Harpalus (Cryptophonus) agnatus Reiche, 1849

Felix, Ron F. F. L., Farkač, Jan & Suleiman, Ahmed Saeed, 2012, Annotated checklist of the Carabidae (Coleoptera) of the Socotra Archipelago, Insect biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago. (Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52), pp. 75-106 : 90

Harpalus (Cryptophonus) agnatus Reiche, 1849

( Fig. 6)

Material examined (45 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Path up to Homhil, 12°35.450′N, 54°18.815′E, 7.ii.1999, 1 spec., lgt.K.van Damme, det. D.W.Wrase (as Harpalus (H.) asphaltinus Roth, 1851 ) ( HLMD) ; Wadi Zeweef , Homhil plateau, 12°35′N, 54°18′E, 320–640 m a.s.l., 7.–8.ii.1999, 6 spec., lgt. H. Pohl, det. M. Persohn (as H. asphaltinus ) ( HLMD) ; Homhil , plateau, 12°34′N, 54°19′E, 540 m a.s.l., 9.ii.1999, 10 spec., lgt. H. Pohl, det. Ludewig & M. Persohn (as H. asphalitnus ) ( HLMD) ; Kilisan , 12°29.136′N, 54°19.715′E, 12.ii.1999, 4 spec., lgt. K. van Damme, det. M. Persohn (as H. asphaltinus ) ; Ayhaft , 3.xi.2000, 2 spec., det. D. W. Wrase (as Harpalus tenebrosus ) ( JFCP) ; Diksam plateau, Diksam lake, 12°31′23″N, 53°57′12″E, 1000 m a.s.l., 12.v.2004, 1 spec.,A. Reiter lgt., det. D.W.Wrase (as H. tenebrosus ) ( JFCP) ; Hadiboh environment,12°65′02″N [sic!], 54°02′04″E, 10–100 m a.s.l., 21.xi.–12.xii.2003, 1 spec., lgt. J. Farkač, det. D. W.Wrase (as H. tenebrosus ) ( CULS) ; Dixam plateau, Wadi Zeeriq, 12°31′08″N, 53°59′09″E, 750 m a.s.l., 3.xii.2003, 4 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Homhil area , 12°34′27″N, 54°18′32″E, 400–510 m a.s.l., 28.–29.ii.2003, 1 spec., lgt. David Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Homhil , 23.–24.ii.2009, 3 spec., lgt. P. Lo Cascio & F. Grita, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Hoq cave , 12°35′15.83″N, 54°21′16.26″E, 4.iii.2009, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE) ; Diksam plateau, Bidehor, Digeila cave environment, 12°30′31″N, 53°56′18″E, 920 m a.s.l., 8.ii.2010, 3 spec., lgt. L. Purchart & J. Vybíral, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC) ; Homhil area , 12°34′25″N, 54°18′53″E, 400–510 m a.s.l., 9.–10.ii.2010, 2 spec.,lgt. L.Purchart & J.Vybíral,det. R.F.F.L.Felix ( NMPC). Hill /meadow E. Homhil plaine, 12°34′N, 54°19′E, 540m a.s.l., 9.ii.1999, lgt. H. Pohl, 2 spec., det. D.W. Wrase ( DWCB) ; Rokeeb environment, 12°35.154′N, 54°09.358′E, 600 m a.s.l., 6.–8.ii.2001, lgt. V. Neumann, 4 spec., det. D.W. Wrase ( DWCB) .

Diagnosis. Body length 9.0–11.5 mm. Black, antennomere I yellow, antennomere II reddish, rest of antenna dark. Femora black, meso- and metatibiae and tarsi red. Pronotum almost quadrate, lateral margins curved, posterior angles shortly rounded, base finely punctured. Third stria of elytra with subapical pore; scutellar pores present. Abdominal sternites without additional setae or pubescence.

Comments on classification. David Wrase originally identified some specimens as H. tenebrosus Dejean, 1829 , but after investigating the internal sac of the aedeagus, he informed us that these identifications were incorrect and should be H. agnatus . It is extremely difficult to separate H. agnatus from H. tenebrosus based on external morphological characteristics. The apex of the aedeagus is much shorter and less parallel in H. agnatus compared to H. tenebrosus . Moreover, H. agnatus has two large teeth in the internal sac, while H. tenebrosus has only one ( Figs. 6, 7). Harpalus tenebrosus should have a bluish lustre, but according to ANTOINE (1957) this does not apply to Moroccan specimens. The lateral margins of the pronotum should be straighter towards the posterior angles in H. tenebrosus , but it is often difficult to recognize this character. Because all males from Socotra have a shorter and less parallel apex of the aedeagus and two spines in the internal sac, we assigned them to H. agnatus .

Collection circumstances. The specimens from the environments of Rokeeb were found in dry, stony shrubland.

Distribution. Known from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen mainland. First record from Socotra Island.

Perigonini