Sunius praecisus ASSING , 2008

Assing, Volker, 2008, Four new species and additional records of Palaearctic Sunius, with two new synonymies (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 58 (2), pp. 455-470 : 467-469

Sunius praecisus ASSING, 2008

Material examined:

Tajikistan: 1 ex., "Saramsakli" ( NHMW) ; 3 exs., Hissar mts. , 1898, leg. Hauser ( NHMW) . Afghanistan: 1 ex., " Col de Sabnak [?]", 2450 m, 16.VI.1959, leg. Lindberg (cAss) .

The species was previously known from Tajikistan and Iran ( ASSING 2008). It is here reported from Afghanistan for the first time.

Sunius kastcheevi sp. n.

( Figs 36-39 )

Type material:

Holotype ♂: Kazakhstan, Aksu-Djabagly , Taldy-Bulak [river], 25.04.1979, V. Kastcheev / Holotypus ♂ Sunius kastcheevi sp. n. det. V. Assing 2008 (cAss). Paratypes: 2 ♀♀: same data as holotype (cAss, cKas) ; 1 ♂: S Kazakhstan, Karatau , Baizhansai, Boroldai riv., 13.06.1983, V. Kastcheev (cAss) .

Description:

3.6-4.2 mm. Coloration: head black; pronotum dark brown to blackish; elytra dark brown with paler posterior margins; abdomen black, with posterior margin of segment VII and segments VIII-X slightly paler; yellowish-brown to dark brown; antennae brown to dark brown.

Head approximately 1.05 times as long as wide; punctation distinct, rather dense in anterior half and sparse in posterior half of dorsal surface; integument with only indistinct traces of microsculpture.

Pronotum approximately as wide as long and slightly (ca. 1.05 x) wider than head; punctation dense and slightly finer than that of head; midline impunctate; microsculpture absent.

Elytra approximately 1.25 times as wide and 1.15 times as long as pronotum; punctation much finer, denser, and less defined than that of pronotum. Hind wings fully developed.

Abdomen slightly narrower than elytra, widest at segment V; punctation dense and very fine; the whole surface with pronounced microsculpture and matt; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

♂: sternite VII with weakly concave posterior margin, pubescence unmodified; sternite VIII posteriorly with U-shaped, margined incision ( Fig. 36 ); aedeagus shaped as in Figs 37-38 ; apical part of ventral process long and distinctly bent in lateral view; internal structures of distinctive shape ( Fig. 39 ).

Etymology:

The species is dedicated to Vitaly Kastcheev , Almaty, who collected the type series .

Comparative notes:

Based on the external morphology (coloration, habitus, punctation) and especially the male sexual characters (shape of posterior incision of sternite VIII; general morphology of aedeagus), the species undoubtedly belongs to the S. nigrinus group. From the species of this group ( S. nigrinus , S. praecisus , S. mordicus , S. afghanicus ), all of which are distributed in Central Asia, S. kastcheevi is reliably distinguished only based on the morphology of the aedeagus, especially the long and bent apical part of the ventral process and the shape of the internal structures. For illustrations of the male genitalia of the other representatives of the S. nigrinus group see ASSING (2008).

Distribution and bionomics:

The type specimens were collected in two localities in southern Kazakhstan, to the northwest and southwest of Džambul. Bionomic data are not available.

Figures

Figs 36-39: Sunius kastcheevi sp. n.: male sternite VIII (36); aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view (37-38); internal structures of aedeagus in lateral view (39). Scale bars: 36-38: 0.2 mm; 39: 0.1 mm.