Charopus apicalis Kiesenwetter, 1859

Franzini, Gabriele, 2022, Taxonomic notes on some species of Charopus Erichson, 1840 in the Mediterranean Region (Coleoptera: Cleroidea, Melyridae, Malachiinae), Fragmenta entomologica (Frag. Entomol., Roma) 54 (1), pp. 105-118 : 112

Charopus apicalis Kiesenwetter, 1859

Charopus apicalis Kiesenwetter, 1859: 33 . Type locality: Athen. Peyron 1877: 215; Abeille de Perrin 1890a: 253; Mayor 2007: 441.

Charopus concolor : Erichson, 1840: 121; Kiesenwetter, 1863: 615; Mulsant & Rey, 1867: 879; Horion, 1953: 87; Evers, 1979: 59; Mayor 2007: 441.

Malachius nigripes Kolenati, 1846: 44 . Type locality: Elisabethpol and Karabagh ( Eastern Caucasus ) [synonymized by Abeille de Perrin: 1885c: 258].

Notes. C. concolor is close to the group of species discussed above, having entirely dark legs, apex of elytra bimucronate, folded inwards and with a linear appendage. The pubescence of dorsum is similar to that of C. rotundatus , but the apex of elytra is always dark as the rest, and the sutural angle of elytra is not prolonged in a lobe ( Fig. 2d ). No specimens from W-Mediterranean have been identified during this study, even though citations for the area exist; the one for Sicily in Horion (1953, specimen at NHMB) refers to a female of C. apicalis . Its range seems limited to Central and South-Eastern Europe, and it can be considered a vicariant of the four species previously discussed. As for the synonymy with Malachius nigripes Kolenati, 1846 (not Ebaeus as often cited), it might be referred also to one of the other species with dark legs occurring in the Caucasus area ( C. docilis Kiesenwetter, 1852 and C. philoctetes Abeille de Perrin 1885 ).

Charopus varipes Baudi di Selve, 1872 stat. rest. ( Figs 8 , 9 ) Charopus varipes Baudi di Selve, 1872: 128 Type locality: Lake Trasimeno and Sardinia. Abeille de Perrin, 1885b: 23.

Notes. C. apicalis , unlike the species discussed above, does not pose problems of interpretation. It is known to occur in the Balkan Peninsula, Southern Italy, Sicily, Mal- ta, Pantelleria, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Citations of this species for Northern Italy ( Pasqual 2010) are thought to be either determination or labelling mistakes. The specimens labelled as C. apicalis studied by the writer for this area (from MSNVE and MSNG) were found to belong to C. concolor ( Fabricius, 1801) , see below. Hovewer, the writer has also examined two males from Central Italy: Porto d’Ascoli (Ascoli Piceno, Marche) (MSNG), so there is the possibility that the range of this species on Adriatic coasts is extended Northwards further than is known at present.

The ranges of the four species with apex of elytra orange/yellow in males have significant overlaps in Mediterranean region, especially in Algeria where all of them occur. To help with their identification, Table 1 summarises their main differential male characters.

Figures

Fig. 2 – Apex of left elytra ♂: a, Charopus rotundatus Erichson 1840; b, Charopus nitidus Küster, 1849; c, Charopus multicaudis Kiesenwetter, 1866; d, Charopus concolor (Fabricius, 1801).

Fig. 8 – Charopus varipes Baudi di Selve, 1872: ♂ habitus (Castel d’Aiano, Bologna, CGF).

Fig. 9 – Charopus varipes Baudi di Selve, 1872: ♀ habitus (Muraglione Pass, Firenze, CGL).