Podistra (Hemipodistra) birnbacheri ( Krauss, 1894 )

Kazantsev, Sergey V., 2025, A review of Podistra subgen. Hemipodistra Ganglbauer, 1922 (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), with description of a new species from the Caucasus, Zootaxa 5660 (3), pp. 351-370 : 353-354

Podistra (Hemipodistra) birnbacheri ( Krauss, 1894)

( Figs 1A, 5A–5C, 5G).

Absidia birnbacheri Krauss, 1894: 180 .

Absidia saxicola Krauss, 1894: 181 (synonymy by Ganglbauer, 1922).

Material. 2 ♂♂, ‘Ganglb., Obir.’, ‘ Absid. birnbacheri Krauss, Ganglbauer 1905 ’ ( ICM) .

Redescription. Male. Dark brown; head from reddish brown to dark brown; elytra from light brown to dark brown; clypeus testaceous ( Fig. 1A).

Head transverse, slightly more narrow than pronotum, slightly narrowed posteriorly. Eyes small, semi-spherical, interocular distance ca. 2.1 times greater than eye diameter.Vertex with dense, moderately coarse punctation.Ultimate maxillary and labial palpomeres subequal in size and shape, gradually widening to middle and tapering distally, ca. 1.4 times longer than wide. Antennae filiform, attaining to elytral two thirds and gradually narrowing distally, antennomere 3 the widest, only ca. 1.5 times longer than wide; pedicel ca. 1.8 times shorter than antennomere 3; antennomere 4 ca. 1.3 times longer than antennomere 3; antennal pubescence on antennomeres 3–11 dense and decumbent ( Fig. 1A).

Pronotum transverse, ca. 1.2 wider than long, noticeably more narrow than elytra at humeri, widest at posterior margin, narrowing and almost truncate anteriorly and slightly incised before posterior angles, with blunt posterior and anterior angles; lateral bordering complete; punctation fine and scarce; pubescence scarce, long and erect. Scutellum elongate, almost parallel-sided, rounded at apex ( Fig. 1A).

Elytra long, completely covering abdomen, ca. 2.8 times longer than wide at humeri, slightly tapering distally, rugulose; elytral pubescence uniform, relatively long and erect ( Fig. 1A).

Legs long; femurs robust, tibiae slightly curved and narrow; tarsi long, metatarsomere length ratio 2: 1.4: 1: 1: 1.5; tarsomeres 1–3 narrow, tarsomere 4 deeply cut, widened; all claws simple ( Fig. 1A).

Aedeagus elongate, slightly narrowing distally, with elongate, slightly inwardly inclined parameres, not surpassing dorsal plate in length; laterophyses gradually narrowed distally, rounded at apex; in dorsal view, 2.5 times more narrow than dorsal plate at its infuscated transverse line; inner side of dorsal plate, in apical view, straight; phallobase semi-circular ( Figs 5A–5C, 5G).

Female. Similar to male, but body larger and wider, head not narrowed posteriorly, almost parallel-sided, antennae considerably more narrow and shorter, elytra only 2–2.5 times longer than pronotum, at suture separate, only at their apices approximate, legs shorter and slenderer ( Krauss, 1894; Ganglbauer, 1922).

Length: 5.5–8.0 mm; width at humeri: 1.7–1.8 mm (males) (also Krauss, 1894).

Distribution. Podistra (H.) birnbacheri is distributed in the Alpine zone of Southeastern Alps ( Austria: Steiner Alps, Karawanken, Dobratsch; Italy / Slovenia: Julian Alps) ( Ganglbauer, 1922).