Anthrenus flavidulus Reitter, 1889

Holloway, Graham J. & Herrmann, Andreas, 2024, New synonym of Anthrenus flavidulus Reitter (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) from Iran, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 53 (6), pp. 123-130 : 124-127

Anthrenus flavidulus Reitter, 1889

(figs 1–4)

Anthrenus pimpinellae var. flavidulus Reitter, 1889: 23 (type locality: “ Caucasus , Araxesthal [Arax valley]”; HNHM).

Anthrenus miniatulus Reitter, 1899 (HNHM).

Anthrenus farsicus Kadej & HÁva, 2011 (type locality: Iran, Tehran-Darakesh ; JHAC; Urn:lsid:zoobank. org:act:2E736E6E-DA80-4f0B-B339-AA1ff04AC7C4), n. syn.

Description: Body oval (fig. 1A), BL = 2.8 mm, BW = 2.11 mm. Ocellus small, amber-coloUred, located in central part of head jUst below line joining tops of eyes. Lower half of inner margin of each eye emarginated. IntegUment on head, thorax and basal part of elytra dark brown. Dorsal sUrface covered with black, orange and white scales. White scales on elytra occUrring in trans-elytral fascia that becomes progressively narrower from lateral margin on each elytron towards elytral sUtUre, where fasciae on each elytron sweep Upwards towards small dark scUtellar shield. FoUr circUlar white spots of scales on each elytron, two jUst below each elytral fascia, one sUb-sUtUral, one slightly lower sUb-marginal and two towards elytral apex, one sub-sutural sub-apical and one slightly lower smaller marginal spot. Orange scales widely distributed across each elytron, across elytral basal margin, down elytral suture and around elytral apices. Orange scales also penetrating white fascia as series of parallel fingers from posterior margin of fascia. Scattering of orange scales between fascia and elytral apices. White and orange scales set in backgroUnd of black scales.

PronotUm covered in black, orange and white scales. Three spots of white scales arranged in triangle, two on basal margin but inside outer corners, and third just inside middle of anterior margin. Central white spot set in horizontal band of black scales. Orange scales from one oUter corner, aroUnd anterior margin and down to other oUter corner. Scattering on black and orange scales across rest of pronotUm.

Ventrites (fig. 1B) covered with white scales. Diverging postcoxal lines on ventrite 1 free from covering of white scales. Spots of black scales at margins of ventrite 1 not bordered by white scales on anterior edge. Spots of black scales on anterior part of margins of ventrites 2–4 become progressively smaller. Ventrite 5 with large terminal spot of black scales and two large lateral spots of black scales. Spots of black scales dotted with occasional orange scale, largely along anterior margin.

Eleven-segmented antenna ( Fig. 1C) with well-defined 3-segmented dark-coloUred club (AL = 230 µm, AW = 179 µm). Antennal club tear-drop shaped, asymmetric, widths of antennomeres becoming progressively greater towards terminal segment. Antennomere 10 longer on dorsal margin than ventral margin.Antennal club hirsute, covered in short, pale yellowish hairs. Antennomeres 1 and 2 black, antennomere 3 bicolored red and black, antennomeres 4–8 red.

AedeagUs ( Fig. 3A) (PL = 366 µm) rectangUlar, oUter margins of parameres parallel to each other. Parameres expand from aboUt ⅓ Up to form broad, parallel-sided paddles that cUrve in towards each other at posterior tip. SUrface of each paramere covered in short stUbble, except for patches of longer setae below paramere tips inside inner margins. Tips of parameres pale contrasting with otherwise Uniform pale brown coloration.

Median lobe ( Fig. 3A) (ML = 419 µm) narrows from base before expanding slightly towards midway and then narrowing again towards tip which falls jUst short of paramere tips. Tip of median lobe slightly, bUt clearly, expanded. SUrface of median lobe covered with scattered short stubble. Median lobe terminates at anterior end with two inwardly cUrved stirrUps. Each stirrUp ends in well-defined kink.

Sternite IX ( Fig. 3B) (SL = 471 µm) with posterior lobe evenly roUnded. Margins around posterior lobe pale, carrying several spikey setae. Setae continue down margin for aboUt half length of posterior lobe. Margins of posterior lobe narrow to prodUce neck before expanding to bases of two anterior pointing horns (NB: one horn folded over in stUdied specimen). Horns hook inwards towards each other at tip. Inner margin of each horn at base with small, roUnded flap.

Material examined: Jordan: Wadi Araba / Tafila, 30.471°N 35.176°E, leg. G. Sama, “ Anthrenus flavidulus Reitter, 1889 , det. J. HÁva (xii 2002)” (1♂, AHEC) .

Distribution: Armenia, “CaUcasUs”, TUrkey, Iran, Jordan, Syria ( Kadej & HÁva 2011; HÁva 2023) ( Fig. 5).