Elodes orientalis Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1973

Klausnitzer, Bernhard, 2009, Contribution to the knowledge of Elodes sericea species-group with description of two new species from Middle Asia (Coleoptera, Scirtidae) *, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 711-728 : 724-727

Elodes orientalis Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1973

( Figs. 23–29 )

Material examined. TADZHIKISTAN: Ziddy , Hissar Mts., Anzob pass [39°10′N, 68°49′E], 2100–2700 m a.s.l., 12.–20.vii.1992, 3 spec., leg. Kasantsev ; Hissar Mts. , Romit gorge, 1600–1700 m a.s.l., 26.v.1975, 1 spec., 23.v.1978, 1 spec., leg. Muche ; Pamir , Muksu-territory, Sukrahn gorge, 2800 m a.s.l., vii.1990, 1 spec., leg. Schmidt (all specimens in BKDC) .

Redescription. Body elongate, subparallel-sided ( Fig. 23 ), 2.14–2.33 (2.26) times as long as wide. Body length 4.40–5.22 (4.74) mm.

Head brown to reddish-brown, densely punctate, with light vestiture, hairs directed anteriorly. Labrum and maxillary palpi light brown. Antennomeres 1–3 brown, rest of antennae blackish-brown. Lengths of antennomeres 1–4: 0.22 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.04 mm and 0.45 mm.

eberti n = 2, E. jelineki n = 1.

Pronotum monochrome, brown to reddish-brown ( Fig. 23 ); strongly punctate, vestiture light, hairs directed laterally and posteriorly; posterior angles distinctly explanate, anterior margin broadly rounded. LP 0.89–1.10 (0.96) mm; BP 1.44–1.66 (1.52) mm.

Scutellum reddish-brown, shallowly punctate. Elytra brown, suture, lateral margins and apex to various extent blackish-brown ( Fig. 23 ); densely punctate and with dense light vestiture; longitudinal ridges distinctly developed. BE 1.03–1.12 (1.06) mm; LE 3.50–4.12 (3.84) mm.

Legs light brown. Anterior tibiae near base with angulate extension. Sternites blackishbrown.

Male. Sternite 7 posteriorly with subtriangular, 0.11–0.14 (0.12) mm deep emargination ( Fig. 24 ); 0.61–0.65 (0.64) mm long and 1.24–1.29 (1.27) mm wide. Tergite 7 plate-shaped, with bacilla lateralia. Tergite 0.68 mm long; plate 0.90 mm wide and in the middle 0.53 mm long; bacilla lateralia (irrespective of curvature) 0.50 mm long.

Sternite 8 ( Fig. 25 ) with large, posteriorly rounded pterygia. Stalk narrow, in the middle with narrow rod-shaped sclerotization reaching just the base of pterygia; stalk bifurcated laterally at base, strengthening pterygia. Sternite 0.72–0.82 (0.77) mm long and 0.56–0.62 (0.59) mm wide; stalk up to base of pterygia 0.45–0.56 (0.51) mm long. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 26 ) with sclerotized, posteriorly almost straight plate and heavily sclerotized bacilla lateralia. Tergite 0.81–0.95 (0.88) mm long; plate 0.60–0.68 (0.64) mm wide; bacilla lateralia (irrespective of curvature) 0.62–0.65 (0.63) mm long.

Tergite 9 with sclerotized bacilla lateralia, plate posteriorly weakly sclerotized. Tergite ca. 1.05 mm long; plate 0.40–0.48 (0.46) mm long; bacilla lateralia (irrespective of curvature) 0.50–0.52 (0.52) mm long. Sternite 9 with patch of longer setae posteriorly, lateral margins strengthened, interconnected by fine membrane. Sternite 1.11–1.30 (1.20) mm long; plate 0.33–0.38 (0.35) mm wide.

Tegmen ( Fig. 27 ) with parameres gently curved outwards, broad at base and projecting distally in a distinctly detached, 0.12–0.13 (0.13) mm long tip ( Fig. 28 ). Tegmen 1.47–1.60 (1.53) mm long and 0.21–0.31 (0.26) mm wide.

Penis slender, 1.80–1.90 (1.86) mm long and 0.14–0.28 (0.21) mm wide; index of slenderness 6.40–13.60. Parameroids 0.35–0.42 (0.39) mm long, posteriorly with well defined lateral tooth, behind it narrowly elongate (up to apex 0.08–0.13 mm long), densely covered with sensory pores ( Fig. 29 ).

Female. Unknown.

Notes. Elodes orientalis Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1973 was considered as a synonym of Elodes eberti Klausnitzer, 1970 by KLAUSNITZER (1974) because the original description was insufficient and the type specimens could not be revised. Now, freshly available specimens make possible a better interpretation of the data by IABLOKOFF- KHNZORIAN (1973). Especially the shape of the parameroids suggests the appurtenance of the specimens to E. orientalis and the other characters do not contradict this conclusion.

IABLOKOFF- KHNZORIAN (1973) gives the type locality as ‘ Tadzhikistan, upper stream of Surkhob, gorge Maidan-Tau’ (supposedly Sarinay on Surkhob near the boundary with Kirgizia). The geographic coordinates of this locality are 39°24′N and 71°41′E.

Figures

Figs. 23–29. Elodes orientalis Iablokoff–Khnzorian, 1973, male. 23 – habitus, dorsal view; 24 – sternite 7; 25 – sternite 8; 26 – tergite 8; 27 – tegmen; 28 – tegmen, parameres; 29 – penis, parameroid.