Malthodes nabozhenkorum Kazantsev

Kazantsev, S. V., 2024, New species of Malthodes Kiesenwetter, 1852 (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) from the Greater Caucasus, with notes on distribution of the genus in the area, Russian Entomological Journal 33 (1), pp. 79-96 : 81-82

Malthodes nabozhenkorum Kazantsev , sp.n.

Figs 1 , 3, 4 , 10, 11 .

MATERIAL. Holotype, ♂, South Ossetia, Dzau District, between Edisa and Zgubir , 42°32′22″N, 44°10′55″E, 1760 m, 17.06.2023, leg. M.V. & S.V. Nabozhenko ( ICM) ; paratypes, 1♂ and 2♀♀, Georgia, Bakuriani , [1800 m], 16–18.VII.1928, D. Romashov ( ZMMU) ; 1♀, Georgia, env. Bakuriani, gorge nr Mitarbi (to Kochta Mt.) , 29.VII.1928, D. Romashov ( ICM) .

DESCRIPTION. Male. Dark brown to black; palps, except ultimate palpomeres, antennomere 1, knees, pronotal posterior angles and anterior margin narrowly testaceous; elytral middle two thirds pale brown; elytral apices yellow ( Fig. 1 ).

Head transverse, without eyes about as wide as pronotum. Eyes relatively small, spherical, interocular distance ca 2.2 times greater than eye diameter. Vertex in scarce punctuation. Ultimate maxillary and labial palpomeres ca 2 times longer than wide. Antennae filiform, almost attaining to apices of folded wings; antennomere 3 ca 1.5 times longer than pedicel (antennomere 2) and ca 1.4 times shorter than antennomere 4; antennal pubescence short and semi-erect ( Fig. 1 ).

Pronotum transverse, ca 1.4 times wider than long, slightly widening anteriorly, with somewhat concave sides, rounded posterior and blunt laterally developed anterior angles, distinctly concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly ( Fig. 1 ).

Elytra elongate, ca. 2.4 times longer than wide at humeri, parallel-sided, leaving posterior third of folded wings uncovered; elytral pubescence uniform, short and sub-erect. Scutellum transverse, narrowing distally, broadly rounded at apex ( Fig. 1 ).

Legs long and slender; femora and tibiae narrow and straight, tibiae noticeably shorter than femora; hind tarsomere length ratio 5.5: 3.4: 1.7: 1: 2.7; tarsomere 4 deeply cleft; all claws simple ( Fig. 1 ).

Ultimate sternite elongate, gradually narrowing distally and slightly widened at apex, strongly curved in lateral view; ultimate tergite elongate, slightly narrowed distally, almost truncate at apex and slightly curved before apex in lateral view; penultimate tergite elongate, distally widened, with convex sides; third from end tergite with acute lateral process ( Figs 3, 4 ).

Aedeagus oval, with prominent parameres, noticeably widened and densely pubescent at apex; laterophyses with acute dents at base, pointed and bent at apex in lateral view ( Figs 10, 11 ).

Length (from head to apices of folded elytra): 3.6–3.7 mm; width (at humeri): 0.8–0.85 mm.

FEMALE. Unknown.

ETYMOLOGY. The new species is named after Drs M. V. & S. V. Nabozhenko ( Makhachkala , Dagestan) who collected the type specimen.

DIAGNOSIS. Malthodes nabozhenkorum sp.n. is similar to M. kasantsevi Wittmer, 1992 , known from the alpine zone of mountains of Krasnodar Krai and Abkhasia, differing in the widened distally ultimate sternite ( Fig. 3 ) and presence of teeth at the base of aedeagal laterophyses ( Figs 10, 11 ), vs narrow parallel-sided ultimate sternite in its distal part and absence of teeth at the base of laterophyses in M. kasantsevi ( Figs 5 , 12 , 77 , 110 ).

Figures

Figs 1–2. General view of Malthodes, males, holotypes. 1 — M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.; 2 — M. sukkoensis sp.n. Рис. 1–2. Общий вид Malthodes, самцы, голотипы. 1 — M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.; 2 — M. sukkoensis sp.n.

Figs 3–9. Terminal abdominal segments of Malthodes. 3, 4 — M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.; 5 — M. kasantsevi; 6, 7 — M. sukkoensis sp.n.; 8, 9 — P. pseudobesucheti; 3, 5, 6, 8 — ventrally; 4, 7, 9 — laterally; 3, 4, 6, 7 — holotypes. Scale bars 0.25 mm. Рис. 3–9. Вершинные брюшные сегменты Malthodes. 3, 4 — M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.; 5 — M. kasantsevi; 6, 7 — M. sukkoensis sp.n.; 8, 9 — P. pseudobesucheti; 3, 5, 6, 8 — сниЗу; 4, 7, 9 — сбоку; 3, 4, 6, 7 — голотипы. Масштабные линейки 0,25 мм.

Figs 10–15. Aedeagi of Malthodes. 10, 11 — M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.; 12 — M. kasantsevi; 13, 14 — M. sukkoensis sp.n.; 15 — P. pseudobesucheti; 10, 12, 13 — ventrally; 11, 14, 15 — laterally; 10, 11, 13, 14 — holotypes. Scale bars 0.25 mm. Рис. 10–15. Эдеагусы Malthodes. 10, 11 — M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.; 12 — M. kasantsevi; 13, 14 — M. sukkoensis sp.n.; 15 — P. pseudobesucheti; 10, 12, 13 — сниЗу; 11, 14, 15 — сбоку; 10, 11, 13, 14 — голотипы. Масштабные линейки 0,25 мм.

Figs 71–80. Terminal abdominal segments of Malthodes. 71, 72 — M. lozovoyi; 73, 74 — M. caucasicus; 75, 76 — M. vikhrevi; 77 — M. kasantsevi; 78–80 — M. orientalicus; 72, 73, 78, 79 — ultimate sternite(s); 74, 80 — ultimate tergite(s). Scale bars 0.25 mm. (71, 72, 75, 76 — after Kazantsev, 2022; 73, 74, 77 — after Wittmer, 1992; 78–80 — after Wittmer, 1970). Рис. 71–80. Вершинные брюшные сегменты Malthodes. 71, 72 — M. lozovoyi; 73, 74 — M. caucasicus; 75, 76 — M. vikhrevi; 77 — M. kasantsevi; 78–80 — M. orientalicus; 72, 73, 78, 79 — последний(е) стернит(ы); 74, 80 — последний(е) тергит(ы). Масштабные линейки 0,25 мм. (71, 72, 75, 76 — по: Kazantsev, 2022; 73, 74, 77 — по: Wittmer, 1992; 78–80 — по: Wittmer, 1970).

Figs 106–111. Aedeagi of Malthodes. 106, 107 — M. caucasicus; 108, 109 — M. vikhrevi; 110 — M. kasantsevi; 111 — M. orientalicus; 98, 107 — laterophyse and penis in lateral view. Scale bars 0.25 mm. (106, 111 — after Wittmer, 1970; 107 — after Wittmer, 1992; 108, 109 — after Kazantsev, 2022). Рис. 106–111. Эдеагусы Malthodes. 106, 107 — M. caucasicus; 108, 109 — M. vikhrevi; 110 — M. kasantsevi; 111 — M. orientalicus; 98, 107 — латерофиЗа и пенис, сбоку. Масштабные линейки 0,25 мм. (93 — по: Švihla, 1980; 94, 104, 105 — по: Kazantsev, 2022; 95, 96, 101, 102 — по: Wittmer, 1992; 97–100 — по: Švihla, 1980; 103 — по: Wittmer, 1970).