Laemostenus (Iranosphodrus) yazdensis Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2017

Tahami, Mohadeseh Sadat, Muilwijk, Jan, Lohaj, Roman & Sadeghi, Saber, 2017, Study of Laemostenus species across Zagros and Central zone of Iran, with the description of seven new cavernicolous species and notes on subgenus Iranosphodrus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Sphodrini), Zootaxa 4344 (1), pp. 115-136 : 128-129

Laemostenus (Iranosphodrus) yazdensis Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj , sp. nov.

( Figs. 22 , 24 , 26, 28 , 30 )

Type material. Holotype male, labelled: “ Iran, Yazd, Taft, Badamestan Cave ; 13.iii.2016 ; leg. M.S. Tahami, M. Tahami, V. Rahmatyan, M. Dehghanpour ”/ Laemostenus yazdensis sp. nov. Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2016 (red label Holotype). Paratypes: one female, the same data as holotype, one male (immature) and one female labelled: “ Iran Yazd, Taft Badamestan Cave , 14.x.2014 leg . M.S. Tahami, H. Darvishnia”/ Laemostenus yazdensis sp. nov. Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj, 2016 (red label Paratype). Holotype and two paratypes deposited in ZM–CBSU, one paratype in cMU.

Diagnosis. A small to medium sized, brachypterous Laemostenus sg. Iranosphodrus species; colour dark brown (holotype) to dull black (paratypes), antennae and legs reddish-brown. Pronotum and head with fine microsculpture, elytra dull, with distinct microsculpture ( Fig. 22 ).

Description. BL 12.4–15.5 mm (holotype 12.8 mm). Head narrow, parallel-sided, as long as wide (HL/HW: 1.0), with only posterior pair of supraorbital setae; frontal furrows fine, superficial, eyes flat, reduced (0.5 mm), shorter than temples (0.6 mm). Clypeus with two long setae; labrum with six setae. Antennae short, reaching anterior sixth of elytral length, antennomere 3 without accessory setae except a few apical ones; antennomeres 4– 11 pubescent. Mandibles short.

Pronotum elongate, cordiform, distinctly wider than head, slightly wider than long (PL/ PW: 0.9). Basal impressions short, finely punctate. Lateral margins finely punctate, with two antero-lateral setae, basolateral setae missing. Anterior angles widely rounded, posterior angles almost rectangular.

Elytra ovate elongate, rather wide (EL/EW: 1.6), with maximum width in posterior third; disc depressed; base wider than pronotal base. Humeri distinct, with small tooth. Striae fine, finely punctate, intervals slightly convex. Scutellar striae present; scutellar setiferous punctures situated in striae 1. Umbilicate series consists of 18 irregularly situated setiferous punctures; two setae at apex of stria 7.

Mesosternum unarmed, without teeth before mesocoxae. Metepisternum as long as wide ( Fig. 24 ). Abdominal sternites black, with superficial wrinkles and dense microsculpture.

Legs short, meso- and metatibiae not curved, straight, ventral side of mesotibiae with a short apical brush, metatibiae with more extended brush. Profemori with tooth, which is reduced in immature male paratype. Tarsi dorsally with decumbent pubescence, claws with reduced teeth; male protarsi dilated.

Aedeagus: ( Figs. 26, 28 ) median lobe short (1.77 mm) and narrow, strongly arcuate and narrowing to apex in lateral view; apex widely rounded in dorsal view.

Ovipositor: as on Fig. 30 .

Differential diagnosis. L. (I.) yazdensis sp. nov. differs from L. rudichae by straight mesotibiae in males, unarmed mesosternum, more oval elytra and more short and stout appendages.

Distribution and habitat. So far known only from the twilight zone of the type locality, Badamestan cave, Yazd province.

Etymology. Topotypic, named after the province in which the cave is situated.

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 23. Habitus in dorsal view of Laemostenus yazdensis (holotype) (22), Laemostenus troglophilus (holotype) (23).

FIGURES 24 – 25. Mesosternum of Laemostenus yazdensis, (24), Laemostenus troglophilus (25).

FIGURES 26 – 29. Aedeagus. Iin lateral view, Laemostenus yazdensis (26), troglophilus speleophilus (27). In dorsal view,. Laemostenus yazdensis (28), Laemostenus troglophilus (29).

FIGURES 30 – 31. Ovipositor. Laemostenus yazdensis (30), Laemostenus troglophilus (31).