Asida (Asida) solieri caroli, Leo, 2009

Leo, Piero, 2009, Observations on some Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) from Sardinia, with description of three new Asida *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 400-420 : 407-410

Asida (Asida) solieri caroli ssp. nov.

( Figs 9, 14)

Diagnosis. Subspecies ascribable to Asida (Asida) solieri Gené, 1836a for the punctuation of the pronotum, which consists of very large punctures – irregularly arranged and with a very shiny bottom – and for the basal section of the second elytral costa more or less fused with the third, characters which clearly differentiate this species from all other Sardinian congeners. The new subspecies differs from the other subspecies of A. solieri for the lateral margins of pronotum on average wider and less convex disc, with slightly finer and shallower punctuation; the fusion of the second and third costae is less obvious and the surface of the elytra is thickly covered by a dense setigerous granulation, appearing much more opaque.

Type locality. Central Sardinia, Oristano prov. , Morgongiori, Monte Arci, Is Benas .

Type series. Holotype ♂: Central Sardinia, Morgongiori (Oristano), Monte Arci , Is Benas , 600 m, 23.X.2003, leg. P. Leo ( MSNG).

Paratypes (193 ♂ and ♀♀): central Sardinia, Morgongiori (Oristano prov.), Monte Arci , Is Benas , 600 m: 20.I.2002, leg. C. Meloni, 16 ex. (11 CCM; 5 CPL) , leg. D. Sechi, 17 ex. (8 CDS; 2 CLB; 5 CPL; 2 MZUR) ; 25.I.2002, leg. L. Fancello, 3 ex. (1 CLF; 2 CPL) ; 28.I.2002, leg. C. Meloni, 1 ex. ( CCM) ; 29.IV.2002, leg. D. Sechi, 5 ex. ( CDS) ; 27.X.2002, leg. C. Meloni, 25 ex. (18 CCM; 2 CGN; 2 CNBF; 3 CPL) ; 11.III.2003, leg. C. Meloni, 37 ex. (33 CCM; 4 CPL) ; 23.X.2003, leg. P. Leo, 21 ex. (2 CFS; 2 CGG; 2 CLB; 12 CPL; 3 MSNG) , leg. C. Meloni, 2 ex. ( CCM) ; 16.IX.2005, leg. C. Meloni, 21 ex. (17 CCM; 4 CPL) ; 20.I.2008, leg. C. Meloni, 12 ex. (10 CCM, 2 CPL) ; 19.IX.2008, leg. P. Leo, 10 ex. ( CPL) , leg. C. Meloni, 3 ex. ( CCM) . Morgongiori ( Oristano prov. ), Monte Arci, Trebina Lada , 760 m: 7.I.2005, leg. M.G. Atzori, 10 ex. (4 CAL; 6 CMA) ; 2.X.2005, leg. M.G. Atzori, 5 ex. ( CMA) ; 9.X.2005, leg. M.G. Atzori, 1 ex. ( CMA) ; 23.X.2005, leg. M.G. Atzori, 2 ex. ( CMA) ; 24.IX.2006, leg. M.G. Atzori, 2 ex. ( CMA) .

Description. Total length 9.7–13.5 mm (♂: 9.7–11.4 mm, average 10.7 mm; ♀♀: 10.6–13.5 mm, average 11.8 mm); robust body, with pronotum and elytra strongly narrowing at base; colour of integuments varying from brown to black.

Head with very robust punctuation; bottom of punctures very shiny, spaces between punctures matt; punctures with corresponding short, yellowish setae, directed forwards on clypeus, laterally on genae and backwards on frons.

Antennae quite robust, slightly slenderer in ♂.

Pronotum transverse (about 1.4 times as wide as long), with maximum width just behind middle, strongly rounded at sides; lateral margins wide and only slightly raised, disc relatively non-convex in comparison to the other subspecies; anterior angles acute, posterior angles almost right or slightly acute, with vertex widely rounded. Base of pronotum with wide and shallow lateral sinuosities, median area slightly protruding backwards compared to posterior angles. Disc of pronotum with very robust punctuation, coarse and irregular; bottom of punctures very shiny, strongly contrasting with space between punctures, very opaque and microreticulate. Setae of pronotum short and fine, of brown colour: those of the lateral margin can be almost pointed or subtruncate, those of the disc are mostly truncate, some also slightly dilated apically.

Elytra 1.26–1.30 times as long as wide, rather dilated posteriorly and strongly narrowed at humera, more convex in females. Elytral costulation characterized by the fusion of second and third costae: the second costa originates at the base of the elytron and is directed outwards for a very short distance until it merges with the third which is high, robust and more or less ramified laterally; the fusion of the second and third costae is generally well visible, as it is marked either by an inflexion point, a bifurcation or a brief interruption; the first costa is missing or slightly marked by small groups of small tubercules on apical declivity; fourth costa reduced, formed by groups of tubercules or short crests, sometimes connected by lateral ramifications of the third costa. Intervals between costae with a very fine setigerous tuberculation, densely distributed on elytral disc, more sparse close to humera. Setae of costae and intervals brown, short, fine and subtruncate. Epipleurae robustly tuberculate.

Legs thin, with brown setosity; fore tibiae tuberculate on external edge, with acute apical tooth.

Male copulatory organ as in Fig. 9, indistinguishable from that of other subspecies of A. solieri .

Remarks. Asida solieri (sensu lato) is endemic of the south-western part of Sardinia ( Fig. 15).

Asida solieri solieri was described from the surroundings of Iglesias and is known to me from the following localities: Cagliari prov.: Teulada, Capo Malfatano (CAL; CCM; CPL); id., Isola Tuerredda (CAL; CCM; CDS; CGG; CLB; CMA; CPL); id., Porto Teulada (CPL). Carbonia-Iglesias prov.: Gonnesa, Fontanamare (CPL).

Asida solieri fancelloi Leo, 1984 was described from Cala Sapone on the island of S. Antioco (Carbonia- Iglesias prov. ); besides from the type locality, I know it from the following places: Carbonia-Iglesias prov. : Calasetta , Sa Salina (CPL) ; Isola di San Pietro, Carloforte, Cala Lunga (CPL); Sant’Antioco, Capo Sperone (CLF; CPL).

Asida solieri caroli ssp. nov. is known only from two, very close localities of the Monte Arci vulcano (Oristano prov.), which are also the northernmost localities for the species. Asida solieri caroli ssp. nov. is easy to distinguish from the other subspecies by the finer punctuation of the pronotum, the less marked fusion of the second and third elytral costae and the denser and finer setigerous tuberculation of the intervals between costae. Compared to the new subspecies, the pronotum of Asida solieri solieri is more convex on the disc, with slightly obtuse posterior angles and the median area of the base much more protruding backwards. Asida solieri fancelloi has a less rounded pronotum at sides with strongly raised lateral margins, and a higher and more robust third elytral costa.

Ecological notes. The new subspecies was found, under stones and dry leaves, in Quercus ilex and Q. pubescens -dominated forest biotopes at medium elevations (600–760m), whereas the other subspecies have always been collected in more or less degraded Mediterranean maquis areas. Probably active all months of the year, possibly with the exception of the hottest and driest summer months.

Etymology. I am pleased to dedicate this new subspecies to my friend Carlo Meloni from Cagliari, as a sign of esteem and gratitude.