Discovery of the genus Airaphilus (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in Japan, with a description of a potentially endangered new species

Abstract

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.