Dasytes (Dasytes) flavescens Gené, 1839

Liberti, Gianfranco, 2009, Improved Strategies for Branching on General Disjunctions, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 339-385 : 357

Dasytes (Dasytes) flavescens Gené, 1839

Dasytes flavescens Gené, 1839: 17 , pl. II fig. 5 (Loc. typ. “prope Mandas”, Sardinia); Küster 1850: nr. 3;

Kiesenwetter 1863: 632 footnote; Kiesenwetter 1871: 83; Baudi di Selve 1873a: 297, 309; Schilsky 1897b: nr.

4, 34G; Sainte-Claire Deville 1908: 214; Porta 1929: 118; Pic 1937: 69; Fagniez 1946: 20, 23; Porta 1949: 214;

Kocher 1956: 60; Sparacio 1997: 106; * Liberti 2004a: 284. = Dasytes posticus Solsky, 1868: 34 ( Pic 1895b: 107; Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytiscus scutellaris Solsky, 1868: 34 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytes flavescens var. pectoralis Baudi di Selve, 1873a: 297 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytiscus rufotestaceus Reitter, 1889: 373 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytes parvulus Schilsky, 1894b: 32 ( Schilsky1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytes parvulus var. unicolor Schilsky, 1894b: 32 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytes posticus var. inapicalis Pic, 1894: 112 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytes flavescens var. biskrensis Pic, 1895a: 80 ( Schilsky 1896: nr. 35: syn. of D. scutellaris Solsky, 1868 ). = Dasytes flavescens var. apicalis Ragusa, 1896: 72 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4). = Dasytes posticus var. nigriceps Schilsky, 1896: 35 ( Schilsky 1897b: nr. 4).

Material examined. Sassari prov.: Alghero, 1999 ( CCR); Argentiera, 2003 ( CLI); Sassari , y-a ( MSNUF). Olbia-Tempio prov.: Oschiri, y-a ( MSNUF). Oristano prov.: *Solarussa. 1975 ( CME). Nuoro prov.: Cala Gonone, 1920 ( MCSNG); Santa Lucia, 2004 ( CCR). Medio Campidano prov.: Monte Anzeddu, 2006 ( CNBFVR). Carbonia-Iglesias prov.: Isola di Sant’Antioco, Cala Lunga, 1989 ( MCSNG); * Isola di Sant’Antioco, Capo Sperone, 1978 ( CLI); Monti Marganai, 2006 ( CNBFVR). Cagliari prov.: *Assemini, 1989 ( CME); Capo Carbonara 1985 ( MCSNG); Decimomannu, 1983 ( CCA); Elmas, 1982 ( CCA); *Geremeas, 1976 ( CME); *Nurri, 1983 ( CLI);*Quartu Sant'Elena, 1976 ( CME); *Sarroch, 1978 ( CME); *Uta, 1995 ( CME); *Villaspeciosa, 1976 ( CME).

Chorotype. West-Mediterranean; living in North Africa, Malta and the whole of southern Italy, reaching Latium northwards ( Liberti 2004a). Affinities unknown.

Notes. This species is immediately recognizable by its small size, reduced sexual dimorphism and colour, which is variable from entirely yellow to entirely brown; in Sardinia it is often yellow with a brown pronotum and a brown triangular sutural spot at the base of the elytra. Common in early summer on flowers.