Colaphellus palaestinus Achard, 1923

Mifsud, David & Daccordi, Mauro, 2019, Colaphellus palaestinus Achard, a new leaf-beetle for Europe (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae), Zootaxa 4565 (3), pp. 447-450 : 448-449

Colaphellus palaestinus Achard, 1923 ( Figures 1 & 2 )

Specimens examined: MALTA , Mellieħa, 10.xi.2017, 7 exs., on Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L., leg. Mifsud; Wied Babu , 20.xi.2017, 1 ex., on Diplotaxis sp., leg. Mifsud ; Attard, 7.xi.2019, 67 exs., leg. Mifsud (thousands of individuals observed – personal observation O. Aquilina) ; Għadira , 10.xi.2019, hundreds of individuals on Diplotaxis sp., leg. Mifsud ; Marsaskala, 13.xi.2018, hundreds of individuals on the roof of a private residence, leg. Mifsud. PALESTINE, Jericho , 9.vii.1935, 2 exs., leg. Wittmer. SYRIA, 60 Km E of Damas to Palmyra , 6.iv.2010, 1 ex., leg. Skoupy ; Palmyra , 2.v.2009, 2 exs., leg. Daccordi ; Mayuf dint. Oasi di Palmyra , 34°33.196N; 38°17.150 E, v.2003, 3 exs., leg. Serral ; Gatar dint. Oasi di Palmyra , 5.iii.2003, 1 ex., leg. Serral. JORDAN, 50 Km NE Aqaba wadi Rum , 4-5. iv.1994, 29 °, 36-41N; 35° 20-25 E, 1 ex., leg. Becvar ; Pella , - 60 m u.s.l. 30.iv.2009, 15 exs., leg. Daccordi ; Yamuk river near Umm Qays , 14.iv.2000, 3 exs., leg. Zappi. ISRAEL, Golan, Susita , 15.iv.1982, 4 exs., leg. Besuchet ; Gilgal , 16.ii.1979, 1 ex., leg. Furth ; Judean Desert, Mazoq Hahé Tequm, Nat. Res. , Wadii Mashadi , 1.iv.95, 2 exs; - 50m u.s.l.; N Negev , Har Kharif Junction , 30°29’N; 34°33’E; 2.iv.2014, 3 exs., leg. Giusto ; Dimona Central Negev , ii.1998, 4 exs., leg. Sama ; Be’er Sheva area road 40- Nakhal Shekhar , 28.iii.1995, 2 exs., leg. Colonnelli.

Global distribution: Apart from the above mentioned territories, C. palaestinus is known to occur also in Egypt (Sinai, Mitla). The species is known from altitudes of - 60 m u.s.l. up to more + 900 m a.s.l.. C. palaestinus is closely related to C. apicalis Ménétriés, 1849 , whose distribution is more towards the East ( Uzbekistan and Afghanistan). C. palaestinus and C. apicalis can be distinguished by the puncturation and the shape of the aedeagus. In C. apicalis the integument is dull, and head and thoracic puncturation is more distinct. Thoracic and elytral puncturation in C. palaestinus is almost twice as large and more dense than that found in C. apicalis . The apical part of the aedeagus is distinctly pointed and narrower in C. apicalis compared to C. palaestinus .

Colaphellus zarudnyi Medvedev, 1973 was recorded from Iran and Iraq. This species was described based on one specimen (sex unknown) from Iran (without precise location) only. In our opinion, from its description it is clear that this taxon is identical to C. palaestinus . In fact, we studied two specimens from Iran which were identified as C. zarudnii by I. Lopatin and which are in fact attributed to C. palaestinus [specimens examined: IRAN, without precise locality, 2 exs. det. Lopatin as Colaphellus zarudnii 1984 ; Persia, Schouster, v.1899, leg. Escalera; IRAN, west, Disfonl (?), iv.1960; IRAQ, Mosul, Bagdad; IRAQ, iv.1936; IRAQ, west, 21.iii.1978; IRAQ, western desert, Bīr-ar-Rāh, 70 Km N of Ar-Rutbah, 21.iii.1978, leg. Macek]. However, the Holotype of C. zarudnyi has to be studied to eventually synonymize the two taxa.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Colaphellus palaestinus, a, Aedeagus (dorsal); b, aedeagus (lateral); c, male antenna; d, female antenna; e, vaginal palpi; f, spermatheca.