Atholus bimaculatus (Linnaeus)

Penati, Fabio, 2009, An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Sardinia, with faunistic, zoogeographical, ecological and conservation remarks *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 197-280 : 221-222

17. Atholus bimaculatus (Linnaeus)

Hister bimaculatus L.: Bargagli 1871: 41; Bertolini 1872 –1878: 83, 1904: 48; Barajon 1966

Hister bimaculatus var. morio Schmidt : Krausse 1913: 61

Hister (Atholus) bimaculatus Lin. : Porta 1926: 372

Hister (Peranus) bimaculatus Lin. : Luigioni 1929: 368

Literature data. “All of Italy ” ( Bertolini 1904; Porta 1926). “ Sardinia ” ( Bargagli 1871; Bertolini 1872 –1878; Luigioni 1929; Barajon 1966; Vienna 1980; Audisio et al. 1995; Yélamos & Lackner 2004). Cagliari prov.: Assémini, rio Cixerri, 30.VII.1989, on cow dung, CM, 2 ex (CCMe); idem, rio Flumini Mannu, 11.VII.1990, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Cagliari, Monte Claro, 5.VII.1980, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Domus de Maria, Capo Malfatano, 3.IV.1986, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Fluminimaggiore, 1990, 1 ex (CFCa). Giara di Gesturi, 19.V.1955, GMi, 1 ex (MSNM); idem [= Planu sa Giara], 19.V.1955, LC, 3 ex (MSNM); idem, Pauli Majori di Tuili, 570 m, 25.VI.1986, on cow dung, CM, 4 ex (CCMe). Isola di Sant’Antioco, loc. Calasetta, 27.IX.1980, RP, 1 ex (MSNG); idem, non-specified locality, 20.IX.2001 (CPV). Monti dei Sette Fratelli, Monte Cresia, 700 m (CCMe). Pabillonis, loc. Is Arenas, 1.XI.1986, on a dead sparrow, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, 14.XI.1989, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Pula, sd, UL, 1 ex (CUL). Sanluri, staz. FdS, 26.IX.1976, on dog carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Sant’Antonio di Santadi, 26.IX.1980, RP, 1 ex (MSNG). Teulada, 3 ex (CIZ). Villasalto, foresta rio Tolu, 400 m, 2.X.1980, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Nuoro prov.: Aritzo, 1–5.VII.1936, FH, 1 ex (MSNG); idem, dint., 700 m, 17.X.1976, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Belvì, rio S’Iscara, 650 m, 25.IX.1977, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Budoni, loc. Tanaunella, 2.IX.1999, on sheep dung, RPa, 4 ex (CRPa). Flumendosa, ex. pl. (CIS). Fonni, V.1974, VR, 1 ex (PIME). Giara di Gesturi, Pauli Majori di Genoni, 530 m, 10.V.1995, FA, 1 ex (CFA). Laconi, loc. Funtanamela, staz. FdS, 714 m (CCMe). Monte Albo, 650 m, 19.VII.1987, ER, 1 ex ( Vienna & Ratti 1999). Nurri, Pran ‘e Muro [= Plano e Muro], 18.IX.1941, ES, 1 ex (CGD). San Teodoro, spiaggia [= beach] La Cinta, 3.IX.1999, on sheep dung, RPa, 1 ex (CRPa). Seui, foresta Mont’Arbu, rio Ermolinus, 790 m, 20.V.1983, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, loc. San Girolamo, staz. FdS, 800 m, 27.VI.1985 and 25.VI.1987, on cow dung, CM, 6 ex (CCMe); idem, Monte Arquerì, 950–1000 m, 6.VIII.1985, on cow dung, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, Monte Tonneri, 950–1000 m, 6.VIII.1985, on cow dung, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Sorgono, dint. ( Krausse 1913). Villanova Strisaili, 1000 m, 23.V.1974, VR, 1 ex (CPV). Oristano prov.: Abbasanta, loc. Losa, 300 m, 15.X.1989, on cow dung, CM, 3 ex (CCMe). Sassari prov.: Alghero, “La Speranza”, VII.1973, LB, 2 ex ( Vienna & Ratti 1999). Badesi, foce del Coghinas, 30.VI.1995, in trap baited with wild boar meat, RPa, 2 ex (CRPa). Golfo Aranci, 2.V.1995, FA, 1 ex (CFA). Illorai, dint. Fiume Tirso, Molia necropolis, 10.VI.1994, BC, 1 ex (CBC). Isola Maddalena, 22.V.1994, BC, 6 ex (CBC). Isola Rossa, 200 m, 20.VI.1995, RPa, 2 ex (CRPa). Santa Teresa Gallura, 14.VIII.1959, RR, 12 ex (MSNM); idem, 1980, 1 ex (CFCa).

Unpublished records. Cagliari prov. : Cagliari, sd, UL , 1 ex ( CAD). Giara di Gesturi , 16.VII.1968, 1 ex ( DPPS). Guspini, loc. Santa Maria di Neapolis, 8. V .1968, 1 ex ( DPPS). Isola di San Pietro , Punta delle Oche, 28. V .1968, 1 ex ( DPPS). Pabillonis , loc. Is Arenas , 15.X.1967, 8 ex ( DPPS). San Nicolò Gerrei, rio Baccanali, 370 m, 15.VII.1997, on cow dung, CM , 2 ex (CCMe). Nuoro prov. : Aritzo, Arcu Sos Tragos, 1000–1100 m, 26.IX.1999, on cow dung, CM , 7 ex (CCMe). Esterzili , loc. Taccu sa Pruna, 635–650 m, 15.VII.1997, on cow dung, CM , 1 ex (CCMe). Monti del Gennargentu , 6.VII.1967, 1 ex ( DPPS). Orune, sd, 1 ex ( CAD ex-coll. L. Demarchi). Ottana, 19.VII.1974, 7 ex ( DPPS); idem, 27.VIII.1974, 2 ex ( DPPS); idem, 28.XI.1975, 2 ex ( DPPS). Seui, Monte Tonneri, 1000–1200 m, 6.VII.1997, on cow dung, CM , 1 ex (CCMe). Sassari prov. : Berchidda, loc. Silvani, 16. VI .2003, MD , 1 ex ( MSNC); idem, dint. Monte Acuto , 280 m, 22.VIII.2005, D/F, cow dung, exposed, 2 ex ( MSNC). Isola Asinara, dint. Fornelli, 17. VI .2003, MD , 1 ex ( MSNC); idem, dint. Trabuccato , 18. VI .2003, MD , 1 ex (MSNC). Oschiri, 23.V .1976 , RP, 1 ex (CRP). Palau, Golfo delle Saline [= Cala Salinas], X.1875, leg. “crociera del Violante”, 1 ex (MSNG). Punta lu Caparoni, S slope, 10.IX.2003, MD, 1 ex ( MSNC). Santa Teresa Gallura , loc. Porto Pozzo, 16.VIII.1989, dry meadow, in cow dung, GN, 3 ex (2 CGN, 1 CPC). Telti, 26. V .1976, RP, 1 ex (CRP).

Chorotype. Cosmopolitan, absent from Australia and the Antarctic ( Yélamos 2002; Mazur 2004).

Italian distribution. All regions.

Ecology. Mainly found in excrements, especially cow dung, and in manure; commonly found also under stones and in various decomposing matter; Vienna (1980) recorded it also from wild rabbit burrows.

Notes. In Penati and Vienna (2005, 2006a) the data referring to the specimen from Pula (CUL) are wrongly indicated as “Monti del Gennargentu, 1937, coll. Museo Genova” (see “Data collection”).