Orthomus berytensis (Reiche et Saulcy, 1855)

Serrano, J., 2021, The genus Orthomus Chaudoir, 1838 in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, Russian Entomological Journal 30 (4), pp. 430-447 : 441

Orthomus berytensis (Reiche et Saulcy, 1855)

Figs 65–70 .

Dorsum black to dark brown, often with reddish hue, shiny in both sexes (females show fine microreticulation), appendices with lighter coloration brown red. Body length variable 8.0–11.0 mm. Eye convex, protruding, tempora oblique.

Pronotum transverse almost rectangular, regularly curved, well narrowed forward and moderately backward, maximum width near middle ( Fig. 65 ), anterior angle briefly projected forward, anterior basis almost regularly arcuate; posterior angle obtuse with a tiny tooth ( Fig. 66 ), posterior basis beaded up to the origin of the inner fovea; external fovea weakly impressed, inner fovea linear; punctures usually in low density or entirely absent (in East Mediterranean populations punctures are more abundant); space between external fovea and side somewhat convex.

Elytra slightly enlarged from basis, humerus with a small and non-protruding tooth, striae smooth or with traces of punctures, intervals flat, discal pores on stria 3.

Prosternal process slightly truncate; ventral segments with shallow punctures at sides ( Fig. 67 ), metepisterna smooth. Male mesotibia slightly dilated apically, metatibia moderately crenulate.

Apical shaft of median lobe of aedeagus wide and with trapezoid shape, only briefly narrowed to tip ( Fig. 68 ), in lateral view somewhat ventrally bent ( Fig. 69 ). The female genitalia match in all details the characters described by Ortuño [1996] for the O. barbarus and O. velocissimus groups, in that there is a long spermathecal duct (where a caecum is originated) followed by a long a slightly dilated spermatheca toward apex ( Fig. 70 ). Therefore, this pattern clearly differs from that found in the other Maghrebian taxa [ Pupier, Coulon, 2013]. These findings suggests that the species is more closely related to the north Mediterranean lineages than to the Maghrebian ones. However, the species occupies the whole North Africa, and to the east occupies Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, that is, a North African geographic pattern. Indeed, it is also found in Sicily, Sardinia and Malta, and to west reaches the southernmost parts of Morocco and the Canary Islands. Analyses of new characters are needed to better assess its phylogenetic affinities.

Figures

Figs 65–76. Orthomus spp, specimens from Morocco: 65–70 — O. berytensis; 71–76 — O. dimorphus antoinei; 65, 71 (in part) — habitus; 66 — posterior angle of pronotum (in part); 67 — metepisterna and ventrites (in part); 72 — metepisterna; 68–69, 73–74 — median lobe of aedeagus; 70 — spermatheca and spermathecal duct (in part); 75 — empty spermatheca of young female; 76 - full spermatheca of mature female; 65, 68, 71, 73 — dorsal view; 66 — ventral view;69, 74 — left lateral view; 72 — right lateral view; 67, 70 — Essaouira; 68–69 — Agadir; 73, 76 — Rabat (plage); 75 — Meknés. Scale bars: 1.5 mm (Fig. 71); 2.0 mm (Fig. 65). Рис. 65–76. Orthomus spp, особи иЗ Марокко: 65–70 — O. berytensis; 71–76 — O. dimorphus antoinei; 65, 71 (частично) — внеШний вид; 66 — Задний угол переднеспинки (частично); 67 — Эпистерн Заднегруди и вентриты (частично); 72 — Эпистерн Заднегруди; 68–69, 73–74 — среднЯЯ долЯ Эдеагуса; 70 — сперматека и её проток (частично); 75 — пустаЯ сперматека неполовоЗрелой самки; 76 — полнаЯ сперматека половоЗрелой самки; 65, 68, 71, 73 — сверху; 66 — сниЗу; 69, 74 — сбоку слева; 72 — сбоку справа; 67, 70 — Эс-Сувейра; 68–69 — Агадир; 73, 76 — Рабат (плЯж); 75 — Мекнес. МасШтаб: 15 мм (Рис. 71); 20 мм (Рис. 65).