Harpalus (Ophonus) obsoletus Dejean, 1829: 232 .

The specimen here designated as lectotype is a male bearing labels “ obsoletus m. in Gallia merid.”, “ex-Museo Chaudoir” and “ Lectotype of Harpalus (Ophonus) obsoletus Dejean, 1829 desig. by J. Serrano ” .

The lectotype shows a transverse pronotum slightly cordiform, with posterior angles of pronotum well marked but not protruding backwards, and the prosternum slightly punctured. These characters allow to distinguish this species from D. pallidus . In both species the dark spot of elytra is variable, from clearly marked to almost erased; this colour variation is perhaps related to life in salty places. For keys to the species see Fuente (1927), Jeannel (1942) and Wrase (2004, 2011).

It is recorded in Central and Mediterranean Europe, North Africa and the Levant.