one sub-apical and close to elytral suture, the other at the same level on outer margin. Pale brown scales lie along elytral suture, around apex, and up outer margin towards pale fascia. An oblong spot of pale brown scales lies between the two spots of white scales described above. On elytral disc below pale fascia, a small number of pale brown scales line up to form three weakly defined longitudinal lines. Pronotum covered in dark brown scales with pale brown and intermixed white scales toward lateral margins. The pale brown and white scales join up across the pronotum forming four narrow bands, one along anterior margin, another at about ¼ along pronotum, a third just past halfway, and a fourth along the posterior margin. Head covered mostly in pale brown and admixed white scales with two small patches of dark brown scales above attachment points of each antenna. Legs are pale reddish brown. The hind femora are covered in dark brown, pale brown and white scales on anterior face. Fewer scales on mid femora, and barely any on front femora. Tibiae and tarsi devoid of scales. Ventrites ( Fig. 1B ) covered in white scales. The outer margins of ventrites 2–5 carry elongated spots of black scales, more or less equally sized on each sternite. The whole ventrite margin is covered by these black scales apart from a narrow patch of white scales on the posterior end of each margin. Ventrite 5 also has a single semi-circular black apical spot. Ventrite 1 has sub-marginal spots of black scales. The 11-segmented antennae ( Fig. 1C , AL = 242 µm, AW = 140 µm) is the same pale reddish brown as legs. The three segmented antennal club is narrow, gradually expanding to an asymmetric terminal segment.

Internal characteristics. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2A ) has broad, paddle-shaped parameres (PL = 484 µm), with more or less parallel outer margins giving the aedeagus a rectangular appearance. Surface of each paramere covered in thick hairs, all pointing backwards towards blunt, squared off tips. Outer edges of parameres dark brown and disc and tip of each paramere paler probably reflecting the width of the material forming parameres (pale = thin). Median lobe (ML = 466 µm) base is broad, margins bowing out slightly before converging towards finger shaped, rounded tip. A dorso-lateral aspect of aedeagus ( Fig. 2B ) shows median lobe is highly sinuate, bowed towards ventral, tip slightly turned down ventrally. Two hooked stirrups emerge from base of median lobe and point anterio-ventrally. Sternite IX ( Fig. 2C ) has broad, flat-topped posterior lobe, margins converging below the posterior lobe to form well-defined neck. From neck, margins diverge towards two anterior pointing horns.

Distribution. Fig. 3 shows the collection locations of A. valenzuelai reported here. Current evidence indicates that A. valenzuelai is distributed at least across northwestern Africa and Sardinia, Italy.

Differential diagnosis. Only three other A. pimpinellae complex species have been claimed from Italy and Tunisia and Morocco, namely A. angustefasciatus , A. goliath Saulcy in Mulsant & Rey, 1868, and A. isabellinus . Anthrenus angustefasciatus can be easily differentiated from A. valenzuelai courtesy of its dorsal colour pattern ( Holloway and Cañada Luna 2022). Anthrenus goliath ( Fig. 4A ) is larger (BL> 3.9 mm Holloway and Herrmann 2023), the pale scales are a dull brown, and the fascia is ‘squarer’, i.e., it does not become narrower towards the elytral suture. Anthrenus goliath ventrites ( Fig. 4B ) are similarly covered in white scales but the marginal spots of black scales might be narrower than A. valenzuelai . Anthrenus goliath antennae ( Fig. 4C ) are very similar to A. valenzuelai . Anthrenus goliath aedeagus ( Fig. 5A ) is slimmer, the outer margins are more bowed, and the parameres are narrower and more sharply pointed. In dorso-lateral view ( Fig. 5B ), A. goliath median lobe is less sinuous than A. valenzuelai . It is not possible to tell whether A. goliath sternite IX ( Fig. 5C ) differs from A. valenzuelai given the information available. Anthrenus isabellinus ( Fig. 6A ) is about the same size as A. valenzuelai ( Holloway et al. 2020) but it has a broader fascia just before the point where the fascia turns up towards the scutellum, and more orange/pale brown scales, especially posterior to the fascia. Anthrenus isabellinus ventrites ( Fig. 6B ) are covered in white scales but have very small to no spots of black submarginal scales on ventrite 1 and might have a smaller terminal black spot on ventrite 5. Anthrenus isabellinus antennae ( Fig. 6C ) have a broader, darker antennal club than A. valenzuelai . Anthrenus isabellinus aedeagus ( Fig. 7A ) is slimmer, narrower in the basal half, and overall, with a less ‘square’ appearance than A. valenzuelai . Anthrenus isabellinus parameres are long, slimmer, and with a more rounded tip than A. valenzuelai . Anthrenus isabellinus median lobe is long and slim with a very narrow tapering tip; in dorso-lateral view ( Fig. 7B ) A. isabellinus median lobe is evenly curved dorsally lacking the sinuosity of A. valenzuelai . Anthrenus isabellinus sternite IX ( Fig. 7C ) differs from A. valenzuelai by having a concave rather than a convex end to the posterior lobe, and obvious flaps on the inner margins of the anterior horns.

This study reinforces the importance of dissection to identify members of the A. pimpinellae complex with certainty. Accurate identification is essential to establish true distributions ( Holloway et al. 2021; 2023). In the current study, A. valenzuelai was discovered from Sardinia ( Italy), Tunisia, and Morocco. and extends the list of species of A. pimpinellae complex known with certainty from Tunisia and Morocco to three: A. angustefasciatus , A. isabellinus , and A. valenzuelai (current study); A. goliath is only known with certainty from Egypt ( Holloway and Herrmann, 2023). Anthrenus valenzuelai is added to the checklist of Dermestidae species from Italy ( Nardi and Háva 2013) along with A. isabellinus following taxonomic revision ( Holloway et al. 2020; 2023).

Etymology. Anthrenus valenzuelai is named after Enrique Valenzuela who collected one of the paratype specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype Anthrenus valenzuelai sp. nov., A: habitus dorsal aspect (scale bar = 1 mm), B: ventrites (scale bar = 1 mm), C: antenna (scale bar = 100 µm).

FIGURE 2. Holotype Anthrenus valenzuelai sp. nov., A: aedeagus dorsal aspect, B: aedeagus dorsolateral aspect, C: sternite IX. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of records of Anthrenus valenzuelai sp. nov.

FIGURE 4. Anthrenus goliath, A: habitus dorsal aspect (scale bar = 1 mm), B: ventrites (scale bar = 1 mm), C: antenna (scale bar = 100 µm).

FIGURE 5. Anthrenus goliath, A: aedeagus dorsal aspect, B: aedeagus dorsolateral aspect, C: sternite IX. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 6. Anthrenus isabellinus, A: habitus dorsal aspect (scale bar = 1 mm), B: ventrites (scale bar = 1 mm), C: antenna (scale bar = 100 µm).

FIGURE 7. Anthrenus isabellinus, A: aedeagus dorsal aspect, B: aedeagus dorsolateral aspect, C: sternite IX. Scale bars = 100 µm.