Microlestes infuscatus fragilis Mateu, 1956 Figures 18, 31, 32, 44, 52

Type locality.

Saudi Arabia, Hejaz.

Type depository.

Holotype in BMNH.

Material examined.

Total 55 specimens: HOLOTYPE: Male labeled "Hedjaz, Millingen, 1915-38" / "Holotype [red square label]" / " Microlestes fragilis, J. Mateu, det." / "Holotype [red round label]". [BMNH] (Fig. 32). Al Baha: 1♂, 2♀, "KSA, Al Makhwa, Shada Al Aala, 19°52.598'N 41°18.672'E Alt. 892 m, 26.I.2015, (LT), I. Rasool". 3♂, 5♀, "Thee Ain Village, 19°55.774'N 41°26.574'E Alt. 754 m, 10.III.2012, (HP), M.S. Abdel-Dayem". 2♂, 3♀, "19°55.465'N 41°26.343'E Alt. 744 m, 07.IV.2013, (HP), M.R. Sharaf". 7♂, 9♀, "19°52.598'N 41°18.672'E Alt. 892 m, 23.IV.2014, (LT), H. Al Dhafer, M.S. Abdel-Dayem, H. H. Fadl, A. El Turkey, A. Elgarbway & I. Rasool". 2♀, "9°55.459'N 41°26.302'E Alt. 741 m, 11.V.2013, (HP), M.R. Sharaf". 2♂, 3♀, "Al Mandaq, Wadi Turba, 20°12.937'N 41°17.176'E Alt. 1793 m, 14.V.2011, (HP)., 2♂, "Wad Elzaraeb, 20°04.243'N 41°23.123'E Alt. 2086, (HP), M.R. Sharaf". 1♂, "19°51.066'N 41°18.037'E Alt. 1325 m, 23.VIII.2014 (LT), H. Al Dhafer, M.S. Abdel-Dayem, H. H. Fadl, A. El Turkey, A. Elgarbway & I. Rasool". 1♀, "19°50.710'N 41°18.267'E Alt. 1474 m, 02.IX.2015, (LT)., 1♂, "19°50.575'N 41°18.691'E Alt. 1666 m, 02.XI.2015, (LT), H. Al Dhafer, M.S. Abdel-Dayem, H. H. Fadl, A. El Turkey, A. Elgarbway & I. Rasool". 1♀, "19°50.575'N 41°18.691'E Alt. 1666 m, 15.XI.2015, (LT), H. Al Dhafer, M.S. Abdel-Dayem, H. H. Fadl, A. El Turkey, A. Elgarbway & A. Soliman". Asir: 1♂, "KSA, Abha, Rayda, "18°11.695'N 42°23.818'E Alt. 1897 m, 26.IV.2014, (LT)., 2♀, "18°11.766'N 42°24.315'E Alt. 2285 m, 8.VI.2014, (PT), H. Al Dhafer, M.S. Abdel-Dayem, H. H. Fadl, A. El Turkey, A. Elgarbway & I. Rasool". 2♂, 1♀, "Al Magardah, Wadi Yabah, 19°14.911'N 41°47.255'E Alt. 402 m, 11.X.2013, (LT)., 1♂, 1♀, "Wadi Talalea, 19°2.74'N 41°46.333'E Alt. 259 m, 12.X.2013, (LT), I. Rasool, M. A. Al Mushairi, S. Sonmbaati, S. Khan". Jazan: 2♂, 2♀, "Fayfa, Dayer Beni, 17°28.797'N 43°.14.434'E Alt. 871 m, 4.IV.2013, (HP), M. R. Sharaf" [KSMA].

Description.

Small beetle (Fig. 31), TBL 2.27-2.55 mm. Color: Head and pronotum black, pronotum sometimes–dark brown; sub scutellum, apical forth of elytra, epipleurae, femora, thoracic and abdominal ventrum, antennae, mouthparts and labrum–dark brown; rest of the elytra, tibiae and tarsomeres ferruginous. Microsculpture: Head with longitudinal microlines; clypeus with isodiametric mesh pattern; labrum, pronotum, elytra, thoracic and abdominal ventrum with transverse microlines; irregular on abdominal sternite. Head: As long as wide, HL 0.48-0.56 mm, HW 0.44-0.51 mm; eyes small with long tempora (Fig. 18). Pronotum: Transverse, almost as wide as head, PL 0.34-0.38 mm and PW 0.52-0.58 mm; pronotum narrowed posteriorly, sinuate before basal angles, base of pronotum lobate in the middle. Elytra: Parallel sized; EL 1.13-1.20 mm, EW 0.79-0.85 mm; apex transversally truncates, claws weakly dentate in the middle. Abdomen: apical margin of last sternum rounded in males and slightly incised in females. Aedeagus: small (Fig. 44), AL 0.38 mm; in lateral view, strongly curved; basal part up to apical lamina thick, widened in the middle, apical margin and lamina narrow and long; apical end small rounded; internal sacs leaf-like.

Affinities.

This species is very close to Microlestes vittipennis J.R Sahlberg, 1908 in general appearance, color, body size and pattern of elytra, but it can be distinguished by: antennomere II as long as III, eyes small with large temples, strongly curved, apical margin and lamina narrow and long; apical end small rounded; internal sacs leaf-like.

Ecological notes.

The species was collected from low lands and mountainous areas with 648-2285 m elevation range (Fig. 52). Adults were found under gravels and leaf litter in humid and moist places among mixed vegetation and shrubs. Also, they are attracted to UV–light .

Geographical distribution.

This species was described by Matue (1956) from southwestern Saudi Arabia and also reported from Afghanistan and Yemen (Mateu 1979, Kabak 2003). This range exemplifies Afrotropico–Indo–Mediterranean .