Malthodes, Kiesenwetter, 1852

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 : 82-89

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.15298/rusentj.33.1.08
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16637637
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5B7587A9-A10B-FFED-FCBB-F954FA650583
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Malthodes
status

Treatment

A KEY TO MALTHODES SPECIES OF THE GREATER CAUCASUS

1(20) Small, usually smaller than 3 mm. Antennomere 2 subequal in length to antennomere 3 or slightly longer (only in ............... M. bourgeoisi slightly shorter) ( Figs 16–24 View Figs 16–21 View Figs 22–27 ).

2(3) Antennomere 2 slightly shorter than antennomere 3. Dark brown, pronotum light brown, darkened at sides. Elytra long, almost completely covering folded wings ( Fig. 16 View Figs 16–21 ). Ultimate sternite abruptly narrowed in distal half; ultimate tergite narrow, elongate, slightly narrowed and rounded at apex ( Figs 38–40 View Figs 38–49 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 81 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.8–3.2 mm. ....................... M. bourgeoisi ( Reitter, 1888)

3(2) Antennomere 2 subequal in length to antennomere 3 or slightly longer. Elytra shorter, leaving apices of folded wings uncovered ( Figs 17–24 View Figs 16–21 View Figs 22–27 ).

4(5) Upperside, including antennae, uniformly dark brown to black ( Fig. 17 View Figs 16–21 ). Ultimate sternite parallel-sided, slightly emarginate at apex; ultimate tergite short, non-emarginate apically; ( Fig. 41 View Figs 38–49 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 82 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.3–2.8 mm ..................................... ........................................ M. crassicornis (Mäklin, 1846)

5(4) Upperside, including antennae, partly yellow or light brown ( Figs 18–24 View Figs 16–21 View Figs 22–27 ).

6(15) Elytra with bright yellow apical spots ( Figs 18–22 View Figs 16–21 View Figs 22–27 ).

7(10) Pronotum uniformly black or dark brown, or narrowly touched with light brown at anterior and posterior margins ( Figs 18, 19 View Figs 16–21 ).

8(9) Ultimate sternite widened in distal half, with two processes; ultimate tergite parallel-sided, with broadly separated processes at apex ( Figs 42, 43 View Figs 38–49 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 83 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.7–3.1 mm ( Fig. 18 View Figs 16–21 ). ......... M. amplithorax Wittmer, 1992

9(8) Ultimate sternite narrow, deeply split at apex; ultimate tergite semi-oval, with shallow incision at apex ( Figs 44, 45 View Figs 38–49 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 84 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.3–2.8 mm (females can be slightly over 3 mm) ( Fig. 19 View Figs 16–21 ). ............................................. M. lederi Pic, 1912

10(6) Pronotum more or less broadly yellow at anterior and posterior margins ( Figs 20–22 View Figs 16–21 View Figs 22–27 ).

11(12). Ultimate sternite incised at apex; ultimate tergite narrow, narrowed towards apex ( Figs 46, 47 View Figs 38–49 ). Aedeagus — Figs 85, 86 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.9–3.1 mm ( Fig. 20 View Figs 16–21 ) .................................... M. strejceki Švihla, 1990

12(11). Ultimate sternite not incised at apex ( Figs 6, 7 View Figs 3–9 , 48, 49 View Figs 38–49 ).

13(14) Ultimate sternite broadly widened at apex, ultimate tergite relatively long and widened at apex ( Figs 8, 9 View Figs 3–9 , 48, 49 View Figs 38–49 ). Aedeagal dorsal plate narrowed distally; laterophyses hooked apically, in lateral view ( Figs 15 View Figs 10–15 , 87, 88 View Figs 81–92 ). Body length 2.9–3.1 mm ( Fig. 21 View Figs 16–21 ). ................... M. pseudobesucheti Wittmer, 1970

14(13) Ultimate sternite relatively narrowly widened at apex, ultimate tergite relatively short and not widened at apex ( Figs 6, 7 View Figs 3–9 ). Aedeagal dorsal plate distally rounded; laterophyses not hooked apically, in lateral view ( Figs 13, 14 View Figs 10–15 ). Body length 3 mm ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1–2 ). ............................................. M. sukkoensis sp.n.

15(6) Elytra without yellow apical spots ( Figs 22–24 View Figs 22–27 ).

16(19) Pronotum uniformly dark brown to black ( Fig. 22, 23 View Figs 22–27 ).

17(16) Ultimate sternite long, narrow, strongly curved, split at apex; ultimate tergite almost perpendicular to the preceding one, deeply cleft at apex ( Figs 50, 51 View Figs 50–60 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 89 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.4–2.8 mm ( Fig. 22 View Figs 22–27 ). ......................... M. sotschienesis Wittmer, 1970

18(17) Ultimate sternite moderately long, slightly bent and shallowly emarginate at apex; ultimate tergite coaxial with the preceding one, with shallow split at apex ( Figs 52, 53 View Figs 50–60 ). Aedeagus — Figs 90, 91 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 2.7–2.8 mm ( Fig. 23 View Figs 22–27 ). ............. M. seregiusi Kazantsev, 2021

19(16) Pronotum partly yellow or light brown at anterior and posterior margins ( Fig. 24 View Figs 22–27 ). Ultimate sternite with relatively short and broad apical processes; ultimate tergite bent downwards before apex, widened and semi-circularly incised at apex ( Figs 54, 55 View Figs 50–60 ).Aedeagus — Fig. 92 View Figs 81–92 . Body length 3.0– 3.5 mm. ........ .......................................................... M. mutatus Wittmer, 1970

20(1) Relatively large, usually larger than 3.5 mm. Antennomere 2 noticeably shorter than antennomere 3 ( Fig. 25–37 View Figs 22–27 View Figs 28–33 View Figs 34–37 ).

21(24) Pronotum completely margined at sides ( Figs 26, 27 View Figs 22–27 ).

22(23) Third from end tergite with a dent; ultimate tergite elongate; ultimate sternite without elongate lateral processes ( Figs 56–58 View Figs 50–60 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 93 View Figs 93–105 . Body length 3.8–4.5 mm ( Fig. 25 View Figs 22–27 ). ........................ M. circassicus Švihla, 1980

23(22) Third from end tergite simple; ultimate tergite transverse; ultimate sternite with narrow long lateral processes ( Figs 59, 60 View Figs 50–60 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 94 View Figs 93–105 . Body length 4.5 mm ( Fig. 26 View Figs 22–27 ). ............................... M. kobiensis Wittmer, 1970

24(21) Pronotum margined at sides only at anterior angles ( Figs 28–37 View Figs 28–33 View Figs 34–37 ).

25(34) Third from end tergite simple ( Figs 61–65 View Figs 61–70 ).

26(29) Pronotum uniformly dark brown to black, sometimes with narrow testaceous bordering at anterior and posterior margins ( Fig. 27 View Figs 22–27 ).

27(28) Pronotum uniformly black, distinctly elongate; elytra uniformly black ( Fig. 27 View Figs 22–27 ). Ultimate sternite widened and slightly cleft at apex ( Figs 61, 62 View Figs 61–70 ). Aedeagus — Fig. 95 View Figs 93–105 . Body length 3.5–5.0 mm.................................... M. abkhasicus Wittmer, 1979

28(27) Pronotum with narrow testaceous bordering at anterior and posterior margins, distinctly transverse. Ultimate sternite oval. Body length 4.8–5.0 mm. ................. M. jaromiri Švihla, 2002

29(26) Pronotum mostly testaceous or broadly lightened at angles ( Figs 28–30 View Figs 28–33 ).

30(31) Ventral plate of aedeagus very narrow, only slightly widened towards apex; laterophyses massive, widened and dentate at apex; interophyses short and straight ( Fig. 96 View Figs 93–105 ). Bases of tibiae testaceous; elytra uniformly dark brown; antennae light brown, relatively short, slightly reaching over elytral apices ( Fig. 28 View Figs 28–33 ). Body length 5.0– 5.5 mm. .. ............................................ M. medvedevi Wittmer, 1992

31(30) Ventral plate of aedeagus relatively broad; laterophyses narrow and long; interophyses absent ( Figs 97–100 View Figs 93–105 ).

32(33) Laterophyses in lateral view widened and bent at apex; at base, in dorsal view, flat ( Figs 97, 98 View Figs 93–105 ). Pronotum varies from uniformly testaceous to uniformly dark brown ( Fig. 29 View Figs 28–33 ). Body length 3.8–4.8 mm. ................... M. castanicollis Reitter, 1888

33(32) Laterophyses in lateral view narrow and straight; at base, in dorsal view, dentate ( Figs 99, 100 View Figs 93–105 ). Body length 3.3–5.3 mm ( Fig. 30 View Figs 28–33 )................... M. bohaci Švihla, 2002

34(25) Third from end tergite with processes or dents ( Figs 66–80 View Figs 61–70 View Figs 71–80 ).

35(48) Third from end tergite with a dent ( Figs 3–5 View Figs 3–9 , 66–77 View Figs 61–70 View Figs 71–80 ).

36(45) Ultimate sternite and tergite with a pair of apical processes ( Figs 66–76 View Figs 61–70 View Figs 71–80 ).

37(38) Ultimate sternite with long cithern-like processes ( Figs 66, 67 View Figs 61–70 ). Pronotum from uniformly black to noticeably lightened at angles ( Fig. 31 View Figs 28–33 ). Aedeagus — Figs 101, 102 View Figs 93–105 . Body length 4.0– 4.5 mm. .... M. lyriformis Wittmer, 1992

38(37) Ultimate sternite with relatively short and straight processes ( Figs 68–72 View Figs 61–70 View Figs 71–80 ).

39(42) Aedeagus with relatively short parameres, not surpassing ventral plate in length ( Figs 103–105 View Figs 93–105 ).

40(41) Ultimate sternite weakly narrowed in the middle and not bent before apex ( Figs 68–70 View Figs 61–70 ). Aedeagus with almost truncate apex of ventral plate and non-widened before apex laterophyses ( Figs 103 View Figs 93–105 ). Elytra with bright yellow apices ( Fig. 32 View Figs 28–33 ). Body length 5.0– 5.5 mm. ......................... M. nyholmi Wittmer, 1970

41(40) Ultimate sternite distinctly narrowed in the middle and abruptly bent before apex ( Figs 71, 72 View Figs 71–80 ). Aedeagus with distally rounded ventral plate and noticeably widened before apex laterophyses ( Figs 104, 105 View Figs 93–105 ). Elytra uniformly black ( Fig. 33 View Figs 28–33 ). Body length 4.7–4.8 mm. ........................... ................................................... M. lozovoyi Kazantsev, 2021

42(39) Aedeagus with relatively long parameres, surpassing ventral plate in length ( Figs 106–109 View Figs 106–111 ).

43(44) Apical processes of ultimate sternite relatively long ( Figs 73, 74 View Figs 71–80 ). Aedeagus elongate; penis before apex convex, in lateral view ( Figs 106, 107 View Figs 106–111 ). Upperside dark brown to black; pronotal angles testaceous ( Fig. 34 View Figs 34–37 ). Body length 3.0– 3.8 mm. ............. ..................................................... M. caucasicus Wittmer, 1958

44(43) Apical processes of ultimate sternite relatively short ( Figs 75, 76 View Figs 71–80 ). Aedeagus subquadrate; penis before apex concave, in lateral view ( Figs 108, 109 View Figs 106–111 ). Habitually similar to M. caucasicus ( Fig. 35 View Figs 34–37 ). Body length 4.0 mm. ........... .............................................. M. vikhrevi Kazantsev 2021

45(36) Ultimate sternite and tergite simple ( Figs 3–5 View Figs 3–9 , 77 View Figs 71–80 ).

46(47) Ultimate sternite noticeably widened distally ( Figs 3, 4 View Figs 3–9 ). Pronotal angles testaceous; elytra with bright yellow apical spots ( Fig. 1 View Figs 1–2 ). Aedeagal laterophyses with dents ( Figs 10, 11 View Figs 10–15 ). Body length 3.6–3.7 mm. ......................... .................................................. M. nabozhenkorum sp.n.

47(46) Ultimate sternite parallel-sided distally ( Figs 5 View Figs 3–9 , 77 View Figs 71–80 ). Pronotal angles, bases of antennomeres and bases of tibiae testaceous; elytra with bright yellow apical spots ( Fig. 36 View Figs 34–37 ). Aedeagal laterophyses without dents ( Figs 12 View Figs 10–15 , 110 View Figs 106–111 ). Body length 3.0– 3.5 mm. ............. M. kasantsevi Wittmer, 1992

48(35) Third from end tergite with a pair of relatively broad processes at posterior edge, also bearing downward directed additional appendage at each side; ultimate sternite not emarginate at apex ( Figs 78–80 View Figs 71–80 ). Pronotal angles, bases of antennomeres 1–2 and bases of tibiae testaceous; elytra uniformly dark brown to black ( Fig. 37 View Figs 34–37 ).Aedeagus — Fig. 111 View Figs 106–111 . Body length 3.2–4.2 mm. ... M. orientalicus Wittmer, 1970