Trissemus maroccanus wittmeri Besuchet, 1981

Hlaváč, Peter & Baňař, Petr, 2014, A review of the Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from Socotra Island, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 121-132 : 122

Trissemus maroccanus wittmeri Besuchet, 1981

( Fig. 1 )

Material examined. 1 J: (p) ‘Yemen, Soqotra Is. 21.xi.-12.xii.2003, HADIBOH env., ca 10-100m, N12°65′02′′ E54°02′04′′ [GPS], David Král lgt. / (p) YEMEN – SOQOTRA 2003, Expedition: Jan Farkač, Petr Kabátek & David Král’ ( NMPC).

Notes. The specimen from Socotra is tentatively identified as Trissemus maroccanus wittmeri described from Saudi Arabia ( BESUCHET 1981) due to its distribution. As stated in the original description, there is no external character supporting the new subspecies that was described based only on a slightly different structure of the aedeagus. These differences are quite small and may be intraspecific variation rather than a character appropriate to define different subspecies. That is supported also by the structure of the aedeagus of the specimen from Socotra, whose form is somewhat between the two known subspecies. It is highly likely that more material will prove that both subspecies are synonyms.

Distribution. Saudi Arabia, Yemen. First record from Socotra Island.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Aedeagus, dorsal aspect. 1 – Trissemus marocanus wittmeri Besuchet, 1981; 2 – Trissemus socotranus sp. nov. Scale bars in mm.