Molybdotus vermiculosus ( Waterhouse, 1881 ) Colonnelli, 2014

Colonnelli, Enzo, 2014, Apionidae, Nanophyidae, Brachyceridae and Curculionidae except Scolytinae (Coleoptera) from Socotra Island, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 295-422 : 384-386

Molybdotus vermiculosus ( Waterhouse, 1881) comb. nov.

( Figs 103–106 )

Piazomias vermiculosus Waterhouse, 1881: 478 ; GAHAN (1903): 282; WRANIK (2003): 362.

Piozomias [sic!] vermiculosus: TASCHENBERG (1881) : 179.

Molybdotus laxepunctatus Fairmaire, 1882 (suspected misidentification): PERRIN (2000): 425.

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE (here designated): ♀ ( BMNH), body length 13.9 mm, Fig. 103 : [round label circled in red with the printed word ‘Type’ at its centre] subsequently added by curators of the Museum , ‘ Socotra // [yellow transverse line] // 81∙51’ [handwritten], ‘ Piazomias // vermiculosus, // (Type) Waterh.’ [handwritten,probably by Waterhouse] ( Fig. 104 ) , ‘ Lectotypus ♀ // Piazomias vermiculosus Waterhouse, 1881 // E. Colonnelli des., 2012’ [red, partly printed], ‘ Molybdotus // vermiculosus Waterhouse // E. Colonnelli det., 2012’ [white, partly printed].

Male paralectotype (12.0 mm) ( BMNH):‘ Socotra // [yellow transverse line] // 81∙51’ [handwritten], ‘ Paralectotypus ♂ // Piazomias vermiculosus Waterhouse, 1881 // E. Colonnelli des., 2012’[red, partly printed], ‘ Molybdotus // vermiculosus Waterhouse // E. Colonnelli det., 2012’ [white, partly printed]. Male paralectotype (13.0 mm) ( BMNH): ‘ Socotra // [yellow transverse line] // 81∙51’ [handwritten], [white label on which is glued the abdomen and the aedeagus], ‘ Paralectotypus ♂ // Piazomias vermiculosus Waterhouse, 1881 // E. Colonnelli des., 2012’ [red, partly printed], ‘ Molybdotus // vermiculosus Waterhouse // E. Colonnelli det., 2012’ [white, partly printed].

Additional material examined (279 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Jena-agahan, 1200 feet, Jan[uary] [18]99, 4 JJ, W. R. O. Grant. 99-85 ( BMNH); Ayahft, 3.xi.2000, 5 spec., V. Bejček & K. Šťastný leg. ( NMPC); Haghier Mts., Ayhaft, 500 m, 4.iii.2009, 1 spec., A. Saldaitis leg. ( IRSB); Ayhft valley, 22.x.2008, 3 spec., A. Saldaitis leg. ( IRSB); Haghier, 12.575 N, 54.022 E, 69 m, 4.–8.x.2000, 2 spec., V. Bejček & K. Šťastný leg. ( NMPC); Lahas, 12.646 N, 54.091 E, 69 m, 17.–18.xi.2000, 2 spec., V. Bejček & K. Šťastný leg. (1 NMPC, 1 ECRI); Dikseheten, 5.iv.2001, 1 spec., V. Bejček & K. Šťastný leg. ( NMPC); Wadi Hayhaft, N 12°36′38″, E 53°58′49″, 190 m, 24.–26. xi.2003, 12 spec., D. Král leg. (11 NMPC, 1 ECRI); same locality and date, 59 spec., J. Farkač leg. (53 NMPC, 6 ECRI); Wadi Hayhaft, 12°36.5′N, 53°58.9′E, 200 m, 7.–8.xi.2010, 11 spec., P. Hlaváč leg. (9 NMPC, 2 ECRI); same locality and date, 1 spec., J. Bezděk leg. ( NMPC); Wadi Ayeft, 20.ii.2009, 2 spec., P. Lo Cascio & F. Grita leg. ( PLFG); Qalansiyah env., Khayhra mts. N slopes, N 12°38′50″, E 53°27′45″, 85–592 m, 9.–10.xii.2003, 9 spec., J. Farkač leg. (7 NMPC, 2 ECRI); Qaariah vill. env., N 12°38′05″, E 54°12′39″, 11 m, 28.xi.2003, 3 spec., J. Farkač leg. (2 NMPC, 1 ECRI); Qalansiyah env., Ditwah (lagoon), N 12°41′42″, E 53°30′08″, 23 m, 9.xii.2003, 14 spec., D. Král leg. (12 NMPC, 2 ECRI); Gubbah vill. env., N 12°36′5″, E 53°46′56″, 7 m, 23.xi.2003, 11 spec., D. Král leg. (10 NMPC, 2 ECRI); same locality and date, 8 spec., J. Farkač leg. (6 NMPC, 2 ECRI); Calanthia, 29.–30.iii.2001, 2 spec., V. Bejček & K. Šťastný leg. ( NMPC); Shuab, coast line, mangrove, 24.iii.2009, 1 spec., A. Saldaitis leg. ( IRSB); Aloove area, Hassan vill. env., 12°31.2′ N, 54°07.4′ E, 221 m, 9.–10.xi.2010, 34 spec., J. Batelka leg. (30 JBPC, 4 ECRI); same locality and date, 3 spec., J. Hájek leg. ( NMPC); same locality and date, 1 spec., J. Bezděk leg. ( NMPC); same locality, 10.xi.2010, 20 spec., P. Hlaváč leg. (16 NMPC, 4 ECRI); Homhil protected area, N 12°34′27″, E 54°18′32″, 364 m, 28.–29.xi.2003, 2 spec., D. Král leg. ( NMPC); Momil [misspelling for Homhil], 12.ii.2000, 1 spec., R. Argano leg. ( ECRI); Hadiboh env., ca 10–100 m, N 12°39′02″, E 54°02′04″, 21.xi–13. xii.2003, 1 spec., D. Král leg. ( NMPC); W Da’arho, 21.ii.2009, 1 spec., P. Lo Cascio & F. Grita leg. ( PLFG); Near Dijoub cave, 22.ii.2009, 2 spec., P. Lo Cascio & F. Grita leg. ( PLFG); Deiqub cave, 12°23.1′N, 54°00.9′E, 115 m, 12.vi.2012, Croton socotranus and Jatropha unicostata shrubland, 1 ♀, J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Noged, 12.318 N, 53.687 E, 250 m, 12.–13.x.2000, 1 spec., V. Bejček & K. Šťastný leg. ( NMPC); Noged plain, wadi Ireeh, N 12°23′11″, E 53°59′47″, 95 m, 6.–7.xii.2003, 2 spec., D. Král leg. ( NMPC); same locality and date, 2 spec., J. Farkač leg. (1 NMPC, 1 ECRI); Suq, E env., (sand dune), N 12°40′02″, E 54°03′45″, ca. 20–170 m, 22.xi.2003, 1 spec., D. Král leg. ( NMPC); same locality and date, 2 spec., J. Farkač leg. (1 NMPC, 1 ECRI); Elhe nursery, N 12°18′56.7″, E 53°43′14.7″, 90 m, 19.vi.2009, 1 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); Noged plain, Sharet Halma vill. env. (sand dunes), N 12°21.9′, E 54°05.3′, 20 m, 10.–11. xi.2010, 2 spec., J. Bezděk leg. (1 NMPC, 1 ECRI); same locality and date, 2 spec., L. Purchart leg. ( NMPC); same locality and date, 3 spec., J. Hájek leg. (2 NMPC, 1 ECRI); same locality and date, 1 spec., J. Batelka leg. ( JBPC); Noged plain, Sharet Halma vill. env. (plain), 12°22.9′N, 54°07.0′ E, 34 m, 10.–11.xi.2010, 3 spec., P. Hlaváč leg. (2 NMPC, 1 ECRI); Noged plain, Abataro, 12°22.1′N, 54°03.4′E, 20 m, 12.–13.vi.2012, border of sand dunes and shrubland, 26 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg. (22 NMPC, 4 ECRI); Wadi Dineghen cave, 12°36.58′N, 54°03.48′E, 90 m, 6.vi.2012, 2 spec., V. Hula & J. Niedobová leg. ( NMPC); Sheq vill. env., 12°39.7′N, 54°03.8′E, 15 m, 8.vi.2012, Croton socotranus and Jatropha unicostata shrubland, 8 spec., J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P.Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L.Purchart leg. (6 NMPC, 1 ECRI); Berber spring, 9.x.2007, 1 spec., R. Sindaco leg. ( MCCI); Di Lisha, 4.iv.2008, 4 spec., A. Carapezza leg. ( ECRI); Hadibo, 9.iv.2008, 1 spec., A. Carapezza leg. ( ECRI).

Notes on lectotype designation. To unequivocally fix the taxonomic status of this variable species, a lectotype of Piazomias vermiculosus Waterhouse, 1881 has been here designated. In the collections of the Natural History Museum, London are preserved the three examples listed above which fit the description. The female bearing a handwritten label identifying it as the ‘type’ ( Fig. 104 ) and the length of which is 14.2 mm, was selected as the lectotype since its vestiture is almost completely preserved ( Fig. 103 ), whereas the two male paralectotypes have lost several of their scales. The aedeagus of a male paralectotype is illustrated in Figs 105 and 106 .

Variability. A great deal of variation occurs in the width/length ratio of both pronotum and elytra, and in the size which ranges from 10.5 to 15.9 mm. In addition, the colour of vestiture varies from almost pure grey to quite uniformly pale brown, passing through greyish forms somewhat variegated with whitish and blackish, or more or less greenish patches. Smaller, greyish specimens are more common in lowland localities near the sand dunes, whereas the brownish larger ones with a longer and less strongly granular pronotum (like that of the types) are prevalent in the interior of the island. Several comparatively smaller and plumper light grey examples were collected at Abataro near the sand dunes of the south of the island, but intermediates with the larger and thinner form occur e.g. at Deiqub cave and along the western coast of Socotra.

Collection circumstances. Molybdotus vermiculosus appears to be a common species from sea level up to at least 365 m. At some localities (e.g. Abataro), specimens of M. vermiculosus were frequently found on Indigofera spp. (Fabaceae) (J. Hájek, pers. comm.).

Distribution. Endemic to Socotra Island.

Figures

Figs 103–106. Molybdotus vermiculosus (Waterhouse, 1881). 103–104 – female lectotype (103 – habitus; 104 – labels borne by the same); 105–106 – male paralectotype (105 – aedeagus in dorsal view; 106 – the same in side view).