Abstract
Leptomastax Pirazzoli includes 25 species mainly distributed in the Mediterranean region. Leptomastax minutissima sp. n. is described, based on a male collected in northern Israel. This is the smallest member of this genus known so far, with the body length merely 1.13 mm, and it belongs in a group of eyeless species with a strongly reduced pattern of macrosetae. Identification key to Leptomastax of Israel is given.
References
- Assing, V., Brachat, V. & Meybohm, H. (2019) Monograph of the Staphylinidae of Crete (Greece). Part II. Descriptions of new species (Insecta: Coleoptera). Contributions to Entomology, 69 (2), 239–289. https://doi.org/10.21248/contrib.entomol.69.2.239-289
- Castellini, G. (1996) Revisione del genere Leptomastax Pirazzoli, 1855 (Coleoptera, Scydmaenidae). Atti del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Grosseto, 15, 1–137.
- Franz, H. (1988) Scydmaenidae (Coleoptera) aus S-Anatolien. Entomologische Blätter für Biologie und Systematik der Käfer, 84 (1–2), 107–113.
- Jałoszyński, P. (2018) World genera of Mastigitae: review of morphological structures and new ecological data (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae). Zootaxa, 4453 (1), 1–119. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4453.1.1
- Jałoszyński, P., Brunke, A.J., Yamamoto, S. & Takahashi, Y. (2018) Evolution of Mastigitae: Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossils crucial for reclassification of extant tribes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 184 (3), 623–652. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zly010
- Nonveiller, G. & Pavičevič, D. (2002) Leptomastax mehadiensis ssp. cisdanubiensis sous-espèce nouvelle de Serbie (Coleoptera Scydmaenidae). Nouvelle Revue d’ Entomologie, New Series, 19 (1), 3–6.
- Pirazzoli, O. (1855) Coleopteri italici genus novum Leptomastax. Typographia Galeati, Forocornelii (Imola), 5 pp.
- Reitter, E. (1884) Resultate einer coleopterologischen Sammel-Campagne während den Monaten Februar bis April 1883 auf den jonischen Inseln. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 28 (1), 101–122, pls. 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.48018840203
- Reitter, E. & Simon, H. (1881) Monographische Bearbeitung der Scydmaeniden-Gattung Leptomastax. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 25, 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.48018810117
- Vít, S. & De Marzo, L. (1989) Description of the larva of Leptomastax hypogeus Pirazzoli (Coleoptera Scydmaenidae). Archives des Sciences, Geneve, 42, 569–578.