Graphipterus heydeni Kraatz, 1890: 77, stat. rest.

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 : 32-36

Graphipterus heydeni Kraatz, 1890: 77, stat. rest. Figs 3b, 9b, 18, 21a, c

Graphipterus luctuosus Guérin-Méneville, 1859 (nec Dejean, 1825)

Types.

Lectotype: ♂ (Blue label with black margin, black handwritten): <Heydeni Krtz./ luctuosus Guer./Tripolis. Oued>. (White label, print black): <Coll. Kraatz>. (White label, black print): <Tripolis>. (White label, black print): G. serrator/heydeni Kr>. (Green label, black print): <Muncheberg/Col - 01309>. (White label, black print): serrator/ heydeni Kz./P. Basilewsky det., 1975>. Deposited in ZSM [examined].

Paralectotype: two specimens - ♂, ♀ (White label, black black handwritten): <Tripolis>. (White label, black handwritten): <Call. Kraatz>. (White label, black handwritten): <Muncheberg/Col - 01310/01311>. Deposited in ZSM [examined]. Lectotypes and paralectotypes herewith designated.

Diagnosis.

Large species with 18-26 isolated white round spots on elytra, anterior and posterior discal spots larger than other spots; four marginal extensions, anterior extension triangular; median lobe of aedeagus with ventrally bent apex.

Comparisons.

Graphipterus heydeni resembles G. valdanii from which it differs mainly by the following characters: G. heydeni : mentum with two teeth, margin between them clearly concave; EL/EW rounded (1.24); 18-26 spots on elytra; claws of hind legs dark; metatibial secondary spur brown. In Graphipterus valdanii , mentum with two teeth, margin between them slightly convex in middle; EL/EW elongated (1.31); 18-26 spots on elytra; claws of hind legs brown; metatibial secondary spur dark. Graphipterus heydeni also resembles G. magnus sp. n. from which it differs mainly by the following characters: G. heydeni : elytra shape oval; four elytral marginal extensions; anterior and posterior elytral spots larger than all other spots; median lobe of aedeagus with stout with ventrally bent tip. G. magnus sp. n.: elytra shape rounded; six elytral marginal extensions; all elytral spots with similar size; median lobe of aedeagus elongated with ventrally bent tip.

Description.

BL male: 17.1-20.9 mm, average 18.9 ± 1.6 mm; BL female: 18-20 mm, average 19.4 ± 1.4 mm.

Head slender; HW/PW: 0.71; EYL: 1.5-1.9 mm; EYL/EL: 0.16. Mentum with two teeth and concavity between them (Fig. 3b). Frontal ridge absent. In male, apical white frons stripes slenderer than exposed frons (Fig. 4a).

Pronotum slender; PL/PW: 0.65; BPW/PW: 0.7; posteromedially concave and without white margin; white lateral margin as wide as antennomere I long.

Elytra oval, humeri rounded; EL: 10.0-12.1 mm, average 10.9 mm; EW: 8.4-9.9 mm, average 9.16 mm; EL/EW: 1.2. Lateral cross section convex. Black scales dense, disc not visible between them (Fig. 6a). White lateral margin almost as wide as antennomere I long and with four extensions; extension I triangular with rounded angels, slightly wider at margin of elytra, slightly elongated, wider and shorter than extension II; the latter one elongated at third quarter of elytra, imaginary line connecting the media ends of the extensions I and II parallel to the suture; white posterior margin forms a gap at suture, wider than lateral margin. Disc usually with 18-26 rounded spots; anterior pair of spots rounded, as wide as extension I, usually smaller than posterior spots, larger than spots on mid disc; mid disc spots usually asymmetrically smeared. Posterior pair of spots rounded, one or two small spots located laterally to posterior spots. Apical sinuation strongly developed, apex protruded, almost rectangular, only slightly rounded at most distant tip (Fig. 7a). Suture inconspicuous.

Legs long; MTIL: 5.3-7.0 mm, average 6.5 mm; El/MTIL: 1.7. Metatibial secondary spur brown. MTAL: 4.4-5.2 mm, average 4.8 mm; MTAL/MTIL: 0.7. Claws of hind legs black at base.

Median lobe of aedeagus with apex bent ventrally (Fig. 9b).

Habitat.

Unknown.

Co-occurring species.

Graphipterus heydeni lives in sympatry with G. luctuosus around Tripoli, Libya, and might live in sympatry with G. rotundatus in this region. It also lives in sympatry with G. piniamitaii sp. n. in Nefzaoua region in Tunisia.

Distribution.

Western Lybia (Tripolitania) and western Tunisia (Nefzaoua) (Fig. 18).

Conservation.

The restricted distribution range of the endemic species and the decline of the coastal sandy habitat as a result of increasing anthropogenic pressures (e.g., tourism, urbanization etc.) threaten at least the long-term survival of the species.

Comments.

This taxon was first described by Guérin-Méneville (erroneously as luctuosus Dej.). As Kraatz already noted, Guérin-Méneville's and Dejean's specimens do not belong to the same taxon, and Kraatz substituted the name heydeni Kraatz, 1890 as a new replacement name (nomen novum) for the already available name luctuosus Guérin-Méneville. However, Kraatz never fixed the holotype ( Jäger, pers. comm.), following the requirement of Article 72.2 ( ICZN 1999). The type series of heydeni comprises three individuals from Tripoli ( Kraatz 1890: 77) and not seven (holotype and six paratypes) as indicated by Basilewsky (1977: 451). The beetles were collected by Quedenfeldt, as this circumstance was indicated by Kraatz in the original description. These individuals have been transferred to the DEI (Kraatz was the director of this institution) and the syntypes are still preserved there. A lectotype is designated, labeled with a handwritten card indicating the taxon’s name, the name of the location, Tripoli, and the initial letters of the collector (Fig. 21c). The above description is based primarily on the three syntypes. The misinterpretation of the type material by Kraatz led Basilewsky to an incorrect interpretation of heydeni Kraatz. Consequently the distribution map given by Basilewsky (1977: page 450) is also incorrect.