Clanoptilus (Clanoptilus) caricus, Franzini, 2024

Clanoptilus (Clanoptilus) caricus sp. nov. ( Figs 1, 2 View Fig )

Diagnosis

A species of Clanoptilus (s.str.) close to C. parilis (Erichson, 1840) for structure of antennae but more slender, with male having metatibiae keeled and lacking long white setae on all femora.

Material examined

Holotype male, TURKEY, labeled: “TR (Denizli prov.) / Yahşiler Geçidi / 37°39.7N 28°. 51.5E / 1006 m 23.V.[20]10 Liberti” (white, printed); “ Holotypus / Clanoptilus caricus n.sp. / G. Franzini des. 2024” (red, handwritten) ( MSNG) GoogleMaps . Other specimens examined: 3 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀ same data as the Holotype GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀ Turkey (Manisa prov.) / Akçakertikbeli Geç [idi] / 39°04.4N 28°. 43.2E / 1257 m 24.V.[20]10 Liberti (CFr, CLi, MSNG) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀ Turkey (Manisa prov.) / Boz Dag , m 1500 / VII.1973 leg. M. & G. Osella ( MSNVR) .

Description of the Holotype ( Fig. 1): Body metallic bronze-green, shining, with yellow spot at elytral apex. Integument covered with two types of setae, both abundant: long black erect and short, whitish adpressed. Head sharply bi-coloured, anteriorly yellow to middle of eyes, metallic green extending up to front margin of clypeus; mandibles yellow, with some black setae on sides; apical joint of palpi and base of the first two dark; antennomeres with short white pubescence, 1–10 bicolorous, metallic green at base and part of upper side, pale on the rest; 11 black. Elytra at apex with oval pale yellow spot with black margin; sutural angle black. Knees and distal part of protibiae pale, rest of the legs metallic green; pubescence of metatibiae sparser than that of other pairs, giving them a shiny appearance. Underside metallic green, covered with white setae; mesepimera yellow.

Head: about as wide as long, eyes moderately convex. Antennae reaching half of elytra; antennomere 1 conical; 2 short, transverse; 3-6 nodose, gradually decreasing in width, with lower margin sinuate; 7-10 triangular, 11 elongate oval.

Thorax: pronotum slightly transverse, 1.2 times wid- er than long, with a distinct raised margin throughout the base; hind angles strongly reflexed.

Elytra: parallel, about three times longer than wide, rugose, excavate at apex, with upper margin of excavation triangular, pointed, bearing a bunch of long black strong setae. Appendix of excitators straight, slightly protruding from apex of elytra, with a row of black setae on inner side at apex.

Legs: very slender; tibiae straight, thin and rounded, metatibiae with longitudinal keel on whole length of posterior side.

Abdomen: apical tergite rounded at apex.

Measurements: TL 5.5 mm; HW 1.4 mm; IOW 1.0 mm; AL 3.7 mm; PL 1.4 mm; PW 1.5 mm; EL 3.5 mm; EW 1.8 mm.

Female ( Fig. 2 View Fig ): Differs from the male for legs and antennae proportionally shorter, apex of elytra simple, metatibiae without keels, and shape of antennomeres: 3 triangular, 4-6 almost rectangular, with lower margin of 4 and 5 slightly sinuate.

Variability. Body length of examined specimens ranges from 4.5 mm to 5.5 mm in males, 5.5 mm to 6.5 mm for females. No significant variation has been observed in colour pattern.

Etymology. The adjective caricus is derived from Caria (turkish Karya), ancient name for the region where the new species has been collected.

Distribution. The new species is so far known from Manisa and Smirne provinces, in the Aegean part of Turkey.