Saprinus (Saprinus) subnitescens Bickhardt, 1909

Penati, Fabio, 2009, An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Sardinia, with faunistic, zoogeographical, ecological and conservation remarks *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 197-280 : 243-244

56. Saprinus (Saprinus) subnitescens Bickhardt

Saprinus nitidulus Payk. : Bargagli 1871: 41; Bertolini 1872 –1878: 84; Costa 1882: 18, 1883: 40

Saprinus semistriatus Scr. : Krausse 1913: 61

Saprinus (Saprinus) semistriatus Scriba : Porta 1926: 376; Luigioni 1929: 361; Binaghi & Moro 1946: 63; Müller 1955: 2; Barajon 1966

Literature data. “All of Italy ” ( Porta 1926). “ Sardinia ” ( Bargagli 1871; Bertolini 1872 –1878; Luigioni 1929; Barajon 1966; Vienna 1971, 1980; Audisio et al. 1995; Yélamos & Lackner 2004). Cagliari prov.: Cagliari, dint., IX.1881, around a carcass, ACo ( Costa 1882); idem, 21.V.1884, AD, 1 ex ( Binaghi & Moro 1946; CAD); idem, sd, RSe, 4 ex ( Müller 1955; CGMü); idem, Colle San Michele, E slope, 14.IX.1971, CM, 4 ex (2 CPV, 2 CRP); idem, Monte Urpinu, 19.IX.1970, on cat carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, 7.VIII.1971, on cat carcass, CM, 1 ex (MSNTO ex-coll. P. Vienna); idem, 16–18.IX.1976, on cat carcass, CM, 8 ex (7 CCMe, 1 CRPe). Capoterra, dint., 15.IX.1976, on dog carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, foce del rio Santa Lucia, 4.VI.1981, on dog carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe); idem, 6.VIII.1987, on ox carcass, CM, 5 ex (3 CCMe, 2 CGN). Decimomannu, rio Sesi (CCMe). Elmas, pineta [= pine forest] San Lorenzo, 1.VIII.1976, under rubbish bag, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Isola di San Pietro, Carloforte, 20.V.1901, AD, 1 ex ( Binaghi & Moro 1946; CAD). Isola di Sant’Antioco, Cala Lunga, 14.VI.1989, NS, 9 ex (MSNG). Isola Vacca, 26.VI.1987, RP, 1 ex (MSNG). Monti dei Sette Fratelli, loc. Maidopis and homonymous rio, 350 m, 21.VI.1986, in pitfall trap baited with meat, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Muravera, stagno di Colostrai, 28.V.1974, IB, 1 ex (CPV). Pirri, dint., 11.IX.1976, on dog carcass, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Quartu Sant’Elena, XI.1901, UL, 2 ex ( Binaghi & Moro 1946; CAD); idem, stagno San Forzorio, 13.V.1982, on dog carcass, CM, 2 ex (CCMe); idem, stagno di Simbirizzi, 12.VIII.1974, CM, 1 ex (CPV). San Vito, sd ( Binaghi & Moro 1946). Sant’Isidoro, 5.V.1982, under rubbish bag, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Sardara, dint., 25.V.1982, on sheep dung, CM, 2 ex (CCMe). Senorbì, loc. Nuracroba, 26.X.1976, on sheep carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Serramanna, north-eastern outskirts, loc. Perda Fitta, 3.VII.1971, on horse carcass, CM, 2 ex (1 MSNTO ex-coll. P. Vienna, 1 CPV). Sinnai, loc. San Basilio, 12.VI.1985, on cat carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Nuoro prov.: Badde Salighes and Monte Palai, 1000 m, 22.V.1955, GMi, 1 ex (MSNM). Fonni, Monte Spada, mountain refuge, 1300 m, 18.VII.1985, on fox carcass, CM, 17 ex (CCMe). Macomer, loc. Bara, staz. FdS, 650 m, 9.X.1981, on dog carcass, CM, 1 ex (CCMe). Monte Albo, 650 m, 19.VII.1987, ER, 1 ex ( Vienna & Ratti 1999). Nurri, loc. Padenti [= Padonti-Nurri], 14.VIII.1941, ES, 13 ex ( Müller 1955; 3 MSNM, 5 CGD, 4 CGMü, 1 CFP). Oniferi, 22.V.1940, MBj, 1 ex (CFP). Sorgono, dint. ( Krausse 1913; Dahlgren 1962). Oristano prov.: Isola Mal di Ventre, 15.VI.1989, RP, 1 ex (MSNG). Oristano ( Dahlgren 1962). Tedasuni, Lago Omodeo, 115 m, 21.V.1995, FA, 1 ex (CFA). Sassari prov.: Golfo Aranci, sd, AD ( Binaghi & Moro 1946). Isola Caprera, VI.1944, RF, 2 ex (MSNM). Isola Tavolara, 15.VI.1967, EM, 1 ex (MSNM); idem, Spalmatore di Terra, 8.VI.1989, RP, 1 ex (MSNG). [foot of] Monte Limbara, plain named “vuccaccia”, 11.VI.1882, around fox carcass, ACo ( Costa 1883). Ploaghe, 13.V.1892, AD, 1 ex ( Binaghi & Moro 1946; CAD).

Unpublished records. Cagliari prov.: Cagliari, V .1873 , RG, 1 ex (MSNG); idem, 19.IV.1883, AD, 4 ex ( CAD); idem, Pirri , X.1988, DS, 1 ex ( CDS). Isola di Sant’Antioco, loc. Is Pruinis, beach , 2.VIII.1998, on cow dung, CM , 2 ex (CCMe). Maracalagonis, pond, 87 m, 18.V.1993, on dead gallinacean, CM, 1 ♂ (CCMe). San Vito , IV.1872, RG, 5 ex ( MSNG). Serdiana, pond, 100–106 m , 12.V.2003, on a dead gull, CM, 2 ♂♂ (CCMe). Villacidro , rio Cannisoni, 401 m , 19–24.V .2006 , pitfall trap (baited with meatless bones), PC/MBr/ Dbi /DW, 16 ex (CNBFVR). Nuoro prov.: Budoni, loc. Tamarispa, 9.IX.1999, trap baited with meat, RPa, 4 ex (CRPa). Fonni , Monte Spada, mountain refuge, 1300 m , 18.VII.1985, CM , 9 ex (8 CGN, 1 CPC). Monte Albo , 24.V .1976 , under dead hedgehog, RP, 7 ex (CRP). Oliena, 9.IX.1970, 1 ♂ ( DPPS). Orune , sd, 3 ex ( MSNG ex-coll. L. Demarchi). Oristano prov.: Oristano, 1936, UL , 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ ( CUL); idem , 30.VI.1954, 1 ex (DPPS).

Chorotype. 1.06 CEM (Centralasiatic-Europeo-Mediterranean).

Italian distribution. All regions.

Ecology. Shares the same ecological needs as its congeners. Often found together with S. semistriatus .

Notes. In Penati and Vienna (2005, 2006a) the specimens from “Cagliari” (CGMü) and “Padonti-Nurri” (MSNM, CGD, CGMü) are ascribed, due to an interpretation error, to S. semistriatus . Indeed, in the past, S. subnitescens was considered a synonym of S. semistriatus (cf. Binaghi & Moro 1946; Müller 1955); this caused considerable confusion regarding the distribution of these two species and of Saprinus (Saprinus) planiusculus Motschulsky , all three being of very similar appearance and easy to mistake for one another. Despite Luigioni’s (1929) bibliographic record, later cited by Vienna (1980), no Sardinian specimens of S. planiusculus were found in the examined collections. In Penati and Vienna (2005, 2006a) the specimens from “Oristano” (CUL) are attributed to S. semistratus and their respective data are erroneously given as “Cagliari, 1936, coll. Museo Genova” (see “Data collection”).