Elathous agilis sp. nov.

(Figs 13–18, 22–30, 69–71)

Type material. Holotype, male. “ LEBANON, Northern gov., Ehden, Horsh Ehden Natural Reserve, swept & handcollected, 34°18’25”N, 35°59’6”E, 2.VIII.2018, leg. P. Nemes & T. Németh (No. 80)” (HNHM) . 55 paratypes, 30 males & 25 females. Same as holotype (12 males, 2 females, HNHM); “ LEBANON, Northern gov., Bcharre env., 1 km E Ariz, Horsh Arz el-Rab, ancient Cedrus forest,, pupa from rotten Cedrus log, 34°14’33”N, 36°2’59”E, 1900 m, 24.VI.2016, leg. A. Kotán, P. Nemes & T. Németh ” (2 males, 3 females, HNHM) ; “ LEBANON, Northern gov., 2 km N Harissa, Tannourine Cedars Nat. Reserve, from beneath stones, 34°12’34”N, 35°55’45”E, 1750 m, 25.VII.2018, leg. P. Nemes & T. Németh (No. 62)” (2 males, 2 females HNHM) ; “ LEBANON, Northern gov., Tannourine env., 2 km N Harissa, Tannourine Cedars Nat. Reserve, reared from hollow oak, 34°12’34”N, 35°55’45”E, 1750 m, 6.V.- VII.2017, leg. A. Kotán, P. Nemes & T. Németh (No. 40)” (1 male, HNHM) ; “ LEBANON, Northern gov., Bcharre env., 1 km E Ariz, Horsh Arz el-Rab, ancient Cedrus forest,, larva from Cedrus log, 34°14’33”N, 36°2’59”E, 1900 m, 20.V.-25.VII.2015, leg. A. Márkus & T. Németh ” (1 male, 2 females, HNHM) ; “ LEBANON, Northern gov., Tannourine env., 2 km N Harissa, Tannourine Cedars Nat. Reserve, reared from rotten Cedrus log, 34°12’34”N, 35°55’45”E, 1750 m, 1.V.2017, leg. A. Kotán, P. Nemes & T. Németh (No. 30)” (1 female, HNHM) ; “LEBA- NON, Northern gov., Tannourine env., 2 km N Harissa, Tannourine Cedars Nat. Reserve, pitfall trap, 34°12’34”N, 35°55’45”E, 1750 m, VI.-VIII.2016, leg. M. Rehayem. (8 females, HNHM); LEBANON, Mount Lebanon Range, Arsoun, Pinus forest, from Tomicus pheromone trap, 33°51’8.03”N, 35°41’44.36”E, X.2016, leg. N. Nemer (No. 42/d)” (2 males, 2 females, HNHM) ; “Lebanon H2, 1 Hadeth el Jebbeh, Cedar ecosystem (PF) August 11, 2001 Carla Abdo” (1 female, PCNN); “Lebanon P11 Tannourine Pitfall Trap August 13, 2002 Nemer/Bassil/Tamim” (1 female, PCNN); “LB, Arsoun, Pher Tomicus / T 6 October N. Nemer ” (1 male, HNHM); same but “T11, T12, T26, T52, T54, T57, T30” (9 males, HNHM) ; same but “T24, T25, T59” (3 females, HNHM).

Other material. One specimen (“ Tannourine Cedars Lebanon 06/06/2009 Nabil Nemer ”, 1 female, HNHM) with unusually robust pronotum (0.90 times longer than wide) and with posterial angles divergent, and one damaged specimen (“ Lebanon, H3.3, Hadeth el Jebbeh Cedar ecosystem (PF) August 4, 2001 Carla Abdo”, 1 female, HNHM) are not included in the type series .

Diagnosis. Elathous agilis sp. nov. is similar in the large body size, robust habitus and black coloration to nine Elathous species of the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East. It is characterised by its gracile body, pronotal shape and male genitalia.

Comparison with other species. Males of the new species can be separated from the males of the four Greek species E. brucki (Candèze, 1878), E. graecus Platia, 2008, E. melanarius Platia & Kakiopoulos, 2014 and E. niger Schwarz, 1897 by its flat and elongated pronotum which is slightly longer than wide, smaller and more gracile body, and parameres of male genitalia with convex sides. The Croatian species E. impressifrons (Hampe, 1866) has the frons deeply impressed, while frons of E. agilis sp. nov. has only a shallow impression. Elathous cyprius (Baudi di Selve, 1871) from Cyprus has paler, brownish body coloration, females have lateral edges of pronotum strongly rounded, with distinctly divergent posterior angles, and the second and third antennomeres elongated, almost about the same length. Lateral pronotal sides of females of E. agilis sp. nov. are less rounded, with posterior angles almost parallel, and the second antennomere is distinctly shorter than the third antennomere. Elathous mertliki Platia & Schimmel, 1992 was described from Turkey after a single male specimen. It has a typically flat and elongate pronotum (3.8 mm long, 3.4 mm wide), while males of the new species have pronotum usually as long as wide. Additionally, males of E. nigricans Platia & Schimmel, 1991, described from Turkey, have a robust body (13 mm long, 4 mm wide) and pronotum slightly wider than long. The morphologically and geographically nearest species, E. lizleri Mertlik, 2005 (Figs 19–21) from Syria, is known only from two females. These females have body slightly paler (Fig. 19) and their flat pronotum (Fig. 21) is 1.1 times longer than wide, with almost parallel sides. Females of E. agilis sp. nov. have pronotum wider than long, with clearly rounded lateral sides.

Description. Holotype, male (Figs 13–14, 17, 22–26). Body length 12 mm, width 3.5 mm, moderately elongate, shiny, dark-brown to black, antennae and legs reddish-black; pubescence decumbent, dense and short, darkbrown (Figs 13–14). Frons flat between eyes, moderately impressed before anterior margin. Antenna (Fig. 17), when directed backwards, not reaching posterior angles of pronotum, not reaching posterior angles of pronotum of one antennomere. Antennomere I robust, II slightly subconical, III cylindrical, longer than previous, IV to X subtriangular, slightly serrate, subequal in length, twice longer than wide; last antennomere as long as penultimate, subelliptic, pointed at apex.

Pronotum (Fig. 13) narrower than elytra, convex, slightly longer than wide, widest at middle. Sides almost parallel, slightly narrowed from anterior third. Posterior angles with distinct short carina. Lateral carina distinct, complete anteriorly.

Punctation with umbilicated punctures and shiny intervals. Distance between punctures 2 to 3 times of their diameter. Scutellar shield transverse, sub-pentagonal, about 1.2 longer than wide, slightly convex, widest at basal first third, surface shiny.

Elytra 2.6 times longer than pronotum and 2.3 times longer than wide, moderately convex; sides subparallel along 3/5 of its length, gradually narrowed apically, slightly truncate, moderately convex, widest at about 3/5; striae regularly punctate; interstriae flat, densely and finely punctate. Pubescence decumbent to semierect.

Pregenital segments and aedeagus as in Figs 22–26. Tergite VIII (Fig. 22) widened, more than 2 times as wide as long. Tergites IX and X connected by membrane (Fig. 23); tergite IX subtriangular, as wide as tergite VIII; tergite X small, rounded apically. Sternite VIII (Fig. 24) transverse; sternite IX (Fig. 25) oval, connected with membrane to sternite X. Aedeagus (Fig. 26) elongate, about 2.5 times as long as wide, with median lobe surpassing tip of paramere, parameres widened at middle, sharply narrowed anteriorly.

Female (Figs 15–16, 18, 27–30). Similar to male, body (Fig. 15) more robust, antennae not reaching posterior angles of pronotum by about 2 antennomeres.Antennomeres (Fig. 18) more robust, shorter than in males. Pronotum (Fig. 16) 0.9 times as long as wide, widest at base, posterior angles almost parallel. Punctation deeper, coarser than in males.

Scutellar shield variable in shape and surface, sometimes convex, sub-pentagonal, sometimes almost elongated, with parallel sides. Surface mat or shiny, depending on density of punctation.

Pregenital segments and genitalia as in Figs 27–30. Tergite VII (Fig. 27) subparallel-sided, about 2 times as wide as long; tergite VIII (Fig. 28) and sternite VIII (Fig. 29) slightly longer than wide, with apex rounded. Ovipositor as in Fig. 30. Paraprocts about 6.5 times as long as gonocoxites.

Intraspecific variability. Body length: 10.0–12.0 mm (males), 11.1–13.5 mm (females); body width: 2.8–3.3 mm (males), 3.4–4.6 mm (females).

Ecology. The larvae (Figs 69–71) develop in different kinds of rotten wood for at least two years. Prepupal forms were found in red-rotten wood of hollow oaks ( Quercus pinnatifida) in Hors-Ehden Natural Reserve. At Tannourine Natural Reserve and Horsh Arz el-Rab (Fig. 69), pupae and variously sized larvae were found in dry, white-rotten trunks infected with fungus (Fig. 70), and in very dry parts of an opened cavity of Lebanese cedar ( Cedrus libani). Collected larvae were kept in plastic boxes in room temperature, and adults emerged in the end of July. Adults were collected from beneath stones during the day in Tannourine Natural Reserve, near to fallen cedar trunks. Several active adults were collected by hand during a foggy afternoon in August in Hors-Ehden Natural Reserve. Beetles were flying around vegetation among solitary Pinus trees.

Distribution. Lebanon.

Etymology. The name refers to the agile swarming behaviour of the individuals.