Habropogon storozhenkoi Sakhvon, 2025

Habropogon storozhenkoi Sakhvon , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–9 View FIGURES 1–3 View FIGURES 4–6 View FIGURES 7–8 View FIGURE 9 )

Specimens examined. Holotype — ♂, Kazakhstan: Jetisu Region , Altyn-Emel National Park, Mynbulak, [ 43 o 56′26′′N 78 o 28′51′′E], 4.IV.2024, leg. V. Sakhvon (BSU) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1♂, 1♀, same data as for the holotype, (BSU) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Body length 11.0–12.0 mm. Mystacal macrosetae white; upper margin of mystax reaches middle of eye. Orbital, ocellar and postocular setae white. Thorax black. Scutum with sparse long and white setae ( Figs 1, 3 View FIGURES 1–3 ). 1 notopleural, 2–3 supraalar, 2 postalar macrosetae white. Scutellum with more than 20 long and white apical macrosetae. Legs reddish brown, with black stripe. Tergites black with white setae. Tergites I–V posteriorly and laterally reddish. Hypopygium large and mostly black. Cerci large and black, curved towards outside at the apex ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–3 ). Acanthophorite spines brown ( Figs 7, 8 View FIGURES 7–8 ).

Description. Male. Head black. Face with silvery tomentum. Mystax, in lateral view, with dense white macrosetae and setae reaching the apex of proboscis. Upper margin of mystax reaches middle of eye. Distance from upper margin of mystax to antennal sockets equal or less than length of scape and pedicel combined ( Figs 1, 3 View FIGURES 1–3 ). Frons with silvery tomentum. Palpus black with long white setae reaching the apex of proboscis. Scape brownish with numerous white and long macrosetae. Pedicel reddish yellow with few white macrosetae. Postpedicel brown, narrow at the base and expanded from the middle to apex. Length of postpedicel in 1.5 time longer than length of scape and pedicel combined. Style narrow with seta-like sensory element; equal to half of scape in length. Orbital setae long and white. Ocellar setae short and white. Postocular setae white, equal to length of scape and pedicel combined. Lower occipital setae white ( Figs 1, 3 View FIGURES 1–3 ).

Thorax black. Scutum mainly bronze tomentose, partly silvery. Acrostichal stripe and intermediate spots with brown tomentum. Scutum with sparse long and white setae. Pleuron with bronze tomentum, without setae, only anepisternum with long white setae dorsally. Katatergite with long white macrosetae. Dorsocentral macrosetae absent. 1 notopleural, 2–3 supraalar, 2 postalar macrosetae white. Scutellum with row long and white apical macrosetae (more than 20). Scutellar disk with bronze tomentum, without setae ( Figs 1, 2 View FIGURES 1–3 ).

Wings clear, veins brown ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–3 ).

Legs. Coxae black with bronze tomentum and white setae. Trochanters reddish yellow. Femora reddish brown, with black stripe dorsally and with white long setae. Hind femur with white long setae and row white macrosetae ventrally. Tibiae reddish brown with black stripe dorsally and with white setae and macrosetae. Tarsi black with white setae and macrosetae. Claws black and yellow at base. Pulvillus well developed, yellowish, equal to 2/3 of claw length ( Figs 1, 3 View FIGURES 1–3 ).

Abdomen. Tergites and sternites black with bronze and greyish tomentum, and white setae. Tergites, in dorsal view, with medial stripe without setae. Tergites I–V posteriorly and laterally reddish ( Figs 1, 2 View FIGURES 1–3 ).

Hypopygium mostly black, slightly curved, wide than abdomen in dorsal view ( Figs 1, 2 View FIGURES 1–3 ). Epandrium brown at base with white setae. Gonopod brown with white setae. Gonostyle distinctly curved at a right angle in the middle. Cerci large and black, curved towards outside at the apex. Aedeagus small-sized. Aedeagal apodeme shorter than endoaedeagal process ( Figs 4–6 View FIGURES 4–6 ).

Body length 11.0–12.0 ( holotype 12.0) mm.

Female. Similar to male. Body length 12 mm. Acanthophorite spines brown ( Figs 7, 8 View FIGURES 7–8 ).

Etymology. The species is named after Prof. Sergei Yuryevich Storozhenko, a well-known Russian entomologist who made a great contribution to the study of orthopteroid insects.

Habitat. Habropogon storozhenkoi sp. nov. was collected in a semi-desert area characterised by sparse herbaceous vegetation and low shrubs. Robber flies prefer open ground without vegetation ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ).

Distribution. Only known from the type locality in Altyn-Emel National Park, Jetisu Region, Kazakhstan.

Remarks. The male of new species is similar to that of Habropogon lehri Sakhvon, 2017 , but differs by having a larger hypopygium (smaller in H. lehri ), by long and curved at the apex cerci (wide and straight H. lehri ), by numerous (more than 20) apical macrosetae on scutellum (less than 15 in H. lehri ). The male of new species is also similar to that of Habropogon malkovskii Lehr, 1964 , but differs by distance from upper margin of mystax to antennal sockets (equal or less than length of scape and pedicel combined in new species and equal to length of scape in H. malkovskii ), by white orbital, ocellar and postocular setae (yellow and brown in H. malkovskii ), by absent of dorsocentral macrosetae (2–3 dorsocenral macrosetae cross transverse suture in H. malkovskii ), by reddish brown with black stripe dorsally fore- and mid-tibiae (reddish brown tibiae in H. malkovskii ), by long and curved at the apex cerci (not curved cerci H. malkovskii ).