Brachinus (Brachinoaptinus) tashkenticus Kirschenhofer, 1986

Anichtchenko, Alexandr, 2024, Notes on the subgenus Brachinoaptinus Lutshnik, 1926 of Central Asia (Coleoptera Carabidae, Brachinus), Baltic Journal of Coleopterology (Basel, Switzerland) 24 (2), pp. 155-160 : 156

Brachinus (Brachinoaptinus) tashkenticus Kirschenhofer, 1986 status rest.

(loc. Typ.: Cimgan, 2400m [Chimgan Mt.])

Material: 6m, 5f: Uzbekistan, Chatkal Mt. Rng., Aksay riv., snow spot, 41°30’46.0N 70°02’32.9E , 2200m, 9- 10.8.2021, Anichtchenko A. Leg. (cAA, DUBC); 1 ex: Uzbekistan, Chimgan , Tien-Shan Occid., 10.V.1992, Karasjov (RSc); 2 ex: Uzbekistan, Tashkent env., E slope of B. Tshimgan Mt., 13-16.V. 1993, Kabak & Molchanov (RSc); 2 ex: W. Tien Shan , 2200m, NW part of Chatkal ridge, Tashkent env., Chimgan, J. Kalab leg. 25- 27.7.1990 (RSc)

Differential diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from all known central

156 asian species of the subgenus by the combinaton of the following features: very small body size 4.6-5.4 mm, dark brown elytra (sometimes with very weak bluish reflexion), slender legs, very long antennae and elongate, very sparsely punctate pronotum ( Figs. 1 , 4). The only other known unicolored species B. (Brachinoaptinus) kryzhanovskii Belousov & Kabak, 1992 (Valley of the Karakuldzha) shows upperside entirely dark blackish and it has a larger body size 7.1-8.5 mm. The two other known taxa B. (Brachinoaptinus) tianshanicus Michailov, 1976 s.str. and B. (Brachinoaptinus) tianshanicus aktashiensis Kirschenhofer, 1986 are bicolored, with the head and pronotum reddish and elytra bright blue or green.

Male genitalia. ( Fig. 7 ) Median lobe of aedeagus with rounded protuberance ventrally on right side ( Fig. 7b ). The tube is bent before the middle at an obtuse angle. The everted endophallus is almost parallel to the axis of the aedeagus ( Figs 7 c-e).

Distribution. Chimgan mountain (Chatkal Mountain range).

Figures

Figs 1-3. Habitus of Brachinoaptinus, males. 1 – B. (B.) tashkenticus Kirschenhofer, 1986; 2 – B. (B.) tianshanicus s.str. Michailov, 1976; 3 – B. (B.) tianshanicus aktashiensis Kirschenhofer, 1986 (Paratype).

Figs. 7-9. Aedeagus, a – dorsal view, b – right dorso-lateral view, c-e – everted endophallus, f – lateral view. 7 – B. (B.) tashkenticus Kirschenhofer, 1986; 8 – B. (B.) tianshanicus s.str. Michailov, 1976; 9 – B. (B.) tianshanicus aktashiensis Kirschenhofer, 1986 (loc. Type, a – lateral view, b – ventral view).