Geomitopsis cretica Assing & Brachat & Meybohm 2019, spec. nov.

Geomitopsis cretica ASSING spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1D3E575E-A726-422D-BA91-AF9B98BCA2BD

(Figs 63–64)

Type material: Holotype ♂: “GR – Crete [16], Zakros, 35°06'57"N, 26°13'10"E, 190 m, dry stream valley, soil washing, 27.XII.2018, V. Assing / Holotypus ♂ Geomitopsis cretica sp. n. det. V. Assing 2019” (cAss). Paratypes: 2 ♀♀: same data as holotype (cAss); 1♂: “GR – Crete [19], S Kritsa, SW Kroustas, 35°07'01"N, 25°37'55"E, 810 m, soil washing, 28.XII.2018, V. Assing ” (cAss).

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective derived from Creta, where this species is most likely endemic.

Description: 1.9–2.1 mm (abdomen extended), length of forebody 0.65–0.75 mm. Colour of body pale reddishbrown; legs yellow; antennae reddish-yellow.

Head distinctly dilated posteriad, distinctly separated from neck in dorsal view; punctation indistinct in the pronounced microreticulation. Eyes completely reduced. Antenna 0.35–0.39 mm long, with three-jointed club; antennomeres III–X strongly transverse, V and VII distinctly broader than neighbouring antennomeres.

Pronotum approximately as broad as long and slightly narrower than head; disc with few coarser punctures; micropunctation indistinct; microreticulation similar to that of head.

Elytra approximately 0.8 times as long as pronotum; punctation indistinct; microreticulation composed of larger meshes than that of head and pronotum. Hind wings completely reduced.

Abdomen with microsculpture composed of large isodiametric meshes; punctation indistinct.

♂: aedeagus 0.2 mm long and shaped as in Figs 63–64.

Comparative notes: The aedeagus of G. cretica is similar to that of G. anatolica COIffAIT, 1979 (Turkey: Mersin), but distinguished by a more strongly excavate and apically longer ventral process (lateral view) and differently shaped parameres. For illustrations of G. anatolica see COIffAIT (1979).

Distribution and natural history: The specimens were collected by soil washing in two localities in East Crete. The type locality is a dry temporary stream valley with Platanus orientalis at an altitude of 190 m, the second locality a rocky forest with old Quercus ilex and old pine trees at an altitude of 810 m.