Margarinotus (Ptomister) brunneus (Fabricius)

Penati, Fabio, 2009, An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Sardinia, with faunistic, zoogeographical, ecological and conservation remarks *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 197-280 : 211-212

8. Margarinotus (Ptomister) brunneus (Fabricius)

Hister cadaverinus Hfm. : Bargagli 1871: 41; Bertolini 1872 –1878: 83; Costa 1883: 40; Bertolini 1904: 48; Porta 1926: 370; Luigioni 1929: 366; Strassen 1954: 269; Barajon 1966

Margarinotus (Ptomister) cadaverinus (Hoffmann) : Vienna 1980: 53

Literature data. “All of Italy ” ( Bertolini 1904; Porta 1926). “ Sardinia ” ( Bargagli 1871; Bertolini 1872 –1878; Luigioni 1929; Barajon 1966; Vienna 1980; Audisio et al. 1995; Yélamos & Lackner 2004). Cagliari prov.: Burcéi, IV.1937, UL, 1 ex (CUL). Cagliari, sd, UL, 1 ex (CUL).; idem, Colle San Michele, 12.XI.1980, on dog carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, city, 8.V.1989, in cat litter, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, Monte Urpinu, 19.IX.1970, CM, 1 ex (MSNTO ex-coll. P. Vienna); idem, 16.IX.1976, on cat carcass, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Elmas, pineta [= pine stand] San Lorenzo, 1.VIII.1976, under rubbish bag, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Monti dei Sette Fratelli, loc. Campuomu, 400 m, 4.V.1985, on rotting fruit, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, loc. Maidopis and homonymous rio, 350 m, 21.VI.1986, in pitfall trap baited with meat, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Sant’Isidoro, 5.V.1982, under rubbish bag, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Villagreca, Monte Coa Margine, 200 m, 1.XI.1990, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Nuoro prov.: Bruncu Spina, NW slope, rio Aratu, 1997 (CSZ). Desulo, dint., 900 m, 14–16.IV.1952, on fresh donkey carcass, ex. pl. ( Strassen 1954). Macomer, loc. Bara, staz. FdS, 650 m, 9.X.1981, on dog carcass, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Orgosolo, Foresta di Montes, 5.V.1986, DB, 7 ex (6 CDB, 1 CPF). Sarùle, dint., 600 m, 3.VI.1989, under rubbish bag, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Oristano prov.: Cabras, dint., 23.IX.1976, on ox bones, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Oristano, fiume Tirso, Ponte Mannu, 18.IV.1976, on ox bones, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Ozieri, VIII.1931, 1 ex (CGB). Sassari prov.: Monte Limbara, 11–14.VI.1882, ACo ( Costa 1883).

Unpublished records. Cagliari prov. : Giara di Gesturi , 580 m, 4.V.1978, RP, 14 ex ( MSNG). San Vito, IV.1872, RG, 2 ex ( MSNG). Villacidro, 5.VI.2002, DS, 1 ex ( CDS); idem, rio Cannisoni , 401 m, 19–24.V.2006, pitfall trap (baited with bones), PC/MBr/DBi/DW, 1 ex ( CNBFVR). Villamar, dint., 1.XI.1990, on ox bones, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Nuoro prov.: Aritzo, 7.VI.1901, AD, 2 ex ( CAD) ; idem, Su Pranu, 3. V.1968, 1 ex ( DPPS). Seui, 7. V.1902, AD, 2 ex ( CAD) . Oristano prov. : Oristano, 20. V.1976, SR, 1 ex (CGRa) ; idem, 30.IV.1982, SR, 1 ex (CGRa). Sassari prov. : Sassari, in town, XI.1994, DS, 1 ex ( CDS) ; idem, loc. Giordano, 23.II.1996, AM, 7 ex ( DPPS) ; idem, 15.II.1997, AM, 1 ex ( DPPS). Tempio Pausania, 14. V.1908, AD, 2 ex ( CAD) .

Chorotype. 1.05 SIE (Sibero-European).

Italian distribution. All regions except Molise.

Ecology. Found under carcasses and in faeces, from the littoral to high mountains; recorded also in manure heaps, birds’ nests and rotting fungi.

Notes. The specimen from Ozieri was attributed by Penati and Vienna (2002, 2005, 2006a) to Margarinotus (Ptomister) merdarius (Hoffmann) , because it was identified as such in the Binaghi collection; having personally examined the specimen I can affirm with certainty that it belongs in reality to M. brunneus . Moreover, in Penati and Vienna (2005, 2006a) the data concerning the specimen from Cagliari (CUL) are erroneously given as “Sìnnai, Corongiu, 1937, coll. Museo Genova”, whereas the specimen from Burcéi (CUL) was listed as Atholus corvinus (Germar) (for both errors see “Data collection”).