Gnathoncus communis (Marseul)

Penati, Fabio, 2009, An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Sardinia, with faunistic, zoogeographical, ecological and conservation remarks *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 197-280 : 236

41. Gnathoncus communis (Marseul)

Literature data. “ Sardinia ” ( Yélamos & Lackner 2004).

Unpublished records. Nuoro prov. : Sarule, Monte Gonare, 900–950 m, 25.I.2003, in leaf litter, CM, 1 ♀ (CCMe) .

Chorotype. 1.01 OLA (Holarctic).

Italian distribution. Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Venetia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia- Romagna, Tuscany, Basilicata and Sardinia.

Ecology. Occurs in excrements inside nests of various species of medium and large sized birds (corvids, strigids and accipitrids), and in heaps of guano of both marine birds and bats at the entrance of caves. Moreover, according to Vienna (1980) it can be found, although rarely, also in hen houses and under bird carcasses, as well as in foodstuffs and in soil accumulated at the bottom of rot holes of some broadleaved trees (poplars and elms). Yélamos (2002), based on a previous record, mentions it as common in the pellets of birds of prey.

Notes. The above unpublished record confirms the generic mention of the species by Yélamos and Lackner (2004), the first for this species in Sardinia (cf. Tab. 1).