Aprionus bestlae Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2017, sp. nov.

Aprionus bestlae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B5DD5BA9-4FE0-4C4C-BF5B-8B7DCE37E7F6

Fig. 18

Diagnosis

A combination of male genitalic characters distinguishes Aprionus bestlae sp. nov., as follows (Fig. 18A). The elongate, subcylindrical gonostylus lacks an apical tooth (↓); the long tegmen is provided with 3–5 pairs of large, intertwining fingers; and the subanal plate has conspicuous dark markings at the anterior edge, an inverted V-shape medially and markings of varying shape and extent laterally (↓).

Etymology

Bestla, daughter of the giant Bölthorn, is Odin’s mother.

Material examined

Holotype

SWEDEN: ♂, Öland, Mörbylånga, Gamla Skogsby, 56.37° N, 16.30° E, scrubby meadow at forest edge (‘diversity meadow’), Malaise trap, M. and C. Jaschhof leg., 30 Apr.–8 Jun. 2015 (NHRS, no. CEC192).

Paratypes

SWEDEN: 2 ♂♂, Öland, Borgholm, Lindreservat NR, 57.31° N, 17.04° E, mixed broadleaf forest, MT, MCJ leg., 11 Jun.–21 Jul. 2015 (1 paratype each in NHRS and DEI, nos CEC 304– CEC 305).

Other material studied

CZECH REPUBLIC: 1 ♂, Moravia, White Carpathians, Klabenka, MT, J. Ježek leg., 3 Jun. 2008 (TSPC, no. CEC 306).

Differential diagnosis

Three other Aprionus incertae sedis, Aprionus dentifer Mamaev, 1965 (see Jaschhof 1998: fig. 180), A. pyxidiifer Mamaev, 1998 (see Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2009: fig. 103), and A. svecicus Jaschhof, 1996, are generally similar to A. bestlae sp. nov., especially with respect to the gonostylus, tegmen and subanal plate. Also, the antennae of all four species have branched translucent sensilla. These similarities can hardly lead to misidentification, as each of the species is sufficiently distinct, rather they might indicate common ancestry. Study of Aprionus in the future will reveal whether it is justified to refer to the species in question as the dentifer group.

Other characters

Body size 1.8 mm.

HEAD. Postfrons setose. Eye bridge 3 ommatidia long dorsally. A dense row of 9–10 postocular bristles. Neck of fourth flagellomere as long as node, or slightly longer; translucent sensilla both hair-shaped and variously branched (Fig. 18B). Palpus long, with 3–4 segments, if 3-segmented, then apical segment very long and/or clearly consisting of two merged segments.

WING. ApicR 1 3.5–4.0 times as long as Rs.

LEGS. Claws subrectangular, 3 teeth. Empodia rudimentary.

TERMINALIA (Fig. 18A). Ninth tergite subrectangular, anterior margin fully sclerotized. Gonocoxites rounded ventroposteriorly; ventral bridge forms stable loop medially; dorsal bridge subtriangular, extends far beyond ventroanterior margin. Gonostylus with slightly convex basal portion, somewhat flattened apical portion, apex broadly rounded, up to 4 subapical bristles. Apical portion of tegmen membranous, therefore of varying outline. Posterior portion of subanal plate lacks clear contours.

Distribution and phenology

Sweden (Öland), Czech Republic. The few specimens known of Aprionus bestlae sp. nov. were collected in late spring / early summer in both forest and meadow next to forest.