Abstract
A new genus with a new species of soft-winged flower beetle, Pectotibialis paghmanensis Tshernyshev gen. et sp. nov. are described from Afghanistan. The new genus can be distinguished from the congeners of the tribe Apalochrini by the dark pectination in the apices of tibiae in both sexes, and the anterior tibiae which are hollowed at distal half, flattened and rounded femora, bituberculate basal parts of head and pronotum, two lamellate metathoracic appendages, tarsal comb above second tarsomere of anterior legs, and serrate antennae in the male. Based on the metathoracic appendages and comb in anterior legs would attribute this new species to the new genus Dromanthomorphus Pic, 1921, but all the other above-mentioned characters define its independent status and the designation of a new genus; Pectotibialis Tshernyshev gen. nov. The external appearance, special male characters and genitalia of the type species of the new genus are illustrated, and a distribution map is provided. A key to the Apalochrus-section of the tribe Apalochrini is provided.
Highlights
Amongst the soft-winged flower beetles obtained by my colleague Oleg Pak in Afghanistan were several specimens of narrow, parallel-sided malachiids resembling representatives of the genus Apalochrus Erichson, 1840 and belonging to the tribe Apalochrini
The male has with a comb above the second tarsomere in the anterior legs, and this character allows this species to be placed near Protapalochrus Evers, 1987
Type species Pectotibialis paghmanensis Tshernyshev sp. nov. fixed by monotypy in the present paper
Summary
Amongst the soft-winged flower beetles obtained by my colleague Oleg Pak in Afghanistan were several specimens of narrow, parallel-sided malachiids resembling representatives of the genus Apalochrus Erichson, 1840 and belonging to the tribe Apalochrini. The male has with a comb above the second tarsomere in the anterior legs, and this character allows this species to be placed near Protapalochrus Evers, 1987. Both genera, Apalochrus Erichson and Protapalochrus Evers, are distributed in Central Asia, and two species, A. flavicollis Schaufuss, 1870 and P. The metathoracic appendages allow placing this species near Dromanthomorphus Pic, 1921, but species of this genus have only one appendage at the base of metathorax which is not lamellate and a different shape, and they have swollen intermediate tibiae. The newly found species does not belong to any known genera of the tribe Apalochrini and represents a new genus and new species
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