Psilothrix viridicoerulea ( Geoffroy, 1785 )

Liberti, Gianfranco, 2009, Improved Strategies for Branching on General Disjunctions, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 339-385 : 366-369

Psilothrix viridicoerulea ( Geoffroy, 1785)

( Fig. 23 )

Cicindela viridi-coerulea Geoffroy, 1785: 63 (Loc. typ. Paris); Rottenberg 1870: 243 [ Dolichosoma ]; Sainte-Claire Deville 1908: 217; Porta 1929: 123; Pic 1937: 110 [ Lasius ]; Kocher 1956: 66; Fiori 1963: 283; Fiori 1971: 3; Allenspach & Wittmer 1979: 110; Liberti 1988: 12; Majer 1990: 97; Constantin 1991: 404; Lohse 1992: 22; Constantin & Klaunitzer 1996: 196; Liberti & Focarile 2005: 29, 35.

= Melyris cyaneus Olivier, 1790: 21 ( Sainte-Claire Deville 1908: 217) ; Seidlitz 1891a: 489; Seidlitz 1891b: 522; Schilsky 1894a: 235; Schilsky 1894b: nr. 46; Ragusa 1896: 76; Pic 1908: 46; Reitter 1911: 286; Pic 1918: 3; Holdhaus 1923: 96; Pic 1924a: 58, 84; Porta 1929: 123; Pic 1937: 110; Horion 1953: 138; Kaszab 1955a: 116; Kaszab 1955b: 116, fig. 40 P; Piras et al. 1970: 85, 90; Piras & Pisano 1972: 17, 25; Allenspach & Wittmer 1979: 110; Lohse 1979: 80.

= Lagria viridis Rossi, 1792: 35 ( Kiesenwetter 1863: 644: syn. of nobilis Ill. ); Stephens 1830: 319 [ Dasytes ]; Stephens 1839: 196 [ Dasytes ]; Pope 1977: 55.

= Melyris nobilis Illiger, 1798: 308 ( Reiche 1863: 132) ; Brullé 1832: 150 [ Dasytes ]; Laporte de Castelnau 1840: 281 [ Dasytes ]; Lucas 1846: 195 [ Dasytes ]; Kiesenwetter 1859: 178; Kiesenwetter 1863: 644; Kiesenwetter 1867a: 119 [ Dolichosoma ]; Mulsant & Rey 1868: 177, pl. X; Baudi di Selve 1873b: 249; Pic 1937: 110; Crowson 1964: 320; Allenspach & Wittmer 1979: 110.

= Tillus aeneus Marsham, 1802: 230 ( Kiesenwetter 1863: 645) .

= Dasytes caeruleus De Geer sensu Stephens 1830: 319 ( Pope 1977: 55) .

Material examined. Sassari prov.: Alghero, 1979 ( CME, CML); Argentiera, 2003 ( CLI, MCSNG); Chilivani, 1975 ( CME, MCSNG); Codaruina, 1995 ( CAN); Foce Fiume Coghinas, 1981 ( CFO); Isola Asinara, 1988 ( MCSNG); Lago Baratz, 1995 ( CAN); Lago Bunnari, 1961 ( MCSNG); Nulvi, 1974 ( CFR); Olmedo, 1962 ( MCSNG); Osilo, 1974 ( CFR); Platamona Lido, 1974 ( CFR, CLI); Porto Conte, 1985 ( CFR, MSNUF); Porto Torres, 1974 ( CLI); Sassari, 1974 ( CFR, MCSNG); Sorso, 1956 ( MCSNG); Stagno di Casaraccio, 1974 ( MCSNG); Stagno di Pilo, 1995 ( CAN, CLI, MCSNG); Stintino, 1996 ( CFR, CMO); Torre del Porticciolo, 2001 ( CLI); Tula, 1995 ( CAN); Viddalba, 1995 ( CAN). Olbia-Tempio prov.: Alà dei Sardi, 1997 ( CSL); Bassacutena, 1993 ( CME); Berchidda, 1991 ( CFO); Golfo Aranci, 1995 ( CAN); Isola Caprera, 1991 ( CME, MSNUF); Isola Maddalena, 1987 ( MCSNG); Isola Molara, 1989 ( MCSNG); Isola Rossa, 1995 ( CPA); Lago del Coghinas, 1997 ( CSL); Monte Limbara, 1995 ( CAN, CMG, CPA); Monti, 1991 ( CFO); Mulino di Arzachena, 1995 ( CAN); Oschiri, 1995 ( CAN); Padrogiano, 1995 ( CAN); Palau, 1943 ( CLI, MCSNG); Santa Teresa di Gallura, 1975 ( MCSNG); San Teodoro, 1995 ( CAN); Tempio Pausania, 1995 ( CAN). Nuoro prov.: Bolotana, 1995 ( CAN); Bruncu Spina, 2004 ( CAN, CCR); Cantoniera di Sant’Anna, 2008 ( CNBFVR); Cantoniera Donnacori, 1980 ( CFR); Cantoniera Guzzurra, 1995 ( CAN); Dorgali, 1980 ( CFR); Gadoni, 2008 ( CNBFVR); Galtellì, 1995 ( CAN, CFR); Lago di Gusana, 1995 ( CAN); Lula, 2008 ( CAN, CNBFVR); Macomer, 1961 ( MCSNG); Monte Ortobene, 1985 ( CCL); Monte Spada, 2003 ( CLI); Nuoro, 1928 ( MCSNG); Oliena, 1995 ( CAN); Oliena, San Giovanni, 1995 ( CAN); Orune, 1899 ( MSNUF); Pratobello, 1995 ( CAN); Punta Corrasi, 1981 ( MSNUF); Punta Cupetti, 1995 ( CAN); Siniscola, 1979 ( MSNUF). Oristano prov.: Badde Urbara, 1987 ( SMNS); Bauladu, 1995 ( CAN); Laconi, 1995 ( CAN); Lago Omodeo, 1979 ( CML); Riola Sardo, 1987 ( SMNS); San Giovanni Sinis, 1974 ( MCSNG); San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes, 1983 ( CLI); Stagno di Cabras, 1995 ( CAN); Stagno di Marceddì, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Stagno di Santa Giusta, 1995 ( CAN); Soddi, 2003 ( CPA); Tharros, 2008 ( CNBFVR). Medio Campidano prov.: Arbus, 1995 ( CAN); Cantoniera Bidderdi, 1995 ( CAN); Gonnosfanadiga, 2006 ( CMG, CNBFVR); Monte Anzeddu, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Montevecchio, 2003 ( CPA); Pabillonis, 1995 ( CAN); Porto Palma, 2003 ( CPA); Sant'Antonio di Santadi, 2003 ( CPA); Torre dei Corsari, 1995 ( CAN); Villacidro, 2008 ( CNBFVR). Carbonia-Iglesias prov.: Arcu Genna Bogai, 2004 ( CCR); Calasetta, 1988 ( CME, MCSNG); Carloforte, 1989 ( CME, MCSNG); Domusnovas, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Fontanamare, 1995 ( CAN); Iglesias, 1995 ( CAN); Isola La Vacca, 1988 ( MCSNG); Isola di San Pietro, 1989 ( MCSNG); Monti Marganai, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Nebida, 2001 ( CFA); sa Duchessa, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Sant'Anna Arresi, 2004 ( CCR); Sant'Antioco, y-a ( MSNUF). Cagliari prov.: Capo Malfatano, 1989 ( CME); Chia, 2004 ( CCR); Domus de Maria, 1989 ( CSA); Monte dei Sette Fratelli, 1995 ( CAN, MSNUF); Olia Speciosa, 1985 ( CLI); Pula, 2001 ( CFA); Quartu Sant'Elena, 1986 ( CME); Quirra, 1985 ( CLI, MSNUF); Saline di Santa Gilla, 2001 ( CFA); Salto di Quirra, 1986 ( CME); San Priamo, 1995 ( CAN); San Vito, 1872 ( MSNUF); Sinnai, 1979 ( CME); Solanas, 2004 ( CCR); Stagno di Molentargius, y-a ( MSNUF); Stagno di Simbirizzi, 1986 ( CME); Teulada, y-? ( MNHU); Uta, 1985 ( CLI); Vallermosa, 2008 ( CNBFVR); Villasimius, 1995 ( CAN).

Chorotype. Euro-Mediterranean; also in the Canary islands. Occurring all over Italy. Affinities: see P. aureola .

Notes. Very common all over Sardinia ( Costa 1883: 44, Sainte-Claire Deville 1908: 217, Luigioni 1929: 631, Porta 1929), this species is immediatly recognizable by its bright green colour, shape of pygidium and larger size. The biology of P. viridicoerulea was studied by Fiori (1971) at Sassari University: the larvae initially feed on dead insects found on the ground, and then become phytophagous and bore galleries in the stems of big annual weeds ( Ferula , Magydaris , Carlina , Cirsium , etc.) with a marrow of sufficient size to hold the full-grown larva. Metamorphosis takes place in late winter within the same stem (when the weed is dead and the stem may no longer be in an upright position) and, eventually, the adults leave the pupal cell in early spring by boring an oval hole in the dead stem tissues.

Piras et al. (1970) recorded this species from several localities in Oristano province, Piras and Pisano (1972) from two localities in Carbonia-Iglesias province.

Figures

FIGURES 20–23. 20–21. Median lobes in lateral view, scale bar: 0.25 mm. 20. Dolichosoma simile (Brullé) (Italy, Tuscany, Grosseto province, Talamone). 21. Dolichosoma lineare (Rossi) (Sardinia, Padrogiano). 22–23. Pygidium, scale bar: 0.5 mm. 22. Psilothrix aureola (Kiesenwetter, 1859) (Malta, Gozo Island). 23. Psilothrix viridicoerulea (Italy, Liguria, La Spezia province, Montemarcello).