Nebrioporus stearinus stearinus ( Kolenati, 1845 )

Toledo, Mario, 2009, Revision in part of the genus Nebrioporus Régimbart, 1906, with emphasis on the N. laeviventris-group (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Zootaxa 2040, pp. 1-111 : 73-76

Nebrioporus stearinus stearinus ( Kolenati, 1845)

Hydroporus stearinus Kolenati (1845: 84) (orig. descr.).

Deronectes stearinus (Kolenati) ; Sharp (1882: 810); Marseul (1882: 69); Branden (1885: 49); Zaitzev (1906: 171).

Deronectes (Potamonectes) stearinus (Kolenati) ; Zimmermann (1920: 128; 1933: 175) (partim, misinterpretation).

Potamonectes stearinus (Kolenati) ; Zaitzev (1953: 216) (partim).

Nebrioporus (s.str.) stearinus (Kolenati) ; Nilsson & Angus (1992: 287) (partim); Nilsson (2001: 172; 2003: 67) (partim); Shaverdo (2003: 36).

Hydroporus variegatus Aubé (1838 a: 236) (orig. descr.); Aubé (1838b: 518); Régimbart (1877: 349).

Deronectes variegatus (Aubé) ; Sharp (1882: 430).

Deronectes variegatus (Aubé) sensu Sharp (1882) ; Zimmermann (1920: 129; 1933: 174) (synonymy of turca Seidlitz ). Deronectes turca Seidlitz (1887: 55) (orig. descr.); Sahlberg (1913: 43). syn.n.

Hydroporus (Deronectes) turca (Seidlitz) ; Apfelbeck (1904: 370).

Deronectes (Potamodytes) turca Seidlitz ; Zimmermann (1919: 189; 1920: 129).

Deronectes (Potamonectes) turca Seidlitz ; Zimmermann (1933: 174).

Potamonectes turca (Seidlitz) ; Zaitzev (1953: 216); Guignot (1959a: 454); Guéorguiev (1981: 410).

Nebrioporus (s. str.) turca (Seidlitz) ; Nilsson & Angus (1992: 287); Nilsson (2001: 172; 2003: 67); Shaverdo (2003: 36). Deronectes turca var. rufino Sahlberg (1913: 43) (orig. descr.).

Type locality. H. stearinus : Azerbaijan > Karabagh Prov. > Muroff Dagh; H. variegatus : Armenia ; D. turca : Asia Minor, Syria, Lebanon; D. turca var. rufino : Lebanon.

Type material. Hydroporus stearinus : Lectotype ♀ ( ZIN), here designated [pinned specimen, without head and pronotum] " Hydroporus stearinus Kolen. Transcaucasia [hw.] \ Transcaucasia 3088-I. [?Kolenati hw.] \ 3088 stearinus Kolen Transcau. [?Kolenati hw.] \?Typus [(sic) red, rectangular label hw.] \ Zool. Inst St. Petersburg [yellow label]" plus my red lectotype label. Although this specimen does not have locality data, it surely belongs to Kolenati’s (1845) type series.

Hydroporus variegatus : Holotype ♂ ( MNHN) " Arménie [rectangular small label–not circular as mentioned in Fresneda et al. 1997: 284 –hw. Aubé , backside black] \ Muséum Paris, coll. Aubé, S.E.F. \ Holotype Hydroporus variegatus Aubé [red, hw. Fery]";

Deronectes turca: In ZSM 1 ♂ is labelled " Liban \ Sahlb. \ Tania [?] Libanon [hw.] \ Type von Deronectes turca Seidl. [red label]" but is not clear if this specimen is a type, therefore at present it has not possible to designate a lectotype.

Deronectes turca var. rufino : Syntypes (?DABUH) not seen.

Additional material examined. Afghanistan: "NW. Afghan., 1953, J. Klapperich, Nuristan, 1100 m Bashgultal , 11.IV" (1 ex. MIZIT) ; idem Nuristan, 1300 m (2 exs. MIZIT, HNHM) ; W. Afghanistan, Tangi— Gharuh am Kabulfluss , 1600 m, 21.VIII.52, leg. J. Klapperich (1 ex. HNHM) .

Armenia: Garni , 1400 m, River Azat, beneath stones 15.IX.1982. No. 181, leg. Merkl & Ronkay (1 ex. HNHM) ; Mt. Aragats , Amberd riv. Above Byurakan (20), 40°21.60’N 44°15.06’E, ca. 1580 m, 6.V.2001, leg. Shaverdo & Scillhammer (6 exs. HSW) ; "Araxesthal [this river may stand also in Turkey] Leder. Reitter " (11 exs. NMW, MZLU, ZSM, HNHM) .

Egypt: " Cairo, coll. Standinger [?], Potamonectes turca Seidl. " (1 ex. MNHN); " Cairo, Aegypt, samml. A. Zimmermann" (2 ex. ZSM); " Cairo, Aegypt, det. Kinel. variegatus Aubé , 28, Potamonectes turca Seidl. det. V. Guéorguiev 1970 " (1 ex. MIZIT).

Iran: "Persia, Sharp Coll 1905-313; Persia, Dek Bala, Yerd. 9500 ft., 30. 7. 35, coll. H. E. J. Briggs, Brit. Mus. 1936-747" (1 ex. BMNH); Kurdistan Pers., Shakhlawa [?], Dr. Kalalova-Di Loiti (1 ex. MIZIT); Gilan, road Rubdar to Peer–huh, 28.VI.93, stream 960 m, 58 km E Rubdar (4 exs. MTB); Laschkarak Tal [Zard Band–e Laschkarak, Teheran Prov.], 2200 m, Elbursgeb., 5.XI.1961, leg. J. Klapperich, Potamonectes turca Seidl. Det. Guéorguiev 1982 (1 ex. HNHM); Lorestán, Lenje Abad, 10 km SW Dórud (33°27’N 49°01’E), 8- 10.X.1998, leg. Chvojka (1 ex. JHP); Fars Prov., road Yasuj to Sepidan, Vezek, 13 km S Yasuj (Sepidan = Ardakan), brook, 15.VIII.1998, leg. Elmi & Fery (12 exs. HF); Mishgiu [Musihinu?], F. Schmid, 1956 (1 ex. HF); Fars, surr. of. Yasoodj, Shiraz, 1.VIII.1969, 1800 m, leg. Heinz. (1 ex. MBB); Fars, Dasht –e Arjan, waterfall 2000 m ca., 3.VIII.2001, leg. Toledo (23 exs. MTP); In addition I have seen in CBSU specimens from a number of localities of the following provinces: W Azerbaijan (64 exs. from 2 localities); E Azerbaijan (7 exs. from 2 localities); Kordestan (3 exs.); Markazi (4 exs.); Ardebyl (7 exs. from 3 localities); Esfahan (1 ex.); Kahkiluyeh va Boyrahmad (78 exs. from 2 localities); Fars (328 exs. from 8 localities) .

Israel: " Jerusalem, samml. A. Zimmermann " (1 ex. ZSM) .

Lebanon: " Liban, Coll. Odier, B. M. 1921-288" (1 ex. BMNH); Lebanon, Amioun, 3. VI. 1944, H. B. Cott, H. B. Cott Coll., B. M. 1944-55 (2 exs. BMNH); Jernaya, H. Coiffat, 17.VI.54, F. Guignot det. 1955 Potamonectes s.str. turca Seidl. (2 exs. MIZIT); Libanon, J. Sahlb., Det. R. Scholz D. turca sp. propria 2.22 (1 ex. MIZIT); Libanon, J. Sahlb., Deronectes turca , samml. A. Zimmermann (4 exs. ZSM); " Liban, turca Seidl. , coll. Odier B.M. 1921-288" (1 ex. BMNH); Lebanon, Amioun, 3.VI.1944, H.B. Cott., Freshwater ditch, H.B. Cott., coll. Mountain Warfare Training Center, M.E.F. BM. 1944-55, Potamonectes turca (Siedl.) [sic!] J. Balfour-Browne det., from descr. (2 exs. BMNH); "Appl. Beirut 1878" (2 exs. NMW); U. Sahlb., Libanon, Mont. Baruck (4 exs. NMW); " Libanon, J. Sahlb., turca Bodemeyr [sic!], coll. L.V. Heyden DEI Eberswalde" (1 ex. DEIB); "idem, 7, turca Sdl. " [instead of: turca Bodemeyer ] (1 ex. DEIB); idem, 300, " turcicus [sic!] Seidl. (Reitter)". [instead of: 7, turca Sdl. ] (1 es. DEIB); Nahr el Kelb, 100 m s.l.m. rive del Fiume del Cane, 1.VI.1965, leg. F. Pederzani (3 exs. MTP, HF).

Syria: "Syrien, M. Janein, samml. A. Zimmermann" (1 ex. ZSM) ; " Syrie, Col. Baer, turca Seidlits [sic!]" (1 ex. MNHN) ; Bach in al– Baidan S. Massiaf, 11. VIII. 1978, R. Kinzelbach leg., 2. Orient-Excursion, Inst. f. Zool., Mainz, Prof. R. Kinzelbach, Potamonectes turca Seidl. Det. Wewalka 82 (1 es. HF) ; Al Lathiqiyeh [Latakia], Qala’at Salah ad– Din (35°36’N 36°03’E), 30.VI.1998, leg. Chvojka (2 exs. JHP) .

Turkey: "Tarsus, Sharp coll. 1905-313, coll. Chevrolat" (1 ex. BMNH); Amasia, 67–56, Hydroporus lugens Frival. (type mots.), Deronectes (Potamonectes) turca Balfour-Browne det. (1 ex. BMNH); Kil. Taurus, Asia minor, Namrun, 8.VI.68, Potamonectes turca Seidl., det. Wewalka 85 (4 exs. HF); Iskenderun, Belen env., Nur Daglari mer., 28.III–6.IV.1994, leg. M. Snizek (3 exs. MTP); Adiyaman, Narice, 7.IX.91, leg. Wewalka, Tr-5 (2 exs. MTP); Adiyaman, 30 km N Adiyaman, 8. IX.91, leg. Wewalka, TR-6 (12 exs. GWW); Gaziantep, Fevzipasha Pass, 6.IX.91, leg. Wewalka TR-3, Potamonectes turca Seidl., Det. G. Wewalka 92 (2 exs. GWW); Maras, 30 km E Elbistan, 6.IX.91, leg. Wewalka, TR-8, Potamonectes turca Seidl., Det. G. Wewalka 92 (1 ex. GWW); Nemrut Dagi [Adiyaman Prov.], 1700 m, 7-11.VI.1998, leg. Skoda (2 exs. JSL); Erzurum, road Tortum to Narman, 9.VI.1989, leg. M. Jäch (72) (1 ex. NMW); 30 km SW Van, 8.VII.1987, leg. M. Jäch (65) (1 ex. NMW); Anatolien, Prov. Hatay, Iskenderun, 13.V.1969, leg. C. Holzechuh (1 ex. NMW); SÖ– Türkey, Beytüssebap [Sirnak Prov.] (48), 31.V.1987, leg. M. Jäch (1 ex. NMW); Amanos geb., 24.V.1987, leg. M. Jäch (2 exs. NMW); Namrun umg., 26.VIII.1981, T11, leg. M. Jäch (3 exs. NMW); idem, except for 25.VIII.1981, and T4 instead of T11 (3 exs. NMW); Adana, Büyüksofulu, 1.VII.1997, leg. Jiri Hàjek (2 exs. JHP); Adana Prov., Pozanti, 15-16.VII.1997, leg. D. Hauck (2 exs. JHP); Içel Prov. (Mersin), Göktepe Dagi, Güzeloluk env. 1400 m, 6–9.VII.1998, leg. J. Bezdeck (1 ex. JHP).

Description. TL 4.7–6.0 mm; MW 2.4–2.9 mm. Oval to slightly elongate, somewhat flat to slightly convex, dull or almost so. Angle between pronotum and elytra obsolete to poorly visible. Colouration normally testaceous or reddish with more or less extensive dark markings on pronotum and elytra.

Head reddish, normally dark around and behind the eyes. Punctuation moderately deep and dense, together with few, larger scattered punctures. Antennae testaceous, darkened at the apex of the last 6 or 7 segments. Mouthparts reddish-yellow. Maxillary palpi testaceous, darkened in the second half.

Pronotum rather narrow, with maximum width at base. Lateral sides straight or almost so, finely bordered at least in males. Posterior angles slightly or visibly rounded.

Elytra elongated, with maximum width near the base. Sides rounded, more straight in the apical portion. Discal row of punctures normally hardly visible. Subapical denticle distinct in both sexes.

Dorsal colouration ( Fig. 34a–c): pronotum reddish, darkened along the borders and with two dark discal markings, usually very developed; sometimes the colouration is almost completely dark; elytra testaceous with dark pattern normally extended on most its surface leaving a large, elongate, macula on the shoulders and smaller spots in medial and subapical position. In some cases the dark pattern could be somewhat reduced into longitudinal vittae. Alternatively, the elytra could be completely black with only few and small pale markings on the shoulders.

Underside dull and rugose due to the deep and coarse punctuation, together with an impressed reticulation. Black, with prosternal process and apex of sternites reddish, epipleuron testaceous. Sternites with an apical comb of setae.

Legs reddish, with tarsi slightly darkened.

Male: Protarsi slightly dilated. Anterior claws ( Fig. 34d–e) with the outer long and acuminate, more or less regularly curved; the inner smaller without ventral sinuation. Mesotarsal claws unmodified. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 34g) regularly triangular in dorsal view; parameres as in Fig. 34f.

Female: Similar to male, often a little duller. In some specimens the pronotum is slightly shorter than in males, with lateral sides more straight and lateral border obsolete.

Variability. Very variable species, mostly in colouration. The extension of dorsal patterns often differs widely between specimens, even if collected together, and it is possible to see variation from almost completely dark to pale specimens with almost visibly vittate elytra. Pale specimens with a testaceous colouration and undifferentiated reddish patterns ( var. rufino ) are quite rare, but have been found in collections often amongst normally coloured individuals. Such colouration seems not to be related to the normal variation of dorsal patterns, and it may be a recessive manifestation of the genotype influencing dorsal colouration.

Distribution ( Fig. 49). Known from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt (Cairo), Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and southeastern Turkey. First record for Afghanistan.

Habitat. This species is typically found amongst gravel and sand in slow running streams and rivers, and in pools on the river bed. In Iran I collected the species in a very small, muddy and grassy streamlet. It occurs mainly in low mountain ranges