Amauronyx occidens BRACHAT, 2019

Assing, Volker, Brachat, Volker & Meybohm, Heinrich, 2019, Monograph of the Staphylinidae of Crete (Greece). Part II. Descriptions of new species (Insecta: Coleoptera), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 69 (2), pp. 239-289 : 281-282

Amauronyx occidens BRACHAT spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0545A123-B114-4014-A05D-2C5EF565D5D9

( Fig. 157 )

Type material: Holotype ♂: “GR – Crete [7], NW Kandanos , Strovles , 35°22'03"N, 23°40'07"E, 410 m, stream valley, 23.XII.2018, V. Assing / Amauronyx occidens spec. nov. ♂, det. Brachat 2.2019 / Holotypus” ( cBra) . Paratypes (all in cBra): 1 ♀: same data as holotype; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: “GR – Crete [6], S Kissamos, Elos , 35°21'33"N, 23°38'17"E, 560 m, old chestnut, soil washing, 23.XII.2018, V. Assing ” .

Etymology: The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: western) alludes to the fact that this is the westernmost representative of the genus in Crete.

Description: External characters as in A. chanianus , except as follows:

Pubescence suberect. Head 0.34 mm long and 0.41 mm broad; antennal tubercles laterally with sharp lamella; frons with two intraocular foveae situated behind level of eyes, medially with convex elevation and with small median impression. Eyes composed of 4–7 ommatidia, situated behind middle of head. Antenna compact, 0.70 mm long; antennomeres I, II, and IX oblong, IV–VIII weakly transverse, and XI in the middle with transverse notch furnished with a series of depressed setae. Pronotum 0.38–0.39 mm long and 0.41–0.42 mm broad, of cordiform shape, with a pronounced median sulcus nearly reaching pronotal anterior margin. Elytra 1.25 times as long and 1.4 times as broad as pronotum, with deep discal sulcus.

♂: protrochanter ventrally with fine and short carina in the middle; mesotrochanter with a flat and apically obtuse tooth; metatrochanter with a long and narrow carina; aedeagus ( Fig. 157 ) 0.28 mm long; internal sac with a broad, flat, and sinuous sclerite and with a long sinuous structure; parameres apically with three setae.

Comparative notes: Like the other Cretan representatives of the genus, A. occidens is reliably identified only based on the modifications of the male trochanters and on the internal structures of the aedeagus.

Distribution and natural history: This species is probably locally endemic to the extreme west of Crete. The specimens were found in two localities by washing soil from a moist stony slope with very old chestnut and from a stream valley with old chestnut at altitudes of 410 and 560 m.

Figures

Figs 156–173: Amauronyx chanianus (156), A. occidens (157),A. askifouicus (158), Bryaxismeybohmianus (159–161), Bythinus creticus (162–163), Euplectus assingi(164),Faronus meybohmi (165), F.lefkamontium (166),F.albimontium(167),Tychus chanianus (168), and Sepedophilus creticus (169–173): aedeagus in dorsal and ventral view (156–158, 160, 163–168, 172); antennomeres I–II (159); internal structures of aedeagus (161); maxillary palpomere IV (162); habitus (169); male sternite VIII (170); male tergites IX–X (171); apical portion of aedeagus (173). Scale bars: 169: 1.0 mm; 170–172: 0.2 mm; 156–161, 163–168, 173: 0.1 mm; 162 without scale.