Urometopus brevis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F38216CA-7D4F-4344-BD28-3FF63AA7631F

Figs 4D, 7I, 14, 72A

Differential diagnosis

This species differs from all known West Caucasian taxa by its smaller body size and very short rostrum (Fig. 14B, D). From U. glabratus sp. nov. it is distinguished by the well-developed subrecumbent pubescence of the elytra, with the difference between recumbent and suberect setae indistinct (Figs 14I, 18H).

From U. circassicus it differs in the distinct transverse depression of the vertex, the evenly convex and strongly transverse pronotum (in U. circassicus somewhat tumid), and the more robust funicular segment. The median lobe is as long as the apodemes (in U. circassicus somewhat shorter), with the lamina more strongly attenuate (Fig. 14E).

From U. glabratus sp. nov. it further differs in the developed body pubescence, the swollen collum of the spermatheca, the attenuate apical plate of the median lobe, and the slightly curved lamina (observable in lateral aspect).

From U. longicollis it differs by the matte body, smaller and weakly convex eyes [VW/ELD = 2.07–2.45 (2.26); in U. longicollis = 1.69–2.21 (1.95)], and a more transverse pronotum [PL/PW = 0.72–0.80 (0.76); in U. longicollis = 0.75–0.94 (0.85)]. Elytra bear deeper striae and in males are elliptic. The median lobe of the aedeagus is parallel-sided, narrowing in the apical fourth and roundly acute, with the apical lamina attenuate and flattened; the endophallus in its distal part has a field of short spicules. The copulatory sclerite is V-shaped; the collum of the spermatheca is straight, swollen, and not longer than the ramus.

Etymology

The Latin adjective ‘ brevis ’ – ‘short’ highlights the distinctive short body and abbreviated rostrum of this species.

Type material

Holotype RUSSIA – Krasnodar • ♂; Ubinskoye Forestry; 44.7000° N, 38.5500° E; 21 May 1975; V. Belov leg.; ZIN.

Paratypes RUSSIA – Krasnodar • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; ZIN (Fig. 14C) • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 15 May 1975; V. Belov leg.; ZIN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 21–24 May 1975; V. Belov leg.; ZIN • 1 ♀; Ubinskoye; 44.7346° N, 38.5310° E; 7 Jul. 1973; V. Belov leg.; ZIN • 1 ♀; Abinsk; 44.8400° N, 38.1000° E; 25 May 1979; B.A. Korotyaev leg.; ZIN (Fig. 14A) • 1 ♂; Arkhipo-Osipovka; 44.3700° N, 38.5100° E; 10 Oct. 1951; K.V. Arnoldi leg.; ZIN • 1 ♀; Tuapse Distr., 15 km N of Pshada, Mt Oblego; 44.5160° N, 38.4797° E; 23 Jun. 1997; V. Gnezdilov leg.; ZIN.

Type locality

Russia, Krasnodar Territory, Ubinskoye Forestry.

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). BL: 1.95–2.69 (2.38), BW: 1.25–1.44, BH: 0.81–1.18.

COLORATION AND VESTITURE (Fig. 14A, C, I). Brown; sparsely pilose; interstriae sparsely covered with recumbent, very short, piliform setae; each puncture in striae bears tinier subrecumbent piliform seta. Head vestiture: pilose, setae subrecumbent. Vestiture of antennae and legs moderately setose; grooming brush on distal ⅓ of medial margin of metatibia weakly developed, contains short pale subrecumbent piliform setae.

HEAD (Fig. 14B, D). Rostrum slightly narrowing anteriorly; RL/RW = 0.72–0.82. Pterygia projected. Frons U-shaped, nitid, weakly sloped anteriorly, not delimited from epistome by thin V-shaped carina. Epifrons well edged, weakly widened posteriorly, 1.9× as narrow as vertex, weakly arcuate, with narrow median sulcus, coarsely punctate. Vertex transversely depressed. Eyes convex; VW/ELD = 2.07–2.45. Costulation of head capsule terminates posteriorly of epifrons.

ANTENNAE. Scape reaches anterior margin of pronotum, evenly arcuate and widened apically; funicle subrobust; funicular antennomeres L/W: fam1 = 1.57, fam2 = 1.24, fam3 = 0.77, fam4 = 0.74, fam5 = 0.68, fam6 = 0.58, fam7 = 0.59; club L/W = 1.85.

THORAX. Pronotum: PL/PW = 0.72–0.80, transverse, disc not convex, sides evenly weakly convex, widest at middle, moderately constricted posteriorly; disc densely punctate, punctures regular, round, interspaces between punctures flat to weakly convex, as wide as or shorter than diameter of puncture; sides densely punctate. Elytra ovate; disc flat; striae deep, interspaces between punctures as long as diameter of puncture; interstriae weakly convex. EL/EW = 1.27–1.37.

LEGS. Tibiae thick. Protibiae: medial margin in male weakly emarginate in distal ⅓; mucro very weak. Metatibiae: medial margin in males moderately emarginate in distal ⅓; mucro well developed. Tarsi (Fig. 4D): tarsomeres in males robust; 1 st tarsomere 1.25 × as wide as 2 nd; 2 nd tarsomere 2.10 × as wide as long.

ABDOMINAL VENTRITES (Fig. 14J). Anal ventrite of male weakly emarginate.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Spermatheca (Fig. 14H): nodulus not swollen; collum tumid; ramus strongly roundly projecting, in line with nodulus; cornu rounded.

MALE GENITALIA. Median lobe (Fig. 14E) as long as apodemes, evenly narrowed apically. Lamina of median lobe weakly curved dorsally (to be observed in lateral aspect), flattened, evenly narrowed, acute. Endophallus in proximal part with dense field of long spiniform spicules, distal part (Fig. 14G) with field of very short, tiny spicules. Lunar sclerite absent. Copulatory sclerite (Figs 7I, 14F) slim, V-shaped, flagellar sheath long.

Life history

Unknown.

Distribution

The range remains unclear, this species is known from a few localities in the Western Caucasus, from Abinsk and Ubinskaya to Mt Oblego and Arkhipo-Osipovka (Fig. 72A).