Lacon mertliki, Kundrata & Németh & Jarzabek-Müller, 2019

Kundrata, Robin, Németh, Tamás & Jarzabek-Müller, Andrea, 2019, Description of Lacon mertliki sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae) from the Hyrcanian forest ecoregion, with a key to the Lacon species of Iran, European Journal of Taxonomy 535, pp. 1-13 : 3-8

Lacon mertliki sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:168C9BE1-BC15-411C-9614-15303E8CB8C4

Figs 1 A–D, 2A–B, E–H, K, 3B–G

Diagnosis

Lacon mertliki sp. nov. is morphologically similar to L. lepidopterus . Both species share the body shape and size, type of pubescence, short antennae, pronotal disc with tubercles and impressions, and the similar shape of genitalia. They differ in the coloration of body (reddish brown to dark brown in L. lepidopterus , black in L. mertliki sp. nov.) and pubescence (usually uniformly golden and black in L. lepidopterus , black and silver/yellowish with some white setae in L. mertliki sp. nov.; Figs 1 A–H, 4A), the shape of pronotum (posterior angles more divergent in L. lepidopterus , especially in male; Fig. 2 A–D), scutellar shield (relatively narrower in L. lepidopterus ; Fig. 2 G–J), male parameral apical lobes ( Fig. 3 A–B) and the spines of the large sclerite of bursa copulatrix ( Fig. 3G here and fig. 11 in Prosvirov 2016b). Lacon punctatus shares with L. mertliki sp. nov. the body shape and size, black coloration and scale-like body pubescence, but it differs in black and white setae, slightly longer antennae, the shape of pronotal disc (longer than wide, usually widest at posterior angles, and with posterior angles more divergent in L. punctatus ; slightly wider than long, widest at half, and with posterior angles less divergent in L. mertliki sp. nov.), aedeagus (apical lobe of paramere more subparallel-sided and with more rounded apex in L. punctatus ), and the large sclerite of bursa copulatrix (thinner sclerite in L. punctatus ). Remaining Lacon species from Iran have thinner, hair-like body pubescence, lack distinct tubercles and impressions on pronotal disc, and all also differ in the male and female genitalia. Additionally, Lacon modestus and L. mekrani differ from L. mertliki sp. nov. mainly in having a shiny, lighter body with sparser punctation, distinct sublateral carina on pronotal posterior angles, and prominent oblique keels on elytra near scutellar shield covered with thin setae, L. unicolor and L. nadaii in having more elongate pronotum, distinctly longer than wide, and L. funebris in much sparser and smaller pronotal punctation.

Etymology

The species name is a patronym in honor of Josef Mertlík (Opatovice nad Labem, Czech Republic).

Type material

Holotype

IRAN • ♂; “Pers. Kopet-Dagh., Siaret [= Iran, Golestan: Ziarat], 1160 m., 5.99. Col. Hauser ”; NHMW.

Paratypes

IRAN • 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; NHMW • 1 ♀; “ Persia, Astrabad. [= Iran , Golestan: Gorgan], 5.99. Coll. Hauser ”; NHMW • 1 ♀; “ Iran, Golestan Prov., near Tangrah , 494 m a.s.l., 37.39472° N, 55.79771° E, 5.X.2016. leg. J. Müller ”; PCAJM • 1 ♀; “ Iran , Mazandaran Prov., S Galugah, 1200 m a.s.l., in brown rotting log, 6.X.2016. leg. F. Lange ”; PCFL • 1 ♀; “ Iran, Gilan Prov., Shafarood forest, 1138 m a.s.l., 36.652° N, 53.841° E, Natural forest , window trap, month July 2018, leg. F. Kazerani ”; PCAJM .

Description

Male holotype ( Figs 1 A–C, 2A, E, G, K, 3B–C)

SIZE. 15.3 mm long, 4.8 mm wide.

BODY AND COLOR. Elongate, very slightly convex, matt, blackish; articulations of legs and tarsi reddish brown to dark brown. Body densely covered with combination of black (majority) and silver/yellowish

scale-like setae, with some additional white setae. Antennomeres II–XI covered with combination of blackish and yellowish hair-like; mouthparts covered with yellowish hair-like setae.

HEAD. Wider than long; frons with moderately deep median depression. Punctures coarse and dense, almost contiguous; surface between punctures smooth. Labrum transverse, convex, finely punctate, anteriorly rounded, with long, semi-erect hair-like pubescence. Mandible robust, relatively short, bidentate, basally with large punctures and long hair-like setae. Maxillary palp relatively short, apical palpomere securiform, more than 1.5 times as long as wide, apically obliquely widened, flattened and truncated. Antennae reaching near middle of pronotum, distinctly serrate from antennomere III. Scape long, robust, notably thicker than others; length ratio of antennomeres II–V as 1.0:2.0:1.8:1.8; antennomere II minute, short, slightly wider than long; antennomere III elongate; antennomeres IV–X about equal in shape, about as long as wide to slightly wider; last antennomere almost obovate. Antennae covered with moderately dense, decumbent, blackish hair-like setae, inner sides of antennomeres II–XI covered with additional erect yellowish hair-like setae.

PRONOTUM. Slightly wider than long (length 4.2 mm; width 4.3 mm), widest medially; sides widely rounded, slightly sinuate before posterior angles, from about half distinctly narrowed toward anterior margin; anterior angles short, sharp, reaching about half length of each eye; posterior angles rather short, flattened, very slightly divergent, almost rectangular. Pronotal disc with two pairs of tubercles in centre of disc laterally from median impression; anterior pair somewhat larger than posterior pair; with two deep distinct impressions before half, laterally from centre of disc, and two pairs of smaller and moderately deep impressions in the anterior and posterior third, respectively. Median depression on pronotal disc somewhat shortly divided by central part with tubercles; posterior part of depression very wide and deep; anterior part of depression shorter, rather narrow and shallow. Punctation of pronotum similar to punctation on head. Pronotosternal sutures deeply grooved almost over entire length. Prosternum elongate, about 2.5 times as long as wide, punctate similarly as pronotum; prosternal lobe short, with equally rounded anterior margin; surface rough, wrinkled. Hypomeron with slightly denser and smaller punctures than punctures on prosternum; basally with smooth depression. Prosternal process slightly more than 3 times as long as diameter of procoxal cavity, with weak prominence near apex, narrowly rounded apically. Mesoventrite transverse; mesoventral cavity with well-defined walls; mesoventral process wide, apically truncate. Metaventrite robust, with large punctures; discrimen long, almost reaching anterior margin. Metacoxal plate narrowed at about half; wider part with posterior margin bisinuate. Scutellar shield about 1.35 times as long as wide, distinctly declined, flat, tongue-shaped, anterior margin weakly emarginate medially, sides subparallel, posteriorly weakly rounded, with large deep punctures, pubescence same as on elytra. Elytra slightly wider than pronotum, widest at about ⅓, together about 2.2 times as long as wide (length 10.5 mm; width 4.8 mm), about 2.5 times as long as pronotum; subparallel-sided from humeri to posterior ⅓, then slightly tapering to apex. Disc of elytra slightly convex near humeri, abruptly declined near scutellar shield, almost flattened after humeri, without striae but with elongate longitudinal keel running from humeri to about ⅔ of elytral length, moderately densely covered with punctures subequal in size and shape, usually separated by about diameter of puncture. Epipleura complete, distinctly narrowed after metacoxae; its broader part covered with scale-like setae, narrower part covered with hair-like setae. Hind wings completely developed, reaching apex of elytra. Leg moderately long; tarsomere I slightly longer than combined lengths of tarsomeres II and III, but shorter than combined lengths of tarsomeres II–IV; tarsomeres II–IV longer than wide but relatively short, each one slightly shorter than preceding one; apical tarsomere longest, slender; pretarsal claws simple, slightly curved, each basally with long seta.

ABDOMEN. Ventrites moderately densely covered with small punctures; punctures larger and denser on ventrite 1 and on sides of each ventrite; apical ventrite rounded apically. Tergite IX transverse, wider than long, medially gradually emarginate. Tergite X slightly longer than wide, apically gradually rounded, finely punctate and covered with sparse setae. Sternite IX elongate, less than three times as long as wide, basally somewhat truncate, sides slightly constricted medially, apically equally rounded, covered with short setae, mainly at apex. Aedeagus elongate, about 3.2 times as long as wide. Median lobe elongate, slightly shorter than parameres, with short, robust basal struts, narrowed toward apex, apically narrowly rounded. Paramere elongate, gradually slightly narrowed toward apical lobe; apical lobe robust, elongate, rounded apically, with outer margin slightly emarginate, with short, stout, distinct lateral subapical hook. Phallobase relatively small, short, wider than long, U-shaped.

Female ( Figs 1D , 2B, F, H , 3 D–G)

Similar in body size and shape to male (body 15.5–17.5 mm long; 4.6–5.5 mm wide); slightly more robust than in male. Antenna slightly shorter, serrated antennomeres of different shape than in male, with serrations much wider and more distinctly widely rounded; erect setae on inner sides of antennomeres less numerous. Pronotal tubercles and impressions more developed; posterior angles slightly more divergent. Scutellar shield relatively wider, 1.15–1.20 times longer than wide. Tergite VIII subtriangular, wider than long, covered with fine punctures, apico-laterally with several short setae. Sternite VIII widely triangular, apically rounded, medially less sclerotized, sparsely covered with fine punctures and short setae; spiculum ventrale about 2.75 times sternite length. Ovipositor relatively long; paraprocts about 4.5 times as long as gonocoxites; styli present, short, subapically attached to gonocoxites. Bursa copulatrix membranous, sac-like, with large sclerite covered with short spinules and long spines, narrowed medially; distal small sclerite slender, transverse.

Distribution

Iran (Gilan, Golestan, Mazandaran). This species is probably distributed across the whole Hyrcanian forest belt.

Collecting circumstances

Fresh material was collected in floodplain forests of the Golestan National Park and in montane primeval beech forests in the Mazandaran and Gilan provinces ( Fig. 5A ). Lacon mertliki sp. nov. was found in large logs of brown rotten wood ( Fig. 5B ) of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey. and Alnus subcordata C.A.Mey. , along with other beetle species like Clinidium marginicolle Reitter, 1889 , Omoglymmius germari (Ganglbauer, 1891) (both Rhysodidae ), Prostomis elburica Fleischer, 1919 (Prostomidae) , Aesalus ulanowskyi Ganglbauer, 1887 (Lucanidae) , Ampedus elegantulus (Schönherr, 1817) (Elateridae) , and Uloma culinaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tenebrionidae) (J. Müller, pers. com.).

Taxonomic remarks on L. unicolor and L. nadaii

Lacon unicolor was described from Iran ( Candèze 1874) and later reported from Turkey ( Mertlik & Platia 2008). Lacon nadaii was described from Iran and compared to L. unicolor due to their similar habitus and size ( Platia & Németh 2011). Lacon nadaii was distinguished from the latter species by “the black piceous colour, shagreened dorsal surface giving a dull appearance and shorter third antennomere“ ( Platia & Németh 2011: 67). Mertlik & Németh (2014) reviewed distribution of both species and found out that L. unicolor occurs only in Iran and L. nadaii in Turkey, Iraq and Iran. However, they also reported two intermediate specimens (both in the coloration and the length of antennomere III) from Turkey and Iraq. Prosvirov (2017) recorded L. unicolor from Iraq and found out that the external morphological characters of this species vary greatly but the shape of aedeagus is more or less uniform among the different populations. We examined the name-bearing types of both L. unicolor and L. nadaii as well as a long series of specimens from Iran, Iraq and Turkey from the MNHN, HNHM, NHMW, PCRK and PCJM collections ( Fig. 4 E–G), and we can confirm the findings of Prosvirov (2017). What is more, we found out that the differences in coloration and antennal morphology between L. unicolor and L. nadaii cannot be used for a reliable identification of these species and that there is a gradual intraspecific variability in these characters. Therefore, we propose that Lacon nadaii Platia & Németh, 2011 is a junior subjective synonym of Lacon unicolor ( Candèze, 1874) .

Figures

Fig. 1. Habitus images of Lacon spp. A–C. L. mertliki sp. nov, holotype, ♂, in dorsal, ventral and lateral view, respectively. D. L. mertliki sp. nov, paratype, ♀, dorsal view. E–F. L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801), ♂ (lectotype of L. aurosquamosus (Jagemann, 1944)) in dorsal and lateral view, respectively. G–H. L. lepidopterus, ♀ from Turkey in dorsal and lateral view, respectively. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

Fig. 2. Details of pronotum, antenna, scutellar shield and elytral surface of Lacon spp. A–D. Pronotum, dorsal view. A. L. mertliki sp. nov., holotype, ♂. B. L. mertliki sp. nov., paratype, ♀. C. L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801), ♂ (lectotype of L. aurosquamosus (Jagemann, 1944)). D. L. lepidopterus, ♂ from Turkey. E–F. Antenna of L. mertliki sp. nov. E. Holotype, ♂. F. Paratype, ♀. G–J. Scutellar shield. G. L. mertliki sp. nov., holotype, ♂. H. L. mertliki sp. nov., paratype, ♀. I. L. lepidopterus, ♂. J. L. lepidopterus, ♀. K–L. Detail of elytral surface. K. L. mertliki sp. nov., holotype, ♂. L. L. lepidopterus, ♂ (lectotype of L. aurosquamosus). Scale bars: A–F = 1.0 mm; G–J = 0.5 mm; K–L = not to scale.

Fig. 3. Pregenital segments and genitalia of Lacon spp. A. L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801), ♂ (lectotype of L. aurosquamosus (Jagemann, 1944)), aedeagus, dorsal view. B–C. L. mertliki sp. nov., holotype, ♂. B. Aedeagus, dorsal view. C. Abdominal terminal segments. D–G. L. mertliki sp. nov., paratype, ♀. D. Abdominal tergite VIII. E. Abdominal sternite VIII. F. Ovipositor. G. Large sclerite of bursa copulatrix. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 5. Habitat of Lacon mertliki sp. nov. in Iran, Mazandaran province. A. Old-growth forest. B. Advanced brown rotten log.

Fig. 4. Habitus images of Lacon spp., dorsal view. A. L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801), ♀. B. L. punctatus (Herbst, 1779), ♀. C. L. modestus (Boisduval, 1835), lectotype, ♀. D. L. mekrani (Candèze, 1889), ♀. E. L. unicolor (Candèze, 1874), lectotype, ♀. F. L. unicolor, ♂. G. L. nadaii Platia & Németh, 2011, holotype, ♂. H. L. funebris (Solsky, 1881), ♂. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.