Euscelidius cornix sp. nov.

(Figs. 1 A–G)

Measurement. Male: 3.49–3.83mm.

Description. Coloration. Ochraceous or brownish in general color (Fig. 1A). Crown with dark brown marks, pair of spots at anterior margin followed by cross band slightly broadened in mid direction interrupted medially by longitudinal dorsal marginal ridge (Fig. 1A). Pronotum with brown to dark brown spots (Fig. 1A). Forewing yellowish brown with veins whitish in color (Figs. 1A, C). Face mostly whitish or brownish, anterior margin of frontoclypeus with paired dark brown spots (Fig. 1B).

Morphology. Head subequal to pronotum, not produced (Fig. 1A). Crown about 1.7x shorter in median length than breadth between eyes (Fig. 1A). Ocelli near anterior margin, close to eyes (Fig. 1C). Frontoclypeus shagreen, moderately narrow (Fig. 1B). Anteclypeus slightly widened apically (Fig. 1B). Forewing macropterous, rounded apically, with multiple cross veins, four apical and three anteapical cells (Fig. 1C).

Male genitalia. Pygofer side longer than high, with numerous well arranged macrosetae posteriorly, dorsoapical margin with incision near to mid-length (Fig. 1D). Subgenital plates triangular, more in length than basal width, apically rounded, with single row of macrosetae laterally (Fig. 1E). Style with apophysis very short, rounded, lobelike (Fig. 1E). Valve broadly triangular (Fig. 1E). Connective “Y”-shaped with arms well separated from each other, stem shorter than arms (Fig. 1F). Aedeagal shaft broad at base dorsally, gradually tapered towards apex, lateral margin smooth, apically notched with pair of laterally directed small appendages (Fig. 1F). Aedeagal shaft broad at basal half in lateral view, then declivous apically forming beak-like structure (Fig. 1G).

Type material. Holotype: ♂, PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naran Valley, 2409m, August 2018, Coll. Hassan Naveed (LSNU) . Paratypes: 1♂, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naran Valley, 2409m, July 2017, Coll. Hassan Naveed (NWAFU); 1♂, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naran Valley, 2409m, July 2016, Coll. Hassan Naveed (LSNU); 2♂, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Rawalakot City, 1638m, 24 August 2018, Coll. Hassan Naveed (LSNU) .

Remarks. This species resembles other Euscelidius Ribaut species in habitus color pattern but can readily be differentiated by the short, rounded style apophysis and aedeagal shaft with laterally directed apical appendages dorsally, broadened at the basal half and the crow’s beak-like apex in lateral view.

Etymology. The species epithet is the Latin noun ‘cornix’ meaning crow, referring to the crow-like aedeagal shaft in lateral view.