pvt absent; 3–5 ifr; 2–5 minute ads inside and below ors; g small; 2 hu, the internal reduced to microseta; 2 postsutural dc, the anterior short; ac setulae in 6–10 rows on suture, the medial prescutellar ac pair more or less enlarged; 2 stpl, the anterior very small, hair-like or absent; scutellum large, rounded triangular to trapezoidal; t₂ chaetotaxy as in Figs 16, 18, 57, 61, in male ventrally with a row of short spine-like setae and with reduced va, in female with anteroapical and va setae long (Fig. 18); male f₂ ventrally with a row of more or less thickened setae (Figs 18, 54) in basal half; C not extended beyond apex of R₄₊₅; R₄₊₅ sinuate but apically almost straight; dm cell long and its posterior outer corner often rounded; alula relatively small and narrow; female postabdomen relatively (compared to preabdomen) narrow and telescopically retractile; male abdomen terminally strongly down-curved in consequence of enlarged T5 and S8 (Figs 1, 2, 15); male S1+2 protruding in a slightly (Figs 47, 51) to strongly convex bulge (Figs 1, 15); male S3 and S4 with anterior corners lobe-shaped (= sclerites anteromedially more or less deeply emarginate, Figs 17, 41); male S5 reduced, very transverse and band-shaped but posteromedially with a pair of projections (Figs 36, 65) which can be basally fused (Fig. 19) and/or prolonged (Fig. 11); epandrium with a row of robust long lateral setae at ventral margin and (usually) 1 longer dorsolateral seta (Figs 4, 28); male cerci modified to long, slender (usually doubled) processes (Figs 5, 21, 38, 50) below anal opening; gonostylus with a small (Fig. 5) to distinctive internal process (see Figs 22, 50); phallophore relatively long, anteriorly movably attached to dorsal side of distiphallus and projecting (epiphallus-like) posteroventrally (25, 26); distiphallus apically funnel-shaped and ventromedially projecting posteriorly in an unpaired process (Figs 26, 52); postgonite relatively robust, with small setulae only; ejacapodeme absent or strongly reduced (Fig. 53); female T8 dorsomedially compact, paler pigmented or divided; female T10 triangular, with a pair of long setae and some micropubescence; female S8 reduced to a small sclerite with a few setulae (Figs 8, 33, 62); female S10 short, strip-like, horseshoe- or V-shaped (Figs 33, 62, or medially divided into 2 sclerites (Fig. 8); female genital chamber membranous, lacking internal sclerites; spermathecae (2+1) pyriform (Fig. 10) to bulbous (Figs 59, 60); female cerci dark, long and slender, each with 2 long (apical and dorsopreapical) sinuous setae and a few shorter hairs.

Figures 12–14. 

Herniosina erymantha sp. n., male holotype and its habitat (Greece: Peloponnese). 12 Valley above Alepochori in Erimanthos Mts, habitat in the type locality 13 Microhabitat (arrow) from where the holotype was sifted 14 Right wing (length 1.87 mm). Photographs by J. Roháček.

Figures 15–19. 

Herniosina erymantha sp. n., male holotype (Greece: Peloponnese). 15 Abdomen, laterally 16 Mid tibia, dorsally 17 Preabdominal sterna, ventrally 18 Mid femur and tibia, laterally 19S5, ventrally. Scales: 0.2 mm (15–18), 0.1 mm (19).

Figures 20–26. 

Herniosina erymantha sp. n., male holotype (Greece: Peloponnese). 20 Genitalia, laterally 21 External genitalia, caudally 22 Dorsal half of gonostylus, caudally 23 Gonostylus, laterally 24 Phallapodeme and postgonite, laterally 25 Aedeagus, dorsally 26 Ditto, laterally. Scales: 0.1 mm (20, 21, 24–26), 0.05 mm (22, 23). For abbreviations see pp. 73–74.

Figures 27–30. 

Herniosina horrida (Roháček), male paratype (Slovakia). 27 Aedeagal complex, laterally. 28 Genitalia, laterally 29 Gonostylus, laterally 30 External genitalia, caudally. All scales: 0.1 mm. Adapted from Roháček (1978).

Figures 31–36. 

Herniosina horrida (Roháček), female and male paratypes (Slovakia). 31 Spermathecae 32 Female postabdomen, dorsally 33 Ditto, ventrally 34 Ditto, laterally 35 Spermatheca 36 Male S5, ventrally. Scales: 0.1 mm (31, 35, 36), 0.2 mm (32–34). Adapted from Roháček (1978).

Figures 37–39. 

Herniosina pollex Roháček, male paratype (Slovakia). 37 Genitalia, laterally 38 External genitalia, caudally 39 Gonostylus, laterally. Scales: 0.1 mm (37, 38), 0.05 mm (39). For abbreviations see pp. 73–74. Adapted from Roháček (1993).

Figures 40–42. 

Herniosina pollex Roháček, male paratype (Slovakia). 40 Aedeagal complex, laterally 41 Abdomen, ventrally (genitalia removed) 42 Male S5, ventrally. Scales: 0.1 mm (40, 42), 0.2 mm (41). For abbreviations see pp. 73–74. Adapted from Roháček (1993).

Figures 43–46. 

Herniosina pollex Roháček, female paratype (Slovakia). 43 Postabdomen, dorsally 44 Spermathecae 45 End of postabdomen, laterally 46 Postabdomen, ventrally. All scales: 0.1 mm. For abbreviations see pp. 73–74. Adapted from Roháček (1993).

Figures 47–48. 

Herniosina hamata sp. n., male holotype (Cyprus). 47 Male, laterally, S1+2 arrowed 48 Right wing (length 2.24 mm). Photographs by J. Roháček.

Figures 49–56. 

Herniosina hamata sp. n., male paratype (Cyprus). 49 Genitalia, laterally 50 External genitalia, caudally 51 Preabdominal sterna, ventrally 52 Phallapodeme and aedeagus, laterally 53 Aedeagus, dorsally 54 f₂ and t₂ anteriorly 55 postgonite, laterally 56 Gonostylus, laterally. Scales: 0.1 mm (49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56), 0.2 mm (51, 54). For abbreviations see pp. 73–74.

Figures 57–65. 

Herniosina hamata sp. n., female and male paratypes (Cyprus). 57 Female t₂, dorsally 58 Female postabdomen, dorsally 59, 60 Spermathecae 61 Female t₂, anteriorly 62 Female postabdomen, ventrally 63 ditto, laterally 64 female S8, ventrally 65 male S5, ventrally. Scales: 0.2 mm (57, 61), 0.1 mm (58, 62–65), 0.05 mm (59, 60).

The genus Herniosina can be identified by the key to European (Roháček 1983) and/or Palaearctic Limosininae (Roháček 1998). It seems to be best recognized by combination of apomorphic characters in the male abdomen and terminalia (postabdomen strongly down-curved, S1+2 bulging, S5 strongly reduced, cerci modified to peculiar projections, both distiphallus and phallophore projecting posteroventrally) and the plesiomorphic formation of the female postabdomen (relatively narrow and telescopic, no internal sclerites) having reduced S8. Although the diagnosis of the genus has to be somewhat modified (see above) with respect to the inclusion of the two new species described below, the genus remains to be a very compact monophyletic group if only Palaearctic species (reviewed here) are included.

However, Marshall (1987) described a very peculiar Limosinine species from USA (New Hampshire) and placed it as a tentative member of Herniosina on the basis of its bulging male S1+2 although this Herniosina voluminosa Marshall, 1987 differs very markedly from all other Herniosina species in many characters, lacking all other synapomorphies of the genus as originally delimited, including the modified male preabdominal sterna, reduced male S5, enlarged T5, projecting male cerci, form of phallophore, general shape of spermathecae etc. I have examined male and female paratypes of H. voluminosa kindly donated by S. A. Marshall to SMOC (USA: New Hampshire: Coos Co., 3 mi. NE East Inlet Dam, Norton Pool, flight interception trap, 12.-24.vi.1986, 1♂, 25.vi.-9.vii.1986, 1♀, D. S. Chandler leg.) and found that the male S1+2 of H. voluminosa is differently (posteromedially) protruding and somewhat bilobed (see also Marshall 1987: Fig. 1) suggesting that this modification of S1+2 evolved independently and hence cannot be a synapomorphy of this Nearctic species and Herniosina s. str. species. Also its extremely enlarged aedeagal complex (with enormous distiphallus, phallophore and postgonite being several times larger than epandrium) and quite differently formed female terminalia (with S8 large and transverse, internal spectacles-shaped sclerite developed, spermathecae elongate and transversely wrinkled and T10 fused with base of cerci) clearly demonstrate that these taxa cannot be congeneric. Inasmuch as it seems that both known Apteromyia species (cf. Marshall and Roháček 1982) are apparently more closely allied to the Palaearctic species of Herniosina than is H. voluminosa (see below) the latter species is excluded from Herniosina here to render the genus monophyletic. It is therefore suggested to establish a new genus for the removed H. voluminosa in the near future.

When describing the genus, Roháček (1982: 221, 1983: 18) placed Herniosina in the Limosina genera-group and discussed its affinity as being either a sister-group of the genus Apteromyia Vimmer, 1929 or sister-group of a clade comprising besides the latter genus also two other members of the Limosina genera-group, viz. Limosina Macquart, 1835 and Gigalimosina Roháček, 1983. Subsequently, Marshall & Roháček (1982) considered the former hypothesis to be more probable pointing out similarly modified (projecting) male cercus and setosity of epandrium in the Nearctic species Apteromyia newtoni Marshall & Roháček, 1982 and Herniosina species. Based on the present study the relationships of Herniosina and Apteromyia is supported by four supposedly synapomorphic characters (all in the male genitalia): epandrium with a series of robust ventral lateral setae; male cerci modified to compact processes below anal fissure, distiphallus with unpaired ventromedial lobe projecting posteriorly; phallophore anteriorly slender and elongately projecting, movably attached to dorsal side of distiphallus.

Herniosina bequaerti (Villeneuve, 1917), H. erymantha sp. n. (described here), H. horrida (Roháček, 1978), H. pollex Roháček, 1993 and H. hamata sp. n. (described here). Hitherto, Herniosina species are only known from the W. Palaearctic area, including that recorded as Herniosina sp. cf. horrida from Israel by Papp and Roháček (1988). The latter record, based on two females only, may belong to H. horrida or, more probably, to an additional unnamed species but its description is pending further study of (hitherto unknown) males.

Leptocera (Limosina) Bequaerti Villeneuve: Lectotype ♂ (designated by Roháček 2001: 471), labelled: „Maestricht, S^tPietersberg, 5-IX-12“ (obverse), „grot“ (reverse), „Limosina sp. III, bu L. nana Rdi.“ (handritten by ?), „Limosina Bequaerti Villen.“ (Villeneuve’s handwriting) and „Leptocera (Limosina) Bequaerti Villen., J. Roháček des. 2000, ♂ Lectotypus“ (red label). Paralectotype ♀ labelled as lectotype but lacking the label „Limosina sp. III ...“. Lectotype with genit. prep., paralectotype intact, both deposited in MNHN.

Limosina (Scotophilella) herniata Duda: Lectotype ♂ (designated by Roháček, 1983: 19), labelled: „Styriae Alpes Strobl“, „L. rufilabris Stenh. ♂ 23/9“, „52 138“, „nova spec. Herniata mihi det Duda“ (pink label), deposited in ZMHB. Paralectotypes: 2♀, labelled: „No. 200 Wypustek“ and „herniata ♀ det Duda“, deposited in MMBC).

90♂78♀ – BELGIUM: 5♂5♀ (ISNB), for localities see Roháček (1978). CZECH REPUBLIC: 80♂67♀ (JRO, MMBC, NMPC, SMOC), for localities see Roháček (1978, 1980, 1983, 1984); additional data: SE Bohemia: Palupín nr. Strmilov (distr. Jindřichův Hradec), in cellar, 19.viii.1991, 55♂ 39♀, J. Roháček leg. (JRO); N Moravia: Vidnava env. (distr. Šumperk), nest of Talpa europaea, 28.iii.1985, 1♀, J. Roháček leg. (SMOC). FINLAND: 1♀ (MZHF), for locality see Roháček (1983). ITALY: 1♂ (MSNV), for locality see Roháček (1983). SLOVAKIA: 4♂5♀ (SMOC), for localities see Roháček (1983, 1986, 1994, 2009); addtional data: NE Slovakia: Regetovka env. (distr. Bardejov), sifting decayed grass in runs of Microtus agrestis, 10.x.1985, 1♂, J. Roháček leg. (SMOC).

Largest Palaearctic species on the average (body length: male 2.26–2.85 mm, female 2.22–3.05 mm), with lightest head (ochreous to reddish brown anteriorly). Male: abdomen with large and long T5 and S8 (Fig. 2); S1+2 strongly bulging (Figs 1, 2); S5 with longest (in lateral view sinuate) medial, apically forked, process (Figs 2, 11); epandrium with a long dorsolateral seta (Fig. 4); cerci relatively shortly but acutely double-projecting (Fig. 5); gonostylus rather simple (Fig. 3), ventrally somewhat emarginate, with small and short internal subdorsal projection (cf. Fig. 5); hypandrial rod long and slender (Fig. 4); phallapodeme long, with large dorsal keel (Fig. 4); postgonite short and robust; distiphallus with short lateral and ventral lobes and robust funnel-shaped apex (Fig. 6). Female: postabdomen slender, with relatively narrow sclerites of 6th–8th segment (Figs 7, 8); T8 complete and entirely pigmented (Fig. 7); S8 small, subtrapezoidal, with a small anterior structure (Fig. 8); spermathecae pyriform with conical base (Fig. 10); S10 medially divided (Fig. 8); cerci long and slender (Figs 7–9).

Herniosina bequaerti is closely associated with subterranean habitats, such as caves (Czižek 1916; Duda 1918, 1938; Papp & Plachter 1976), cellars (Pax & Maschke 1935; Roháček 1978) and burrows, runs and nests of small mammals, including those of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), rats (Rattus norvegicus), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), moles (Talpa europaea), shrews (Sorex araneus), mice (Mus musculus) and voles (Microtus agrestis, Microtus sp., Arvicola terrestris) (Duda 1918; Richards 1930; Goddard 1938; Roháček 1978, 1983; Rotheray 1991). Adults can be also caught by means of soil traps (Roháček 1980); only very scarcely (migrated specimens) they can be collected outside subterranean habitats (e.g. Grundmann 1991).

Because of being adapted to cold and the complete darkness in aphotic parts of caves and having the ability to develop under these conditions, Papp and Plachter (1976)classified H. bequaerti as a troglophilous species. They found larvae consuming various decaying media, viz. dead animals, rotten vegetation including wood and/or mycelia of fungi and determined the length of its life-history (from egg to imago) within caves as 70–90 days and the life as an adult being 38 days on the average. The sometimes abundant occurrence of the species in cellars (see Roháček 1978 and material examined), caused by convenient conditions and a rich supply of larval food, can be considered a special case of synanthropy (Roháček 1983). In burrows of mammals the larvae develop in their droppings and other nest debris (Rotheray 1991) but obviously much more rapidly due to higher temperature. Adults can occur throughout the whole year. Puparia of H. bequaerti were described by Goddard (1938) and Skidmore (1993) based on specimens found in mouse-runs and on subfossil specimens excavated in an archaeological site in Iceland respectively.

Widespread in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland) but surprisingly hitherto unrecorded from its SE part (Balkan peninisula).

Holotype ♂ labelled: „GREECE: NW Peloponnese: Alepochori 0.5 km SE 37°58'57"N, 21°48'10"E“, „590 m, 27.5.2015, sifting leaves under Platanus, J. Roháček leg.“, „Holotypus ♂ Herniosina erymantha sp. n., J. Roháček det. 2016“ (red label). The specimen is dry-mounted on pinned triangular card, with left wing and abdomen detached, genitalia dissected and all removed parts preserved in glycerine in coalesced plastic tube pinned below the specimen (SMOC).

The name of the new species is an adjective derived from the Erimanthos (= Lat. Erymanthos) Mts inasmuch as its type locality is situated in the western part of this montane range.

Male. Total body length 1.79 mm; general colour blackish brown with relatively sparse dark greyish brown microtomentum. Head blackish brown to brown. Frons largely blackish brown, brownish only at anterior margin, rather sparsely microtomentose. Occiput blackish brown and dark greyish brown microtomentose. Orbits, interfrontalia (poorly delimited) and ocellar triangle also greyish brown (not densely) microtomentose and duller than rest of frons; frontal triangle comparatively wide and shining. Cephalic chaetotaxy: pvt absent, only minute adpressed postocellar setulae behind ocellar triangle; occe and occi subequal and less than half length of vte; vti longest among frontal setae, vte and oc slightly shorter than vti; 2 strongly exclinate ors, both distinctly shorter than oc; only 3 relatively short ifr, the middle pair longest; 3–4 very minute ads inside and below ors; g weak, not longer than anterior peristomal setula; vi about as long as vti. Frontal lunule short, wide, similarly brown as anterior margin of frons. Face with cavities below antennae dark brown, rather shining; medial carina slightly elevated but distinct. Gena high, reddish only anteriorly, otherwise blackish brown, sparsely greyish microtomentose. Eye relatively small; its longest diameter about 2.2 times as long as smallest genal height. Antenna blackish brown, relatively long; its 3rd segment distinctly tapered apically both in dorsal and lateral view. Arista long, about 3.8 times as long as antenna, relatively long ciliate.

Thorax dark brown to blackish, mesonotum subshining due sparser microtomentum, pleuron lighter and dull. Suturae between pleural sclerites paler brown. Scutellum relatively large and long, rounded triangular. Thoracic chaetotaxy: 2 hu but internal reduced to microseta; 2 postsutural dc, anterior short and weak (only twice longer than ac microsetae), posterior strong but slightly shorter than basal sc; 8–10 rows of ac microsetae on suture; medial prescutellar ac pair somewhat prolonged; 2 strong sc, basal slightly longer than scutellum, apical about 1.6 times as long as basal; 2 stpl but anterior reduced to minute hair-like setula.

Legs dark brown, coxae, trochanters, knees and tarsi pale brown to ochreous. f₁ with relatively sparse setae in posterodorsal and posteroventral rows. f₂ with a row of curved but relatively short ventral setae in basal half (Fig. 18); t₂ ventrally with a long row of small dense spines and reduced va seta (shorter than anteroapical seta), see Fig. 18; dorsal chaetotaxy of t₂ as in congeners but posterodorsal seta in apical fourth somewhat shorter (Fig. 16). t₂ : mt₂ = 1.84.

Wing (Fig. 14) with pale brownish membrane and ochreous to dark brown veins. C hardly produced beyond apex of R₄₊₅. R₂₊₃ slightly sinuate but apically distinctly upcurved to C; R₄₊₅ sinuate and its apical half almost straight. Discal cell (dm) relatively short and distally less tapered than in most relatives, with small process of M beyond dm-cu; posterior outer corner of dm not rounded but obtuse-angled. A₁ sinuate; anal lobe well developed; alula narrow but not acute. Wing measurements: length 1.87 mm, width 0.77 mm, C-index = 0.95, rm\dm-cu : dm-cu = 2.62. Haltere with ochreous stem and dark brown knob.

Abdomen blackish brown, with some sclerites brown. Preabdominal terga large, shining blackish brown, with only scarce greyish microtomentum, sparsely and shortly setulose. T4 longer than T3; T5 enlarged but less than that of H. bequaerti, postabdomen strongly down-curved (Fig. 15). Preabdominal sterna as in Figs 15, 17: S1+2 strongly bulging (Fig. 15) and anteromedially narrowly desclerotized (Fig. 17); S3 and S4 deeply anteriorly emarginate due to large lateral lobes (Fig. 17), with distinctive pigmentation; S1+2, S3 and S4 with sparse setae at posterior margins, with only medial (in S4 submedial) pair longer. S5 (Fig. 19) reduced and transversely strip-shaped, with setose lateral parts as in relatives but with distinctive dark medial part provided with a flattened (in lateral view knob-like, Fig. 15) and distally forked process having 2 setulae on each lobe of its digitiform terminal part (Fig. 19). S6 and S7 fused to form a complex sclerite on left side of postabdomen, narrow ventrally and dorsally but dilated laterally (Fig. 15) as in congeners. S8 shorter and more tapered, with a slit left laterally and a few setae.

Genitalia. Epandrium (Figs 20, 21) of medium length but comparatively wide and more angular dorsolaterally (see Fig. 21) than those of relatives, and with a group of longer and stronger setae laterally and lateroventrally (posterior seta longest and most robust) but dorsolaterally without longer seta. Anal fissure slightly wider than high (Fig. 21), subcircular. Cerci fused with epandrium, posteroventrally projecting in 2 processes, one (more anterior) robust, long (about as long as gonostylus) and distally somewhat thickened and bearing 1 long seta in addition to a number of setulae, the other (more medial) small, elongately conical and simple (Figs 20, 21). Medandrium small (low), reduced but connected by long internal arms with gonostyli (Fig. 21), posteromedially fused with cerci. Hypandrium with very long and slender anteromedial rod-like apodeme (Fig. 20). Gonostylus (Figs 20–23) most resembling that of H. bequaerti but ventrally simple (not emarginate in lateral view), with longer anteroventral seta, and with long, very slender, curved and apically lancet-shape dorsal internal process (cf. Fig. 22). Aedeagal complex (Figs 24–26) with long phallapodeme (as in H. bequaerti) but having distinctly lower dorsal keel. Aedeagus also somewhat similar to that of H. bequaerti but with funnel-shaped apex of distiphallus more robust, its lateral lobes and unpaired ventral process markedly longer and its postgonite more slender, with curved, slender and terminally blunt apex. Phallophore closely resembling that that of H. bequaerti, anteriorly rod-like but dorsoventrally flattened, posteriorly projecting ventrally and hence epiphallus-like. Ejaculatory apodeme not observed.

Female unknown.

Herniosina erymantha sp. n. is only known from the male holotype and, consequently, for the evaluation of its relationships the female characters cannot be used. However, based on the male terminalia the species is a distinctive member of Herniosina unmistakeably recognizable from any other known congener. It differs from all relatives by the flattened, distinctively forked medial process of S5 (Fig. 19), broad epandrium with strikingly rectangular dorsolateral corners without dorsolateral long seta and with broad (wider than high) anal fissure (Fig. 21), relatively simple sub-oblong gonostylus (Fig. 23) with very slender and long internal process (Fig. 22), distinctive cercus with long and robust, distally somewhat dilated but laterally flattened lateral process combined with short medial ones (Figs 20, 21) and characteristic postgonite (Fig. 24).

Judging from the construction of the male abdomen and male genitalia, H. erymantha seems to be related to H. bequaerti and H. horrida sharing with them the following synapomorphies: strongly bulging S1+2; very slender and dorsally situated internal process of gonostylus. Its closest relative obviously is H. bequaerti having similarly (albeit much more) prolonged and basally fused medial processes of S5, a small medial apically pointed process of cercus and more robust funnel-shaped apex of distiphallus.

The holotype of H. erymantha sp. n. was sifted towards the end of May from dead leaves under Platanus trees (see Fig. 13, arrow) in a valley of a montane brook in the western ridge of the Erimanthos Mts (Fig. 12). The microhabitat (layers of decaying leaves of broad-leaved trees) is similar to that known for H. horrida and H. pollex in Central Europe (see under these species).

Hitherto only known from Greece: NW Peloponnese.

Holotype ♂ labelled: „Slovakia centr. 27.6.1975, V. Fatra, Suchá dolina, J. Roháček leg., decayed hay“ (handwritten) and „Limosina horrida sp.n., J. Roháček det., holotypus ♂“ (framed handwriting), deposited in JRO ((intact, in ethanol). Allotype ♀ (JRO) and 7♂11♀ paratypes (all in ethanol, some with genit. prep.), with the same data, deposited in JRO and HNHM. For data of other paratypes (7♂18♀, JRO, SMOC) from the Czech Republic and Slovakia see Roháček (1978, 1983).

18♂32♀ – AUSTRIA: 1♂2♀ (NHMW), for localities see Roháček (1993). CZECH REPUBLIC: 2♂17♀ (JRO, MBP, SMOC, UEBC), for localities see Roháček (1980, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1996); additional data: N Moravia: Vidnava env. (distr. Šumperk), sweeping undergrowth of deciduous forest, 10.vii.1984, 1♀; Hrubý Jeseník Mts, Velká kotlina valley, on excrement of red deer, 20.vi.1990, 1♂; Dlouhá Stráň env. (distr. Bruntál), mouth of muskrat (Ondatra) burrow, 6.v.1987, 1♀; Karlova Pláň-Karlovec (distr. Bruntál), sweeping undergrowth of alder forest, 27.v.1987, 1♀; Karlova Pláň-Volárenský potok (distr. Bruntál), sweeping undergrowth of alder forest, 20.vii.1987, 1♀, all J. Roháček leg. (SMOC). SLOVAKIA: 15♂13♀ (JRO, SMOC, UKB), for localities see Roháček (1983, 1986, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2011).

Body length: male 2.06–2.46 mm, female 2.20–2.90 mm. Male: abdomen with T5 and S8 somewhat shorter than in H. bequaerti; S1+2 strongly bulging; S5 with a pair of small, shortly digitiform processes (Fig. 36); epandrium with a long dorsolateral seta (Fig. 28); cerci long, with 2 projections (Figs 28, 30), medial blunt and half-length of lateral, lateral tapered distally, with sinuate outer margin (Fig. 30) and long curved seta; gonostylus with roundly lobate posteroventral part and with slender elongate subdorsal internal projection (Fig. 29); hypandrial rod relatively short and slender (Fig. 28); phallapodeme also short, without dorsal keel (Fig. 27); postgonite relatively long, sinuate, with apex bent medially; distiphallus with longer lateral and ventral lobes and slender funnel-shaped apex (Fig. 27). Female: postabdomen slender, with relatively narrow sclerites of 6th–8th segment (Figs 32–34); T8 complete but medially narrowly paler-pigmented (Fig. 32); S8 relatively large, simple, transversely suboval (Fig. 33); spermathecae pyriform with conical base (Figs 31, 35); S10 undivided, horseshoe-shaped (Fig. 33); cerci long and slender (Figs 32–34).

The species is associated with decayed herbaceous vegetation, most of known specimens having been collected from decayed leaves, hay, grass (Roháček 1978, 1983) in forests or their margins, in cold montane valleys also in open, unforested habitats; they can be also captured by soil traps in these habitats (Roháček 1980). Grundmann (1991) collected a series by Barber traps. Only occasionally it can be found in forests on excrement, rotting fungi (Roháček 1993), in runs of voles (Roháček 2009) and recently was also found in entrances of caves (Roháček 2011). Despite the latter record, the statement by Roháček (1983) that it has never been collected in caves together with H. bequaerti remains to be correct. However, H. horrida could possibly co-occur with H. pollex in mouths of caves or in ravines but hitherto I cannot confirm this presupposition by records. Adults were recorded in March to August.

Only known from Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia). The record from Germany (Grundmann 1991; cf. also Roháček 1993) was erroneously attributed to H. pollex in the World catalog of Sphaeroceridae (Roháček et. al 2001).

Holotype ♂ labelled: „CS: Slovakia or., Slovenský kras, Stará brzotínská jask., V. Košel leg.“ (obverse of the label, handwritten), „16/87, 9.6.1987, 2-5 m“ (reverse of the label, handwritten), „Holotypus (red printed), Herniosina pollex sp. n. ♂, J. Roháček det. 1991 (handwritten)“ (label with red margin), deposited in JRO (intact). Allotype ♀ (JRO) and 11♂20♀ paratypes with the same data, deposited in JRO, PKBS, SMTD (several with genit. prep.). For data of other paratypes (20♂63♀, deposited in JRO, PKBS, SMOC) from the Czech Republic and Slovakia see Roháček (1993).

6♂4♀ – CZECH REPUBLIC: 3♂2♀ (FSBC, MBP), for localities see Roháček (1996, 1999), Roháček & Barták (2001). RUSSIA: C. Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkariya, Nalchik env., canyon of upper course of Nalchik River, Omega-12 Cave, soil traps, 30.vii.1998–25.vi.1999, 2♂, A. G. Koval leg. (SMOC). SLOVAKIA: 1♂1♀ (SMOC), for localities see Roháček (2009).

Smaller species, body length: male 1.90–2.18 mm, female 2.10–2.86 mm. Male: abdomen with T5 and S8 distinctly shorter than in H. bequaerti; S1+2 protruding but with bulge reduced (Fig. 41); S5 with a pair of small, shortly digitiform processes (Fig. 42); epandrium with dorsolateral seta distinct (Fig. 37); male cerci large, each with 2 divergent projections (Figs 37, 38), medial robust, long, digitiform and projecting posteroventrally, lateral also long but terminally slender, having 1 extremely long curved seta inserted in short lateral process (Fig. 37); gonostylus with similarly (although shortly) lobate posteroventral part as that of H. horrida but with subdorsal internal projection keel-like and anteroventral seta much shorter (Fig. 39); hypandrial rod very long and (particularly basally) slender (Fig. 37); phallapodeme very long and with dorsal keel (Fig. 40); postgonite relatively long, straighter than in other species and with apex simply pointed (Fig. 40); distiphallus with longer lateral and ventral lobes and slender funnel-shaped apex (Fig. 40). Female: postabdomen slender, with relatively narrow sclerites of 7th–8th segment (Figs 43, 46), with T6 relatively broad; T8 complete but medially narrowly paler-pigmented (Fig. 43); S8 relatively large, simple, more trapezoidal (Fig. 46) than that of H. horrida; spermathecae shortly pyriform with conical base (Fig. 44); S10 undivided, horseshoe-shaped (Fig. 46); cerci long and slender (Figs 43, 45, 46).

Although the majority of known specimens originate from caves in Slovakia the species is not troglophilous because it occurs on decayed vegetation only in the entrance zone of caves (Roháček 1993, 2011); it can also be found on rotten wet leaves in other cold and shaded places such as ravines or narrow valleys of torrents. Hitherto, it has not been recorded from runs or burrows of mammals. In Central Europe adults were collected in March, June–August.

Known only from Central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia) and northern part of Central Caucasus Mts (Russia: Kabardino-Balkariya). Roháček et al. (2001) incorrectly also listed Germany but this record belongs in fact to H. horrida (see above).

Holotype ♂ labelled: „C CYPRUS: Troodos Mts., Pedoulas env., J. Roháček leg.“, „sweeping over ruderal vegetation, 12.4.2002“, „Holotypus ♂ Herniosina hamata sp. n., J. Roháček det. 2016“ (red label). The specimen (see Fig. 47) is intact except for the left wing being detached for photography (Fig. 48) and preserved in glycerine in a coalesced plastic tube pinned below the specimen (SMOC). Paratypes: C CYPRUS: Troodos Mts, Troodos 2 km NE, 1700 m, sweeping vegetation along small creek, 11.iv.2002, 1♂8♀ (1♂1♀ genit. prep.); Troodos Mts, Troodos env., 1800 m, sweeping vegetation along spring, 11.iv.2002, 1♀ (genit. prep.); Troodos Mts, Kakopetria 2 km SW, sweeping vegetation along brook, 11.iv.2002, 1♀ (genit. prep.); Pano Platres env., Caledonia Falls, on decayed leaves by stream, 12.iv.2002, 1♂ (genit. prep.); W CYPRUS: Troodos Mts, Kykko Monastery 4 km E, sweeping undergrowth of pine forest, 12.iv.2002, 1♀, all J. Roháček leg. (SMOC). Paratypes labelled „Paratypus ♂ or ♀, Herniosina hamata sp. n., J. Roháček det. 2016“ (yellow label) in addittion to their locality labels.

The new species is named by the adjective „hamata“ to reflect its hook-like posteromedial (internal) process of the gonostylus (hamatus = Lat. provided with hooks).

Male (Fig. 47). Total body length 1.94–2.38 mm; general colour blackish brown with relatively sparse dark greyish brown microtomentum, subshining (thorax) to shining (abdomen). Head blackish brown to brown, much higher than long (Fig. 47). Frons brown anteriorly, dark brown to blackish posteriorly, sparsely microtomentose. Occiput blackish brown with microtomentum denser. Orbits, interfrontalia and ocellar triangle sparsely greyish brown microtomentose; frontal triangle poorly delimited, relatively wide, anteriorly acute and more shining than rest of frons. Cephalic chaetotaxy: pvt absent, only minute divergent postocellar setulae behind ocellar triangle; occe and occi subequal (or occi slightly longer) and about half length of vti; vti robust and longest of frontal bristles; vte and oc slightly to distinctly shorter than vti; 2 ors, posterior longer than anterior but distinctly shorter than oc; 3–4 relatively short ifr, all subequal or foremost shorter, if 4 ifr present, the foremost reduced to small setula; 3–6 very minute ads inside and below ors; g weak, hardly longer than anterior peristomal setula; vi as long as or longer than vte but thinner. Frontal lunule short and wide, brown and greyish brown microtomentose. Facial cavities below antennae dark brown, relatively shining; medial carina poorly developed but distinct. Gena brown (lightest on virbrissal angle), posteriorly dark brown, greyish brown microtomentose. Eye relatively small; its longest diameter about 2.2 times as long as smallest genal height. Antenna dark brown, relatively long; its 3rd segment distinctly tapered apically, both in lateral and dorsal view. Arista long, about 4 times as long as antenna, relatively long and densely ciliate.

Thorax blackish brown and dark greyish brown microtomentose, mesonotum subshining, pleuron with denser microtomentum and dull. Suturae between pleural sclerites pale brown. Scutellum large, relatively long and flat, rounded trapezoidal. Thoracic chaetotaxy: 2 hu, internal reduced to microseta; 2 postsutural dc, anterior short (only 2–3 times as long as dc microsetae), posterior as long as or slightly longer than basal sc; 10 dense rows of ac microsetae on suture; medial prescutellar ac pair prolonged, about as long as anterior dc but finer; 2 long sc, basal about as long as or slightly longer than scutellum, apical about 1.7 times as long as basal; 1–2 stpl, anterior (if present) reduced to very minute pale setula.

Legs brown, coxae, trochanters, knees and tarsi paler brown to ochreous. f₂ with a doubled row of curved but relatively short ventral setae in basal half (Fig. 54); t₂ ventrally with a long row of small dense spines, very reduced va seta and 1 distinct anteroapical seta (Fig. 54); dorsal chaetotaxy of t₂ as in Fig. 57, with posterodorsal seta in apical fourth long. t₂ : mt₂ = 1.85–1.89.

Wing (Fig. 48) with pale brown membrane and yellowish brown to dark brown veins. C ending at or very slightly produced beyond apex of R₄₊₅. R₂₊₃ very slightly sinuate and also apically slightly upcurved to C; R₄₊₅ distinctly sinuate but its apical half nearly straight. Discal cell (dm) rather long, distally tapered, with small process of M beyond dm-cu; posterior outer corner of dm cell varies from angular with a remnant of CuA₁ to rounded and lacking the latter. A₁ slightly sinuate; anal lobe large, well developed; alula narrow, apically rounded. Wing measurements: length 2.06–2.24 mm, width 0.85–0-91 mm, C-index = 0.97–1.03, rm\dm-cu : dm-cu = 3.64–4.50. Haltere with yellowish brown to ochreous yellow stem and dark brown knob.

Abdomen blackish brown dorsally, brown ventrally. Preabdominal terga large, glabrous and shining because of reduced and sparse greyish microtomentum (restricted to T1+2 and bases of T3–T5), sparsely setose but with more setae on disc than those of relatives. T5 enlarged but not so prolonged as in H. bequaerti. Preabdominal sterna S1+2–S4 (Fig. 51) also shining but distinctly more setose than in all congeners. S1+2 with ventral bulge reduced (Fig. 47, arrow) but somewhat protruding in the middle; S3 and S4 (Fig. 51) anteromedially emarginate and with characteristic lateral dark pigmentation. S5 (Fig. 65) very shortened, reduced to a transverse strip-like and largely weakly sclerotized and pale-pigmented sclerite with only partly darker and setose lateral parts (with 5–6 setae on each side) and posteromedially provided with a pair of small digitiform processes arising from a common base. S6+7 and S8 asymmetrical on left side of down-curved postabdomen, most similar to those of H. pollex, thus the latter relatively short.

Genitalia. Epandrium (Figs 49, 50) of medium length but comparatively broad (wider than high), with a series of longer and stronger setae mainly lateroventrally (posterior longest); also laterodorsally with 1 longer seta. Anal fissure relatively small, suboval, slightly wider than in H. pollex. Cerci fused with epandrium, each projecting ventrally in single (medial process absent) long, digitiform, terminally somewhat dilated process with blunt apex, basally carrying 1 long seta (Figs 49, 50). Medandrium fused with cerci medially and connected by long internal arms with gonostyli (Fig. 50). Hypandrium with long anteromedial rod-like apodeme, more robust than that of H. pollex. Gonostylus (Figs 49, 50, 56) dissimilar to those of all congeners, with pointed anteroventral corner and long anterior seta as in most relatives but ventrally externally with rounded and setose lobe and posteroventrally with distinctive, robust, dark, hook-like internal process. Aedeagal complex (Figs 52, 53, 55). Phallapodeme large and long, laterally flattened due to very large (high) dorsal and ventral keel. Aedeagus with peculiar distiphallus, most different from those of relatives because of small lateral lobes (Fig. 53), long ventromedial, posteriorly far projecting lobe (Fig. 52) and relatively short but broad funnel-shaped apex (Fig. 53); also phallophore distinctive, with short and more robust anterior part and small, slender, pointed posterior epiphallus-like projection (Fig. 52); postgonite relatively short and robust (Fig. 55), with expanded posterior lobe proximally and distinctly bent and pointed apex distally. Ejacapodeme reduced to very minute sclerite (see Fig. 53) hidden in posterior fissure of phallophore.

Female. Similar to male unless mentioned otherwise below. Total body length 1.90–2.54 mm. Gena sometimes paler, reddish brown anteriorly and brown posteriorly. f₂ ventrally without curved setae, simply setulose; t₂ ventrally only finely setulose and with 1 long va seta; also anteroapical seta somewhat longer (Fig. 61). t₂ : mt₂ = 1.65–1.85. Wing measurements: length 1.79–2.28 mm, width 0.73–0.95 mm, C-index = 0.92–1.13, rm\dm-cu : dm-cu = 3.41–4.40. Preabdominal terga shorter, more transverse and becoming narrower posteriorly, similarly setose as in male. Preabdominal sterna unmodified, simple, sparsely and shortly setose. S1+2 smallest and dark pigmented only posteriorly (one fourth to half); S3–S5 becoming wider posteriorly, S3 and S4 trapezoidal (wider posteriorly); S5 transversely sub-oblong, wider but distinctly shorter than S4; all these sclerites dark brown and shining.

Postabdomen (Figs 58, 62, 63) telescopically retractible but broader than in relatives, particularly as regards 7th and 8th segments. T6 wide and short, transversely oblong, paler brown than T7 (Fig. 58); T7 hardly narrower than T6 but reaching farther onto lateral side (Fig. 63), sparsely setose only at posterior margin. T8 medially not only depigmented but distinctly divided in two dark sclerites (Fig. 58). T10 subtriangular, distinctly wider than long (shorter than that of H. pollex), pale-pigmented only in anterior half and dorsally with a pair of longer setae arising far each from other (Fig. 58). S6 slightly wider, paler and more densely setulose than S7, shorter and more transverse (Fig. 62) than in all relatives. S7 dark-pigmented except for small anteromedial area (Fig. 62) and with 4 longer and several short setae at posterior margin. S8 (Figs 62, 64) narrow, of highly distinctive, posteriorly widened shape, having large subcircular to ovoid membranous (sometimes posteriorly open) window in posterior half and only 4–8 fine setulae at posterior margin. S10 reduced to short, broadly V-shaped microtomentose and setose sclerite (Fig. 62). Spermathecae 2+1 (Figs 59, 60) blackish brown, bulbous (onion-shaped), without robust basal conical parts; terminal parts of ducts very slender and pale-pigmented. Cerci (Fig. 58, 63) distinctly wider and shorter than in all relatives (including H. pollex), with 1 dorsal preapical and 1 apical seta long sinuate as in congeners but the latter inserted somewhat subapically (see Fig. 63).

Herniosina hamata sp. n. is a distinctive species, markedly different from all other species of the genus in the structures of the male and female terminalia. It is characterized by an interesting combination of plesiomorphic (e.g. reduced bulge on male S1+2; more setose male preabdominal sclerites; male S5 with a pair small medial projections; male cercus projecting in single process; gonostylus without dorsal internal projection; ejacapodeme minute but present; spermathecae simple, bulbous, without conical basal part) and distinctly derived autapomorphic features (gonostylus with hook-like posteroventral internal process; phallapodeme dorsoventrally dilated by both dorsal and ventral keel; distiphallus with long posteriorly projecting medial lobe; female postabdominal segments widened; female T8 dorsomedially divided; female S8 with „window“; cercus robust and with subapically inserted apical seta). H. hamata sp. n. most resembles H. pollex but the shared characters proved to be all plesiomorphic (male S1+2 with bulge reduced; male S5 with a pair of small medial projections; shorter male T5 and S8) and do not demonstrate their sister-species relationships. Indeed, the set of plesiomorphies of H. hamata sp. n. indicate that it could represent a sister-taxon to its four remaining congeners (see discussion of intrageneric relationships below).

Almost all type specimens were swept from low (and sparse) vegetation growing on layers of wet rotten plant debris. This is also true for the holotype being netted from „ruderal“ vegetation on a pile of decayed leaves in a shaded ditch by a road. The longest series (9 specimens) was taken by netting over shooting plants on the wet shores of a small creek covered with decayed remnants of vegetation shortly after the snow melted (Fig. 66); also the habitat with decayed leaves close to a montane stream (Fig. 67) near the Caledonia Falls can be considered typical for the species. The altitudes of localities (all in Troodos Mts) range from about 900 m (Kakopetria env) to 1800 m (Troodos, close to Olympos Mt.) and all specimens were collected on 11–12 April.

Figures 66–67. 

Habitats of Herniosina hamata sp. n. (Cyprus). 66 Shores of a small creek with decayed remnants of vegetation and shooting plants (Troodos 2 km NE, 1700 m) 67 Decayed leaves (arrow) in valley of a montane torrent below Caledonia Falls (nr. Pano Platres). Photographs by J. Roháček.

Hitherto only known from Cyprus (Troodos Mts); first recorded as unnamed species of Herniosina by Roháček (2004).