Discovery of the genus Airaphilus (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in Japan, with a description of a potentially endangered new species
Yoshida Takahiro, Halstead David G. H., Hirowatari Toshiya
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59(1): 211-216, 2019
Published online: 3rd June 2019
Published in print: 10th August 2019
Views: 1401
Abstract: The genus Airaphilus Redtenbacher, 1858 (Coleoptera: Silvanidae: Silvaninae) is
recorded from Japan for the first time. The record is based on the discovery of
a new apterous species, Airaphilus abei sp. nov., described and illustrated
herein. The new species is similar to Airaphilus filiformis (Rosenhauer, 1856),
however it can be distinguished by long antennae reaching about body midlength;
anterior margin of pronotum about as wide as head; elytra without a humeral
tooth, rounded to base and more to apices; and long metaventrite. Only five
specimens have been found and these were collected in 1992 at Kokeyachi bog in
the far north of Honshu. This bog and the adjacent wetlands have begun to dry
out and are undergoing a transition to grassland. These factors, together with
the apparently very limited distribution and the possibly restricted mobility
due to lack of hind wings, suggest that at least in this locality the new
species may be endangered.
Key words: Coleoptera, Silvanidae, Airaphilus, new species, aptery, Byobuyama Wetland Cluster, Kokeyachi bog, Japan, Palaearctic Region