Bolbelasmus bocchus ( Erichson, 1841 )

Hillert, Oliver, Arnone, Marcello, Král, David & Massa, Bruno, 2016, The genusBolbelasmus in the western and southern regions of the Mediterranean Basin (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (1), pp. 211-254 : 214-216

Bolbelasmus bocchus ( Erichson, 1841)

( Figs 1 , 8 , 14 , 21 , 27 , 33, 39 , 45–51 , 59–60)

Bolbocerus Bocchus Erichson, 1841: 170 (original description). GORY (1841): table 71, figs 1, 1A (list); MARSEUL (1857): 83 (list); JACQUELIN DU VAL (1863): 434 (catalogue); BOUCOMONT (1902): 4 (catalogue); HEYDEN et al. (1906): 725 (catalogue); WINKLER (1927): 1035 (catalogue).

Bolbelasmus bocchus: BOUCOMONT (1912) : 17 (catalogue); WINKLER (1927): 1035 (catalogue); KOCHER (1958): 77 (catalogue); RUIZ (2000): 84 (distribution).

Bolbelasmus bocchus [partim, populations from Morocco]: BARAUD (1977): 160 (monograph); MARTÍN- PIERA & LÓPEZ- COLÓN (2000): 179 (monograph).

Bolbelasmus bocchus bocchus [partim, populations from Morocco]: KRIKKEN (1977): 290, figs 16–17 (revision); BARAUD (1985): 53, fig. 8 (monograph); BARAUD (1992): 44 (monograph); KRÁL et al. (2006): 82 (catalogue).

Bolboceras Fissicornis Mulsant, 1843: 280 (original description). Type locality: ‘Algérie’. MARSEUL (1857): 83 (synonymy).

Type locality. ‘ Algier, [ Bona = Annaba]’ (see Type material for details).

Type material examined (3 specimens). ALGERIA: LECTOTYPE (present designation): ♂ ( MNHB), ‘Hist. – coll. ( Coleoptera ), Nr. 25569, Bolboceras Bocchus Er. – Kl., Bona, Wagner, Zool. Mus. Berlin, Syntypus, Bolbelasmus bocchus Erichson, 1841 , labelled by MNHUB 2013 ’. PARALECTOTYPES: No. 1, ♀ ( MNHB), ‘Hist. – coll. ( Coleoptera ), Nr. 25569, Bolboceras Bocchus Er. – Kl., Bona, Wagner, Zool. Mus. Berlin, Syntypus, Bolbelasmus bocchus Erichson, 1841 , labelled by MNHUB 2013’; No. 2, ♂ ( MNHB), ‘Hist. – coll. ( Coleoptera ), Nr. 25569, Bolboceras Bocchus Er. – Kl., Bona, Wagner, Zool. Mus. Berlin, Syntypus, Bolbelasmus bocchus Erichson , 184, labelled by MNHUB 2013’; see Figs 45–51 .

Additional material examined (183 specimens). ALGERIA: Algeria, 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀ ( SMTD), 1 ♀ ( MNHN), 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ( BMNH) ; Algerie, 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( MHNL) ; Algerien, 3 ♂♂ ( SMTD) . ALGIERS PROV.: Alger (city), vi.1996, 1 ♂ ( DKCP) ; Alger, 1♂ ( MNHN) ; Algier, 2♂♂ ( MNHB) ; L.Arba, 1♂ 1♀, Reitter [lgt.] ( MNHN), 1 ♂ ( VMCP). SIDI BEL ABBÈS PROV.: Chanzy , [18]90, 1 ♂, Vaulog [er] lgt. ( ZSMC) ; Chanzy, 1890, 1 ♀, de Vauloger lgt. ( MNHN). DJELFA PROV.: Takersan , iv.1893, 2 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, A Ben Yacoub [lgt.] ( MNHN) ; Takersan, Djelfa, 17.v. 1924, 1 ♂ ( DKCC). EL BAYADH PROV.: Region de Geryville , vi.1910, 3 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀, Harold Powell lgt. ( MNHN) ; Le Kreider, v.[18]96, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( MNHN) ; El Kreider, v.1896, 4 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Dr. A. Chobaut lgt. ( MNHN), 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀ ( LHCB) ; El-Kreider (Oran), 1 ♂, L. Bleuse [lgt.] ( ZFMK) ; Kreider, 1 ♂, Bedel [lgt.] ( MNHB), 1 ♀ ( ZSMC), 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) ; Kreider , 4 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀, Bedel lgt. ( MNHN) ; Kreider, 3 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀ ( MNHN), 1 ♂ ( NMPC), 4 ♀♀ ( ZFMK). LAGHOUAT PROV.: Aflou, 4.iv.1981, 1 ♂, H. Pierotti [lgt.] ( MSNG). MASCARA PROV.: Oran, Mascara , iv.–v.1913, 24 ♂♂ 9 ♀♀, G. Le Comte lgt. ( MNHN) ; Mascara, 1 ♂, Dr. A. Cobos lgt. ( MNHN) ; Mascara , 1 ♂ ( NHMB), 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( VMCP). M’SILA PROV.: Ain-Ograb, 1♀, Dr. Martin [lgt.] ( ZFMK). NAÂMA PROV.: Mecheria , 1 ♀ ( MNHN) . ORAN PROV.: Magenta (prov. d’Oran), 1 ♂, E. Duroux [lgt.] ( ZFMK) ; Magenta (Oran), 1 ♂ ( DKCC) ; Oran , R. J. 3.xi.1903 1 ♂, B. [? lgt.] ( MNHN) ; Oran, 1 ♂, coll. R. Paulian ( MNHN) ; Oran, Magenta, 1915, 1 ♂, M. Rotrou lgt. ( MNHN) ; Magenta, 1 ♀ ( MNHN). TLEMCEN PROV.: Lambaze , vi.1885, 2 ♂♂, L. Bleuse lgt. ( MNHN) ; Sebdou, 1903, 1 ♂ ( MNHN) . MOROCCO: GHARB- CHRARDA- BÈNI HSSEN REG.: KÉNITRA PROV.: s.[south of] Oujda, Ain-el Kerma, v.1972, 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, D. Bernh [auer] lgt. ( JSCS). MEKNÈS- TAFILALET REG.: IFRANE PROV.: Mittlerer Atlas , Ifrane , 1700 m, 8.–9.vi.[19]96, 1 ♀, A. Kallies lgt. ( OHCB) ; Middle Atlas, Azrou , 18.–19.vi.1936, 1 ♂, K.H. Chapman & G.A. Bisset [lgt.] ( BMNH) ; Moyen-Atlas, near Jbel Hebri , 12.v.1980, 1 ♂, J. Gourvès rec. [lgt.] ( MHNL) ; Azrou, Foret de Cedres , 10.v.[19]95, 1 ♂, Jiří Hájek lgt. ( JSCP), 1 ♂ ( NMPC) ; Azrou , 10.v.1995, 1 ♀, M. Rozsíval lgt. ( JZCJ) ; Ifrane env., 3.v.1995, 1 ♂, J. Bechr lgt. ( PJCL) ; Ifrane, v.[19]95, 1 ♂, J. Holiš lgt. ( JZCJ) ; Ifrane, Dayet Iffer , 26.iv.2014, 11 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀, O. Boilly lgt. ( OBCB) ; Ifrane , 8.vi.1973, 2 ♀♀ ( SJCP) ; Ifrane, 1.v.68, 1 ♂, J. Gallet lgt. ( MNHN) ; Ifrane , 11.v.[19]67, 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Y. Lajonquier lgt. ( MNHN) ; NE of Ifrane, Dayt-Ifrah, 17.v.2003, 1 ♀, M. Snížek lgt. ( VKCC) ; Taforalt ( Oujda ), 11.iv.1992, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, G. Chavanon lgt. ( IECA) ; Zad Pass, 2180 m, 24.iv.2014, 1 ♂, O. Boilly lgt. ( OBCB). ORIENTAL REG.: BERKANE PROV.: Taforal, Beni Snassen ( Parc Naturel ), iii.[19]51, 1 ♀, Antoine lgt. ( MNHN). JERADA PROV.: W [of] Touissite , Jbel Mahsor , 34°29′46″N 01°46′50″W, 1050 m, 2 ♀♀, R. Rejzek lgt. ( JSCP). OUJIDA- ANGAD PROV.: Torf. Ouazane, pr.[prope] Oujda, vi.[19]35, (Lacous), 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( MNHN). TAOURIRT PROV.: Gaada de Debdou plat[eau]., E of Rchida, 33°52′N 3°10′W, ca. 1420–1550 m, 20.–21.iii.2013, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, D. Král lgt. ( DKCP) ; Gaada de Debdou plat[eau]., E of Rchida, 33°52′N 3°10′W, ca. 1420–1550 m, 20.–21.iii.2013, 3 ♂♂ 1 ♀, O. Hillert lgt. ( OHCB) . SPAIN (territory in Morroco ): MELILLA AUTONOM. COMM.: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Melilla, Pardo Alcaide [lgt.] ( MSNG) ; 2 ♂♂ 2♀♀, Rostrogardo, Melilla, Pardo Alcaide lgt. ( MNHN) ; 1♀, same label data ( MSNT) ; Taurirt (Beni Sicar), Melilla Maruecos, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Pardo Alcaide lgt. ( MNHN). NOT LOCATED: Borkine , 10.vi[19]29, Le Cerf, 1 ♂ ( MNHN) ; Daya , 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Bedel lgt. ( MNHN) ; Daja, 1 ♀ ( MNHN) .

Redescription. Male (lectotype) ( Figs 45–47 ). Remarkably convex, hemispherical; dorsal surface brownish, remarkably shiny.

Head ( Figs 45–47 ). Clypeus broadly rounded, almost semicircular, anterior angles vague, posterior angles elevated. Frontal horn well developed, long, distinctly furcate apically; its base outline elliptic in dorsal aspect, posterior edge of base situated at level of anterior part of eye; lateral margin of horn distinctly, sharply keeled from base to middle of tubercle. Clypeal disc with simple, coarse punctation. Oblique keels above eyes reaching approximately to half of eyes. Punctation of frons and vertex approximately same as on clypeus. Fronto-clypeal suture present. Eyes well developed, distinctly elliptic; genae exceeding eyes, arcuate posteriorly.

Pronotum ( Figs 45–47 ) distinctly transverse, broadest just in basal quarter, entirely bordered; lateral margin evenly rounded, marginal carina not crenate, distinctly widened and elevated; lateral fovea nearly missing. Pronotal punctation distinct, double, consisting of coarse, deeply impressed punctures, punctures separated by approximately 2–3 times their diameter and intermixed with very fine ones. Pronotal base glabrous; lateral hornlike apophyses well developed, directed forwardly in dorso-lateral view; cavity between lateral and apical apophyses remarkably deep, kidney-shaped. Apical hornlike apophysis well developed, distinctly elevated, angled, directed upwards, subapical protrusion situated on outer side, basally.

Scutellar shield elongate triangular, very finely punctate, shiny.

Elytra approximately as long as wide, surface shiny; humeral umbone weak; between humerus and elytral suture seven distinctly impressed striae along entire elytral length, striae with coarse, regularly spaced punctures; intervals flat, impunctate.

Aedeagus. Parameres as in Fig. 60 .

Variability in males. Surface black to brownish; pronotal hornlike apophyses in medium developed and underdeveloped (hypothelic) specimens short, more or less straight, only simply rounded to almost acute apically.

Female (Paralectotype No. 1). Head ( Fig. 48 ). Clypeus broadly rounded, semicircular with straight anterior margin, anterior angles evenly rounded. Posterior angles of clypeal margin very weakly elevated. Frontal carina well developed, distinctly interrupted at middle, bituberculate at internal interruption, keeled laterally. Punctation of clypeus, frons, vertex and occiput simple, distinct; oblique keel above eyes distinct, extended to half of eyes; eyes well developed, distinctly elliptic, genae well developed, regularly arcuate.

Pronotum ( Fig. 48 ) distinctly transverse, lateral margin weakly widened, broadest just at base, surface distinctly and deeply punctate, punctation double except impunctate base, punctures separated by distance equal to their diameter and intermixed with very fine ones. Anterior protrusion distinctly transverse, sharply semicircular, lateral apophyses present.

Measurements. Total body length 11.0–14.8 mm (lectotype, ♂: 13.5 mm; paralectotype No.1, ♀: 14.0 mm).

Differential diagnosis. Refer to species key.

Collecting circumstances. Prefers calcareous soils.

Distribution. Mediterranean parts of Algeria and northern Morocco (Fig. 59).

Remarks. The type locality of B. bocchus is ‘Algier’, the species has been recorded also from Spain (not Portugal: BRANCO 2005), northern Algeria and northern Morocco (cf. e.g. KRIKKEN 1977; BARAUD 1977, 1985, 1992; KRÁL et al. 2006; MARTÍN- PIERA & LÓPEZ- COLÓN 2000; RUIZ 2000). Regarding the presence in Spain, we consider the Iberian populations to belong to another species, described in this paper as B. brancoi sp. nov. The populations distributed in northern Tunisia and probably also in eastern parts of Algeria were at first referred to another species, Bolbelasmus vaulogeri , later synonymized with B. bocchus by BOUCOMONT (1911) and considered a subspecies of B. bocchus by KRIKKEN (1977). We consider these populations to represent a valid species and identical to populations of Sicily described recently as B. romanorum Arnone & Massa, 2010 (syn. nov.). We also consider the populations native to Middle and South Tunisia, Libya (Tripolitania, Cyrenaica) ( SCHATZMAYR 1946) and Egypt (Mariout) ( PIC 1924) to be a distinct species, B. nikolajevi sp. nov., described in this paper. Finally, CHIKATUNOV & PAVLÍČEK (1997) reported B. bocchus from Israel, but we did not have the opportunity to study any Bolbelasmus material from the Levant countries. ERICHSON (1841) described Bolboceras bocchus based on a series of unknown number of specimens. He did not establish a type; thus in this study, we designated a lectotype (♂) ( Figs 45–47, 49 ) and two paralectotypes for fixation of this taxon ( Figs 48, 50–51 ). Bolboceras fissicornis Mulsant, 1843 was also described from ‘Algéria’ based on the same morphological characters of B. bocchus (‘tête armée d’une corne non mobile, bifide au sommet [= head armed with immobile horn, furcate apically]’) ( MULSANT 1843) and later synonymized with B. bocchus by MARSEUL (1857). This important character of B. bocchus is shown also in GORY (1841: table 71, figs 1, 1A).

Figures

Figs 1–4. Male habitus in dorsal aspect. 1 – Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841) (Morocco: Azrou, Foret de Cedres, body length: 14.0 mm, NMPC); 2 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 3 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842) (France: Bouches-du-Rhône, Barbentane, body length 13.7 mm, DJCP); 4 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype).

Figs 8–11. Female habitus in dorsal aspect. 8 – Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841) (Morocco: Gaada de Debdou plateau., E of Rchida, 13.5 mm, DKCP); 9 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov. (allotype); 10 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842) (Spain: Andalusia, Aljaraque vill. env., 13.6 mm, JSCP); 11 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov. (allotype).

Figs 14–20. Male habitus in lateral aspect. 14 – Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841) (Morocco: Azrou, Foret de Cedres, body length:14.0 mm, NMPC); 15 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp.nov.(holotype); 16 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842) (France: Bouches-du-Rhône,Barbentane, 13.8 mm, DJCP); 17 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov.(holotype); 18 – B. nikolajevi Hillert, Arnone, Král & Massa sp. nov. (holotype); 19 – B. vaulogeri (Abeille de Perrin, 1898) (Tunisia: Cap Bon peninsula, 6 km W of El Hawariah, body length: 11.8 mm, DKCP); 20 – B. vaulogeri (Italy: Sicily, Menfi (Agrigento), Cinquanta, body length: 11.6 mm, MAPC).

Figs 21–26. Pronotum of male in dorsal aspect.21 – Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841) (Morocco:Azrou, Foret de Cedres, NMPC); 22 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 23 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842) (France: Bouches-du-Rhône, Barbentane, DJCP); 24 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 25 – B. nikolajevi Hillert, Arnone, Král & Massa sp. nov. (holotype); 26 – B. vaulogeri (Abeille de Perrin, 1898) (Tunisia: Cap Bon peninsula, 6 km W of El Hawariah, DKCP).

Figs 27–32.Pronotum of male in frontal aspect. 27 – Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841) (Morocco:Azrou, Foret de Cedres, NMPC); 28 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 29 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842) (France: Bouches-du-Rhône, Barbentane, DJCP); 30 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 31 – B. nikolajevi Hillert, Arnone, Král & Massa sp. nov. (holotype); 32 – B. vaulogeri (Abeille de Perrin, 1898) (Tunisia: Cap Bon peninsula, 6 km W of El Hawariah, DKCP).

Figs 33–44. Head in dorsal aspect, 33–38 –♂♂; 39–44 – ♀♀. 33 – Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841) (Morocco: Azrou, Foret de Cedres, NMPC); 34 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 35 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842) (France: Bouches-du-Rhône, Barbentane, DJCP); 36 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov. (holotype); 37 – B. nikolajevi Hillert, Arnone, Král & Massa sp. nov. (holotype); 38 – B. vaulogeri (Abeille de Perrin, 1898) (Tunisia: Cap Bon peninsula, 6 km W of El Hawariah, DKCP); 39 – B. bocchus (Morocco: Gaada de Debdou plateau., E of Rchida, DKCP); 40 – B. brancoi (allotype); 41 – B. gallicus (Spain: Andalusia, Aljaraque vill. env., JSCP); 42 – B. howdeni (allotype); 43 – B. nikolajevi (allotype); 44 – B. vaulogeri (Tunisia: Cap Bon peninsula, 6 km W of El Hawariah, DKCP).

Figs 45–51. Types and labels of Bolbelasmus bocchus (Erichson, 1841), deposited in MNHB. 45 – male habitus in dorsal aspect (lectotype); 46 – male habitus in frontal aspect (lectotype); 47 – male habitus in lateral aspect (lectotype); 48 – female habitus in dorsal aspect (paralectotype); 49 – labels of lectotypes; 50 – labels of paralectotype No. 1; 51 – labels of paralectotype No. 2.

Figs 60–65. Aedeagus of Bolbelasmus species, ventral aspect, schematically. 60 – B. bocchus (Erichson, 1841), 61 – B. brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov., 62 – B. gallicus (Mulsant, 1842), 63 – B. howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov., 64 – B. nikolajevi Hillert, Arnone, Král & Massa sp. nov., 65 – B. vaulogeri (Abeille de Perrin, 1898).