Aphodius (Liothorax) alberti, Angus & Maté & Angus & Král, 2024

Angus, Robert B., Maté, Jason F., Angus, Elizabeth M. & Král, David, 2024, Towards a revision of the Palaearctic species of Aphodius Hellwig, 1798, subgenus Liothorax Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae), ZooKeys 1207, pp. 205-299 : 205-299

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.3897/zookeys.1207.117225
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:94F18819-5AF5-4100-AB35-AA3C3976EE80
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12796908
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB4FACD0-EC1A-40A1-9DFB-EB3418C749F6
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:EB4FACD0-EC1A-40A1-9DFB-EB3418C749F6
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Aphodius (Liothorax) alberti
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Aphodius (Liothorax) alberti sp. nov.

Figs 3 e – g View Figure 3 , 5 c, d View Figure 5 , 6 c, d View Figure 6 , 8 k, l View Figure 8 , 18 t View Figure 18 , 20 o View Figure 20 , 21 n, o View Figure 21 , 24 e – j 25 d, 26 b’, c’ View Figure 24

Type material examined.

Holotype: ♂, “ Turchia – Vil. Rize, Ovitdagi gecidi mt 2600, 18 - jun- 1992. leg. A. Ballerio. ” ( NHMUK) . Paratypes: 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 17 unsexed, data as holotype . 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 with mouthparts dissected ( NHMUK) , 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 14 unsexed ( AB) . 5 ♀♀, data as holotype ( JFMC) .

Other material examined.

Four specimens, unsexed, Ulu Dag b. Bursa As. M. occ. V: 1968 Schweiger, MNHG, may belong to this species. A male from central Armenia, Selim Pass 2350 m, coll. Ziani is shown by its parameres to belong to the A. niger species complex, and it agrees with A. alberti in its black to blackish-brown appendages and its small size, length 3.9 mm. The epipharynx of this specimen has the apophobae less regular but the darkened area is narrowed in its basal 1 / 4.

Differential diagnosis.

Aphodius alberti sp. nov. is the second A. niger group species recognised in Turkey, and as such requires comparison with A. isikdagensis . The most striking distinctions are the size ranges: in A. alberti sp. nov. 4.1–4.9 mm, in A. isikdagensis 4.5–5.8 mm and the colour of the appendages: in L. alberti sp. nov. the legs are blackish brown to very dark brown (Fig. 3 e – g View Figure 3 ), in A. isikdagensis mid brown (Fig. 3 c, d View Figure 3 ). The maxillary palpi are metallic black to very dark blackish brown in A. alberti sp. nov. as against mid brown in A. isikdagensis (metallic black in the Artvin specimen). In A. isikdagensis there is a sexual dimorphism in the head: the males with the central area of the clypeus clearly more strongly bulging upwards than in females, and the outer margin of the genae almost continuous with the clypeal margin in the male, but distinctly angled outwards in the female. In A. alberti sp. nov. the central area of the clypeus of both sexes bulges upwards strongly, and the outer margin of the genae is almost continuous with that of the clypeus. The epipharynxes of the two species show some clear differences: in A. isikdagensis the median darkened area is broadly triangular, widest at its base, there are six or seven chaetopedia each side, and the rows of apophobae are arranged in narrow bands, ca two bristles wide, while in A. alberti sp. nov. the darkened area is narrowed over its basal 1 / 3, there are four chaetopedia each side and the rows of apophobae are as single lines (Fig. 8 c, d, k, l View Figure 8 ).

Description.

General appearance (Fig. 3 e – g View Figure 3 ). Length 4.1–4.5 (♂), 4.1–4.9 mm (♀), width 1.9–1.95 mm (♂), 1.9–2 mm (♀). Head (Figs 3 e – g View Figure 3 , 6 c, d View Figure 6 ) black, anterior clypeal margin narrowly dark brown, excised medially, angles at sides of excision bluntly rounded. Central area of clypeus bulging upwards in both sexes, punctation fine, moderately dense, with some variation in strength, this not dependant on the sex of the specimen. Frontoclypeal suture fine and straight-transverse over central 1 / 2, with no trace of a median tubercle, then angled forward to meet the sides just anterior to the genae. Lateral margins of genae either continuous with those of clypeus or with a very slight outward angle, without sexual dimorphism. Maxillary palpi glossy blackish brown, antennae dark brown. Epipharynx (Fig. 8 k, l View Figure 8 ) with the central tylus strongly projecting anteriorly and the anterior margin of the clithra clearly excised either side. Central darkened sclerotised epitorma triangular in apical 2 / 3, then the sides curved inwards so that the width at the base of the darkened region is ca 3 / 4 of its maximum width. Acropariae virtually absent, chaetopariae well-spaced, four each side. Surface of gymnopedia covered with small tooth-like asperities. Prophobae fairly strong, clustered at the edges of the median sclerotised mesoepitorma, apophobae fine, arranged in a single line outside the chaetopariae.

Pronotum hemicylindrical, highly arched transversely, scarcely at all longitudinally. Entire lateral margins visible from above. Surface with double punctation, some specimens (male and female) have the punctation heavier with the larger punctures separated by at least twice their diameter, sparser on disc (Figs 3 e, g View Figure 3 , 6 d View Figure 6 ), in others the punctation is sparser and finer (Figs 3 f View Figure 3 , 5 c, d View Figure 5 ). Posterior margin completely but narrowly bordered (Figs 3 e – g View Figure 3 , 6 c, d View Figure 6 ), the border not widened medially, continuous round the posterior corners. Scutellum pentagonal, elongate, glossy, sometimes with a few punctures medio-basally.

Elytra black, interstices flat, 6–8 × width of the striae, with fine isodiametric reticulation and sparse fine punctures. Metaventrite (Fig. 21 n, o View Figure 21 ) rather finely punctured in both sexes, flattened over median diamond-shaped plate, sometimes with an impressed median line. Legs dark blackish brown (Fig. 3 e – g View Figure 3 ), basal segment of mesotarsi elongate, slightly longer than the longer tibial spur (Fig. 18 t View Figure 18 ). The legs and metaventrite Fig. 20 o View Figure 20 appear unnaturally pale brown due to the intense lighting.

Aedeagus (Fig. 24 e – j View Figure 24 ) Aedeagus length ca 1.1 mm, parameres length ca 0.44 mm, basal piece length ca 0.59 mm. Length of tooth-field ca 0.58 mm, length of longest teeth ca 54 µm. Parameres in lateral view weakly to moderately downturned apically (Fig. 24 h – j View Figure 24 ). In dorsoventral view sensory area either not visible (Fig. 24 g View Figure 24 , the holotype), or visible after squashing as a curved band round the paramere apex (Fig. 24 e, f, a View Figure 24 paratype). The parameres struts are clearly less darkened in the paratype, suggesting that the aedeagus is less fully hardened, which would render it more prone to squashing.

Remarks.

Apparently widespread on high ground in Anatolia and possibly extending into Armenia (Fig. 29 a View Figure 29 ). According to A. Ballerio (pers. comm., 16. vi. 2023) the Liothorax were found on snow patches and in puddles at the sides of the road passing through Ovit pass, a typical alpine prairie (Fig. 28 e View Figure 28 ). They were mixed with fewer Aphodius (Neagolius) ovitensis Pittino & Ballerio, 1994 .