Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965

Selnekovic, David & Kodada, Jan, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Mordellistenahirtipes species complex with new distribution records (Insecta, Coleoptera, Mordellidae), ZooKeys 854, pp. 89-118 : 89

Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 Figs 2, 6 A–J

Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965: 268 (original description); Batten 1976: 168 (distribution); Batten 1977: 171-173 (distribution, figures, key); Plaza 1983: 574 (distribution, biology); Czető 1990: 28-29 (description, figure); Franciscolo 1995: 12 (distribution); Horák 2008: 100 (distribution); Odnosum 2010: 153, 194-195 (key, description, distribution); Ruzzier 2013: 109 (distribution).

Mordellistena fageli Ermisch, 1969: 112 syn. nov. (original description); Batten 1976: 168 (distribution); Plaza 1983: 575-576 (distribution, biology); Horák 1983: 13 (remarks); 2008: 97 (distribution).

Mordellistena pseudohirtipes krotosensis Czető, 1990: 28 syn. nov. (original description); Horák 2008: 100 (distribution).

Type locality.

Nessebar env., Bulgaria.

Type material examined.

M. pseudohirtipes pseudohirtipes: HOLOTYPE: 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Bulgaria Umg. Nessebar Juli 1961 leg. BECH / Holotypus [red label] / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K Ermisch det. 19 / Coll. ERMISCH Leipzig Ankauf 1970 / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden"; PARATYPE: 1 ♀, SNSD: "♀ / Bulgaria Umg. Nessebar Juli 1961 leg. BECH / Allotypus [red label] / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K Ermisch det. 19 / Coll. ERMISCH Leipzig Ankauf 1970 / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden". M. pseudohirtipes krotosensis: HOLOTYPE: 1 ♂, HNHM: "[transparent plastic board with dissected genitalia] / ♂ / Krotos KRÉTA / 1981. V. 12. leg. Podlussány / Holotypus Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 ssp. krotosensis, Czető 1988 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017". M. fageli : HOLOTYPE: 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Portugal: Algrave Caldas de Monchique V– 1960 G. Fagel / R. I. Sc. N. B. I. G. 22.145 / Holotypus [red label] / coll. ERMISCH, Leipzig, Ankauf 1970 / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden / HOLOTYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) fageli Ermisch, 1969 D. Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovč det. 2017"; PARATYPE: 1 ♀, SNSD: "♀ / Portugal: Algarve Caldas de Monchique V– 1960 G. Fagel / R. I. Sc. N. B. I. G. 22.145 / Allotypus [red label] / coll. ERMISCH, Leipzig, Ankauf 1970 / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden / ALLOTYPUS (PARATYPUS) Mordellistena (s. str.) fageli Ermisch, 1969 D. Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017".

Additional material examined.

Algeria. 1 ♂, SNSD: “Algérie: Algérois, Kaddous 3 –V– 1954 G. Fagel / R. I. Sc. N. B. I. G. 19.867 / coll. ERMISCH, Leipzig, Ankauf 1970 / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden / " Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017" [in collection as M. fageli ]. Bulgaria. 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Nessebar, Bulgaria 28. 5. - 10. 6. 1963 Karl Bleyl / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K. Ermisch det. 19"; 1 ♂, CSB: "Bulgaria mer. occ. Sandanski (→ Liljanovo) 5. - 10. 1976 Karel Majer lgt. / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2016". France. 2 ♂♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / France Basses Alpes St. Michel l’Observat. 24. 7 - 10. 8. 63 Rudkjöb. / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K. Ermisch det. 19"; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Ardêche 10. 7. 65 Banne Balazuc / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K. Ermisch det. 19; 1 ♂ SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Südfrankreich Camargue, 13. 6. 1952, leg. Freude / Mordellistena Lopezi Ermisch det. K. Ermisch 63" [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Pyrenées or. Umg. Banyuls 30. 5.-10. 6. 53 / Mordellistena Lopezi Ermisch det. K. Ermisch 63" [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "Banyuls Pyr. or. VI. 53 J. u. B. Bechyne / Museum Frey München” [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Gall. mer. Agay (Var) 18. 7. 58 W. Liebmann / Genitalpräparat” [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Fr. Ardêche Bois de Paiolive 1. 7. 66 Balazuc [hand written] / Paratypus / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden / PARATYPUS Mordellistena (s. str.) geronensis Ermisch, 1977, Selnekovič labelled 2017 [red label] / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017" [in collection as M. geronensis ]. Georgia. 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / SSSR–Gruzie Tbilisi 7.57 R. Dvořák / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K. Ermisch det. 19 / Coll. ERMISCH Leipzig Ankauf 1970 / Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden"; 2 ♂♂, SNSD: "♂ / SSSR–Gruzie Tbilisi 7.57 R. Dvořák / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K. Ermisch det. 19". Greece. 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Athos Daphni A. Schatzmayr / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K Ermisch det. 19"; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Ephesus / J. Sahlb. / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K. Ermisch det. 19"; 1 ♂, HNHM: "Creta Biró / Amari 4. VII. 06 / Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Erm. det. R. Batten 1980 / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017". Israel. 1 ♂, CSB: "Israel Jerusalem 25. III. 2001, ??? leg. / Mordellistena s. str. pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2014"; 1 ♂, HNHM: "Izrael Rehovot 1965. V. 20. Dr. Erdös / coll. Dr. J. Erdös / Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Erm. det. R. Batten 1980 / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017". Italy. 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Sicilia Magara d. V. 16. 5. 61 W. Liebmann" [in collection as M. lopezi ]. Macedonia. 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Veles, Mac. 23. - 25. 5. 55. leg. F. Schubert / Genitalpräparat / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K Ermisch det. 19". Montenegro. 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, CSB: "Montenegro S Skadarske jazero lake N, Virpazar village env. D. Selnekovič 21. VI. 2011 / Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2012". Spain. 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Son Españolet 1 –VI– 1958 R. López / Paratypus [red label] / Mordellistena Lopezi Ermisch det. K. Ermisch / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017" [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / SEVILLA Hi. m. Marismas, V. 1943 G. Frey, C. Koch / Mordellistena Lopezi Ermisch det. K. Ermisch 63 / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017" [in collection as M. lopezi ]; 1 ♂, CSB: "Spain, Málaga, Lagunas de Archidona, 800m 37°06'N, 04°18'40"W, 12.-14. V. 2018 E. Jendek / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2018". Ukraine. 2 ♂♂, SNSD: "♂ / Genitalpräparat / Umgeb. Jalta Krim, Ende Juli 1965 leg. F. Hieke / MORDELLISTENA pseudohirtipes Erm. K Ermisch det. 19"; 1 ♂, HNHM: "Krim Jaila 17. VI. 1956 leg. L. Horváth / Mordellistena pseudohirtipes Erm. det. R. Batten 1980 / Mordellistena (s. str.) pseudohirtipes Ermisch, 1965 D. Selnekovič det. 2017".

Differential diagnosis.

From M. purpurascens it differs in shorter parameres (EL/LPrL ratio: M. pseudohirtipes : 4.65-7.17 (5.89 ± 0.71, n = 25), M. purpurascens : 4.42-5.84 (4.98 ± 0.35, n = 19); EL/RPrL ratio: M. pseudohirtipes : 5.91-8.63 (7.42 ± 0.72, n = 25), M. purpurascens : 5.57-6.94 (6.19 ± 0.41 n = 19)). Basal part of the left paramere (Fig. 6 E–H) is shorter than in M. purpurascens (Fig. 7 G–J). Body usually smaller (TL: M. pseudohirtipes : ♂♂ 2.47-4.05 mm (3.20 ± 0.43 mm, n = 25) ♀♀ 3.26-4.47 mm (3.68 ± 0.56 mm, n = 3), M. purpurascens : ♂♂ 3.10-4.42 mm (3.75 ± 0.35 mm, n = 19), ♀♀ 3.31-4.42 mm (3.82 ± 0.36 mm, n = 14)). Differences between M. hirtipes are mentioned above.

Redescription.

Measurements: TL: ♂♂ 2.47-4.05 mm (3.20 ± 0.43 mm, n = 25) ♀♀ 3.26-4.47 mm (3.68 ± 0.56 mm, n = 3); HL: ♂♂ 0.64-0.93 mm (0.75 ± 0.09 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 0.77-1.04 mm (0.87 ± 0.12 mm, n = 3); HW: ♂♂ 0.70-1.06 mm (0.87 ± 0.11 mm, n = 29), ♀♀ 0.87-1.20 mm (0.99 ± 0.15 mm, n = 3); PL: ♂♂ 0.83-1.29 mm (1.05 ± 0.14 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 1.06-1.42 mm (1.19 ± 0.16 mm, n = 3); PW: ♂♂ 0.83-1.39 mm (1.07 ± 0.17 mm, n = 29), ♀♀ 1.12-1.67 mm (1.31 ± 0.25 mm, n = 3); EL: ♂♂ 1.88-3.02 mm (2.37 ± 0.31 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 2.44-3.35 mm (2.75 ± 0.42 mm, n = 3); EW: ♂♂ 0.81-1.46 mm (1.09 ± 0.18 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 1.17-1.69 mm (1.35 ± 0.24 mm, n = 6); PTiL: ♂♂ 0.57-0.91 mm (0.70 ± 0.10 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 0.65-0.90 mm (0.74 ± 0.11 mm, n = 6); PTrL: ♂♂ 0.52-0.84 mm (0.63 ± 0.08 mm, n = 24), ♀♀ 0.60-0.80 mm (0.68 ± 0.09, n = 3); MsTiL: 0.71-1.17 mm (0.87 ± 0.12 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 0.86-1.25 mm (0.99 ± 0.18 mm, n = 3); MsTrL: ♂♂ 0.83-1.34 mm (1.02 ± 0.15 mm, n = 13), ♀♀ 1.04-1.35 mm (n = 2); MtTiL: ♂♂ 0.60-0.92 mm (0.74 ± 0.09 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 0.74-1.04 mm (0.84 ± 0.14 mm, n = 3); MtTrL: ♂♂ 1.27-1.98 mm (1.59 ± 0.20 mm, n = 17), ♀♀ 1.51-2.05 mm (n = 2); PygL: ♂♂ 1.29-1.96 mm (1.54 ± 0.18 mm, n = 29), ♀♀ 1.39-1.75 mm (1.57 ± 0.14 mm, n = 3); TVtL: ♂♂ 0.56-1.25 mm (0.73 ± 0.13 mm, n = 25), ♀♀ 0.50-0.71 mm (0.64 ± 0.10 mm, n = 3); LPrL: 0.33-0.46 mm (0.40 ± 0.03 mm, n = 25); RPrL: 0.26-0.37 mm (0.32 ± 0.03 mm, n = 25); St8L: ♂ 0.47 mm (n = 1); St8W: ♂ 0.31 mm (n = 1).

Habitus given in Fig. 2. Body strongly elongate, slender, widest just behind humeri. Integument black, mouthparts sometimes paler. Pubescence on head pale yellowish, on pronotum yellowish to dark grey, on elytra yellowish in anterior 1/2, darkened towards apices, or completely dark grey, sometimes with reddish or purplish metallic sheen, on pygidium dark grey, on venter yellowish, darkened along posterior margins of abdominal ventrites.

Head moderately convex dorsally, wider than long, widest just before middle, HW/HL ratio: ♂♂ 1.08-1.23 (1.15 ± 0.03, n = 25), ♀♀ 1.11-1.16 (1.13 ± 0.02, n = 3). Dorsal surface weakly microreticulated with small, round punctures bearing short setae. Occipital margin rounded in dorsal aspect, straight, or slightly concave seen from behind. Eyes oval, completely reaching occiput, not expanded onto ventral surface, finely faceted, with short interfacetal setae. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Labrum transverse, anterior margin straight or very slightly emarginate; surface microreticulation with small, round punctures and setae. Antennae slightly serrate (Fig. 6A, B); antennomeres I–IV subequal in length; antennomeres V–X longer and wider, in males ~1.30 ×, in females ~1.20 × as long as wide; terminal antennomere elongate oval, ~1.90 × as long as wide. Galea gradually expanded toward apex, covered with apically expanded sensilla. Maxillary palpi (Fig. 6 C–D) black; palpomere I very short; palpomere II distinctly expanded, with long setae on ventral side in males, not expanded, rather long and narrow in females; palpomere III short, ~1.50 × as long as wide; terminal palpomere in males broadly securiform, with inner angle situated around the middle, in females slenderer, with inner angle situated in apical 1/3; TPalL/TPalW ratio: ♂♂ 1.80-2.30 (2.07 ± 0.11, n = 25), ♀♀ 2.05-2.31 (2.21 ± 0.12, n = 3).

Pronotum moderately convex, approximately as long as wide, PW/PL ratio: ♂♂ 0.97-1.12 (1.02 ± 0.03, n = 25), ♀♀ 1.04-1.18 (1.10 ± 0.06, n = 3). Surface finely transversally microreticulate, covered with rasp-like punctures, distance between punctures 2.00-4.00 times as long as the diameter, each puncture bears flat, pointed seta. Anterior margin rounded, slightly produced mesally, anterior angles broadly rounded; lateral carinae emarginated in lateral aspect; posterior margin forming short mesal lobe, emarginated before posterior angles; posterior angles in lateral aspect rectangular, acute. Posterior marginal bead interrupted before posterior angles. Scutellar shield small, triangular, with small, rasp-like punctures bearing setae. Metanepisternum trapezoidal, narrowed posteriorly, ventral margin straight, dorsal margin emarginate.

Elytra long and narrow, moderately convex, widest at the end of anterior 1/4, EL/EW ratio: ♂♂ 2.02-2.40 (2.18 ± 0.10, n = 25), ♀♀ 1.99-2.08 (2.04 ± 0.04, n = 3). Surface with weak transverse microreticulation and rasp-like punctures, these are larger and more densely arranged than those on pronotum, each puncture bears flat seta. Lateral margins rather strongly convergent, regularly rounded; apices separately rounded.

Profemora slender, in males somewhat stouter than in females. Protibiae straight, in males distinctly expanded in basal half, here with fringe of long, thick setae; PTiL/PTrL ratio: ♂♂ 1.02-1.24 (1.11 ± 0.05, n = 25), ♀♀ 1.02-1.13 (1.09 ± 0.05, n = 3). Protarsomere I in females as long as two following tarsomeres combined, in males slightly longer; protarsomere IV simple, slightly shorter than previous one, shallowly emarginate at apex; terminal protarsomere slightly shorter than previous two tarsomeres combined. Claws on protarsi with three denticles, on meso- and metatarsi with four denticles. Mesotibiae slightly bent medially; mesotarsus longer than tibia, MsTiL/MsTrL ratio: ♂♂ 0.79-0.90 (0.83 ± 0.03, n = 13), ♀♀ 0.85-0.92 (n = 2). Metacoxae large, anterior margin slightly emarginated, posterior margin broadly rounded. Metatibiae bearing short subapical ridge and 3-4 lateral ridges parallel to apical margin of tibia, reaching 1/3 of tibial width. Metatibial spurs black, long, inner one ~1.30 × as long as outer one. Metatarsomere I bearing 3-5 short ridges, metatarsomere II bearing 2-3 ridges, metatarsomere III without ridges. Metatarsus ~2.00 × as long as metatibia, MtTrL/MtTiL ratio: ♂♂ 2.02-2.32 (2.18 ± 0.07, n = 17), ♀♀ 1.98-2.00 (n = 2).

Pygidium long and slender, PygL/TVtL ratio: ♂♂ 1.82-2.47 (2.19 ± 0.15, n = 23), ♀♀ 1.88-2.79 (2.22 ± 0.32, n = 6). Apical margin of terminal ventrite arcuate.

Male genitalia: sternite VIII rather short, setae present in apical 1/3, apical protuberance short, slightly bilobed at apex (Fig. 6J); St8L/St8W ratio: ♂♂ 1.50-1.53 (n = 2). Sternite IX long, slender, arrow-shaped, with medial longitudinal keel in apical part. Parameres (Fig. 6 E–H) rather long, EL/LPrL ratio: 4.65-7.17 (5.89 ± 0.71, n = 25), EL/RPrL ratio: 5.91-8.63 (7.42 ± 0.72, n = 25), LPrL/RPrL ratio: 1.12-1.39 (1.26 ± 0.06, n = 25). Left paramere: dorsal branch expanded apically, obliquely truncate at apex; ventral branch narrow, slightly bent medially, pointed at apex, LPrL/BLPr ratio: 1.73-2.24 (1.95 ± 0.11, n = 25). Right paramere: dorsal branch rather narrow, slightly expanded, rounded at apex; ventral branch as long as or slightly shorter than dorsal branch, bent dorsally in apical part, pointed at apex. Median lobe long, slender, slightly expanded in apical part (Fig. 6I). Phallobase with short tubular process (approximately 1/6 of total length) and long, slender furca.

Sexual dimorphism.

Females are more robust than males, their protibiae are not expanded in basal 1/3 and without fringe of long setae. Maxillary palpomere II is not expanded in females and without long setae on ventral side. Terminal maxillary palpomere is slenderer in females and its inner angle is situated more distally than in males. Antennae are somewhat shorter in females.

Distribution.

Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine. Mordellistena pseudohirtipes is reported here for the first time from Israel and Montenegro.

Biology.

Adults were collected on the flowers of Apiaceae plants on dry grasslands. Plaza (1983) mentioned that M. pseudohirtipes was collected in Spain on following plant species: Thapsia villosa , Daucus carota (both Apiaceae ) and Ruta montana ( Rutaceae ).

Remarks.

Mordellistena fageli was placed in the pentas–group in the original description, based on the dark pubescence and three ridges on the metatarsomere II. In fact, as Horák (1983) already mentioned, this species belongs to M. hirtipes complex, based on the strongly convex body and expanded maxillary palpomere II. Examination of type material did not reveal any characters which could separate this taxon from M. pseudohirtipes . In the plot from PCA analysis (Fig. 10A), M. fageli is placed just next to the cluster of M. pseudohirtipes , in the same plane along the PC 1 axis. We consider these taxa as conspecific and propose M. fageli as a junior synonym of M. pseudohirtipes .

Czető (1990) described M. pseudohirtipes krotosensis based on two male specimens from Crete island. Characters such as length of the body, length of pygidium and colouration of pubescence, that he used for differentiation of the subspecies, are subjects of individual variability. Results of PCA (Fig. 10A) show, that holotype of M. pseudohirtipes krotosensis is placed within the cluster of the nominotypical subspecies. After examination of holotype we consider this subspecies as a junior synonym of M. pseudohirtipes pseudohirtipes.

In Ermisch’s collection, there is a series of specimens named Mordellistena lopezi . Such species has not been described, and in fact, all the specimens belong to M. pseudohirtipes , except the one labelled as “Type”, which belongs to M. purpurascens .