Psammocryptus minutus ( Tauscher, 1812 )

Nabozhenko, Maxim V. & Chigray, Ivan A., 2022, A review of the genus Psammocrуptus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tentyriini), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 62 (1), pp. 165-184 : 167-173

Psammocryptus minutus ( Tauscher, 1812)

( Figs 3–4 )

Tentyria minuta Tauscher, 1812: 33 , fig. 4a, b. Type locality: “Circa Astrachan ” [= Russia, environs of Astrakhan].

Tentyria minuta : Sඍൾඏൾඇ (1828: 83); Mඣඇඣඍඋංඣඌ (1832: 196).

Hyperops minuta : Fൺඅൽൾඋආൺඇඇ (1838: 141); Kඋൺൺඍඓ (1862: 94).

Psammocryptus minutus : Kඋൺൺඍඓ (1865:240); Jൺർඊඎൾඅංඇ ൽඎ Vൺඅ (1861: t. 61, f. 301); Fൺඎඌඍ (1875: 180); SർHඇൾංൽൾඋ & Lൾൽൾඋ (1878: 223); Hൾඒൽൾඇ et al.(1883: 127); Hൾඒൽൾඇ et al. (1891:238); Rൾංඍඍൾඋ (1900: 144); Gൾൻංൾඇ (1911:57); BඈGൺඍർHൾඏ (1934:46); Gൾൻංൾඇ (1937:612); BඈGൺඍർHൾඏ (1938: 121); SKඈඉංඇ (1961: 178); SKඈඉංඇ (1964: 291); SKඈඉංඇ (1968: 104); KඋඒඓHൺඇඈඏඌKංඃ (1965: 167); Mൾൽඏൾൽൾඏ (1965: 362); Pංඋඇൺඓൺඋඈඏ (1970: 27 (part)); AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ (1971: 2); KൺඅඒඎඓHඇൺඒൺ (1982: 69);AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ (1983:485); Mൾൽඏൾൽൾඏ & Nൾඉൾඌඈඏൺ (1985: 67); Mൾൽඏൾൽൾඏ &AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ (1988: 74); AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ & Mൾൽඏൾൽൾඏ (1994: 129); AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ et al. (1995: 187); NൺൻඈඓHൾඇKඈ (1999: 50); KൺඅඒඎඓHඇൺඒൺ et al. (2000: 147); AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ & Aൻൽඎඅආඎඌඅංආඈඏൺ (2002: 42); Lදൻඅ et al. (2008: 202); AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ & NൺൻඈඓHൾඇKඈ (2011: 31 (fig. 28), 63, 67 (fig. 24), 185); AൻൽඎඋൺKHආൺඇඈඏ & NൺൻඈඓHൾඇKඈ (2014:34); Iඐൺඇ et al. (2020: 243).

Psammocryptus bergi Kuzin 1934: 160 . Type locality: “Tamgaly Tas”. Synonymy was established by SKඈඉංඇ (1961).

Psammocryptus bergi : Gൾൻංൾඇ (1937: 612); SKඈඉංඇ (1961: 178, as a junior synonym of P. minutus ); KඋඒඓHൺඇඈඏඌKංඃ (1965: 167, as a junior synonym of P. minutus ); SKඈඉංඇ (1968: 104, as a subspecies of Psammocryptus minutus ); Lදൻඅ et al. (2008: 202); Iඐൺඇ et al. (2020: 243), syn. restit.

Material examined. RUSSIA: 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘ minuta / Russ. mer.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN):‘Sarepta’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch’, ‘k. G.Siversa’ [now part of Volgograd: 48°30′43″N, 44°32′59″E]; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Sarepta, Bekker”’, ‘k.A.Yakovleva’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN):‘Astrach.’, ’80.’, ‘ Astrachan (Obert) [Astrakhan’, Obertür]’; 6 ♂♂ 10 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘ Astrakhan’, Bekker”’ [or Astrachan Becker on some labels]; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘ Astrakhan’, ‘k. Rybakova’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘ Astrachan / 1891 / König’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch’, ‘k. G. Siversa’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Volga / Astrakhan ” / 23.v.1894 / G. Suvorova’; 9 ♂♂ 7 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Selitrennoe / Enot u Astr. g. / 9.iv.910 / Chernavin’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogatchev det.’; 1 ♂ ( PCMN): Astrakhan Region, Ikryanoe Distr. / Ilmen’ Kapitansky env., 46°09ʹ29ʺN, 47°23ʹ32ʺE, 29.04.2006 / leg. M.V. Nabozhenko’; 1 ♂ ( PCMN): ‘ Kalmykia, / Kaspiyskiy, at light / 25.vi.1975 Arzanov Yu.’; 14 ♂♂ 18 ♀♀ ( PCMN): Dagestan, Chechen’ island / 25– 31.05.2012 / leg. G. Abdurakhmanov’. ARMENIA: 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘ Erivan / Maljushenco’. AZERBAIJAN: 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘ Baku.’, ‘gen. Psammocryptus Kraatz’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘ Baku.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘ Baku. / A. Gebel’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogatchev det.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN):‘ Baku. / Bekker’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch. / Bogdanov-Katjkov det.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘ Baku. / 14.vi.1899 / Sumakov’; 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Bailov / Baku. / pervaya polov. maya [first half of May] 1900 / Bleker’; 3 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Bakinskiy u. [Baku Uezd] / 17.I.[18]95 / Rossikov’; 1 ♂ ( PCMN): ‘ Baku 1926 / Khadarin’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Kurinskaya kosa / Kasp. more. 1914–1945 [now Kura Island in the Caspian Sea: 38°58′30″N, 49°07′30″E] / N. Knipovich’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogatchev det.’; 3 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Caucas./ Baku’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch’. KAZAKHSTAN: 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘fl. Ural’ [valley of Ural River], ‘ Hyperops / minutus / Russia m[eridionale]. Tausch.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Mangischlak’ [Mangystau Region: Magyshlak peninsula], ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tauch’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN):‘B. Barsuki [Aktobe region, Bolshiye Barsuki desert: 47°46′59″N, 59°42′42″E] / 11.x.[1]930 / E. Luppova’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Okr. Chelkara [Aktobe region: Shalkar env.] / Turg. Obl. / Step’ B Barsuki / N.V. Androsov’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tsch / Breit det.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Step’ B Barsuki / bl. Kara-Chekata [near Kara-Chekat] / Turg. obl. / N.V. Androsov’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Temir. u., Ural. obl. / r. Astau-saldy [Aktobe Region,Astau-Saldy River, left tributary of Emba River] / 5.vi. [19]08 / D. Borodin and B. Uvarov’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Irgiz, Turg. obl. [now Aktobe Region: Yrgyz, 48°37′N, 61°16′E] / 10.vi.[1]928 / N. Olenev, V. Popov’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Irgiz, Turg. obl. / 12.vi.928 / V. Popov’; 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Dzhalangach [Aktobe Region,lake:48°28ʹN, 61°18ʹE] / yu.Irgiza, Tur.o. / 3.iv.[18]98 / Sushkin; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Khar’kin [West Kazakhstan Region: Khar’kino: 48°44ʹN, 51°48ʹE] / lev. b. r. Ural [left bank of Ural River], Kazakhst. / 2.v.[1]951 / Romadina’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Khar’kin / lev. b. r. Ural, Kazakhst. / 2.v.[1]951 / L.Arnol’di’; 17 ♂♂ 16 ♀♀ ( ZIN):‘Khar’kin / ber. r. Ural, nizhn. tech. / 22.vi.[1]951 / Romadina’, ‘na Peganum i pod kustom’ [on Peganum and under a bush], ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 10 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀ ( ZIN):‘Khar’kin / r.Ural, Kazakhst./ 19.vi.[1]951 / Gur’eva’, ‘pod Peganum’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Khar’kin / r. Ural, Kazakhst./ 21.vi.[1]951 / Gur’eva’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch /A.Bogačev det.’; 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN):‘Khar’kin / r. Ural, Kazakhst. / 28.vi.951 / Gur’eva’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Khar’kin / lev.b. r. Ural, Kazakhst. / 3.vii.[1]951 / L. Arnol’di’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Khar’kin / pustynya nizhn. t. r. Ural [desert in lower reaches of the Ural River] / 5.viii. [1]951 / L.Arnol’di’; 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Zap. Kazakh. o. / okr. N. Kazanki [West Kazakhstan Region: Zhanakazan env., 48°56′01″N, 49°36′29″E] / 14.vi. 1952 g. / L. Arnol’di’; 3 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Pr. b. Urala, protiv Inderborstroya [Atyrau Region: Inderborskiy, 48°32′59″N, 51°46′59″E] / Gur’evsk. obl. / peski [sands] / 3.v.[19]51 / L. Arnol’di’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Pr. b. Urala, protiv Inderborstroya / Gur’evsk. obl. / peski / 3.v.[19]51 / L. Arnol’di’, ‘pod tamariksom’ [under Tamarix ]; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Zap. Kaz. obl. / put’ Urda – N. Kazanka [West Kazakhstan Region: way between Urda and Zhanakazan] / 11–13.vi.[1]952 / L. Arnol’di’; 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘r. Ural u Khar’kina / Kazakhst. / 4.vii.[1]951 / L.Arnol’di’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Semirech’e / ushch.r. Kopaly [Almaty Region:Kapal River, 45°02′13″N, 78°58′47″E] / 19.v.[19]09 / Nedovitskiy’, ‘ Psammocryptus Ktz. minutus Tausch / G. Suvorov det.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Mujunkum [Jambyl Region: Moiynkum: 44°17′9″N, 72°56′14″E] / E. Fischer’, ‘k. E. Fishera’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘S. Pribalkhash’e / Gul’shad [Karaganda Region: Gulshat: 46°38′00″N, 74°21′40″E] / 18.09.1964 / leg. N. Skopin’ // ‘ Psammocryptus / minutus Tausch. / ab. bergi Kuzin / 1969 N. Skopin det.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘dolina r. Ili / 20 km N Kopchegaya [Almaty Region: 20 km N Kapgachay, Ili River valley, Tamgaly-Tas, 44°03′43″N, 77°00′02″E] / 9.07.1969 / leg.N. Skopin’; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘UdSSR / Kasachatan occ / Džambul [now Taraz] / 6. 1964 / Ing. Gottwald lgt.’; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘G. Balkhash [Karaganda Region: Balkhash town, 46°50′34″N, 74°58′39″E] / 24.09.1971 / leg. N. Skopin’; 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀ ( PCMN): ‘Kazakhstan, S-Kazakhstan Region / south shore of Kyzylkol Lake / 43°44’20”N 69°27’23”E / 30.iii-1.iv.2010 leg. A. Matalin’. TURKMENISTAN: 11♂♂ 4 ♀♀ ( ZIN):‘Turkest./ Krsnv.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / 13.iv.[18]99’, ‘k.A.Yakovleva’, ‘ Ps. minutus intermedius A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / 30.v.1902 / G. Sumakov’, ‘ Psammocryptus minutus Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk, Zaksp.ob. / 16.vi.[190]0 / G.G. Sumakov’, ‘ Ps. minutus Taus. ’; 13 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / Zakasp. obl. / 22.vi.[1]910 / E. Fisher’; 3 ♂♂ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / 13.vi.[1]928 / V. Gusakovskiy’; 4 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / 14.vi.[1]928 / V. Gusakovskiy’; 2 ♂♂ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / 17.vi.[1]928 / V. Gusakovskiy’; 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk” / Zakasp.obl. 6.v.[1]900 / G.G. Sumakov’; 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN):‘Krasnovodsk” / Zakasp.obl.16.vi.[18]99 / G.G. Sumakov’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Krasnovodsk / Zakasp. obl. / 22.vi.[1]910 / E. Fisher’; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Tarta, Krasnovodsk. Kosa [Krasnovodsk spit: 39°48′35″N 53°1′18″E] / pesok ok. Salsola [sand near Salsola ] / 18.iv. [19]32 / E. Kuznetsova’; 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘o. Ogurchinskiy [island in the Caspian Sea] / Kaspiyskoe more / 15 (28). vii. [19]14 / Knipovich”’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Kara-Bogaz / 40 km N Kizyl-Arvat / 14.iv.[1]952 / Shteynberg’, ‘peski’ [sands]; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘st. Dzhebel, Turkmen. [Jebel: 39°37′51″N, 54°14′14″E] / 9.vii.[1]934 / V. Popov’.

Redescription. Body length 5.50–8.00 mm, width 2.00– 2.60 mm. Measurements: PH w – 1.60, P w P l – 1.38, E

l

E

w

– 1.47, EH

w

– 1.87, EP

w

– 1.15–1.16, EP

l

– 2.38–2.40.

Body and legs robust, shiny. Head widest at level of genae and eyes. Anterior margin of head without emarginations between genae and epistoma; surface with or without short furrows between epistoma and other surface. Puncturation of head dorsally coarse and dense; punctures round or weakly elongate. Lateral surface of mandibles with dense and coarse longitudinal puncturation basally and round puncturation distally. Ventral side of head without deep foveae, only with simple wide transverse depression behind prementum. Prementum and head surface in middle transversely with coarse and sparse noncontiguous punctures.

Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse, subcordate, widest in middle. Lateral margins widely emarginated in basal quarter; anterior margin almost straight; base bisinuate. Antero-lateral corners right or weakly obtuse, pointed at apex; postero-lateral corners right or weakly acute, pointed at apex. Border of anterior margin widely interrupted in middle, and this interruption subequal in length to bordered part on one side. Puncturation of disc coarse and dense, punctures large; puncture diameter subequal to distance between punctures; punctures on sides elongate and denser. Prosternum sparsely punctured by coarse punctures; space between punctures 2–4 times as long as puncture diameter. Prosternal process with conical tubercle at apex. Prothoracic hypomera with large sparse punctures (puncture diameter subequal to space between punctures).

Pterothorax. Punctures in striae not impressed, moderate in size, 2–3 times larger than interstrial ones; interstria with sparse and fine distinct puncturation. Mesoventrite with strongly elongate narrow longitudinal fovea arranged in about three–four transverse rows (each row with 12–15 foveae). Metaventrite with large sparse puncturation (puncture diameter 2 times shorter than interpunctural space) on latero-anterior sides and much finer punctures on other surface.

Legs robust, short. Metatibiae straight. First metatarsomere 1.3–1.4 times longer than fourth one.

Abdominal ventrites 1–5 with coarse, moderately dense puncturation. Abdominal ventrite 5 rounded at apex.

Male genitalia. Apical piece of aedeagus fusiform, widest in middle.

Notes. Kඎඓංඇ (1934) described P. bergi as a new species based on one female from Ili River valley ( Kazakhstan: Tamgaly-Tas, 44°03′43″N, 77°00′02″E). We examined specimens from the type locality of P. bergi and didn’t find any clear differences between this and other populations of P. minutus . SKඈඉංඇ (1961) synonymized this name with P. minutus , but later (SKඈඉංඇ 1968) interpreted it as a subspecies P. minutus bergi . The same available name was listed in the catalogues by Lදൻඅ et al. (2008) and Iඐൺඇ et al. (2020). The following synonymy is restituted according to SKඈඉංඇ’ s (1961) work: Psammocryptus minutus ( Tauscher, 1812) = Psammocryptus bergi Kuzin, 1934 , syn. restit.

Variability. We found that one specimen from Kyzylkol Lake environs ( Kazakhstan) has a very small tubercle on the prosternal process. Another one from this locality has only a convexity instead of the tubercle. At the same time, the other two specimens from Kyzylkol bore a well-developed conical tubercle.

Distribution ( Fig. 1 ). Southern Russia (Caspian Depression) (based on cited references and the material above), Armenia (new record for the country), Azerbaijan (Apsheron Peninsula) (BඈGൺඍർHൾඏ 1934, the material above), Kazakhstan (from Volga River to Balkhash Lake and Ili River, excluding Syr-Darya valley and Kyzylkum desert) (SKඈඉංඇ 1961, the material above), NW Turkmenistan (Mൾൽඏൾൽൾඏ & Nൾඉൾඌඈඏൺ 1985, the material above), N Kyrgyzstan (listed for the country by SKඈඉංඇ (1964), but it was omitted in the catalogue (Iඐൺඇ et al. 2020)).

We studied four specimens of P. minutus from Yerevan ( Armenia) collected by Malushenco at the beginning of the 20th century. In the last faunistic revision of Armenia (Nൺൻඈ- ඓHൾඇKඈ et al. 2021), this species is absent; it has not been collected for more than 100 years and probably theArmenian population has now become extinct due to urbanization.

Psammocryptus bogatchevi

Nabozhenko, Chigray & Bekchanov, sp. nov.

( Figs 5–7 )

Psammocryptus minutus intermedius A. Bog. (nomen nudum): Dൺඏඅൾඍ- ඌHංඇൺ (1967: 526); SKඈඉංඇ (1968: 104); DൺඏඅൾඍඌHංඇൺ et al. (1979: 48, erroneous record; 106).

Psammocryptus minutus (misidentification): Pංඋඇൺඓൺඋඈඏ (1970: 27) (part, see Notes below).

Type material examined. Hඈඅඈඍඒඉൾ: ♂ ( ZIN): KAZAKHSTAN: Перовск Сыр- / Дарьинск. обл. / В. Попов 30.IV. 928 [Cyrillic print label; translation: Perovsk, Syr-Darya region, leg.V.Popov; now:Kyzylorda, 44°51′0″N 65°31′0″E] // P. minutus / intermedius ssp. n. m. cotyp / A. Bogačev det [handwritten by A. Bogatchev] // Paratypus [print, red]. Pൺඋൺඍඒඉൾඌ ( ZIN): 4 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀, with the same geographic label, but one female has additional labels: P. minutus / intermedius ssp. n. m. typ / A. Bogačev det [handwritten by A. Bogatchev] // Paratypus [print, red]; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): 108 [country unknown, probably Kazakhstan] // Psammocryptus bayeri Koch.1962 . N.Skopin det.; 6 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘st.Aral’skoe more O. T. zh.d. [now Kyzylorda Region:Aral, 46°47′0″N, 61°40′0″E] / 8.x.[1]910 / E. Fisher’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘st. Aral’skoe more / 7.ix.[19]25 / M. Berg’; 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Perovsk / Syr-Dar’ens. obl. / Sumakov / 24.v.[1]905’; 4 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Perovsk / Syr-Dar’ens. obl. / Sumakov / 27.v.[1]907’; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN):‘Perovsk / Syr-Dar’insk.obl. / V. Popov / 30.iv.[1]928’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN):

‘Perovsk / Syr-Dar’insk. obl. / V. Popov / 14.v.[1]928’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Perovsk / Syr-Dar’insk.obl. / V. Popov / 27.iv.[1]928’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Perovsk / Syr-Dar’insk. obl. / V. Popov / 2.v.[1]928’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Perovsk / SyrDar’insk.obl./ V. Popov / 5.v.[1]928’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Baygakum / iii.[1]912 / V. Kozhanchikov’; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘g. Kazalinsk / Syr-Dar’insk. ob. / 26.v.[1]928 / V. Popov’, ‘ Ps. minutus intermedius Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Karmakchi [now Zhosaly: 45°29′17″N, 64°05′32″E] / Syr-Dar. ob. / 22.v.[1]928 / N. Olenev, V. Popov’; 2 ♂♂ ( ZIN): ‘Iskele, Chikmen. [? W of Shymkent] / u. Syrdar. o. / 19.v.[18]98 / Geyer”’, ‘ Ps. minutus intermedius Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♂ 5 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Baygakum / iii.[1]912 / V. Kozhanchikov’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Dzhukel” [now Baygakum] / Syrdar. obl. / 30.v. [18]98 / Geyr”’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Dzhukel” [Baygakum], Orenb./ Tashk.zh.dSyr-Dar / 6.vii.[19]10 / Kozhanchikov’; 2 ♂♂ ( ZIN): ‘N. Turkestan / Dshulek / 5.vi.1911 / Koshantshikov; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Syr-Darja Gebiet / Perovsk / 2.v.[19]05 / J. Baekmann.’, ‘ Ps. minutus intermedius Tausch / A. Bogačev det.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Syr-Darja Gebiet / Perovsk / 6.v.[19]05 / J. Baekmann.’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Syr-Darja Gebiet / Perovsk / 19.iv.[19]05 / J. Baekmann.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Syr-Darja Gebiet / Perovsk / 21.iv.[19]05 / J. Baekmann.’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN):‘N. Turkestan / Perovsk / 16.v.[19]05’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Baygakum / 22.vi.[18]97’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘St. Kazalinsk / O. T.zh.d. / 19.v.[19]10 / G.G. Sumakov”’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Dzhulek / Perovskogo u. / 25.vi.[1]915 / E.Pavlovskiy’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Kara-Uzyak / Perovskogo u. / 20.vi.[19]16 / N. Pulikovskaya’. UZBEKISTAN: 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘g. Bukhara / 12.v.1888 / A. Semenov’; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN):‘Kara-Teren’ / Aral’sk.More [Aral Sea] / 11.ix.[19]25 / M. Berg’; 5 ♂♂ 1 ♀ ( ZIN):‘Muynak /Aral’sk.More / 4.ix.[19]25 / M.Berg’; 1 ♀ ( ZIN): ‘Ayak-agytma / Bukharsk. obl. / 18.v.[1]948 / Kirichenko’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Nukus, niz.Amudar’i / 20.viii.[1]910 / E. Fisher’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘st. Syr-Dar’inskaya [Syr-Darya (Syrdaryo) ralway station: 40°51′N, 68°40′E] / 8.v.[1]903 / N.N. Ivanov”’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘st. Syr-Dar’inskaya / 13.v.[1]903 / N.N. Ivanov”’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Kizil kumy / st. SyrDar’in., Dzhiz / 13.v.[19]03 / G. Yakobson’; 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Mullya Vul’gan / Il’be Kuybak, Dzhz [near Jizzakh: 40°28ʹN, 67°34ʹE] / 9.v.[19]03 / G. Yakobson’; 3 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( IZUZ): ‘ Karakalpakstan Republic, between / Amudarya and Beruni districts, Lower / Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve, / 41°58ʹ26.1ʺN, 60°22ʹ45.2ʺE and 41°58ʹ26.1ʺN / 60°22ʹ42.2ʺE, 41°58ʹ24.5ʺN 60°23ʹ04.3ʺE, 27– / 28.08.2021 leg. N. Bekchanov’; 3 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( ZIN): ‘Fergana, Min- / Bulak [Namangan Region, Mingbuloq District: 40°51′48″N, 71°27′35″E] 14.vii.1909 / Zarudnyi’; 1 ♂ ( ZIN): ‘Namang. u. Ferg. dolina [Namangan Distr., Fergana valley] / vesna 904 [spring 1904] / Yankovskiy’.

Description. Body length 6.00–8.00 mm, width 2.50–2.80 mm. Measurements: PH w – 1.56, P w P l – 1.33, E l E w – 1.54, EH

w

– 1.88, EP

w

– 1.20, EP

l

– 2.46.

Body robust, black or black-brown, shiny.

Head widest at level of posterior margin of eyes. Anteri- or margin of epistoma with long rostrum in middle; genae separated from epistoma by distinct obtuse emargination on outer margin and by longitudinal grooves on head surface. Labrum partly visible under rostrum. Puncturation of head dorsally coarse and dense; punctures subequal to puncture diameter in anterior half of head; punctures longitudinal and denser at base of frons. Lateral surface of mandibles with sparse smooth puncturation. Head ventrally with deep large tunnel foveae in middle, continued under prementum. Prementum and head surface around prementum with coarse and sparse non-contiguous punctures.

Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse, cordate, widest in anterior third. Lateral margins weakly emarginated near base; anterior margin straight; base evenly widely rounded. Antero-lateral corners obtuse, widely rounded at apex; postero-lateral corners weakly obtuse or right, pointed at apex. Base widely bordered; lateral margins narrowly bordered; border of anterior margin shortly interrupted in middle, and this interruption much shorter than bordered part on one side. Puncturation of disc coarse and dense; puncture diameter subequal to distance between punctures; punctures on sides weakly elongate and denser. Prosternum very sparsely punctured by moderate in size smooth punctures; space between punctures 4–5 times as long as puncture diameter. Prosternal process without tooth or conical tubercle at apex. Prothoracic hypomera with large sparse punctures (puncture diameter subequal to space between punctures).

Pterothorax. Scutellar shield widely pentagonal. Elytra widest in middle and basal third. Punctures in striae not impressed, small, but larger than interstrial ones; interstria with sparse and fine puncturation. Mesoventrite with strongly elongate narrow longitudinal fovea arranged in about four transverse rows (each row with 13–15 foveae). Metaventrite with sparse coarse puncturation (puncture diameter 2–3 times shorter than interpunctural space).

Legs robust, short. Metatibiae slightly curved inwards. Metatarsomeres 1 and 4 subequal in length.

Abdomen with coarse moderately sparse puncturation; diameter of punctures 1.5–2.0 times as short as interpunctural space; puncturation of abdominal ventrite 5 the same as on other ventrites and slightly denser. Abdominal ventrite 5 rounded at apex.

Male genitalia. Anterior margin of inner tergite VIII shortly emarginated in middle. Inner sternite VIII with deep emargination in middle and rounded apices. Rods of spiculum gastrale not merged in common stem. Apical piece of aedeagus fusiform, widest in middle.

Comparative diagnosis. The species is close to P. minutus in the robust body and legs, the structure of the male aedeagus (the apical piece is widest in middle), in similar puncturation of all abdominal ventrites. The new species is different from other species of Psammocryptus in very deep large fovea on the ventral side of head, continuing under the prementum ( Fig. 5B ) and in the absence of tooth or conical tubercle at the apex of the prosternal process ( Fig. 6B ) (except for the population from Fergana valley). It additionally differs from P. minutus in the presence of weak but distinct emarginations at the anterior margin of the head between gena and epistoma, widely rounded anterolateral corners of pronotum (pointed in P. minutus ), widely rounded pronotal base (bisinuate in P. minutus ), very short interruption of the border of the anterior margin of the pronotum (much longer in P. minutus ), the pronotum widest in the anterior third (at the middle in P. minutus ), and in subequal length of metatarsomeres 1 and 4.

Etymology. The species is named in memory of a famous specialist on Tenebrionidae, Prof. Alexey Vladimirovich Bogatchev (1909–1977), who scheduled this taxon for a description.

Bionomics. The species was collected in a tugay forest with the dominance of Populus euphratica and P. pruinosa (sect. Turanga ) ( Fig. 7A ) under bedding of leaves on sandy saline soil ( Fig. 7B ), 5–35 m from the shore of the Amudarya River.

Distribution ( Fig. 1 ). Kazakhstan: Syrdarya basin, Kyzylkum desert; Uzbekistan: Amudarya lower reaches and delta, Syrdarya basin, Kyzylkum desert.

Notes. DൺඏඅൾඍඌHංඇൺ (1967) was the first who used the name “ Psammocryptus minutus intermedius A. Bog. ” for here described P. bogatchevi sp. nov. She presented only data on bionomics and mentioned that the species inhabit Salsola arbuscula – Salsola orientalis – Artemisia biocenosis. Later she (DൺඏඅൾඍඌHංඇൺ et al. 1979) repeated these ecological data (p. 106) and added erroneous information (p. 48) that this species flies at light together with Sphenaria karelini Ménétriés, 1849 ( Tenebrionidae : Epitragini ) in sand dune habitats with saxaul Haloxylon persicum . In fact, Psammocryptus spp. are wingless and do not inhabit non-fixed sand dunes. SKඈඉංඇ (1968) also listed the name “ Psammocryptus minutus intermedius A. Bog. ” for P. bogatchevi sp. nov., but he mentioned only notes on the distribution in Syr-Darya valley and Kyzylkum desert. We checked all publications of A. Bogatchev according to the full bibliographic list (KඋඒඓHൺඇඈඏඌKංඃ & Mൾൽඏൾൽൾඏ 1979) but did not find a description of this species. However, two specimens with labels of syntypes (handwritten by Bogatchev) are deposited in ZIN. Bogatchev determined Tenebrionidae for Davletshina, and he probably wrote this unpublished name on the labels, which (name) was subsequently published. Thus, the name “ Psammocryptus minutus intermedius ” is nomen nudum. Pංඋඇൺඓൺඋඈඏ (1970) recorded Psammocryptus minutus from western Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan), but in fact, he listed two species: Psammocryptus minutus from Kosbulak (now Qo’sbuloq, northern part of Ustyurt plateau) and P. bogatchevi sp. n. from Amu-Darya delta. SKඈඉංඇ (1968) distinguished three subspecies with transitional features between them: P. minutus minutus , P. minutus bergi and P. minutus intermedius . We examined large series of P. minutus and P. bogatchevi sp. nov. and did not find any transitional characters in diagnostic structures of the epistomal anterior margin, ventral side of head and the pronotum.

Figures

Fig. 3. Psammocryptus minutus (Tauscher, 1812), habitus, profemur.A – female, dorsally; B – male, ventrally; C – male profemur, flexion side.

Fig. 4. Psammocryptus minutus (Tauscher, 1812), details of structure. A – head and anterior margin of pronotum (arrows: absence of emargination on head; pointed angles of pronotum); B – head and prothorax, laterally (arrow: conical tubercle); C – mesoventrite; D – abdomen (arrow: rounded apex); E – aedeagus, ventrally (non-inverted position); F – male inner tergite VIII; G – male inner sternite VIII.

Fig. 1. Map of distribution of Psammocryptus species.

Fig. 5. Psammocryptus bogatchevi sp. nov., male, habitus, profemur. A – dorsally; B – ventrally; C – profemur, flexion side.

Fig. 6. Psammocryptus bogatchevi sp. nov., details of structure. A – head and anterior margin of pronotum (arrows: emargination of head; rounded angles of pronotum); B – head and prothorax, laterally (arrow: absence of conical tubercle); C – mesoventrite; D – abdomen (arrow: rounded apex); E – aedeagus, ventrally (non-inverted position); F – spiculum gastrale; G – male inner tergite VIII; H – male inner sternite VIII.

Fig. 7. Habitat of Psammocryptus bogatchevi sp. nov., Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve (Uzbekistan). A – Tugay forest with trails of Cervus elaphus bactrianus Lydekker, 1900; B – habitat with leaf bedding on sandy soil (and collector Norbek Bekchanov).