Epirotyphlus janae Hlaváč, Janák & Baňař, 2025

Epirotyphlus janae Hlaváč, Janák & Baňař , sp. nov.

Figs 55–76 View FIGURES 55–64 View FIGURES 65–76 , 86–87

Material studied. Holotype, ♂: SERBIA with one label “SERBIA or. 22.v.2024 / Majdan Kučajna, 230m / 44.44561 N, 21.63905 E / soil washing, J. Janák lgt. / hornbeam forest“ [white, printed] ( JJRC) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 2♂♂, 3♀♀ same data as for holotype (1♂, 3♀♀ in JJRC, 1♂ in MMBC) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Gular sutures confluent anteriorly slightly behind midlength of head capsule ( Fig. 61 View FIGURES 55–64 ); antennae long, antennomeres 3–10 transverse; antennomeres 5 larger than 4 and 6; antennal club composed from five antennomeres ( Figs 62–63 View FIGURES 55–64 ), incrassate, last four antennomeres setose, with sensorial appendages which are inserted on lower part and oriented towards upper part of antennomere ( Fig. 63 View FIGURES 55–64 ); procoxal cavities rounded on anterior margin, with small excision on lateral part ( Fig. 65 View FIGURES 65–76 , arrow); tergites 1–5 (IV–VIII) and visible sternites 2–4 (IV–VI) ( Fig. 57 View FIGURES 55–64 ) lacking basal impression ( Fig. 57 View FIGURES 55–64 ); tarsal formula 3-3-3 ( Figs 71–73 View FIGURES 65–76 ); aedeagus elongate, about 3 times as long as wide; distal, ventral part of median lobe with deep excision, lateral arms truncate; lacking parameres, lateral protrusions of median lobe short ( Figs 74, 75 View FIGURES 65–76 ). Terminal abdominal segments of female ( Fig. 76 View FIGURES 65–76 ) with one paired longitudinal sclerite and large asymmetric structure in middle.

Description. Body ( Figs 55, 56 View FIGURES 55–64 ) about 0.9 mm long, completely depigmented.

Head capsule ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 55–64 ) about 1.2 wider than long; about as wide and as long as pronotum; head capsule separated from neck region by occipital constriction, neck region retracted into pronotum; gular sutures ( Fig. 61 View FIGURES 55–64 ) confluent anteriorly slightly behind midlength of head capsule; maxillary palpi ( Fig. 60 View FIGURES 55–64 ) with palpomere 2 dilated, about as wide as 3 and about half of length of 3; palpomere 4 very small.

Antennae ( Figs 62, 63 View FIGURES 55–64 ) long, scape about 1.45 times as long as pedicel, about 1.2 times as long as wide; pedicel as long as wide, 3.5 times as long as antennomere 3; antennomeres 3–10 transverse; antennomeres 5 larger than 4 and 6; antennal club composed from five antennomeres, incrassate, 10 slightly wider than long, elliptical, terminal antennomere subspherical. Last four antennomeres ( Fig. 63 View FIGURES 55–64 ) setose, with sensorial appendages which are inserted on lower part and oriented towards upper part of antennomere.

Pronotum ( Fig. 64 View FIGURES 55–64 ) about 1.1 times as wide as long, widest in anterior third, after that convergent posteriad; anterior angles widely rounded; posterior angles sharper; about 1.1 times as long as elytra.

Venter, prosternum ( Fig. 65 View FIGURES 65–76 ) fused with proepisternum, procoxal cavities rounded on anterior margin, with small excision ( Fig. 65 View FIGURES 65–76 , arrow) on lateral part.

Elytra ( Fig. 64 View FIGURES 55–64 ) about as long as wide, widest on posterior margin.

Abdomen long, considerably longer than length of head capsule, pronotum and elytra combined. Visible tergites 1–5 (IV–VIII) and visible sternites 2–4 (IV–VI) ( Fig. 57 View FIGURES 55–64 ) lacking basal impression. Visible sternite 6 (IX) of male ( Figs 67, 68 View FIGURES 65–76 ) symmetric, visible sternite 7 (IX) in male ( Fig. 70 View FIGURES 65–76 ) with small setae; sparsely setose in posterior half, visible tergite 7 (X) with median posterior excision which is prolonged with wide, deep impression ( Fig. 69 View FIGURES 65–76 ). Visible tergite 5 (VIII) ( Fig. 66 View FIGURES 65–76 ) 1.25 times as long as wide.

Legs ( Figs 71–73 View FIGURES 65–76 ) short, all tibia distally dilated, tarsal formula 3-3-3; first tarsomere longer than 2, 3 longer than 1 and 2 combined.

Aedeagus ( Figs 74, 75 View FIGURES 65–76 ) about 0.17 mm long, elongate, about 3 times as long as wide; distal, ventral part of median lobe with deep excision, lateral arms truncate; basal part less than half of length of median lobe; with elongate, long, internal apophysis; lacking parameres, lateral protrusions of median lobe short. Terminal abdominal segments of female ( Fig. 76 View FIGURES 65–76 ) with one paired longitudinal sclerite and large asymmetric structure in middle.

Etymology. Patronymic, named after Jana Janáková, the wife of the second author to thank her for being a companion on trips to the Balkan countries.

Remarks. E. janae has the same type of the aedeagus as E. zecevici but it differs from latter mainly by apically narrowed lateral projections and truncate lateral arms of median lobe (Pace 1984, Figs 2–4 View FIGURES 1–8 ).

Natural History. All specimens were collected by soil-washing on a south-facing slope above the road at the edge of a deciduous forest (hornbeam, hazel, maple, oak). Volume of sample was about 100 liters ( Figs 86–87 View FIGURES 86–87 ).

Distribution. Serbia.