Guanchia sokotrana ( Burr, 1905 ) Kočárek, 2014

Kočárek, Petr, 2014, Earwigs (Dermaptera) of Socotra Island: checklist, distribution, and description of a new genus and four new species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 1-21 : 14

Guanchia sokotrana ( Burr, 1905) comb. nov.

( Figs 20–23 , 28 )

Anechura sokotrana Burr, 1905: 493

Type locality. Yemen, Socotra Island.

Type material. Not studied.The deposition of type material is not stated in the original description of BURR (1905). HAAS et al. (2004) suggested that the holotype could be deposited in The Natural History Museum, London.There is a specimen (male) labelled as Anechura fedchenkoi Saussure, 1874 (now Oreasiobia fedschenkoi (Saussure, 1874)) ; but this specimen is marked by an additional label stating ‘described as new / A. sokotrana / Burr inedit / Type MB’.

Material examined. Wadi Mathif , N12°27′28.4″, E 54°18′22.3″, 20.vi.2009, 3 ♀♀, V. Hula lgt. ( NMPC, PKCO) ; Al Haghier Mts. , Scant Mt. env., N12°36.4′ N, E54°01.5′, 1,450 m a.s.l., 12.–13.xi.2010, 3 JJ 4 ♀♀, J. Batelka lgt. ( NMPC) ; Hagher Mts. , Scand Mt. env., N12°34.6′ N, E54°01.5′, 1450 m a.s.l., montane evergreen woodland, 16.–18.vi.2012, 4 JJ 5 ♀♀, J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart lgt. ( NMPC, PKCO) .

Comments. The sternal plates of this species have structure typical for the subfamily Forficulinae with a quadratic, as wide as long mesosternum ( Fig. 21 ). The shape of the mesosternum is the only diagnostic characteristic that subdivides Forficulinae and Anechurinae . Therefore, Anechura sokotrana must be moved to the subfamily Forficulinae , within which the species fits well with the generic diagnosis of the genus Guanchia Burr, 1911 , characterised by abbreviated, obliquely posteriorly truncate tegmina ( Fig. 20 ).

Distribution. Yemen, Socotra Island ( Fig. 28 ). Most likely an endemic species.

Figures

Figs 20–26. Guanchia sokotrana (Burr, 1905) comb. nov. (20–23) and Guanchia bituberculata (Brindle, 1966) stat. restit. (24–26). 20 – habitus of male, dorsal view; 21 – male sternal plates, ventral view; 22 – detail of the end of male ultimate tergite; 23 – male genitalia; 24 – habitus of male holotype, 25 – detail of the end of male ultimate tergite; 26 – male genitalia of holotype.

Figs 27–29. Sketch maps of Socotra Island displaying the known and newly recorded distribution of Dermaptera. Published records are based on HAAS at al. (2004); the occurrence of Labidura riparia (Pallas, 1773) on Samha Island published by these authors is not displayed.