Bembidion (Ocydromus) atlanticum megaspilum (Walker, 1871)

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 : 96-97

Bembidion (Ocydromus) atlanticum megaspilum (Walker, 1871)

Material examined (92 spec.). YEMEN: SOCOTRA ISLAND: Hoq, path to the cave in dense vegetation, 12°36′N, 54°21′E, 50–320 m a.s.l., 5.–6.ii.1999, 3 spec., lgt. H. Pohl, det. G. Müller-Motzfeld ( HLMD, ZSMD); Road along the coast, valley with wadi, grown over with Ficus , Adenium and Croton , 12°38′N, 54°09′E, 2 spec., lgt. H. Pohl, det. G. Müller-Motzfeld ( HLMD, ZSMD); Ayhaft, 12.ii.2000, 1 spec., lgt. V. Bejček & K. Šťastný, det. L. Toledano ( JFCP); Shuab, 10.iii.2000, 1 spec., lgt.V. Bejček & K. Šťastný, det.L. Toledano ( CULS);Ayhaft, 15.iii.2000, 3 spec., lgt. V. Bejček & K. Šťastný, det. L. Toledano ( JFCP, LTCV); Homhil protected area, 28.–29.xi.2003, 12°34′27″N, 54°18′32″E, 364 m a.s.l., 1 spec., lgt. & det. J. Farkač ( JFCP); same data, 2 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC); Hadiboh, 10–100 m a.s.l., 21.xi.–12.xii.2003, 1 spec., lgt. & det. J. Farkač ( JFCP); Wadi Esgego, Diksam plateau, 12°28′09″N, 54°00′36″E, 300 m a.s.l., 2.–3.xii.2003, 2 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC); same data, 1 spec., lgt. Kabátek ( NMPC); Wadi Zeeriq, 12°31′08″N, 53°39′09″E, 750 m a.s.l., 3.xii.2003, 1 spec., lgt. D. Král, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC); Wadi di-Negehen, 12°38′33.0″N, 54°03′18.5″E, 20.ii.2009, 2 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Wadi Zerik, Diksam, 12°30′09.1″N, 53°59′24.2″E, 21.ii.2009, 23 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Wadi Ayhaft, camp, 12°36′58.7″N, 53°59′30.6″E, 22.ii.2009, at light, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Ridah (Mômi), 12°32′40.3″N, 54°17′41.1″E, 24.ii.2009, 9 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); coastal dunes NE, 25.ii.2009, 1 spec., lgt. P. Lo Cascio & F. Grita, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( PLFG); Dejub cave, 12°23′05.73″N, 54°00′56.46″E, 2.iii.2009, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Wadi Irih, 12°27′05.5″N, 54°09′16.6″E, 3.iii.2009, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Zemhon area, 12°20′58″N, 54°08′39″E, 270–350 m a.s.l., 3.–4.ii.2010, 3 spec., lgt. L. Purchart & J. Vybíral, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC); Firmihin, 12°28′27″N, 54°00′54″E, 400–500 m a.s.l., 6.–7.ii.2010, 5 spec., lgt. L. Purchart & J. Vybíral, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC); Zemhon area, 12°20′58′N, 54°08′39″E, 270–300 m a.s.l., 16.–17.vi.2010, 1 spec., lgt. V. Hula & Niedobová J., det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC); same data but at light, 16 spec.; Wadi di-Negehen, 12°36′55.58″N, 54°03′48.28″E, 25.x.2010, 6 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Wadi Ayaft, 12°36′41.1″N, 53°58′05.9″E, 171 m a.s.l., 26.x.2010, 4 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Wadi Ayaft, 12°36′21.7″N, 53°59′33.9″E, 265 m a.s.l., 26.x.2010, 1 spec., lgt. & det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( RFBE); Firmihin, Dracaena forest, 12°28′27″N, 54°18′32″E, 490 m a.s.l., 15.–16.xi.2010, 1 spec., lgt. J. Hájek, det. R.F.F.L. Felix ( NMPC).

Diagnosis. Body length (4.6)5.5–6.0 mm. Head with short temples, punctured, eyes strongly protruding. Apex of elytra pale. Striae not reaching elytral apex. Pronotum almost without microsculpture. In B. a. atlanticum Wollaston, 1854 , dark cross-like pattern of elytra distinct, antennae apically darker.

Comments on classification. The subspecies B. a. megaspilum differs from B. a. atlanticum in having the antennae totally light or only very weakly infuscate. All Socotran specimens have a dark appearance with black cross-like elytral pattern and dark red humeral spots; antennae weakly infuscate from antennomere IV or V. The length is usually 5.5–6.0 mm, but one specimen from Wadi di-Negehen is very small (4.6 mm) with almost impunctate head and very distinctly darkened antennae. According to L. Toledano (pers. comm. 2011) it nevertheless belongs to B. a. megaspilum.

Collection circumstances. The species was only very abundant in Wadi Zerik, in gravel bank in the middle of the wadi, near a cave, about 200 m south of the road. The specimen found in the Dejub cave was found at the entrance in the dusk in a humid place.

Distribution. Bembidion atlanticum s.l. is mentioned from Eastern Europe, the Sahara region, the Middle East, basin of the Black Sea to Central Asia. The subspecies B. a. megaspilum is known from the southern and eastern Mediterranean, northern Sahara and the Middle East. First record from Socotra Island.