Graphipterus piniamitaii Renan & Freidberg

Renan, Ittai, Assmann, Thorsten & Freidberg, Amnon, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Graphipterusserrator (Forskal) group (Coleoptera, Carabidae): an increase from five to 15 valid species, ZooKeys 753, pp. 23-82 : 47-50

Graphipterus piniamitaii Renan & Freidberg sp. n. Figs 9j, 13, 18, 25a

Types.

Holotype: ♂ (White label, black handwritten): <Kebili>. (White label, black typewritten): <Ex Museo/L. Vibert>. (ae). Deposited in NHMB, general collection.

Paratypes. (20♂, 4♀). El Hammama, Tunis: ( Gabès), I. 1889, Alluaud (♂) (ZMUC); Gafsa Tunis, Vibert Lyon (♂) (NMP). Kebilli, Tunis: 1906, EX Call. Maindron M., Call G. Babault 1930 (♂ae) (NHMB, General collection); 1950, Cobos Sa’nchez, (uc) (♂) (NHMB, Negre collection); L. Vibert, Ex Musaeo (♂ae) (MRAC); Call. Mus Congo, Col. P. Basilewsky (5♂) (RMRAC); Tunisia, Kebili 15 km N.W, 17.III. 1986, Zool. Mus. Copenhagen Exp. (3♂) (ZMUC); Kebili 2 km s, W. Ziegler, 30 m, Dünen, 5.3.2012, (♂, 2♀) (DWC, CAB); Douz, south Tunisia, Zaafrane (Sahara), 02.04.1992 (♂). S. Tunisia (Kebili), Zaafrane, 12 km SW Douz, 21.IV.2007 M. Liebscher (♀); S. Tunisia (Kebili), Zaafrane, 12 km SW Douz, 21.IV.2007 M. Liebscher (♀); C. Tunisia, 2 km E. Kairouan, 23.4.2005, M. Liebscher Sammlung (♂,♀) (DWC). Oasis Gafsa: Tunis, B v. Bodemeyer (♂) (DEI Muncheberg Call- 01314); B v. Bodemeyer, O. Leonhard, (uc) (♂ae) (DEI Muncheberg Call- 01315); B v. Bodemeyer, O. Leonhard (♂) (DEI Muncheberg Call- 01316).

Diagnosis.

Medium-sized species with usually 24 white large rounded and elongated spots on elytra; posterior discal spots slightly larger than other spots; six marginal extensions (Fig. 25a). Median lobe of aedeagus with slightly bent tip.

Comparisons.

Graphipterus piniamitaii sp. n. is easily distinguished from all other species of the group by its large white spots on the elytra. The new species resembles G. mauretensis sp. n. (see comparisons in G. mauretensis sp. n.).

Description.

BL male: 15.5-19.8 mm, average 17.5 ± 2.1 mm; BL female: 17-17.9 mm, average 17.5 ± 0.3 mm.

Head medium; HW/PW: 0.76; EYL: 1.5-1.8 mm; EYL/EL: 0.17. Mentum with two or three teeth. Frontal ridge absent. In male, apical white frons stripes wider than exposed frons (cf. Fig. 4b).

Pronotum cordiform; PL/PW: 0.63; BPW/PW: 0.66; posteromedially concave and without white margin; white lateral margin as wide antennomere I long.

Elytra oval, humeri rounded, but slightly protruding; EL: 8.2-11.0 mm, average 9.4 mm; EW: 6.5-9.2 mm, average 8.1 mm; EL/EW: 1.2. Lateral cross section quite flat. Suture conspicuous. Black scales dense, disc not visible between scales (cf. Fig. 6a). White lateral margin nearly as wide as 1½ antennomere I long and with six extensions; extension I triangular, slightly elongated and posteriori oriented; extensions II and III frequently constricted at base, usually wider than lateral margin. White posterior margin as wide as lateral margin or wider, not becoming narrower towards the suture; gap at suture smaller than lateral margin. Disc usually with 24 rounded to elongate, moderate large spots; anterior spot elongated, as wide as extension I, posterior discal spots slightly larger than other spots, series of six elongated spots along suture, sometimes fused to each other; posterior discal spots larger than other spots. Apical sinuation strongly developed, apex protruded, almost rectangular, only slightly rounded at most distant tip (cf. Fig. 7a).

Legs long; MTIL: 5.3-6.6 mm, average 6.1 mm; El/MTIL: 1.54. Metatibial secondary spur brown at base, MTAL: 4-5.7.0 mm, average 4.9 mm; MTAL/MTIL: 0.8. Claws of hind legs brown at base.

Median lobe of aedeagus with slightly bent tip (Fig. 9j).

Etymology.

The species is dedicated to Pinchas (Pini) Amitai, an inspiring entomologist and mentor who wrote the first Hebrew photographed insect guide.

Habitat.

The species dwells in the vicinity of Kebili on intensively grazed dunes, together with Anthia (Thermophilum) sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787) and A. venator (Fabricius, 1792) (Fig. 13). The dunes have a diverse vegetation of shrubs and dwarf-shrubs.

Co-occurring species.

Graphipterus piniamitaii lives in sympatry in Kebili and Gabès region in Tunisia with G. luctuosus , G. peletieri , and G. heydeni .

Distribution.

Restricted to Central Tunisia, from the vicinity of Kebili to Gabès (Fig. 18).

Conservation.

The species does not seem to be endangered, as the preferred habitat is not strongly affected by human activities.