Pediacus smirnovi Nikitsky & Belov

Marris, John W. M. & Ślipiński, Adam, 2014, A revision of the Pediacus Shuckard 1839 (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) of Asia and Australasia, Zootaxa 3754 (1), pp. 32-58 : 52-54

Pediacus smirnovi Nikitsky & Belov

Figs. 9 E–H.

Pediacus smirnovi Nikitsky & Belov, 1979: 58 .

Diagnosis. Recognisable by the combination of the following characters: body colour orange-brown with surface glossy, antennomere VII distinctly larger than VI and VIII, pronotum strongly explanate with disc deeply impressed, elytra with epipleura strongly explanate.

Description. Body length 3.9–4.6 mm (n=4), elongate, 3.03× longer than wide; colour orange-brown, head slightly darker; pubescence moderately long, pale, appressed and inconspicuous; surface glossy. Head transverse, 1.79× wider than long; puncturation faintly impressed and sparse medially, increasing in size and density laterally with punctures separated by about their diameter; setae moderately long, fine and appressed, conspicuous; microsculpture faintly reticulate, surface glossy; eyes small, weakly projecting, ocular index 0.73, finely faceted, postocular denticle absent, distinct to reduced; antennae as in Fig. 9 E, antennomere VII distinctly larger than VI and VIII. Pronotum transverse, 1.26× wider than long, widest at about midpoint, sides subparallel; lateral margins strongly explanate especially in anterior half, reflexed, anterior and antero-medial denticles small, broadly obtuse, postero-medial more strongly projecting and broadly obtuse, posterior denticle small and acute; disc deeply impressed, lacking a narrow, impunctate median strip; puncturation as for head; setation as for head but short and inconspicuous medially; microsculpture very faintly reticulate, surface glossy. Elytra elongate, 2.03× longer than wide, sides subparallel, epipleura strongly explanate; puncturation moderately dense but weakly impressed basally, becoming more dense and deeply impressed laterally, puncturation weakly impressed on disc; setation moderately long, appressed and conspicuous; microsculpture coriaceous. Genitalia for male as in Fig. 9 G, parameres elongate, tapering apically; internal sac with spine-like projections basally, spines strongest basally, and tooth-like projections apically, lacking a sclerotized apical section.

Type material. Paratype. AZERBAIJAN: Талыш Алексеевка м[ертвая] к[ора] дуба 7/vii –75 68a Никитский [Talysh Alexeyevka dead oak bark 7/vii –[19]75 68a Nikitsky] (1, BMNH).

Other Specimens Examined. IRAN: [no further label data] (3, ANIC).

Distribution. Azerbaijan and Iran.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Pediacus species: (A – D) P. sinensis sp. nov.; (E – H) P. smirnovi Nikitsky and Belov. (A, F) Head and pronotum; (B, E) antenna; (C, H) dorsal habitus; (D, G) aedeagus.