Pronomaea picea HEER, 1841

Assing, Volker, 2007, A revision of the species of Pronomaea E of the Western Palaearctic region, including Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Pronomaeini), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 57 (2), pp. 367-396 : 374-378

Pronomaea picea HEER ,, 1841; revalidated ( Figs 9-16 , Map 2 )

Pronomaea picea HEER ,, 1841: 587.

Pronomaea dalmatina SACHSE, 1852: 119 f.; syn. n.

Pronomaea korgei LOHSE, 1974: 21 ; syn. n.

Type material examined:

P. picea : Neotype ♂, here designated: "Bois Pourri, Blausasc AM / Coll. J. Ochs in Coll. M. Curti, MHNG 1991 / Neotypus ♂ Pronomaea piceapicea Heer , desig. V. Assing 2007 / Pronomaea picea Heer det. V. Assing 2007 " ( MHNG).

P. dalmatina : Lectotype ♀, here designated: " var. dalmatina Sachse, Dalmat. (Kahr) / Syntypus / coll. Kraatz / coll. DEI Müncheberg / Lectotypus ♀ Pronomaea dalmatina Sachse , desig. V. Assing 2007 / Pronomaea picea Heer det. V. Assing 2007 " ( DEI).

P. korgei : Lectotype ♂, here designated: "11.7.73, Burgenland, Podersdorf, Hölle / korgei / Coll. G. A. Lohse MHNG - 1994 / Lectotypus ♂ Pronomaea korgei Lohse , desig. V. Assing 2007 / Pronomaea picea Heer det. V. Assing 2007 " ( MHNG). Paralectotypes: 1 ex.: "Malcesine, Gardasee, 6.-18.V.56, Dr. G. Benick leg." ( MHNG); 2 exs.: "12.3.73, Burgenland, Neusiedl, Panzergr." ( MHNG).

Comments:

Pronomaea picea has been regarded as a junior synonym of P. rostratarostrata by previous authors. It was described from an unspecified number of syntypes, possibly only a single specimen ("rarissima"), from "rivulis exsicatis (Genf)" ( HEER 1841). According to HORN et al. (1990), the Heer collection is deposited in Zürich (ETH) and London (BMNH). However, according to the curators in charge (R. BOOTH, e-Mail 20 July, 2007; M. SCHMID, e-Mail 25 July, 2007) no type material of P. picea was found in either collection, suggesting that it is lost. As can be inferred from the original description ("antennis basi apiceque pedibus anoque testaceis"), P. picea is distinct from P. rostrata and conspecific with the type material of P. dalmatinadalmatina and P. korgei . Since P. piceapicea is the senior name, it is here reinstated as a valid taxon. Although there is little doubt that the species is present in Switzerland (see Map 2 ), I have been unable to locate a Swiss specimen. Therefore, a male from southeastern France is here selected and designated as the neotype of P. picea .

Pronomaea dalmatinadalmatina was previously considered a junior synonym of P. rostrata . The original description of P. dalmatinadalmatina is based on an unspecified number of syntypes from "Dalmatien" collected by Kahr ( SACHSE 1852). One syntype, a female, was located in the collections of the DEI; it is here designated as the lectotype. It is conspecific with P. piceapicea and P. korgei .

P. korgeikorgei was introduced by LOHSE (1974) as a nomen novum ("n. n.") [sic] for his previous interpretation of P. rostrata . However, according to the Code ( ICZN 1999), his making this name available in a diagnostic key represents a species description. Since he does not specify any material or localities, all the specimens seen by him up to 1974 must be regarded as syntypes. A male from the Lohse collection is here designated as the lectotype.

Additional material examined: France: Poitou-Charentes: 1 ex., St. - Georges-de-Didonne, 18.VIII.1926 (cAss) . Picardie: 1 ex., Oise, Laigneville, leg. Méquignon ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Laigneville, VII.1927 (cAss).

Île-de-France: 1 ex., Paris ( BMNH) ; 2 exs., 7 km SW Paris, Le Petit-Clamart ["Petit Bicètre"], VI.1903 ( BMNH, cAss) . Champagne-Ardenne: 1 ex., Haute-Marne, Saint-Dizier, leg. St. - Claire-Deville ( MHNG) .

Provence: 1 ex., Cannes ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Var valley , 500-1500 m, 3.VI.1988, leg. Renner (cRen) ; 1 ex., Alpes-Maritimes , Var inundation, X.1953 ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Alpes-Maritimes , Breil, 1.VI.1955 (cAss) ; 1 ex., Alpes-Maritimes , III.1947 ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Alpes-Maritimes ," N. Vesubie ", XI.1950 ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Bouches-du-Rhône , La Cayolle, VIII.1954, leg. Herve ( MHNG) .

Germany: Rheinland-Pfalz: 2 exs., Deidesheim ( NHMW) ; 3 exs., Schlossböckelheim , car-net, 31.V.1996, leg. Köhler (cKöh) ; 1 ex., Ingelheim, Neumühle , arable land, 1993, leg. Köhler & Fritz (cKöh) ; 1 ex., Bad Dürkheim , leg. Eppelsheim ( DEI). Rerlin / Brandenburg: 1 ex., Berlin (cVog) .

Austria: Niederösterreich: 6 exs., Stockerau , leg. Bernhauer, etc. ( FMNH, NHMW, cAss) ; 1 ex., Stockerau , 22.X.1898, leg. Bernhauer ( FMNH) ; 10 exs., Bisamberg , leg. Luze, Skalitzky, etc. ( FMNH, MHNG, NHMW, cAss) ; 3 exs., Kritzendorf , Donauauen ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Herzogenburg , leg. Grundmann (cAss) ; 2 exs., Horn ( FMNH) ; 1 ex., L.- Enzersdorf, leg. Bernhauer ( FMNH) ; 1 ex., Pressbaum ,leg. Spaeth ( FMNH) ; 1 ex., Dörnstein / Wachau , pitfall trap, IV.-V.1967, leg. Malicky (cAss) ; 1 ex., Hainburger Berge [ca. 48°07 'N, 16°57 'E] ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Frauenstein near Mödling , under stone, 6.IV.1941, leg. Scheerpeltz (cAss) ; 1 ex., Frauenstein near Mödling , leg. Scheerpeltz ( MHNG) ; 1 ex., Eichkogel near Mödling , 27.IV.1950 ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Mödling env., leg. Scheerpeltz ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Altenburg ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Oberweiden ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Hundsheimer Kogel ( NHMW) . Wien: 1 ex., Rossauerlände , leg. Bernhauer ( FMNH) ; 3 exs., Türkenschanze [48°14 'N, 16°20 'E] ( NHMW, cAss) ; 1 ex., Stammersdorf , hamster burrows at 1.0- 1.25 m depth, 15.VII.1950, leg. Schweiger (cAss) ; 1 ex., Döbling , leg. Skalitzky ( NHMW) ; 3 exs., Prater ( NHMW, SMNS, cAss) ; 1 ex., Laaer Berg [48°10 'N, 16°24 'E] ( NHMW) ; 5 exs., Wien env., leg. Breit, Schude, etc. ( NHMW) . Kärnten: 1 ex., Klagenfurt ( FMNH) . Burgenland: 1 ex., Neusiedl , 12.VII.1973 (cAss) ; 1 ex., Podersdorf , VII.1956, leg. Papperitz ( SMNS) ; 1 ex., Neusiedlersee, Heide , 1.V.1953, leg. Schubert ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Neusiedlersee, N. S. Heide , 1.V.1953, leg. Schubert ( NHMW) ; 2 exs., Neusiedlersee , leg. Schuster ( NHMW) . Locality not specified : 7 exs. ( BMNH) .

Italy: Veneto: 3 exs., Verona, San Massimo , in nest of Lasius niger , 30.III.1969, leg. Zanetti (cZan, cAss) ; 1 ex., Verona, Via Col Galliano , house, in nest of Tetramorium sp. in flower pot, 27.IV.1991, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 1 ex., Verona, Soave , in nest of Lasius emarginatus , 4.IV.1969, leg. Zanetti (cZan) ; 1 ex., Monti Lessini, Grezzana-Montecchio , car-net, 14.VI.1989, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 1 ex., Malcesine , 6.-18.V.1956, leg. Benick (cVog) ; 1 ex., Verona, Val d’Illasi , car-net, 31.V.2003, leg. Renner (cRen) ; 1 ex., Padova , periferia, 10.IV.1970, leg. Zanetti (cZan) . Emilia-Romagna: 1 ex., Modena , 5.III.1897, leg. Fiori ( FMNH) . Umbria: 4 exs., Monte Cucco, Sigillo ( PG) , 20.VII.1975, leg. Rossi (cZan). Calabria: 1 ex., Aspromonte , 1905, leg. Paganetti ( DEI) .

Czech Republic: 1 ex., Č. Středohořy, Obřica-lom, 14.IV.1991, leg. Moravec (cAss) .

Slovakia: 1 ex., Trenčin, leg. Brancsik ( FMNH) ; 3 exs., Bratislava, leg. Zoufal ( NHMW) .

Hungary: 1 ex., Villány-Siklós, V.1985, leg. Sieber (cVog) ; 5 exs., Tiszacsege, car-net, 11.-13.VII.2001, leg. Renner (cAss, cRen, cSch); 1 ex., Balaton, Tihany, 1961, leg. Smetana ( BMNH) .

Romania: 1 ex., Ploieşti, leg. Breit ( NHMW) .

Slovenia: 1 ex., Portorož, VI.1981, leg. Puthz (cAss) ; 1 ex., Savina, leg. Paganetti ( MHNG) ; 3 exs., " Oberkrain ", leg. Ludy ( NHMW, cAss) .

Croatia: 2 exs., Rijeka [" Fiume "] ( NHMW) ; 5 exs., Učka , leg. Breit [" Mte. Maggiore "; 45°15N, 14°12E ( NHMW, cAss) ; 6 exs., Plitvice-Josibdol , car-net, 9.V.1990, leg. Wunderle (cWun) ; 7 exs., Josibdol- Karlovac , car-net, 9.V.1990, leg. Wunderle (cWun, cAss) ; 1 ex., Vodice , car-net, 22.VI.2003, leg. Apfel (cVog) ; 1 ex., Metkovi , 1879, leg. Reitter ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Krk island , leg. Mader ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Zadar [" Zara "] ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Split , Mosor [43°30N, 16°40E], leg. Mader ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Starigrad [44°48 'N, 14°54 'E], leg. Breit ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Krk island [" Ins. Veglia "], 1879, leg. Reitter ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Brač island [" Brazza"], S. Pietro, 3.VII.1920, leg. Novak ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Korčula , Brdo Sv. Marko, 250 m, soil under olive, 20.VI.2007, leg. Čeplik (cAss) ; 1 ex., " Croatia ", leg. Apfelbeck ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., " Dalmatia " ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., locality illegible ( NHMW) .

Yugoslavia: 1 ex., Serbia, Fruska Gora, leg. Paganetti ( FMNH) .

Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1 ex., Vlašić planina, 600-1700 m, car-net, 5.V.1990, leg. Wunderle (cAss) ; 2 exs., Jablanica , 1901 ( DEI, NHMW) ; 1 ex., Trebinje , 1903, leg. Leonhard ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., " Hercegowina ", leg. Kaufmann ( NHMW) .

Montenegro: 5 exs., Herceg-Novi , leg. Paganetti, etc. ( FMNH, MHNG, NHMW) ; 3 exs., Savina [42°27N, 18°33E], leg. Paganetti ( FMNH) ; 2 exs., Budva , leg. Paganetti ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Budva ( FMNH) ; 1 ex., Radostak [42°30 'N, 18°34 'E], leg. Holdhaus (cAss) .

Bulgaria: 1 ex., Rupite near General Todorov, 6.V.1984, leg. Hieke (cVog) .

Albania: 4 exs., Elbasan ( NHMW, cAss) .

Greece: 1 ex., Thessalia, Volo ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Thessaloniki , leg. Schatzmayr ( DEI) ; 2 exs., Thessaloniki ( BMNH, cAss) ; 2 exs., Makedhonia , Athos, leg. Schatzmayr ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Pelopónnisos, Nauplia , leg. von Bruck (cAss) ; 2 exs., Pelopónnisos, Taygetos , leg. Rottenberg, etc. ( NHMW) ; 1 ex., Taygetos , leg. Brenske ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Pelopónnisos, locality not specified ( NHMW) ; 4 exs., Levkás, Karia env., 600 m, dark stream valley, leaf litter sifted, 25.IX.1993, leg. Assing (cAss) ; 1 ex., Zákinthos, near Zákinthos town , 1909, leg. Hilf ( DEI) ; 1 ex., Corfu , VII.1902, leg. Cameron ( BMNH) ; 1 ex., Ikaria, Nas , 37°37 'N, 36°03 'E, 10-100 m, grass under MastixMastix shrub sifted, 26.IV.2003, leg. Brachat & Meybohm (cAss) ; 1 ex., Límnos , leg. Cameron ( BMNH) ; 6 exs., " Graecia " ( DEI, NHMW) .

Ukraine: 4 exs., Crimean peninsula, Iaila range, leg. Knirsch, Winkler ( FMNH, MHNG, NHMW) ; 1 ex., Podole Dobrowlany, 11.VII.1931, leg. Tenenbaum ( FMNH) .

Identification uncertain: Malta: 1 ♀, NE Mtarfa, Chadwick lake , dry streambed, 27.II.1997, leg. Schwartz (cSch) ; 1 ♀, locality not specified, leg. Cameron ( BMNH) .

Diagnosis:

3.0- 3.9 mm. Coloration and other external characters similar to those of P. rostrata and also subject to considerable intraspecific variation, distinguished only as follows:

Coloration of basal antennomeres usually (but not always!) paler, reddish yellow to pale brown, than remainder of antenna; coloration of elytra and legs on average paler brown. Puncturation of forebody on average slightly denser and finer. Pronotum smaller in relation to head and more slender; 1.1-1.2 times as wide as long and 1.2-1.3 times as wide as head, rarely broader. Pronotal pubescence slightly longer and less depressed.

♂: median lobe of aedeagus 0.40-0.42 mm long, broader than in P. rostrata in ventral view and with pronounced projection at base of ventral process in lateral view, this projection more or less truncate apically ( Figs 9-15 ).

♀: spermatheca with distinctly shorter duct ( Fig. 16 ).

Comparative notes:

From all its congeners, P. picea is readily distinguished by the conspicuous morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus. From P. rostrata , the only species whose distribution overlaps with that of P. picea , it is also reliably separated by the distinctly shorter duct of the spermatheca. For additional external characters see the diagnosis above.

Distribution and bionomics:

Pronomaea picea apparently has a Ponto-Mediterranean distribution. It is present in practically all of the Balkans, in the south of Central Europe, in practically all of the Italian mainland and in the north of Western Europe. Like P. rostrata , it has not been reported from the British Isles and Scandinavia. FAGEL (1969) indicates some additional records (as P. rostrata ), at least the following of which are zoogeographically plausible: Belgium (Dampicourt), Italy (Piemonte), Romania (Dobrudja), and Greece (Evvoia). Also, it seems safe to assume that the records of P. rostratarostrata from Corfu and Thássos by COIFFAIT (1976) refer to P. picea . Previous records (as P. korgei ) from Spain and especially Portugal (SMETANASMETANA 2004) are highly unlikely to refer to this species, although a presence in the very northeast of Spain would seem possible; in any case, a confirmed record from the Iberian Peninsula is currently unknown. The record from Malta is based only on females and may refer to P. sicula .

The ecological data specified on the labels of the material examined are so diverse that conclusions regarding the real habitat of this species are difficult. The specimens listed above were collected on arable land, on river banks, in flood debris (October), under stones, in soil under olive trees, sifted from leaf litter in stream valleys and from Mastix litter, and found in hamster burrows and in nests of various ant species ( Lasius niger , L. emarginatus , Tetramorium sp. ). The record of several specimens in fox burrows in southeastern Austria (Burgenland) by FRANZ (1938) almost certainly refers to this species. The altitudes range from near sea-level up to approximately 1500 m. In contrast to P. rostrata , it has been collected on the wing (car-net) on several occasions in May (5 samples), June (3 samples), and July (1 sample), suggesting that P. picea is an active flyer. Adult beetles have been observed from March to November, with a maximum during the period from April through July: March (7 specimens /4 samples); April (7/7); May (29/11); June (6/6); July (17/8); August (2/2); September (4/1); October (2/2); November (1/1).

Figures

Map 2: Distributions of Pronomaea picea HEERHEER (filled circles), P. corsicana sp. n. (open circles), and P. wunderleiwunderlei sp. n. (squares), based on examined records. The records of doubtful identity from Malta are omitted.

Figs 9-16: Pronomaea picea HEER: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view (9-13) of males from France (9-10), Italy (11), Hungary (12), and Greece (13); apical part of median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view (14-15); spermatheca (16). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.