Danacea (Danacea) imperialis ( Gené, 1836 )

Liberti, Gianfranco, 2009, Improved Strategies for Branching on General Disjunctions, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 339-385 : 351-352

Danacea (Danacea) imperialis ( Gené, 1836)

Dasytes imperialis Gené, 1836: 20 , pl. I, fig. 11 (Loc. typ. “prope Iglesias”, Sardinia); Schilsky 1897a: nr. 13; Porta 1929: 109; Pic 1937: 10; * Liberti 1979: 40.

= Danacaea mitis Küster sensu Prochazka 1894: 12 ( Schilsky 1897a: nr. 13).

= Danacaea distincta var. solarii Pic, 1895c: 122 ( Liberti 1979: 40) .

= Danacaea imperialis var. ♀ versicolor Schilsky, 1897a: 13 (Loc. typ. Sardinia) ( Mayor 2007a).

= Danacaea imperialis var. uniformis Schilsky, 1897a:13 (Loc. typ. Sardinia) ( Mayor 2007a).

Material examined. Sassari prov.: Alghero, 1998 ( CME); Argentiera, 1992 ( CME); Isola Asinara, 1904 ( MCSNG); Isola Piana di Capo Caccia, 1987 ( MCSNG); Lago Baratz, 1995 ( CAN); Mores, y-? ( NMBA); Nulvi, 1974 ( CFR); Osilo, 1974 ( CFR); Ozieri, y-? ( NMBA); Platamona Lido, 1974 ( CFR); Ploaghe, 1909 ( CBI); Ponte di Caitta, 2001 ( CLI); Sassari , y-? ( MCSNM); Stagno di Pilo, 1974 ( CLI); Stintino, 1974 ( CFR). Olbia-Tempio prov.: Aggius, 1995 ( CMG); Aglientu, 1995 ( CAN); Alà dei Sardi, 1907 ( CBI); Figaruia, 2003 ( CRO); Isola Caprera, 1984 ( MSNUF); Isola Maddalena, 1993 ( CME); Isola Santo Stefano, 1994 ( CME); Isole di li Nibani, 1986 ( MCSNG); Monte Limbara, 1995 ( CAN, CLI); Oschiri, 1995 ( CAN); Padrogiano, 1995 ( CAN); Tempio Pausania, 1995 ( CAN, MCSNG, NMBA). Nuoro prov.: Altopiano della Campeda, y-? ( NMBA); Arcu Guddetorgiu, 1995 ( CAN); *Aritzo, 1998 ( CME, MCSNM, NMBA); Belvì, 1995 ( CAN); Bruncu Spina, 2003 ( CAN, CLI, CME, CMO, CPN); Cala Gonone, 1980 ( CFR); Cantoniera di Sant’Anna, 2008 ( CNBFVR); Cantoniera Guzzurra, 1995 ( CAN); Oliena, San Giovanni, 1995 ( CAN); Desulo, 2008 ( CAN, CNBFVR); Dorgali, 1995 ( CAN, CFR, CME, MCSNG, NMBA,); Flumineddu a Monte Novo, 1983 ( MCSNG); Fonni, 1999 ( CLI, CME); Funtana Bona, 1983 ( MCSNG); Gadoni, 2008 ( CNBFVR); Galtellì, 1995 ( CAN); Irgoli, 1977 ( CME); Lago di Gusana, 1995 ( CAN); Lodè, 1978 ( MCSNG); Lula, 2008 ( CAN, CBI, CNBFVR); *Macomer, 1936 ( CMA, MCSNM, MNHU, MSNUF, NMBA,); Mamoiada, 1976 ( CPO); Monte Albo, 1997 ( CBA, CME, MCSNG); Monte Novo San Giovanni, 1983 ( MCSNG); Monte Ortobene, 1920 ( MCSNG); Monte Spada, 2003 ( CLI); Monte d'Iscudu, 2003 ( CLI); Nuoro, 1920 ( MCSNG); Orgosolo, 2003 ( CAN, MCSNG); Orune, 1976 ( CPO); Pratobello, 1995 ( CAN); Punta Cupetti, 1995 ( CAN); Sorgono, y-? ( NMBA). Oristano prov.: Asuni, y-? ( MCSNG, NMBA); Badde Urbara, 1987 ( SMNS); Bauladu, 1995 ( CAN); Laconi, 1995 ( CAN, CME, CSA, MCSNG); Monte Ferru, 1979 ( CML); Oristano, y-? ( NMBA); Senis, y-? ( NMBA); San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes, 1983 ( CLI). Ogliastra prov.: Gairo Taquisara, 1992 ( CME); Genna Silana, 1980 ( CFR); Monte Perda Liana, 2008 ( CNBFVR, MCSNG); Monte Tonneri, 2008 ( CNBFVR); *Seui, 2001 ( CFA, CLI, CME, MCSNM, NMBA), Talana, 2008 ( CNBFVR). Medio Campidano prov.: Arbus, 1995 ( CAN); Giara di Gesturi, 1999 ( CME); Gonnosfanadiga, 2006 ( CFA, CMG, CNBFVR); Monte Linas, 1995 ( CME); Sant'Antonio di Santadi, 2003 ( CPA); Serramanna, 1944 ( MCSNV); Villacidro, 2006 ( CNBFVR). Carbonia-Iglesias prov.: Carloforte, 1912 ( MCSNG); Domusnovas, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Iglesias, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Monti Marganai, 2005 ( CNBFVR); Nebida, 2000 ( CME); sa Duchessa, 2006 ( CNBFVR); Tempio di Antas, 1999 ( CME). Cagliari prov.: *Cagliari, y-o ( MCSNM, NMBA); Cantoniera Campu Omu, 1998 ( CLI, CME); Colle della Campanasissa, y-r ( CFO); Esterzili, 1994 ( CME); Flumini, y-? ( NMBA); Isola Serpentara, 1988 ( MCSNG); Monte dei Sette Fratelli, 1995 ( CAN, CME); Nurri, 2001 ( CFA); Porto di Teulada, 1999 ( CME); Quirra, 1992 ( CLI, CME); *Sadali, 2008 ( CNBFVR, CPN, MCSNG, MCSNM, MNHU); San Gregorio, 1985 ( CLI); Seulo, 2008 ( CNBFVR); Solèminis, 1983 ( CFO); Stagno di Simbirizzi, 1983 ( CFO); Teulada, 1912 ( MCSNG); Uta, 1989 ( CME); Villanovatulo, 1994 ( CME).

Chorotype. Strict Sardinian endemic. Affinities: several similar species can be found in the Central Mediterranean area, sometimes with ranges which are small and even limited to just one island, e.g. D. trinacriae Liberti, 1979 , limited to Sicily, and D. eludens Liberti & Schembri, 2002 , a Maltese endemic.

Notes. The two varieties described by Schilsky (1897a: nr. 13), var. versicolor and var. uniformis , differ from the nominotypical form only by the colour and pattern of elytral hairs. Populations with ornate elytra and showing a rather strong variability often occur, and no other species with a group 1 pronotal hair pattern occur in Sardinia. For these reasons, these two varieties are deemed to have infrasubspecific value.

Danacaea imperialis is rather variable in size and hair coverage (specimens with ornate elytra are common), as well as in the shape of aedeagus. It is easily recognized because the pronotal hairs are all parallel and pointing forwards. Very common all over the island and often collected in large series, it can be found in spring on flowers, for instance of Crataegus and Erica .